Eyre Peninsula - Fishing Frenzie

We were given a set of fishing rods for Christmas (Thanks, Pa!) so Luke strapped them up in a piece of poly pipe and bought them back on the plane the last time we were home. And gee did they get a work out on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula!

The Eyre Peninsula is a triangle piece of land, with the Spencer Gulf on it's East and the Great Australian Bight on the West, with the Gawler Ranges in the North, discovered by Edward John Eyre. Known for its farming and fishing industries, it probably wasn't the greatest timing for us to visit the region with South Australia in the middle of it's worst heat wave in something like 40 years. We had nine consecutive days where temperatures were over 36 degrees. Yep, pretty darn hot. But it also gave us ample reason to really lap up and enjoy the beautiful waterways on the Peninsula because going for a dip was the only way to cool off. Oh, and we did a spot of fishing too.

So Luke's never been a terribly keen fisherman. Sure, he enjoys throwing a line in at his parent's place on the river in Cundletown but he's not one of those crazy obsessive types who live and breath tidal charts and bait variations. Until now. Let's just say Luke became slightly 'hooked' on catching the elusive big one and every time we pulled up at a spot for longer than five minutes, he'd say, "I think this is it. I think this is the place where we'll catch a great feed. I've got a really good feeling about this place. Just an hour, I promise," and drag me out onto the wharf, lathered in suncream to try our luck.

Here's how we went:

EYRE PENINSULA FISHING DIARY

Day 1

Where: Whyalla

Temperature: 39 degrees

What: The second biggest town on the Peninsula, Whyalla is a busy shipping port, but the huge variations in tides meant unless you had a tinny, it was hard to drop a line in. Suffice to say, we spent our day swimming instead.

Fish tally: Luke - 0 Odette - 0

Day 2
Where: Tumby Bay

Temperature: 38 degrees

What: After Whyalla, the towns grew smaller and were more spaced out then before (about 40km at least in between places). Tumby Bay was a quaint, lazy fishing town with a population of 200. It had a really relaxing vibe about it and the caravan park was right on the water. We met a guy on the wharf who was in his sixties and had never lived anywhere else. He made the trip to the local jetty every afternoon after work to put his line in and told us that he didn't know life was meant to be this good.

Fish tally: Luke - 2 (both Rock Cods) Odette - 1 (a Taylor - extra small)

Day 3

Where: Port Lincoln

Temperature: 39 degrees

What: Port Lincoln is the biggest town on the Peninsula, with both a Coles and Woothworths and even a Country Target! We watched the local Aboriginal kids spear fishing in the inlet for a while and playing off the jetty - the heat didn't phase them at all! Fishing charters are really popular on these crystal blue waters, but with Luke's new found fishing prowess, we took to the jetty solo style.

Fishing tally: Luke - 2 (both Tommy ruffs) Odette - 0 (But I did get a very nice picture of the passing pelicans. Like that counts!)

Day 4

Where: Coffin Bay

Temperature: 40 degrees

What: Coffin Bay is about 40 kilometers out of Port Lincoln, on the tip of the Peninsula and has a series of inlets and beaches - all stunning. The town has a population of 400 but this swells to about 4000 during holiday times. The National Park is really beautiful and worth a visit and again, the caravan park is right on the water, so guess how we spent the afternoon? This place was a favourite for us. I'd love to go back and stay a week.

Fish tally: Luke - 5 ( a couple of Whiting and an Ocean Trout, which we ate for dinner. Yay!) Odette - 3 (All whiting)

Day 6
Where: Elliston

Temperature: 39 degrees

What: The drive from Coffin Bay to Elliston was sooooo hot. The water spray bottle was in overdrive and we had to stop a few times to refill our drink bottles so we didn't evaporate into thin air. We braved a six kilometer dirt track detour to see some impressive caves and amazing surf beaches (a favourite breeding spot for the Great White) and we also saw a poor kangaroo who'd gotten himself into a bit of a pickle on a sheep fence...

Fish tally: Luke - 0 Odette - 0 (This was despite spending about 3 hours with our rods in the water on the jetty and beach)

Day 5

Where: Ceduna

Temperature: 40 degrees

What: After being turned away from Smokey Bay and Sneaky Bay caravan parks because they were both full, we made the trek to Ceduna a day early. The caravan park was on the water again, and we spent 2 days fishing and getting organised to cross the Nullabor. Alas, the only big fish we'd seen in days (a snook) fell off my line as I was pulling him in (Promise!) so we ate salt and pepper squid at the local pub that night instead.

Fish tally: Luke - 6 (We're not sure what the real name of these fish were but the local Aboriginal women who were fishing with their hand lines near us said they call them 'Shitties') Odette - 5 (All Shitties)

Okay so we didn't have glorious seafood feasts each night while we were on the Peninsula, but Luke promises me that it must have been the bait and that we'll have much better luck in W.A. Oh, I can't wait!

Nullabor here we come! Yikes!

Yours in the great outdoors or as Rex Hunt would say, Ayibbita, yibbita, that's all folks,

Odette