OVER the next couple of months Port Stephens will be experiencing a huge rise in population as visitors from near and far arrive to experience the wonders of this magnificent area.

Many, I am sure will be armed to the teeth with all the fishing gear to target the snapper off our coastline.

Those with suitable boats will no doubt head to snapper central – Broughton Island.

Before you head off there are a few things you need to know.

Broughton Island has been a fishing paradise for as long as records have been kept.

Firstly, the Worimi people, followed by the Chinese in the early to mid 1800s, then the Italians from 1893.

Greeks and Europeans set up small fishing communities at the turn of the century.

Frenchmen spent time on the island in 1906, introducing rabbits, in a failed attempt to discover a virus that would free the mainland of the ongoing rabbit plague.

The Frenchmen left the island but the rabbits stayed and continued to grow in healthy numbers grazing on the native vegetation.

Rats invaded the island and became a major concern around the shacks and also to nesting birds, particularly the fairy penguin and the shearwaters.

In 2009 National Parks and Wildlife took up the challenge with a baiting program to rid the island of the feral animals.

All reports continue to suggest that the program has been a great success, which I’m sure would be greatly appreciated by the native flora and fauna.

Referred to as Long Island by the commercial fishers, Broughton still has much to offer, 150 years later.

For recreational fishers the snapper fishing remains fantastic with thumping “reddies” swimming up from the bottom to smash lightly weighted baits metres from the surface.

Big prawns, fresh bonito and squid baits will be attacked seconds after hitting the water.

Rat kingfish can be expected to join the party accompanied by the odd monster kingy that hit the bait and keep going. Resident sand flathead litter the sand drifts to the north.

The magnificent beaches on the island are alive with cracker whiting that swim along the sandy stretches in less than a metre of water.

Rock fishing provides drummer, groper and snapper for those who try.

To preserve this wonderful fishery, bag and size limits are enforced along with possession limits.

Possession limits particularly apply to those who remain on the island overnight or for any extended period of time.

Possession limits are equivalent to one day’s bag limit.

If there are two in the boat your possession is doubled.

Keep in mind that you are in a Marine Park and that certain areas that surround the island are designated Sanctuary Zones.

Free maps are available from all Bait and Tackle outlets so don’t get caught in the wrong place.

Pleading ignorance rarely works these days.

Broughton Island is a fragile environment which demands respect from all who choose to visit.
Contact Port Stephens Marine Rescue on leaving the Port, on your arrival on the island and again when you return.

The eight nautical miles to the island can become very unfriendly at times.

Stay safe and enjoy the remarkable experience.

By John ‘Stinker’ CLARKE