Stinker’s Fishin’: A family tradition

AS the weather settles down attention returns to the number one targeted species – snapper.

Swimming over all the reefs from Seal Rocks south to Birubi cracker snapper are cruising through the deep water and under the white water in less than 10 metres depth.

The westerly winds that have persisted over the past few weeks are slowly steading up allowing recreation fishers to venture out.

One young fisherman trying his luck recently is Travis Glyn Tarrant.

With a name like that it is expected that the young man can fish.

The Tarrants, along with the Asquiths, Sproules, Chalkleys, Richardsons and others, are associated with a long history of catching fish, prawns and lobsters stretching back generations.

Once fishing is in a family it tends to stay there, whether it be commercial or recreational.

The fishing industry in Port Stephens was very slow to get going in the early days due to the lack of ice to keep the catch in top condition and the distance to markets in Sydney.

Over the years these problems have been solved with the availability of ice and refrigerated trucks which transport the product of the local commercial fishermen.

We are so fortunate to live in a seafood wonderland surrounded by fish and shellfish including lobsters and crabs.

If you can’t catch a feed yourself drop in to any one of the outstanding seafood outlets along Teramby Street, Nelson Bay. The displays on show reflect the freshness and quality of the seafood.

By John ‘Stinker’ CLARKE