I wonder how many of us fisher folk in Port Stephens really appreciate what we have in our own back yard.
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The great variety of habitat lends itself to numerous fishing opportunities that no other estuary, beach and off-shore fishery, that I know, has to offer.
Consider for a moment what can be caught from the feeder streams that pour into the Karuah and Myall Rivers to the deep water over the Continental Shelf.
Broad shouldered Australian Bass move out of the fresh water in the upper reaches to swim into the salt to breed.
It is in the brackish water that they meet the resident Port fish population - bream, flathead, luderick, mulloway, whiting along with mud crabs and blue swimmers.
Closer to the headlands snapper and kingfish join the party together with garfish and squid.
The beaches come alive with bream, tailor, salmon, mulloway and whiting while the rocky outcrops are homes for groper, drummer, leatherjacket, bream, snapper and luderick.
Those with bigger boats can head to the outer islands Boondelbah and Broughton and further out to the shelf where cod and game fish are targeted.
With the Marine Park currently under review we wait patiently for the final outcome.
Got a pic or tip for Stinker?
- If you've got a picture of a whopper, or a fishing yarn to share, you can email it to stinkerfishing@yahoo.com with your contact number and details about your catch.