fishsong Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Hi Raiders, I'm heading up to Port Stephens for a family holiday and was wondering if anyone knows any good lb spots in the area? Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berleyguts Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Rocks, beach, or estuary? With the wife and nippers or just you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishsong Posted February 8, 2010 Author Share Posted February 8, 2010 anywhere mate.. i guess it has to be safe coz the might come along. Appreciate the help. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berleyguts Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 OK. It always pays to ask at the local bait & tackle stores to find out what's about. There's one (a sports store) on the main drag just across from the marina and another on the road the post office is in, up near the servo (Shell I think). There is a local guide of sorts, named 'Stinker' who writes reports in the local paper I think - you could probably find something useful on him - possibly even at the tourist information centre. I assume you are staying in Nelson Bay or Shoal Bay or thereabouts, not on the north side... I can't tell you what's biting where at the moment but for landbased spots with the and kids it would be hard to go past the wharf at the co-op, or the breakwall in front of the marina. You can't fish within the marina itself, which is a shame as there are some monster bream in there. The old marlin wharf at Shoal Bay is worth a go too and the beach at Shoal Bay is sheltered and is a good spot to educate the kids in fishing. Up around Salamander Bay/Corlette and up to Soldiers Point, you can find some quiet flats to flick lures for flathead, bream and whiting. I have also berleyed up with bread and used fine waggle floats for mullet and garfish. Word of warning: find out where the marine parks are, as there are a lot of restrictions and I am not up to speed with them as I have not fished there for a couple of years now. For beach fishing, Fingal Bay is OK and if the tide is right and you are careful you can fish along the spit and even wade out to the island. Be careful not to get stuck though! The rocks to the south of Fingal (walk through Barry Park) are reasonably safe to fish and I have pulled good bream and pigs out of there. When we die, my wife and I both want our ashes scattered there. There are also beaches further south and you can gather worms, pippies - just look for the gutters to fish... With the wife and kids, I would advise against hitting the popular land-based game spots around the gun turrets on Tomaree headland and further south but if you are so equipped, why not? But you can fish along the rocks inside the Port, near the asylum for bream etc. Just don't get mistaken for someone else by the men in white coats! One thing I recommend to anyone visiting Port Stephens is to take a mask and snorkel and visit Fly Point on a morning high tide. Take some bread and feed the fish. Even if you don't snorkel and just walk into the water, you will be amazed at the fish! If you are a fisherman - a visit to Fly Point is a must! Go an hour either side of high tide - the current can get a bit strong at other times. It is am aquatic reserve, so no fishing! Tight lines. Baz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishsong Posted February 8, 2010 Author Share Posted February 8, 2010 Berleyguts, Thanks for all your tips.. you're a legend! All I have to do now is catch some fish Even though i would love to go lb game fishing, i dont think we'll have the time too... However I'll take my heavy gear just in case. I'll certainly take up my snorkeling gear and check out Fingal Bay. Hopefully the weather is not to bad. Also thanks for the advice on checking out the marine reserves, the last thing i want on this trip is a big fat fine! Thanks for all your help. Greatly appreciated. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berleyguts Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Berleyguts,Thanks for all your tips.. you're a legend! All I have to do now is catch some fish Even though i would love to go lb game fishing, i dont think we'll have the time too... However I'll take my heavy gear just in case. I'll certainly take up my snorkeling gear and check out Fingal Bay. Hopefully the weather is not to bad. Also thanks for the advice on checking out the marine reserves, the last thing i want on this trip is a big fat fine! Thanks for all your help. Greatly appreciated. Cheers For the snorkelling, whilst you can snorkel at Fingal Bay, what I was referring to was Fly Point, in the Port itself, east of the marina, off Victoria Parade from memory, before you get to Little Bay/Halifax Park. Ask at the dive shop. Cheers, Baz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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