Some people fish. Some people rearrange their entire life around it. Emma is firmly in the second camp.

She's part of the Missing At Sea crew down south, chasing everything Victoria will throw at her. Here's her story, followed by a proper rundown on what's been eating lures lately.

Find her on instagram: @emmajean_sommer

In Emma's words

I grew up doing what a lot of Aussies did, fishing the riverbanks with family or dropping a line off the local pier. Fishing was always part of my life, but I never realised it would turn into a full blown obsession.

Then my "you only live once" attitude kicked in. Being fiercely independent (and just stubborn enough to think, how hard can it be?), I booked myself onto a six day liveaboard charter off Cape York on my own. That trip ignited my love for topwater fishing, and I haven't looked back since.

Now, if I'm not at work, chances are I'm somewhere on the water chasing anything that'll eat a lure. I'm always keen to learn, pushing myself outside my comfort zone, and permanently convincing myself that just one more cast is a good idea.

I'm not afraid to have a crack, and I don't take myself too seriously. You'll see the wins, the donuts, the chaos, and the fish that absolutely ragdoll me. That's the reality of fishing, and it's exactly why I love it.

What's been going down south

King George Whiting

Winter whiting fishing has produced well lately, although warmer water temperatures over summer push whiting into more active feeding modes across the bay and into shallower depths.

Recently I headed out off St Leonards, dropped the anchor in about 8 metres of water on the incoming tide, and got the burley flowing. We set up over a sandy bottom with thick weed beds surrounding us, the perfect sort of ground to hold plenty of fish.

Patience was the key here. I was determined to get a feed on the micro jigs while my partner was landing them on a bait jig. One after another.

I started off with a 15g jig which sunk to the bottom quick enough but wasn't getting the bites I wanted.

When I say "patience is the key", it doesn't mean I have the patience.

I switched it up and tied on the 5g micro jig in Candy. It took a little longer to sink with the tidal movement, but once it was down I gave it a few slow hops and twitches, and my rod was bending. A feed of KGW we did get.

The takeaway: if the heavier jig isn't getting eaten, go lighter before you go home. That slower fall does the work.

Australian Salmon

One of the most underrated fish down here is Australian Salmon. They load up the silly string and are a tonne of fun. And if you process it right, it can be great eating.

The Australian Salmon have fallen victim to the Death Wobble on every occasion I've put that lure in the water.

Whether you're casting into a bust up or trolling around 7 knots, salmon are going to engulf the Death Wobble, and you better be ready.

Yellowtail Kingfish

One of the best eating fish in my opinion, and after a recent trip to Mallacoota, they're up there with some of the hardest fighting fish I've had the pleasure to experience.

This is what I call a Missing At Sea Trifecta.

After marking up a school of fish on the bottom, I dropped down the Firefly Haymaker Jig. Before it even reached the bottom, the kingfish inhaled these 200g jigs. I landed a few smaller models around 60 to 70cm, then noticed them coming up higher in the water column.

I switched over to my casting rod and started throwing the 120g Reef Diver around. My 80lb leader wasn't enough for the beast that took this. It sent my reel screaming before it wrapped me around a reef and snapped my line.

With only my Death Wobbles left in the lure bag, the lure that hasn't let me down yet, I retied and had it back in the water like my life depended on it.

As soon as it hit the water, it was on. This time, knowing how many lures I'd already lost on 80lb, I let it run a bit longer to tire it out and try to turn its head.

It worked. Biggest kingfish for the day, and my PB overall.

Timing it right: kingfish generally pass through late December to late March in Victoria when the water temps are at least 18 degrees. Early season kings start showing at Mallacoota in November and run right through to April.

So now is the time to restock your lure collection with some of the best.

The lures doing the damage

• 5g and 15g Micro Jigs (Candy is the pick) for whiting over sand and weed
• Death Wobble for salmon, kings, and just about anything that swims past it
• Firefly Haymaker Jig 200g for kings holding deep
• Reef Diver 120g for when they lift in the water column