“SILVERTAILS” were a fascinating species. They were made up of doctors, lawyers, school teachers and even wrestlers. Generally holidaymakers, “Silvertails” were those who, it seemed, always had an inner desire to be a fisherman, but fate had led them elsewhere in life. Their method of operation was to start talking to the fishermen and slowly […]
DID you hear what I heard? For the past 40 odd years I have been reporting fishing in and around Port Stephens. Something happened this week that, to my knowledge, has never happened before. Fishing around the deep water off Middle Island, Soldiers Point, John Latter hooked and landed a 58cm Mangrove Jack! So, what […]
Excited young members of Anna Bay Fishing Club gather at their monthly meeting.
Excited young members of Anna Bay Fishing Club gather at their monthly meeting. Girls champ Hanna Gentile. Boys champ Tyson Andrew. WHAT I enjoy most about this mad game that we call “fishing” is to see the increasing numbers of kids that are becoming involved. In an age where a crowbar is required to lever […]
Early promotion of Port Stephens’ tourism opportunities. Paddle wheeler SS Newcastle at the Nelson Bay wharf with holiday excursionists from Newcastle. I FIND it very interesting to trace the path of the local tourist industry from its very beginnings. It was inevitable that the wider audience would discover the incredible beauty of Port Stephens and […]
AROUND about this time of the year, big mud crabs start to crawl out of their underground burrows and lumber off in search of a feed. It is not well known that muddies bury into the mud and form a “hole” similar to that of a rabbit or wombat. Generally, among the extensive mangrove forests […]
The program includes four free workshops across Port Stephens.
YOUNG people under 18 are being encouraged to cast a line and learn new skills during the spring school holidays with free fishing workshops and a competition. Mayor Leah Anderson said the program is all about giving young people the chance to enjoy the outdoors while learning practical skills and sustainable fishing practices. “Fishing is […]
ORIGINALLY from a fishing family in Tweed Heads, I was amazed when I first arrived in Fingal Bay in 1974, at the fishing and seafood gathering opportunities offered around my new home in Port Stephens. Never had I gathered abalone, which at the time could be found in every underwater crack and crevice from Fingal […]
Luderick are great fun to catch and are underrated in the kitchen.
Luderick are great fun to catch and are underrated in the kitchen. Squid have disappeared. Where have they gone? THIS is the time of year when luderick move northwards along the coastline swimming into the river systems along the way before taking up residence along breakwalls, around bridges and jetties. Huge schools of fish graze […]
Travis Tarrant carries on the fishing 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 […]
When conditions permitted supplies for the lighthouse were delivered to the island by off loading on the beach.
When conditions permitted supplies for the lighthouse were delivered to the island by off loading on the beach. The Gantry remains a safe place in wild seas. THE Gantry or Government Hole is a small natural cove on Fingal Island protected from the southerly wind and boiling sea. Facing north the waters inside the Gantry […]
