SPRING! – this is a great time of the year although I really can’t complain too much about what has been a remarkably mild winter.

These coming months are the most exciting on my fishing calendar.

Fish and crabs are arriving for the summer season while others are just about to pack up and leave because it’s getting too warm.

Some fish enjoy it so much here in Port Stephens that they will stick around for the entire year.

In other words there is a bit of a fish traffic jam in the Port, on the beaches, off the rocky foreshore, over the outer reefs and around the outer islands.

The fishing here is fantastic.

A warm welcome to our holiday makers and weekend visitors, many of you I am sure, have packed a few rods and reels for the family fishing excursions.

This may well be your first experience of fishing inside the boundaries of a marine park.

In 2007 the Port Stephens – Great Lakes Marine Park was declared, much to the concern of some recreational fishermen, who were of the opinion that the declaration would mean the end of fishing in Port Stephens.

Sixteen years down the track and Port Stephens remains the iconic fishing haven that it has been for over 150 years.

The exciting waters in and around Port Stephens continue to cater for all levels of interest and expertise, from the danglers, who prefer to gather on the jetties and breakwalls, to the “full on” anglers who are keen for the challenges offered outside the harbour.

To give you a basic idea – the Marine Park extends from Birubi, in the northern corner of Stockton Beach to Cape Hawke near Forster.

The Park extends three nautical miles to sea and includes Smiths Lake, the Myall Lakes and the entire Port Stephens system and all its feeder streams.

Simply, every drop of water that you can see is a part of the Port Stephens – Great Lakes Marine Park.

What you want to know is – can we go fishing and boating in a Marine Park?

The answer is – yes you can.

In fact you are encouraged to.

It is however very important that you realise that approximately seventeen percent of that huge Marine Park area has been set aside as a Sanctuary Zone.

A No Take Zone, where it is illegal to catch fish, crabs, lobsters, squid or to remove anything at all.

Thousands of free maps are available to you at Bait and Tackle outlets, Tourist Information Centres, news agencies, NSW Fisheries and the National Parks and Marine Parks offices on the waterfront in Teramby Street, Nelson Bay.

These maps mark the Sanctuary Zones and the restrictions imposed.

Can you go into a Sanctuary Zone?

The answer is – yes you can, as long as you don’t attempt to take anything out.

Please familiarise yourself with the restrictions as I don’t want you to lose your hard earned dollar in fines.

That reminds me.

Make sure that you and your gang have a Fishing License.

SO, WHAT’S BITIN’?

Inside the Port the fishing scene is hot and getting hotter.

Big dusky flatheads are drifting into the harbour from the rich feeder streams that meander through the mangrove forests at the back of the port.

Thumpers, keen to attack pilchards or plastics, are waiting for you in the Karuah River, Tilligerry Creek, Bagnalls Beach, Shoal Bay and Jimmys Beach and the Myall River on the north side.

The duskies have plenty of company with whiting, bream and luderick cruising along the breakwalls.

Mulloway are ravenous in the deep water around Middle Island, Soldiers Point and the Karuah Bridges.

Blue swimmer crabs will arrive in droves any day now.

It’s time for the beaches to load up with summer whiting, fishcakes (salmon) and scary mulloway.

Savage worms are by far the best all round bait on a rising tide.

The most popular and productive beaches are Stockton, One Mile, Fingal and Hawks Nest.

Outside the heads the snapper fishing is sensational from Fishermens Bay to Seal Rocks.

You will find me off the Outer Light at Fingal – however Fishermens Bay, Boulder Bay and the outer islands Boondelbah, Little Island and Broughton are special spots.

Sand flathead are going crackers on all the popular drifts, particularly One Mile, Little Island and Broughton north.

For a more accurate description and GPS marks drop in to any of the local Bait and Tackle outlets.

If you see a beat up, little tin boat named “Stinkpot” floating around Fingal – it’s me!

Give me a wave and come and say “G’day” – I’m never in a hurry.

By John ‘Stinker’ CLARKE