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Safety Bay Western Australia

Safety Bay has changed a lot over the last ten years, in particular out from the safety bay yacht club a small sand spit has been gradually growing over time into what now is known in the local area as tern or Dunger Island. Up until six months ago this little sand island was separated by a channel about 10 metres wide, which you could cross comfortably at low tide. Today it is touching the safety bay shoreline and parking is right at the crossing point.

The island is quite diverse considering it is only approximately 100metres long and 20metres wide. It has little bays and flats, in fact if you fish facing back to the shore on the left hand side of the island it drops into quite deep water and I have pulled many whiting/ herring and flounder out of it. As you walk further out the area is riddled with small sand flats that just cry out flathead. Im yet to land one from there but my time will come! On the most western tip of tern island is where I have had most success, this is where the sand spit goes below the surface of the water and travels out for over 100metres towards the Murray reef system. On both sides the water drops of to about 1.5mts and is prime King George country, full of broken patches of weed and clean white sand. I have caught King George to 40cms , tailor up to 1kg, yellowfin whiting and flounder from the spot and it produces time after time.

This spring Dunger has seen a huge amount of fishing pressure with people realising that it is a great little spot. Unfortunately the crowds also turn up the slime of the fishing culture. Those who choose that the rules dont apply to them and take everything that swims, these people need to wake up to themselves and learn that by continuing to take undersize fish and well over their bags limits from these precious little eco systems we will see these areas quickly die and become FISHLESS!!!!!! A little harsh you may say, well everyone is entitled to their own opinions but these rules are set in place for a reason, in twenty years I would like to go back to Dunger if the sea doesn't re-claim it and fish with my son and maybe his and still be able to catch a feed!!

Back to the shoreline of Safety Bay and up towards Penguin Island, Mersey point is a popular haunt for fly fisherman now, many a still morning you can see a couple of fishos happily flicking around their wands in hope of flathead or flounder and many are having success on whiting as well. Mersey point is the sand bar that separates the mainland from Penguin Island and would have to be at least 300mts long. It varies in depth from ankle deep to chest deep in a few places. At times it can be treacherous on the bar and they recommend that you dont cross it, there have been drownings there in the past with people getting swept off the bar and dragged out to sea. Often the problem is just using a little common sense and dont go out of your depth, watch where you are walking and you wont have a problem.

Around the corner you move into Shoalwater bay and it is also a great area for wading the shallows for whiting. Generally from late November through to March the area has plenty of big fat juicy yellowfin whiting and many are getting caught on a fly rod now. The most popular fly is a small clouser in either chartreuse or pink. On spinning gear bait is the most popular method and tubeworms or river prawns and the killer baits.

Safety Bay and its surrounding areas are unique coastal eco systems and receive very little pressure from industry, and in turn the area is still pristine. Lets keep it like that and return all unwanted fish to the water!!!!!

With thanks

All text is Courtesy of Dennis Havery and Ian Bailey

Source http://members.iinet.net.au/~tugboat/

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