The window to catch a trout in the rivers and streams this season is rapidly closing. The 2019-20 trout season closes at the end of the long weekend, with rivers and streams in NSW then off limits until October. This weekend's action promises to be fast and furious, with plenty of spawning brown trout still on offer in the Eucumbene, Thredbo and upper Murrumbidgee rivers. This season has been characterised by large numbers of relatively small fish. Trout around 1-1.5kg have been abundant; fish over 3kg have been conspicuously absent. Maybe the true trophy fish are saving their run until the last minute. The only way to find out for sure is get up there this weekend and have a go. The coast will be popular with Canberra fishos this long weekend. Winter is often the time many anglers hang up their rods and tackle for a few months. But opportunities to wet a line this year have been scarce for many - for a couple of obvious reasons. Consequently, this winter could see more people on the water than usual. I know I'll be one of them. I'll personally be focusing on rock and beach fishing for salmon, tailor, bream and drummer. This is when those species come into their own and they are already plentiful as the water cools. Offshore anglers have reported a spike in snapper numbers over the reefs, as many predicted. These fish have come into feed over the inshore reefs after recent heavy swells. Estuary fishing has quietened down but there are still some excellent tailor and trevally about in many systems. Tuross and surrounds is also yielding a few massive black bream on slowly worked soft plastics. Skilful anglers are even getting them on fly!