Wandering the flats on the top of the tide John has been having a ball tossing Berkley Gulp Pumpkin Seed plastics attracting the attention of cracker flathead from 50cm with a few monsters swirling in the shallow water.

John takes a couple for the table and releases the bigger fish. Interestingly recent Fisheries research suggests that the survival rate of released flathead is a healthy 97 per cent.

Closer to the heads flounder have shuffled into the sand and are keen to attack white pilchards drifted up the middle of the port.

The flounder gather on the same sand patch in front of the pub at Shoal Bay at this time every year

Outside the heads the action is fierce with Will Duffy and Adam Alderson visiting the Mine Field and returning with dolphin fish to 10kg on Gulps.

Word is that the dolphin fish are in big numbers around the FAD and anything else floating on the surface.

Out at Boat Harbour Paul Dodds proved yet again that you rarely catch kingfish on light line.

Paul, using 9 pound line, couldn't turn their heads.

Snapper are cruising over the shallow reefs from Fishermans Bay north to Broughton with the best baits being fresh slimy and bonito fillet floated down a berley trail. "Bluey" reports thumping green eyed squid in the calm waters, out of the wind behind Boondelbah.

The beaches are loaded up with jewfish with Matt Jasper working Stockton Beach for quality fish to 9kg.

If you have any concerns or contributions to make relating to the recently disclosed federal marine reserve along our east coast contact local recreational fishing identity Graham Duffy (498 20711) who has been negotiating with the Commonwealth administrators to protect certain areas.

STINKER