Gascoyne Coast
Visit beautiful Exmouth
580
EXMOUTH
Jeni Gates
FUNSEEKER
SPECIFICATIONS • BEAM – 2400mm • DEPTH – 1600mm • BOTTOM – 4.0mm 5083 • WEIGHT KG BOAT ONLY – 600KG • SIDES – 4.0mm • PEOPLE – 5 • MAX HP – 90
• SHAFT – X LONG
CALL YOUR LOCAL DEALER TODAY Dinghy World 252 Canning Highway Como 6152 Perth City, WA Phone: (08) 9367 6555
For more information visit www.stessl.com.au 34
MARCH 2019
We managed to stay clear of a few cyclones early in the season, so let’s hope it stays that way. Cyclones can be daunting and unpredictable, but they are a part of the yearly calendar that the locals have to be prepared for in the north of the country. If you are a visitor to the region through this time, don’t be alarmed, but do ensure you have travel insurance in case it is a severe weather system. Generally speaking, cyclones are relatively quick for us in Exmouth and can pass swiftly with little effect. It can bring on the fishing prior and post event, as the fish seem to go in to a frenzy before and after it gets rough. March is the event month for Exmouth, with the major tournament of GAMEX each year, along with a smaller three-day billfish event. If you have never fished GAMEX, you should, as it is the premier game fishing event in WA! Teams from all over the country and overseas compete each year for the $100k+ worth of prizes on offer while fishing for over
Chinaman are just one of the amazing species that call Exmouth waters home. 40 different game species on all line classes. If tournaments do not take your fancy, then it is a great time to be here regardless. April, of course, is what I call my favourite month of the year, with temperatures still warm and generally calmer with more periods of glamour weather (touch wood!) Camping on the beach is sensational at this time, and shore-based fishing is very productive, not to mention pleasant. Fly fishing is very rewarding and April can see some of the best times to be wading the flats either
on the west side or in the gulf for a wide range of fish, including the highly sought after species such as bonefish and permit. No matter what time of year you come to Exmouth, make sure you catch up with the locals to find out what is biting where. • For more up to the minute information on what is biting and where, drop into Bluewater Tackle World Exmouth and have a chat to the friendly and informative staff. They are located at 3 Maley St Exmouth and can be contacted at (08) 9949 1315.
FISHING NEWS
Artificial Reef update Ecologically sustainable coastal infrastructure such as living harbours and fish friendly marinas are receiving global focus from stakeholders. Purpose-built artificial reefs can be deployed into marina’s and harbours to create habitat and stimulate increases in the number and types of fish in the local area. This study assessed changes to habitats (seaweeds, seagrass and sand cover), macroinvertebrates (e.g. sea snails, sponges, corals, sea squirts) and fish communities at an artificial reef in Port Coogee, Western Australia. The Port Coogee Maritime Trail was built in 2016 by Cockburn City Council and Subcon International, establishing the Oceania region’s largest marina habitat project. Funding was received from Lotteries West and Subcon International to support the project. The diversity and abundance of macroinvertebrates increased on the artificial reef after installation but remained reasonably constant at nearby locations. This change at the artificial reef was driven by an influx of colourful sea squirts, sponge and sea snail
species, popular with divers and snorkelers. For fish, an increase in diversity and abundance occurred at all sites over the duration of the survey. A greater number of recreationally targeted fish were observed after implementation of a new fishing closure around the reef, the adjacent breakwater and the historic Omeo shipwreck. A number of species popular with recreational fishers and snorkelers were recorded on the artificial reef following its installation, including; crested and dusky morwongs, western king wrasse, mullet, whiting, western striped grunter, trevally, tarwine, pink snapper, juvenile baldchin grouper, seapike and snook. Many of these species were not recorded, or were recorded in low numbers, at the artificial
reef location prior to its installation. The habitat, macroinvertebrate and fish species recorded at the Port Coogee artificial reef changed from being similar to the adjacent sandy bay to being more similar to established reef-like structures such as the breakwater and the historic Omeo wreck. Continued assessment of in the marine community is planned at this location and will provide further insights into the ecological value of habitat enhancement to coastal infrastructure, to recreational activities including diving and snorkelling in the Perth Metropolitan area and into positive effects of fishing protection. – University of Western Australia