The summer fishing is upon us | Fishing

The estuaries are beginning to clean up and produce some great fishing.

We have been waiting for a while now for a decent run of snapper and if the fish that Amanda Pirotta caught is anything to go by, then we are in for a belter of a season. Amanda has been trying to get a red for a few years now but it seemed as though they always found their way to her husband Phil's rod. She was stoked with this fish and so she should be. Any snapper over 5kg is a great achievement in the south-west and to get it in only 45m out of their 4.2m tinnie is even better.

There has also been some big nannygai, both from Warrnambool and Port Fairy. Gavin Buchanan caught some belters on 8" Power bait Jerk Shad in 45m also.

Fish to over 50cm were caught fishing off the bottom with these bigger than normal plastics but seeing as though the nannies have a huge gob; they make light work of this size lure.

Fishing this type of lure is another great technique to pick up snapper and other reef species without going through bags of bait for little reward. When using soft plastics in this depth, you'll need a fairly hefty jig head up around 1/2oz or bigger to make sure they get to the bottom. Fishing metal jigs will also get similar results but will result in far more bite offs, thanks to the plethora of couta along our coast recently. By all means, try to catch these as they make some of the best shark and snapper baits fresh.

Further afield, Anthony Smith caught his first Mako over the weekend fishing with Goodie and Rhooky. We tend to see a few get landed this time of year and usually continue throughout summer and into February.

Time to bust out the big gear and burley like hell to get one to the back of your boat. We have pre-made rigs ready to go for Makos and can set your rod up with a wind on, so you're ready to battle a mako. Just remember that if you have never targeted one, then extreme caution is needed throughout the entire fight as, at any moment, they can jump in your boat and cause absolute mayhem.

If you plan on keeping one for a feed, I strongly suggest making sure the shark is 100 per cent dead before bringing it on board, as they will tear your boat, and even possibly you, apart if not.

One of the best baits and one that is readily available at the moment is fresh salmon.

Killarney has again been fishing well this past week for those braving the wind. Nate Monaghan has been loading up his freezer in preparation for the summer run of shark.

Casting 40g Ignition metals has seen some quality fish over 2kg. Nate's, and others', little secret is the use of a BKK Ranger assist hook on the back. These hooks not only provide added attraction but also mean that when the hook is in, it very rarely comes out opposed to trebles.

The Hopkins River has started to clear back up after receiving some floodwater after the recent rains. This has made a considerable difference in the fishing conditions for all manner of species.

The bream continue to be spawning but are fairly easy to catch at the moment on both soft plastics and deep diving hard bodies. Paddle tail plastics, fished on a 1/12oz jig head, is my preferred technique this time of year, especially when dragged over mud and sand that is stirred up by this. The hits that you will get are a lot more aggressive than when you lift and drop etc. The other reason I do this around this time of year is due to the strong winds that we usually encounter, which allows you to keep a relatively close contact with the plastic.

It won't be too far away and the estuary anglers will be throwing Cranka Crabs and top water at feeding fish on the edges. I have a good feeling we will have a great summer in the river after a couple of flush outs throughout winter and spring.

The Glenelg River is again a hit and miss place at the moment, with more miss than hit. There's no issue finding Mulloway but getting them to eat anything is becoming harder and harder. Live mullet has been the standout bait but getting them first is becoming very, very difficult. If you are going to make a trip over there, I would suggest getting your livies before you leave at either Port Fairy near the boat ramp or even in the Hopkins down near the danger board on an incoming tide.

You'll need to make a stop halfway to change the water if you want them to survive and make sure the bucket or esky you are using is aerated. You don't want all that hard work to go to waste, so look after them to get the most out of them.

What the Mulloway have lacked in recent weeks at the Glenelg, it certainly has been made up for by the bream and perch. They have been prolific in the middle section of the river from the Princess Margaret Rose Caves right up past Sapling Creek. Shrimp and crab have been the standout baits, cast along the many drop offs is what has been producing the better fishing.

The upper Hopkins has been producing some nice trout for those doing the miles by foot.

Skeeta and Cam Andrews have been getting into them while spending some father-son time around the falls. Skeeta has also been catching some nice perch in the same water. Casting Daiwa Presso Minnows in the 60mm model, he has been focusing on the flashier colours to try to get their attention more in the slightly discoloured water.

This time of year, don't be afraid of stepping up in the size of lure also to try get a bigger bite out of a hungry fish. Fishing soft plastics such as the Power bait T-Tail Minnows and Daiwa Bait Junkies, in the black gold colours, will create a silhouette and also send off some great shine too from the gold flecks in it.

Using soft plastics in the Merri River above the weir will begin to pay off, with some big redfin as the water also begins to clear up. Westin Shadteez in the dirty harbour colour is many anglers go-to this time of year for both redfin and trout. These very natural looking plastics provide an excellent action that makes the whole plastic roll side to side nearly 90 degrees back and forth. Simply a flat retrieve will be all you need to do to entice a bite off one of these beautiful looking fish.

Saturday's swell is looking fishable but the wind is the worrying factor at the moment, so there will be some keen eyes keeping a look out on the forecast.

The rivers will definitely be worth a look for those not keen on fishing offshore.

Remember to send your pics in to us for your chance to win a brand new Daiwa Saltist MQ valued at $479. This will be drawn at the end of the year. Thanks to Daiwa for sponsoring this year's Golden Fish Award and to Mick Moore and the Pure Fishing team; thanks for sponsoring last year's award too.

Until next week tight lines and best of luck.