The Hawkesbury River has produced some nice school jewfish on live bait - small mullet and yacka's seem to be the goods. If you're a fan of some bread-and-butter fishing try targeting large sand whiting with the ever-reliable bloodworms.

Other fish on the go are pan-size bream, luderick and drummers (off the rocks) with some large flathead ambushing bait in and around the shallows.

All along the NSW Central and South Coast there have been some very good reports of better-than-average snapper and large yellow fin kingfish.

Best bait to target snapper is cubed pilchards and medium shelled prawns. If targeting kingfish get hold of some live bait in the form of yacka's or slimy mackerel.

If they're not on the bite you can substitute your live bait with baby squid - just make a visit to the local fishmonger and buy a kilo or so before your trip.

Up north (from Groote Island to Darwin) has been going crazy. I had a chance to speak to Happy Mick, the owner of Happy Mick's Camping and Outdoor Worlds and he explained that all northern waters have been working well with large schools of long tail tuna, better-than-average spanish mackerel, the occasional dogtooth tuna and some billfish showing up in and around large baitfish schools. It may be worth your while to dust the cobwebs off the boat or invest in a day charter. If you never go, you will never know.

He also mentioned that the barra scene is still quit slow but it will improve with the buildup of the wet season. Best rivers to target at the moment are the South Alligator, East Alligator, Mary River System or the Daly River.

For those after a bargain, why not drop into the shop and show your Defence ID for an in-store discount - I know Happy Mick, Brenton or Charlie would be glad to pass on a few good tips or steer you in the right direction for your next purchase.

The inland scene - Blowering Dam
I was lucky enough to visit Blowering Dam recently with some of the members from the Wagga Wagga Boat Anglers Club.

As the weather got worse so did the fishing - it was one of those days that had every season except for some sunshine.

However, Tony Shaw (club weigh master) landed a nice 1.6kg fighting brown trout (Salmonidae), while his team targeted the shallows and weed beds around Platypus Bay using Blue and Silver Tassie Devils. Our boat didn't fare as well - we could only land a pan-size redfin (Percidae).

Some good news though - Murray crays are still showing up in good numbers and they're all well over legal size.

One point to remember is that you can only take legal size crays, so why not spend some pennies at your tackle shop and buy a measuring card. In the long run it will be a considerable saving, especially if fisheries nab you.

Our accommodation for the weekend was at the Blowering Forestry Holiday Camp, which is situated 27km from the famous apple town of Batlow. The camp is made up of two accommodation blocks consisting of 24 split rooms which house 48 beds. And all with reverse-cycle air conditioning. The split rooms are separated by an individual kitchen, which boasts all convenient appliances such as microwave, fridge, cook top and oven. If you're interested in a weekend retreat contact the friendly staff at the holiday camp on telephone (02) 6947 5271 or fax (02) 6947 5271.

The staff at the camp have reduced prices for all Defence members and their families. All you have to do is make a booking by phone or fax and, on arrival, simply show your Defence ID. Cabin accommodation has been reduced by 10 per cent and camping by 5 per cent.

Products on the market
The Prawn Star is a relatively new product on the market. The designers at Primal Fishing have said that the Prawn Star is the only flicking lure that is super tough and a good chance of a catch anywhere.

They can be used with most techniques, so why not venture to your local tackle outlet and invest in one for your next fishing adventure.

They come in two sizes and six colours and each lure has been complimented with excellent terminal tackle.

I will write more about the Prawn Star in later articles, once a few friends and I have had a chance to trial them in both fresh and saltwater.

Until next time, safe travels and good fishing.