Stinker’s History: The ‘Dawn’ – Part 2

THIS is part two of a multi-story series on the “Dawn”, a boat which holds a special place in the history of commercial fishing in Port Stephens. Visit portstephens.newsofthearea.com.au/printed-edition-16-april-2026 to read part one, or grab a copy of last week’s paper.

WITHOUT Archie Thompson’s knowledge Ted Johansson quit, leaving the boat under the control of a 19-year-old inexperienced Dutchman, John Plooy.

John continued to work the “Dawn” for prawns and fish – tiger flathead, john dory, nannygai, latchet, gurnard, snapper and even jewfish in 60 to 70 fathoms.

At this stage the “Dawn” had been fitted with Danish seine netting by Ted, a method that was proving to be very successful.

Later when Archie became aware that John was skippering his boat he had a meeting with the young fisherman and decided to continue the arrangement which lasted for 23 years.

The young trawlerman was fast learning the ropes and was continually amused by the never ending pranks and stunts pulled by his fellow fishermen.

“I remember the Ross brothers, who worked small prawn trawlers out of Stockton, lowering a four-gallon drum with the top cut out over the side of Warwick Harris’ small boat, without his knowledge,” John said.

“Warwick’s boat had very little power and the drum prevented it from moving either forward or in reverse.

“The fishermen on the wharf howled with laughter as Warwick could not figure out why his boat was in gear, on full revs and not moving.

“It took a while to understand Australians.”

John was the skipper when the 1955 flood turned the Hunter River into a raging torrent, washing everything in its path out into the ocean.

Amazingly after two hours sailing out to sea from the mouth of the Hunter River, the surface water was still fresh, out to 75 fathoms – such was the volume of fresh water pouring out to sea.

The tidal rush was so great at times that boats returning to port could not make any headway against it, even at full throttle.

Prawns washed out by the floodwaters were in huge numbers, however trawling and working the “Dawn” was hazardous with the amount of debris on the surface and on the ocean floor.

“When we pulled the nets to the surface, among the prawns were two wheelbarrows and a bed,” John recalled.

“Later the nets were strained as we hauled a telegraph pole aboard.

“Travelling was quite dangerous as we were never sure what we would hit.

“The prawns were thick. In one hour we managed, with great difficulty, to haul aboard 40 boxes.

“The incredible run lasted for three months.”

In 1959 Archie returned to work on the “Dawn” where he remained till 1964.

“Sharks were our constant companions on the water, big fish well over 12 feet long, whalers and tigers mainly,” John said.

“They would surround the boat and wait for the by-catch to be washed overboard, then they would go into a feeding frenzy which was a sight to see.

“When the nets were lifted the sharks simply appeared out of nowhere and some attacked the fish in the net tearing holes.

“The only solution was to shoot them with a high powered rifle.

“It wasn’t uncommon to shoot between 20 and 30 sharks a day.

“Huge schools of yellowfin tuna also joined in the feasting.”

“Old Sammy”, Archie’s father, joined them on the “Dawn” in the latter years and was always keen to catch one of the huge yellowfin that were attracted to the boat.

Sam loved fishing whether on a trawler or handlining in the Port.

It was common knowledge that Sam would regularly catch giant snapper off Fly Point, inside the port.

Onboard the “Dawn”, with a big Japanese long line hook and 70 fathom of stout chord, Sam baited up with a gurnard and waited for his opportunity.

The day came when the boat was surrounded by tuna, all big fish.

Sam tossed the heavy baited cord into the sea and hung on.

“I heard Sam, who was only a slightly built man, yell out and I turned to see him skidding across the deck of the boat towards the gunwales,” John said.

“It seemed that he was going to be pulled over the side.

“Archie and I grabbed him and held him as the huge fish on the end of the line had taken nearly all of the 70 fathoms. “The struggle continued with the fish on one end and the three of us on the other.

“Finally the tuna, bigger than a man, was hauled on board. It weighed nearly 200 pounds.

“Sam never bothered to catch another one.”

There was always an air of unpredictability when trawling the wide expanses off shore.

On one occasion, while working for prawns, the “Dawn” trawled up the wing of a Cessna plane that had disappeared in 1962.

Apart from fishing and prawning, the boat was always called upon for work outside the harbour.

When it was time to service the Karuah and Tea Gardens punts, she towed them to Newcastle and she also towed the barge, used to build the Tuncurry Bridge, from Sydney to Forster.

By John ‘Stinker’ CLARKE