ON the northern aspect of Fingal Island, facing Broughton Island, is a small cove known by fishermen and islanders as the “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 […]

“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 […]

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 […]

Men’s winner Clinton Harris. Ladies and junior winner Hayley Diaz. RESULTS from Hawks Nest Social Club fishing tournament 12th-14th September. Men’s and overall winner: Clinton Harris with a great catch of Tailor, Flathead, Whiting, Snapper and Bream. Men’s runner up: Mark Briton with some big Bream one weighing 1kg cleaned. Ladies and junior winner: Hayley […]

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 […]

‘Tyalgum’ on the Tweed River. ‘Sygna’ ran aground in 1974. MANY ships built in Scotland during the 1920s eventually came to grief in Australia. Built at Port Glasgow, Scotland, by Lithgows Limited in the 1920s the sister ships Pappinbarra, Uralla, Uki, Tyalgum and Urana traded along the NSW coastline and experienced great difficulties. The Pappinbarra […]

JUST thinking how incredibly lucky we are to be surrounded by water teeming with fish and shellfish – fit for a king. Our oysters are of the highest quality growing in the rivers and feeder streams that flow into the port. I must admit that I prefer the Sydney Rock Oyster, indigenous to the area. […]

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 […]

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 […]