Western Eyre Fishing Tours - Fishing At Olive Island

It's one of South Australia's best known fishing towns with a steady stream of hopefuls arriving at Streaky Bay in search of a good haul of whiting or snapper. And it seems the word has spread to faraway shores with this lone Japanese cyclist having made his way to this West Coast retreat. From the balcony of the Streaky Bay Community Hotel/Motel you get a great view of the town's imposing jetty where fishermen have tied up for generations.

And across the road at the Shell Service Station and Tourism Centre a reminder of some of the bigger fish to be caught in these waters. This is a replica of a white pointer caught by young Dion Gilmore, seen here with his father Trevor, back in the days before sharks were protected. To land a monster like this, you need to know how to fish, but then Dion's had good training, his father is one of the legends of the West Coast.

"Now what I reckon we'll do Ron is just pull these pots. There'll probably be a couple of crabs in them and then we'll go straight out to Olive before the wind gets up".

Earlier this year, I set off with Trevor for Olive Island, but not before doing what everyone does here, checking the nets for blue swimmer crabs.

"Is that a bluey?"

"That's a bluey yer, are we gonna measure him are we?"

"Is that a sand crab?"

Four year old Zack, Trevor's grandson has come along for the ride, and has bought every fish measuring device imaginable.

"Abalone you name it, he's very confident".

And so he should be because Trevor's done about every kind of fishing to be done in these waters. He had the first oyster lease in Streaky Bay, one of the original west coast abalone licences and has been a commercial fisherman for twenty years. Now he ventures out to the edge of the continental shelf in search of giant crabs. But today, we're having plenty of success with the smaller variety.

Peter Giles, better known as "Meggsie" runs his own charter operation, but has tagged along as well because any trip to Olive Island is a special treat. As we approach a large male sea lion keeps watch. It's here that Trevor and Meggsie's knowledge of this area proves invaluable. Olive Island was named after the ships clerk on board the Investigator when Matthew Flinders charted this coast nearly two hundred years ago. Flinders would have given this a wide berth because it's really a thirty metre high rock surrounded by other submerged rocks and reefs. And it's the perfect breeding ground for seals.

"So these are a couple of New Zealand Fur Seals?"
"That's right"
"And they extend right around KI as well?"
"Right around KI and I think right down into Bass Straight"

But it's the massive Sea Lions which seem most at home here and Trevor manages to find a way into one of their favourite secluded bays. But before anchoring, I need assurance that we're welcome here.

"But when I do jump off, they're not going to take offence?"
"No, no"
"You're deadly sure about that?"
"I'm deadly certain about that"

At first , it's wary eyes all round, but true to his word within minutes Trevor's in the water. I kept an eye on this bloke for a while, but later just had to join in for what is a truly special experience.

"There's abut three round here, it's an amazing experience because they come out of the mist and their right in your face with these big doe like eyes, amazing creatures. And they can turn on a sixpence, and their out of there".

But there are time especially when a big male cruises by that I suddenly remember that thing hanging in the Shell Road house back at Streaky. After all, these delightful creatures are what great whites feed on. But today big blokes like this are more concerned about others muscling in on their harem.

"So, there's a few bulls that have their own patch?"

"They certainly do".

"And that other bloke out on the rocks, he's not yet Ö?"

"He's a sub adult, a sub adult male".

"So, I suppose there'd be a few blues out here?"

"Oh yer."

"That's a young one letting it's mother know that it's hungry I think".

And it's not the only youngster on the island waiting for a feed. Zack didn't have to go far to find these little guys.

"It goes under water, there's two".

"Two"

"Yet two"

It's enough to send Jack into a penguin spotting frenzy. Come night time, they'll be off in search of food, and by day it's out of the way of predators. As Trevor points out, to help protect such a marvellous marine environment, visitors should play it safe.

"There's not too many people that visit this area. In fact if you wanted to come out you've really go to notify the Parks and Wildlife that you're coming out here as we've done, then they'll say if there's any problems coming out, no they're quite happy for you to come out here".

"Well as you can see, the coastline and the water round here. If you're not sure where you're going, you'll come unstuck pretty quick, so it does pay to have local knowledge for sure".

It was hard to leave a spot like this, but on the way back we took in Cape Bauer, named after Ferdinand Bauer, an Australian painter on board the Investigator with Flinders who sketched many of the plants and animals seen along this coast. Later a spot of fishing just outside Streaky Bay, and with these blokes, you don't wait long.

"Nice Whiting Ron".

"Beautiful, absolutely, that's yours.

"Now we've got to find yours, do we?"

"Exactly".

Not a bad day, plenty of crabs, whiting and unmatched coastal scenery. If you want to sample just some of this, then give Peter Giles, or Meggsie to his mates a call. He runs charters out of nearby Sceale Bay. You can contact Western Eyre Fishing Tours on 08 8626 5030

A night at the Streaky Bay Community Hotel Motel costs between sixty six and eighty two dollars fifty. To book contact 8626 1008 or email info@postcards.sa.com.au

Western Eyre Fishing Tours Sceale Bay, Eyre Peninsula SA Contact Peter "Meggsie" Giles Phone 08 8626 5030