The tuna were still there it seems but much further out and a lot deeper, however the yellowfin that were taken, were all around the 50 kilo mark and came on the bite just as the southerly started to blow.

With the wind tide and current coming right away is a short time, it wasn't for the faint hearted but those who stuck it out were rewarded with quality fish.

The reds have still been on a good run with plenty of fish from 1-3kgs being caught both in the shallows and out on the deeper reefs.

Most of the fish in the shallows came from the afternoon bite with a couple nudging the 5kg mark and were all taken on the pick whilst burleying.

It was all about the drift out wider, locating the bait schools and positioning plastics and jigs down onto the edges of those said bait schools to temp the reds sitting underneath the bait.

Kings were still quite feisty around the Islands and bommies off Port and Bellambi with some solid fish in the mix pushing 10 kilos.

Fish were taken on all sorts of methods but as always down rigging was by far the best method for the bigger fish, but nothing beats the action of a surface bite from even small rats.

Stickbaits accounted for quite a few fish over the later part of last week and weekend both inside the harbour and also around the islands.

Beaches have been still relatively quiet for most with not too many reports coming through other than salmon and tailor. Fishing the night time tides over the past week has produced some good school jewfish off a number of local beaches both north and south, with the average fish going around the 85-90cm mark with reports of multiple fish in a session which is always welcome when chasing these fish.

Have you got a great fishing photo? Email your high resolution pictures to Gary at gazwade@bigpond.com for inclusion in upcoming Mercury Reel Deal columns.

Authorities target illegal shark baiting

Success: Kingston Davies with his first ever catch from his first ever trip offshore.

DPI Fisheries is reminding fishers that targeting great white sharks for sport or any other purpose, such as deliberately baiting a shark to attract it to a boat, is illegal.

The intentional baiting of great whites and other threatened species of sharks has a maximum penalty of $11,000 and the potential of two years imprisonment if found guilty.

Don't forget, a $500 on-the-spot fine may also be issued to anyone caught shark baiting. A person cannot harm, interfere with, harass, chase, tag or mark a threatened species of shark and this includes activity undertaken to deliberately attract a threatened shark species or attempting to do so.

If protected shark baiting is witnessed, DPI urges the public to report the incident to the Fishers Watch Phoneline on 1800 043 536 or report it via the DPI website.

DPI-Fisheries officers have been are cracking down on illegal fishing during the COVID lockdown, and they will continue to be very active as restrictions ease.

Following a public tip off, NSW Police assisted Fisheries who recently attended Fingal Island sanctuary zone, near Port Stephens, where they found that four people had travelled from Sydney to fish at that location in breach of regulations that were put in place by NSW Health.

Three of them were also interviewed by fisheries officers regarding the harming or attempting to harm fish and, were in possession of fishing equipment in a sanctuary zone of the marine park.

Officers seized their fishing equipment (rods, reels and catch bags), together with their catch that had been unlawfully taken.

Members of Gerringong Hotel FC are reminded that as the end of the competition year is fast approaching, a pointscore update may be of interest as some divisions are up for grabs with only three more to go.

Deep Sea men's sees first spot held by Rory Bennett 579.89% with Jack Cronin 241%, Mitch McInnes 109.62% and Mitch Cronin 109.53% in the progressive runner-up positions.

Kelly Hogetts 100% holds the ladies and Junior sees Wes Pring and Tom Cronin both on 100% Beach and Rock men's is Grant Keen 347.82% with Marty Blake 152.09% with ladies held by Nicole Stephens 100%.

Estuary men's sees Bruce Ray over Vince Stalgis and the ladies is Ali Stalgis sub juniors is Evelyn Keene.

Dam levels rise

Trout season is in full swing and Alpine dam levels show Eucumbene rising to be at 40%, Jindy steady at 85% and Tantangara is also steady at 30%.

A few cold fronts pushed through and dampened some angler effort however a few fish were caught.