My desk is flooded with stories and photographs of crackers being landed from both inside and outside the port.

Thumpers up to 30 kilograms are cruising over the shallow reefs from Birubi to Broughton, while inside the harbour, particularly west of Soldiers Point, the mulloway action is hectic.

As mentioned in a previous article – NSW Fisheries have declared mulloway a fish that is “over-fished and low in population”.... must be somewhere else.

Baits and methods vary from place to place, however it seems that the most popular method is to lower a live yellowtail, slimy mackerel or tailor as the sun is setting and the moon is rising.

Fresh squid, preferably live, drive the big fish nuts. Fresh filleted bait will also do the trick.

Unlike kingfish, mulloway do not have the stamina and will come to the boat after two or three solid runs. Stay cool, maintain the pressure and hang on.

Top spots outside the heads include the reefs off Boat Harbour, One Mile headland, Little Rocky, Fingal Lighthouse and inside Fingal Bay.

Broughton Island is the home of mulloway. Good luck.