The tide was almost at the top when I finallly arrived, and there were mobs of asian fishos with floats on their rods, fishing for ....... blackfish. Also a couple of Lebanese guys who were not too friendly at all. No worries. Rigged up and commenced catching blackfish. Got 8 in 2 hours and tossed three back, keeping five. Had some for dinner tonight. Deeelish.
longer version -
Went over to the eastern surbs for a doctors appointment yesterday, and after speaking to a mate, decided to have an hour or so at La Perouse on the way back home.
The tide was almost at the top when I finally arrived, and there were mobs of asian fishos with floats on their rods, fishing for ....... blackfish. Also a couple of other fishos whose first language wasn't english, and who were not too friendly at all. No worries. Rigged up and commenced catching blackfish. Was sworn at in english (evidently I was "the visitor")but managed to catch my bag.Got 8 in 2 hours and tossed three back, keeping five.
I have never seen so many people in one place. The swells still came through regularly, so you had to keep an eye open to the dangers. The asian guys were friendly and mostly followed etiquite suggestions about not casting over the top of my float and to keep moving along the shelf as their floats drifed on the tide. I was a little perturbed at their outfits though. They had plates on their shoes (snow crampirons )but also had on full plastic wet weather gear and even waders. I shudder to think what would happen if one got washed in. The other two aggressive gents ate their lunch before packing up to go and left their plastic bags, food scraps, a bucketload of peanut shells and scrap fishing line and hook packets etc on the rocks. As they walked past me, I mentioned that they should take their rubbish with them. Thought I was going to get knifed. They left it there. A couple of Lebanese guys asked for some advice on setting up their gear to fish for blackfish. They had just bought a 6ft rod with a tiny eggbeater reel and 12lb line. He had tied on the bubble float and hook with 'granny knots' but had no idea how the reel worked. I got him to cut off the sinker, float and hook and then thread the line under the bail arm and back through the rod runners. They were heading off to the shelf. I suggested that it was way too dangerous for them to try that, having never fished before. They listened, and went off to fish by the bridge. Another family of non Australian background came down to watch the fishermen and a wave almost knocked the young girl over on the rocks. They all had fits of laughter, as I headed off. - Lemme out of here.
I am singling out the non Aussie element at this location (and no doubt many others which are easily accessed by the general public) as places where tragedy can and does occur. It is a fact that many of the rock fatalities comprise of a certain ethnic group, and having witnessed the behaviour yesterday, I can see that a total lack of education and knowledge of fishing and rock fishing in particular can be attributed to these tragedies. (btw: I am a non aussie too - except maybe not. I do have a document which states that I am now a dinky di aussie)
The island looked like a refuse tip. What a shame. I have fished there many times in years gone by and it must be 20 yrs since my previous trip there. What a difference!!! The fish are still there though.
I think I will just fish at my usual haunts in the future.
But none were ever born in the ghetto. hahahahaha
All I said, was "can you take your rubbish with you", not - "hey you *%@##$, don't leave your crap all over the rocks."