COMPLETED in the mid-1980s the Nelson Bay Breakwall has evolved into what I consider to be the best artificial reef on the coast.

Prior to the breakwall it was not uncommon to see trawlers and game fishing boats washed up on Nelson Bay Beach following periods of sustained, strong, westerly winds.

The calm, warm waters behind the breakwall in the Marina provide ideal conditions for monster flathead to snuggle into the sandy bottom and wait in ambush for the arrival of unsuspecting mullet and small baitfish to swim by.

It is on the port side of the breakwall that the fishing opportunities are unlimited.

Snapper, kingfish, mulloway, tailor and trevally are regularly bounced up the rocky wall.

All the fishing talk through the winter months focuses on luderick and to a lesser extent bream.

I went for a wander along the breakwall last weekend and witnessed more fishing excitement than I have for quite some time.

The car park was full and the breakwall was bristling with rods, scoop nets and trolleys of all shapes and sizes.

The great attraction was that the luderick were biting like crazy. Every second rod was bowed into a shaking semicircle and the lines were strained under the pressure of a cracker luderick.

Never had I seen so much fishing action in one spot.

I decided to count how many were fishing from one end to the other.

Hazard a guess.

You will be as amazed as I was.

Those not tangling with luderick were bagging thumping great bream that were biting their heads off on cooked prawns.

I think everyone I saw had at least some fish in their bucket.

So how many do you think were fishing along the wall?

Can you believe there were 70!

By John ‘Stinker; CLARKE