Many systems are closed to the sea because of the drought, but it hasn't affected the fishing, with flathead, bream, whiting and flounder biting in numbers.

The flathead action has been especially good. Flatty anglers reckon it's been one of the best starts to summer they can recall, with scores of big fish reported.

It's hard to narrow down a location - just about every estuary is fishing superbly.

The Bega and Bermagui rivers, Wallaga, Corunna and Tuross lakes, the Clyde River and St Georges Basin deserve special mention.

St Georges Basin, a haven for trophy flathead, produced at least one genuine metre-plus fish last weekend. Despite what anyone says, these are rare creatures and once-in-a-lifetime catches.

Soft plastics around 120mm in length are the lure of choice.

Surface luring for bream and whiting is also excellent up and down the coast.

Offshore, undersized kingfish continue to frustrate anglers at Montague Island.

One boat reportedly caught 100 fish last weekend - and every single one was undersized!

That's a lot of time and effort for no result.

The reefs are fishing very well for tiger flathead, morwong and snapper. Try reefs in anywhere from 50-80 metres of water.

Some cracking golden perch have been taken from the local lakes.

Googong in particular has produced several beasts around 60cm.

Liam Rowley nailed a fat 59cm model that hit a big swimbait meant for a Murray cod.

The football-shaped fish was nearly as deep as it was long and was estimated to weigh over 5kg.

Cod are also playing ball at Googong and will respond to large swimbaits and spinnerbaits. The water is lovely and clear - ideal for lure fishing.