dogbox Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 Hi Raiders I'm considering driving up from Sydney to Nelson Bay and travelling by boat for a 3 night stay camping on Broughton Island fishing the surrounding area. I wondering if any raiders have done this before and if you could offer any advice. Dogbox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paikea Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 Yep, been there and done that with my son some 35 years ago. Esmeralda cove is a lovely spot to camp in. When you are mooring your boat for the night make sure that you set fore and aft anchors as it can blow up overnight. I anchored the Savage Escort that I had at the time by diving down to ensure that the bow anchor was well set. (put the stern anchor on a long rope and dug it in on the beach. Only relatively shallow but got the fright of my life when a big black ray passes over me. He was that big that my son who was snorkelling on the surface said it completely hid me from view. We did not do so well fishing however I feel sure that some of our Raiders who live at Port Stevens will be more than happy to point you in the right direction. Cheers Paikea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchie Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 Possibly the best fishing destination in the world. Paikea is right about anchoring and the wind coming up at night. There are also no fuel service available up there, so that's something else to think of. The eastern side of the island is a santuary zone and often patrolled. If you decide to go, let me know as I have a few gps marks I'm happy to share! Cheers scratchie!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormy Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 I went there a few years ago to spend 3 nights. Ended up being a week, as the weather turned nasty and we couldn't leave. We stayed in one of the cabins. Took a LOT of ice with us and it was still ice at the end of the week. Got good snapper, kingfish, bream, flathead etc which were all iced down and in perfect condition. Those black rays are indeed massive and clean up fish frames like a vacuum cleaner. The back beach is great for SP fishing for flathead and a variety of lure smashing species. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbox Posted August 18, 2014 Author Share Posted August 18, 2014 Thanks guys I thinking of going around late September weather permitting. Camping on the island has me a little nervous as there are no facilities other than the island toilet. Its been along time since I remote camped and the thought of forgetting something or getting trapped by weather for longer than expected has me a little tentative. None of my mates will come camping on the island so I maybe looking to do it alone. I have fished broughton island once for a day and recon that the size of fishing grounds needs a few days exportation to suss out the good spots. Dogbox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VViCKiD Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Hi all, a quick question that maybe dog box didn't consider, but how do u get all your camping gear off the boat from the public mooring? I had a look at Esmeralda bay on google satellite and it looks tricky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormy Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Pull the boat up on the beach, hop into the water and carry the gear off. Then motor out to the mooring and swim back in to shore. Easy. That's what we did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VViCKiD Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Ohhhh I see.. Didn't realise u need to swim in/out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smasher Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 Hi Raiders, I'm planning a trip out to this island on a calm weekend and have a few questions: From what I've seen / read there are moorings in Esmeralda cove. Are these fairly new? Is there any issue with hitching up to one for the night - or is there a chance someone might come along and tell me to bugger off? Does it get busy on weekends in Spring? I plan to sleep on the boat rather than camp on the island itself. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickmarlin62 Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 you can anchor up with the crowd in esmerelda or use coal shaft bay on southern side or little cove tucked in eastern end of longest beach on north side...depends which way the wind is blowing..i sleep in my boat up there all the time..throw second anchor so you don't drift if wind changes..others have woken up on the beach..rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smasher Posted July 30, 2017 Share Posted July 30, 2017 Thanks rick. Which boat ramp in Port Stephens has the safest car park to leave your vehicle in overnight? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickmarlin62 Posted July 30, 2017 Share Posted July 30, 2017 probably little beach..even then I would try and park out on street up from boat ramp...we use shoal bay and park up in side st 80mtrs from ramp..rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbox Posted July 30, 2017 Author Share Posted July 30, 2017 I've camp here a few times, don't worry about the snakes their grass snakes and the birds come out at night can be noisey be careful at the shore when loading or unloading there are rocks that can damage your boat at low tide when choosing a morning ask the people that stay in the shacks they will tell you which one to use Dogbox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spearer1 Posted August 17, 2017 Share Posted August 17, 2017 Recommended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berleyguts Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 19 hours ago, Spearer1 said: Recommended. Which bay is that? Looks wonderful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regan Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 20 hours ago, Spearer1 said: Recommended. wow that is beutiful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
back cruncher Posted August 19, 2017 Share Posted August 19, 2017 Hi all...esmerelda bay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berleyguts Posted August 19, 2017 Share Posted August 19, 2017 1 hour ago, back cruncher said: Hi all...esmerelda bay Thanks. Gonna give that a go when it's warmer. Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welster Posted August 19, 2017 Share Posted August 19, 2017 On 17/08/2017 at 9:40 PM, Spearer1 said: Recommended. Looks perfect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARC H Posted August 19, 2017 Share Posted August 19, 2017 wow awesome pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickmarlin62 Posted August 20, 2017 Share Posted August 20, 2017 coal shaft is even better less people..rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
back cruncher Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 Hi all...and more room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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