OFFSHORE: The offshore week got off to a bit of a bumpy start with moderate to fresh (15 to 20 knot) variable southerlies roughing up the waters before switching to variable westerlies in time for the long weekend. Saturday was the pick of the bunch with 10 to 15 knot south westerlies prevailing, but most days were quite fishable, although at times a little sloppy.
Laguna Bay offered a certain amount of protection from the slightly blustery conditions and while the baitfish and bird activity was rather patchy by comparison to previous weeks, there were still a few bluefin tuna quietly on the prowl at Little Hall's Reef and the odd Spanish mackerel on the bite north of Jew Shoal.
Sunshine Reef was certainly a worthwhile close-in option, producing parrot fish, sweetlip, Maori cod, spotted mackerel, the odd Spanish mackerel, quality snapper and, as you can see by the photo above, coral trout.
Sam Woodford was out there on Saturday afternoon when his live whiptail bait was taken by the 4.5kg 'Trout' he's pictured with. He was using a 55lb handline with an 80lb trace.
Further out, North Reef was the spot for moses perch, mackerel tuna, squire, parrot fish, Maori Cod, pearl perch and mowong while out at the Barwon Banks the catch was squire, Maori cod, moses perch, pearl perch and parrot fish.

ONSHORE: The coastal surf beaches were a more attractive proposition over the Anzac long weekend with the North Shore stretch, sheltered from the westerlies, particularly well patronised. Whiting and dart were in good numbers and of good quality, especially up around the township of Teewah, as Stuart Allen and Dan Pertot (below) discovered on Saturday afternoon. Using fresh pippies and live beach worms as their draw cards the lads got onto a good patch of fish with these 550gm whiting and 500gm dart being their standouts.

And while there were a few chopper tailor on the chew in the gutters opposite the camping grounds there was a bit more action about 10kms north of there with Jewfish being the target species. Pomona angler Pete Smith (below right) lost a couple of good fish around midnight on Friday before he landed the 3.5kg 'Jewie' he's pictured with. He was armed with a SnyderGlas Mag Surf rod, an Alvey reel, 25lb line and 40lb wire trace. His bait? Mullet strip on 3x4/0 hooks. Apart from that, Sunrise Beach produced good dart, as did Castaways Beach but with the bonus of tailor to 2kg, bream and whiting.