If you find the bait, you'll find the billfish on the coast

If you're wetting a line over the Canberra Day long weekend, it's hard to go past the coast, which is producing everything from mullet to marlin.

Marlin madness is well and truly gripping the far south, especially around Merimbula and Eden.

The fish are gathering in large numbers around bait balls.

There were chaotic scenes off Eden last week as three boats found dozens of striped marlin around a patch of bait over the Shelf.

All up, 19 fish were landed in a crazy four-hour session, with many more seen and lost.

Goes to show that if you find the bait, you'll find the billfish.

There are lots of sharks around too, as well as mahi mahi and even a couple of yellowfin tuna.

Rock and beach fishing is gathering momentum, as it always does in autumn.

Australian salmon have been a reliable target, with fish on offer along most beaches and rocky points. A rising tide is best.

Tailor are around in dribs and drabs, mainly in the estuaries, especially Merimbula and Pambula lakes.

Hefty flathead are being taken at Mogareeka Inlet and Tuross Lake, but be prepared to sift through a stack of smaller models in your search.

Googong Dam is clear and full and fishing extremely well for golden perch, redfin and one or two cod.

The fish have been mainly caught by jigging in amongst schools, located with the help of a sounder.

In the mountains, trout fishing has been a little hit and miss; changeable weather hasn't helped.

Putting in a night shift with mudeyes under a float seems to be the best way of snaring a fish at Eucumbene and Jindabyne.