The team were pleasantly surprized to find a thumping 2.8 kilogram muddie waiting patiently in their trap, which had been set at Taylors Beach in the hope of catching a blue swimmer crab.

The question is – where are the blue swimmer crabs?

Following a few cracker crab seasons, it seems we are in a blue swimmer drought with few being reported.

Those reported are small with the occasional female carrying eggs.

Be gentle when returning the expectant mothers back into the system as these tiny eggs are next years crabs.

Meanwhile, excellent reports of small squid from Shoal Bay to Boat Harbour. They make excellent bait, particularly for snapper and mulloway. Very few green eye squid on the move, maybe next month.

With the westerly winds blowing the schools of mullet inside the estuaries along the coastline are becoming increasingly anxious.

Soon the mystical trigger will be pulled which signals the mullet to head for sea on their annual spawning run.

What I am hearing is that the rivers and estuaries are full of mullet so I expect a huge season on the beaches.