January 16, 2026
Stinker’s Fishin’: Luderick season Luderick are great fun to catch and are underrated in the kitchen.
Fishing

Stinker’s Fishin’: Luderick season

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 […]

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Stinker’s Fishin’: A family tradition Travis Tarrant carries on the fishing tradition.
Fishing

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 […]

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Stinker’s Fishin’: Calm water in the Gantry When conditions permitted supplies for the lighthouse were delivered to the island by off loading on the beach.
Fishing

Stinker’s Fishin’: Calm water in the Gantry

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 […]

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Stinker’s History: Life on Marsh Road part one The Maslen family on Marsh Road.
Fishing

Stinker’s History: Life on Marsh Road part one

THIS is a recollection of growing up on Marsh Road in the 1950s, as told by Patricia Hawkins (nee Maslin). AFTER five years of waiting for building supplies, caused by shortages after World War Two, my father Eric Maslen and mother Doris abandoned their plan of building their house on my grandfather Herbert’s property. They […]

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Stinker’s Fishin’: Visit King Tommy Look closely and you will see ‘Stinkpot’ riding the tide in a protected rock pool. Photo: Rodd Owen.
Fishing

Stinker’s Fishin’: Visit King Tommy

ON arrival in Fingal Bay I was keen to explore all the fishing options available. Little did I consider that some 50 years later I am still learning all the opportunities that Fingal has to offer. The beach was the most obvious target on an incoming tide about halfway between the Surf Club and the […]

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Stinker’s Fishin’: Big fish in the bush
Fishing

Stinker’s Fishin’: Big fish in the bush

RARELY do I write about our country cousins and their fishing adventures. With the local action slowing during the winter months it is time to head out west to check out fishing in the bush. Champion inland angler Michael Noonan targeted the Macquarie River just out of the rural town of Warren. Rising early Michael, […]

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Stinker’s Fishin’: Time to troll
Fishing

Stinker’s Fishin’: Time to troll

Max Evans with a cracker Fingal Lighthouse tailor. Max with a solid salmon. BIG schools of tailor and salmon, keen to snap at any bait or lure, have moved in from Rocky Point to Box Beach. Young champion Max Evans found himself surrounded by the surface fish just off Fingal Island. Salmon are fun to […]

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Unprecedented fish deaths likely a ‘natural phenomenon’
Fishing

Unprecedented fish deaths likely a ‘natural phenomenon’

COUNTLESS numbers of dead fish now line the shores of the Broadwater, Two Mile Lake, Boolambayte Lake and Myall Lake, in what is widely considered the worst such event in living memory. “This is the most distressing and surprising sight I’ve seen since [in the 14 years] I’ve been working around the lakes,” Kerry McIntosh […]

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Stinker’s Fishin’: Port full of bream
Fishing

Stinker’s Fishin’: Port full of bream

I’VE said it many times – if you can’t catch a bream then you should consider joining the golf club. That being said, some are better than others when it comes to catching bream. When it comes to the spectacular waters of Port Stephens there are none better than the Coles family of Lemon Tree […]

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Funding on offer for ‘Gone Fishing Day events Fishing clubs can apply for up to $2,000 to host a variety of activities, such as casting and fishing workshops. Photo: Kim Ambrose/SaltyFoxFotography.
Event, Fishing

Funding on offer for ‘Gone Fishing Day events

FISHING clubs and associated organisations are being encouraged to join in the state-wide ‘Gone Fishing Day’ festivities on Sunday 19 October by hosting their own events.  NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) Acting Director Fisheries Management, Bryan Van Der Walt said clubs can apply for a fishing package or grants up to […]

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