Air and water temperatures are on the rise and, regardless of whether you’re fishing in the fresh or salt, there’s an abundance of species on offer.

Let’s start with the coast, which will no doubt be the focus for many Canberra anglers over coming weeks.

As the mercury continues to climb, the most exciting development will be the improvement in surface action in all the popular systems.

It’s already starting to happen, with increasing numbers of whiting taking poppers and surface walkers in the shallows of Tuross Lake, the Moruya River, Wallaga Lake and the Bega River.

With the water in most estuaries sitting around the 20 degree mark and rising gradually, the surface fishing is guaranteed to hot-up in the lead-up to Christmas.

The dusky flathead action along the coast has been steady this month. Anglers trying their luck with soft plastics and hard bodies have had little trouble raising a few fish.

There are some monsters on offer, too. The best I’ve heard of was a 99cm ‘croc’ caught and released at Tuross.

Poor weather has plagued offshore fishing of late, but the fish are there if you can get out.

Kingfish and yellowfin tuna in particular are getting fishos excited, with schools of both species popping up off the far south coast.

Anglers looking for yellowfin are heading wide to the Shelf, but it’s a long way to go if the tuna fail to show. The deep water off Bunga, near Bermagui, has produced a handful of hefty yellowfin, plus catches of albacore and the odd dolphin fish.

The kings are also hot and cold. There have been reports of smallish fish around Montague Island and reefs to the north, but good numbers of legal-sized kings could turn up any day.

No boat? No worries! There have also been reports of kingfish from Tathra Wharf. They’re just on legal size (65cm) but they’re providing great fun for those lucky enough to be there when a school comes by.

Locally, the focus is on Murray cod, with the 2018-19 cod season opening on 1 December.

Burrinjuck, Blowering and Googong dams will be popular locations, with all three bound to produce some nice fish in the lead up to Christmas.

Don’t discount the urban lakes, either. Burley Griffin, Tuggeranong, Ginninderra and even some of the tinier suburban ponds all hold healthy numbers of cod, which should be on the chew. Big spinnerbaits, swimbaits and chunky deep-divers are worth a cast.

Crazy weather in the mountains has made it hard to get a handle on the trout fishing.

This time last week there was a blanket of snow around many of the high country streams. While the cold snap put the brakes on insect activity, conditions are quickly returning to normal, and there should be some solid dry fly action over the next month or so.

Melting snow and a bit of follow up rain means these waterways are in tip-top condition, despite the drought, so take advantage while you can.