A northern species rarely seen in our waters, the magnificent mangrove Jack is becoming far more common in recent times.

Over the past 20 years I have reported about a dozen Jacks. However to this day not one has been caught on a line.

The whiting have gone crackers with excellent catches reported on all beaches inside and outside the heads.

Stockton, Samurai, One Mile and Fingal are the hottest outside while Shoal Bay and Nelson Bay beaches are loading up inside.

Ten-year-old Maitland visitor Evan Chambers told me that "If you can't catch 10 you aren't trying".

Worms are the number one bait and Duff's Bait & Tackle tell me they have ample supplies of savage worms.

Smart whiting fishers are catching their fish on the rising tide and catching worms for bait on the low tide. Best worming beaches are Stockton, Fingal and Box Beach.

Dusky flathead are also in big numbers right throughout the system as are my old mates the blue swimmer crabs which are registering 7.5 on the "Crabometer".

Dubbo visitor John Ferney registered a record six crabs in one net. Mullet is the best bait to set in your witches hat.

Outside the heads teraglin and mulloway continue to attack over the V and 21 while thumping kingfish are zooming over the shallows on The Sisters.

Snapper continue to go haywire from Fishermans Bay to Broughton and further south to Seal Rocks.

"Stinker's Magical History Tour" was a real hoot with over 50 jamming in to the Tea Gardens pub to watch a presentation of old black and white photos that I have collected on the history of fishing in Port Stephens. The next tour is on 22nd of this month. Contact 0408 494 262 for more information.

STINKER