Ned Kelly's Bait n Tackle

24/05/2026

This week’s fishing report courtesy of Kate Shelton from Bay Explorer Marine Services.
Congratulations Kate on your appointment. We see it as a huge vote of confidence in your vast fishing knowledge and ability to bring the best possible outcomes for our wonderful fishing community. We look forward to working with you and your team to foster a fun activity to be enjoyed by everyone.
That’s a cracking Mackeral Rick, great catch. It’s late in the season for Mackeral but it’s usually the case where there as less fish but there are much bigger models lurking.
Tight lines everyone 🎣

A Reel Good Week for Fishing, Community and Charity

I’m pleased to announce that I have been selected to join the Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council (RFTAC). The Council provides advice to the Minister on how funds raised through the NSW Recreational Fishing Licence Fee should be invested to improve recreational fishing across the state. This includes reviewing funding applications and helping guide investment into projects such as fish stocking, habitat improvement, fishing infrastructure, recreational fishing facilities, education programs, and fisheries research. As part of the Council, I’ll be helping represent the interests of everyday recreational fishers across NSW, bringing practical fishing experience to the table.

In the Hastings this week, the breakwalls saw consistent catches of luderick, bream, and mulloway. Bream continued their reign on the beaches, with Lighthouse Beach boasting some nice catches. For those chasing bigger fish, tailor and school mulloway offered decent action, with the best reports coming from the beach between North Shore and Queens Head. Venturing offshore, conditions haven’t been great, but last week a few anglers headed out midweek and scored some great mackerel in Plomer Bay, along with plenty of tuna action as well.

Heading further south, the beaches around Grants Head and Dunbogan are offering a steady stream of bream and the occasional whiting. Tailor are keeping things interesting, and a few salmon are starting to show up. While there’s no word on monster mulloway, there are plenty of school-sized fish cruising around Lake Cathie. Inside the lake itself, the recent rain has given it a good top-up. If the rain continues and water levels rise further, we may see an opening later in the season if the trigger level is reached. Rock fishing remains productive, with reports of nice tailor, bream, and school mulloway catches. For those venturing even further south towards Crowdy Head, there are drummer and even the occasional snapper waiting to be hooked off the local ledges. For offshore anglers, reports indicate decent snapper, pearl perch, and kingfish are lurking around the Crowdy Head and Laurieton reefs.

The Lake Cathie Fishing Club is hosting their annual Charity Fish Auction this Sunday, June 14th at Club Lake Cathie. This free event is open to everyone, and proceeds will benefit both the Lake Cathie Rural Fire Service and Marine Rescue Camden Haven. If you enjoy fishing, you can participate by casting a line on the 12th, 13th, and 14th June. The weigh-in starts on Sunday at 11:00am, followed by the exciting auction at 1:00pm. Even if you're not an angler, come down to score some fresh, local fish and support a great cause. Find out more details by searching for "Lake Cathie Fishing Club" on Facebook.

Rick Adorini was all smiles after reeling in this cracking 24.4kg Spanish mackerel in Plomer Bay last week.

23/05/2026

Well gang, fishing is full of surprises. Pictured is young gangster Heath and his dad Jason with a very healthy Mulloway they wrestled with at Lake Cathie. The fish ate a 2.5 inch soft plastic ‘grub’.
Great catch guys 👍
The beaches, rocks and offshore are off limits at the moment with big seas hammering our coastline but there are plenty of opportunities to catch a fish or two in our beautiful estuary systems as Jason and Heath found out.
Tight lines everyone 🎣

21/05/2026

Plenty of entertainment tomorrow morning gang. Chief gangster Col will deliver his fishing update just after 8am.
Happy listening and tight lines everyone 🎣

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Wake Up with the Brightest Brekky Show on the Mid North Coast -
The Dave Sutherland Brekky Show - Friday morning on CRUZE FM 93.5 from 5.00am....Powered by Forty Winks in the Port Home Zone
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The Week that Was with Bernard Keane from Crikey
Plus the Best Brekky Songs of All Time to start your day !

19/05/2026

Well gang, the CEO and good mate Jimmy cleared out and left me behind to keep Ned’s open 😳. A “R & D’ trip to Lake Monduran in Queensland is certainly paying dividends with these metre plus barra’s devouring hard body divers on their 1st day at the lake.
Awesome catch lads 🎣

17/05/2026

This week’s fishing report courtesy of Kate Shelton from Bay Explorer Marine Services.
Tight lines everyone 🎣

Bream Firing and Mulloway on the Move Across the Region

The Mid North Coast has seen consistent showers over the past week, and while a sprinkle or two is just part of the deal for dedicated anglers, we’re all keeping an eye out for some extended sunshine. These consistent showers are great for the long-term health of our waterways, though the forecast suggests the damp trend will stick around for the rest of May.

