THERE are many champion fishers, some are specialists in one or two species of fish – snapper, mulloway, kingfish and all the others.
Only a very few local recreation fishers can lay claim to catching anything that moves.
Lemon Tree’s Wayne Coles is one such champion.
There is nothing that swims that “King Coles” can’t catch.
Looking through his album there were monster Longtail Tuna, Mac Tuna, giant Bream, Mulloway, Drummer, Snapper, Threadfin Salmon, Giant Trevally, Queenfish, Estuary Bass from the upper reaches, New Zealand Trout and Mangrove Jack from Coffs Harbour.
Even thumping blue swimmer and mud crabs.
Nothing is safe when the Coles crew is on the water.
All fish, caught on lures, are released – not so the crabs.
Last week, accompanied by son Mat, the pair focused their efforts on catching and releasing big flatheads – the results are spectacular.
Over the period of the week, moving around the Port, the team landed ten “lizards”, the smallest being 80cms.
The complete catch for the week: 98cm, 93cms, 90cms, 93cms, 89cms, 87cms, 83cms, 81cms and 80cms.
Anyone would be excited to catch one of these fish.
It was interesting to learn that one of the 93cm flatheads had a tag, so details were sent to DPI Fisheries.
I am waiting to hear where and when the monster was tagged.
If there is a better flathead fishery in this country than Port Stephens, I would like to know where it is.
By John Stinker CLARKE
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