The northern face of Broughton Island looking toward Seal Rocks. Photo: Supplied.
RECREATIONAL fishers are forever seeking the ultimate fishing experience. Fishing Utopia, the jewel in the crown. Well, I have found it! Two kilometres off the coast between Port Stephens and Forster sits an island wonderland where the fishing opportunities are endless. Three kilometres long and two kilometres wide, Broughton Island is the only island off […]
Crayfish hole before 1973 when the boat shed and wharf were destroyed.
ON the northern aspect of Fingal Island, facing Broughton Island, is a small cove known by fishermen and islanders as Crayfish Hole. It was on the rocky shoreline of this natural harbour that a wharf and boathouse existed in 1918. Here the government department kept two boats: a whaler of 20 feet and a double […]
ROCKY Point is one of the best kept fishing secrets in Port Stephens. Accessible by both 4×4 and boat, this rocky outcrop and the surrounding beaches and bays have a fascinating history of fishing, lobstering and the mining of shell grit. Big Rocky, as the name suggests, is a big rocky outcrop just far enough […]
Up until the mid-1980s oysters were grown right throughout the Port.
CONTINUED expansion of the Australian colonies placed increased pressure on the building industry, which relied heavily on lime for mortar for stone buildings. It was well known that oyster shells could be burned to produce the lime – cheap and in ample supply. At first only the empty shells of eaten oysters were used but […]
Commercial fishermen prepare mullet bait for the coming lobster season. Commercial fishers wait patiently for the mullet to arrive. NOW is the time to witness one of the most amazing displays of nature that continues annually along all beaches from the NSW South Coast into Southeast Queensland – the “mullet run”. Millions of mullet, in […]
Sydney Rock Oysters. Photo: NSW DPI.
TO fully realise the significance of the oyster industry you first need to understand the history of the oyster. Oysters have been on earth far longer than us; they have been present at every turn of human history. Fossil shells have been found as far back as 230 million years and have been collected for […]
The ‘Karingal Kids’ in action.
AS the world continues to spin faster, it is becoming increasingly important that we find something that will slow it down. Something outdoors, surrounded by nature with no pressures. A recreation that exposes us to the beauty that surrounds us plus offers family engagement. We may even be rewarded with a contribution to the evening […]
EASTER is traditionally a time for the family to gather and to organize a seafood platter in the middle of the table. Fish are always a favourite; however, this year think about a tray of local crabs and oysters. The time is right as cracker muddies and blue swimmer crabs are tap dancing throughout the […]
George Trinkler knows where all the snapper hide.
SO, you want to catch a snapper. There are many ways to do this, but I will tell you how I do it. The very first question to ask is: where do snapper gather? The best snapper fisher in the world will not catch a fish where they are not. Perfect underwater habitat for ‘reddies’ […]
The regatta developed into a huge social gathering with some families staying on the lake for up to a month.
OLD timers may recall the great days of the Annual Mungo Brush Regatta. Nestled in a protected corner of the Myall Lakes, on the eastern shore of the Broadwater, Mungo Brush was the perfect setting for the regatta conducted by the Port Stephens Regatta Club since 1903. As documented by Publicity Officer Tim Motum the […]