In the Hastings River, the recent weather has stirred up the estuary, turning the water a slight brown. Because of this, you’ll find the best action toward the lower reaches and the river mouth where the water is a bit clearer. Despite the murk, bream fishing remains fantastic; daytime lure fishers were doing well with soft vibes before the showers, while bait anglers are still pulling in solid catches on mullet strips. Flathead are also biting well in the lower Hastings on both lures and traditional baits like whitebait and prawns. For those chasing bigger prizes, some massive mulloway (up to 20kg!) have been landed around the Coal Wharf. Meanwhile, the rock fishing scene is all about tailor right now. Local ledges from Port Macquarie up to Plomer are producing great numbers, with garfish and large lures doing the heavy lifting. Drummer numbers are also starting to climb, which is a promising sign for the coming weeks. Along the beaches, bream remain reliable, particularly during evening sessions on pilchards or slab baits. If you're hitting North Beach or Lighthouse, worms and pipis are the go-to for bream and the occasional whiting. Offshore, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The inshore reefs south toward Lighthouse have seen appearances from cobia, mackerel and tuna, while those trolling closer to shore are finding plenty of bonito and tailor. Bottom bashers aren't missing out either, with quality snapper and pearl perch reported.

Further south, the Diamond Head ledges are holding quality tailor up to 2.5kg. On the sand, school mulloway are active around Dunbogan and Lake Cathie. With the mullet now traveling and tailor numbers holding steady, we expect to see some even larger predators moving in soon. Offshore, Snapper up to 5kg are being caught on bait, with pearl perch and kingfish showing up on the deeper reefs.

The Macleay River is the place to be for luderick fans, as numbers have spiked along the breakwalls. Green w**d is the prize bait, but cabbage and w**d flies are also doing the trick. Bream fishers are equally happy, with consistent catches coming from Back Creek and the breakwalls. Aim for an evening session with mullet strips if you’re looking to land the bigger models.

Port Macquarie local David Henry showing off a solid Mulloway caught during a recent session.

17/05/2026

Mulloway mayhem gang. We are hearing a number of reports of ‘jewies’ marauding both baits and lures offered over the last couple of days. Look for the action to heat up over the next few days now that we’ve had a very small flush and resultant colour in the river. With more rain forecast over the next two days, conditions should only get better.
Pictured is Levi Tykvart with a sensational‘Jewie’ he enticed with Rapala hard body lure last night in trying conditions
Great catch Levi 👍
Tight lines everyone 🎣

14/05/2026

Nearly Friday again gang. Tune into the Dave Sutherland Radio Show from 5am Friday morning and catch all the latest fishing news from Chief Gangster Col just after 8am.
Tight lines everyone 🎣

13/05/2026

It’s on again gang. Lake Cathie Fishing Club are hosting their annual fishing competition and charity fish auction. Get your entries in and be in the running for a huge range of prizes plus donate your catch to auctioned

13/05/2026

Righto gang, the CEO has put together some sensational Shimano light spin combos. He has paired a range of the newest Shimano Zodias spin sticks with Shimano Vanford, Ultegra & Nasci light tackle spin reels.
Prices range from $400 to $600 representing a huge saving between $138 & $168 from recommend retail price.
Hurry in and grab one these awesome combos while they last.
We are open every day between 7am & 6pm.
Tight lines everyone 🎣

07/05/2026

Friday is closing in gang. Tune in from 5am tomorrow morning to the Dave Sutherland Radio Show and listen out for chief gangster Col’s fishing report just after 8am.
Tight lines everyone 🎣

Find out Where the Fish are Biting with our Fishing Expert and Guru - Colin Trenaman from Ned Kelly's Bait n Tackle - Friday morning after 8.00am on CRUZE FM 93.5

30/04/2026

For a full morning of radio entertainment, tune into the Dave Sutherland Radio Show from 5am tomorrow morning. Chief gangster Col from Ned Kelly’s will deliver his fishing update just after 8am.
Tight lines everyone 🎣

Find out where the Fish are Biting with Colin Trenaman from Ned Kelly's Bait n Tackle - Friday morning's after 8.00am on CRUZE FM 93.5