May 2 - 9
Point Turton
Ph 88545222
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Pleasure Fishing Group Report for May 2 – 8th, 2011
Once again the ARPA Pleasure Fishing Group converged on the Point Turton Caravan Park for a week of socializing, fishing, and relaxation.
Margaret and Bob having arrived on the previous Wednesday, organized a dinner at the Warooka Hotel for the Saturday evening. When we arrived on Sunday 1st, Roly was already out on the jetty in his usual spot fishing and Margaret and John were getting in some practice before the competition started on the Tuesday.
Total fish caught during competition hours was 266 and 6 squid, but these were only reeled in after hours of patient casting and lots of "lost" nibbles. Congratulations to Mary B. for catching the largest fish (a flathead) measuring 51cm. Gerald W. had the largest catch for the men measuring a 44cm salmon.
Although the fishing on and near the jetty was sparse, the wonderful sights that the people in the vicinity saw was amazing. Nearly every morning, schools of salmon swam in and around the bay, sometimes chased by pods of dolphins; other times the fish just created a loud maelstrom, as though a flock of birds were flapping their wings on the surface of the water. When the schools had passed, the water returned to utter calm as though it was a mill pond. There was great excitement when a lucky fisherman pulled in a salmon.
Claire J’s unusual catch for the week was a fully rigged-out rod and reel which she pulled in from off the jetty. It was annoying to see the weekend anglers and some older men from the caravan park, going onto the jetty with three or four rods and once out there, spreading them out along the sides, casting out and just letting them float, taking up room. They certainly weren’t able to keep an eye on every rod.
We had very good weather in that there was no wind the whole time we were at Pt Turton. A couple of nights it rained and a few days had passing showers, but at no time was the group confined to vans waiting for the weather to clear.
Bob and Claire J. organized a terrific quiz night which included a local sign segment (I think a lot of us glance at signs and don’t absorb what is written on them) name a famous building/monument around the world and a cryptic question and answer segment. It was a terrific night and quite funny to hear the teams arguing about whether it was Buckingham Palace or not and what the flag on the flagpole stood for. Thanks Bob and Claire for a really great fun night.
Saturday afternoon scones were baked so that Sunday (Mothers Day) morning the group enjoyed a lovely Devonshire morning tea.
We welcome Lyall (resident of Pt Turton Caravan Park) as a new member of ARPA and hope that he can join us at other venues when we meet again.
A spirited group of card players met nearly every night in the camp kitchen made comfortable with Malcolm lighting the heaters. Murray and Joy were missed when they returned early to Adelaide to meet their visiting son from England but Bob, Don, Jim and Tom kept us all entertained throughout each evening with their "tastings" and Bob’s yawning. Thanks everybody for the lovely company, the jokes and the camaraderie that is always present when we get together.
A big thank you once again to the people who donated prizes for the raffle which was won by Mary J. also to Lorraine for making an "Statistician's" T-shirt for Doug who is always on the ball for "fish count and measuring".
Most people left on Sunday to return home but maybe because of the weather and other arrangements, quite a few people stayed on for the following week. I thought you might like to know some of the highlights ;
Gerald who had fished consistently at Magazine Bay for the week, had dutifully set his rod holder up in the sand/pebbles and having cast out, placed his rod in the holder, turned around to check something and heard a noise behind him. Low and behold, his rod was moving out to sea. He raced into the freezing surf (up to the waist) to grab his receding rod only to stand dumbfounded as it whizzed out of reach and off into the blue beyond. It must have been a big one that got away Gerald.
The two Ozzies were in their little rubber dingy placidly fishing the calm waters when a pod of dolphins came along and proceeded to frolic closely around their boat before moving off into deeper water. Margaret said it was the loveliest experience she’s had.
The Brunner’s and Foulkes, heard that mullet had been caught at Leven Beach so determined to find this elusive place they set out on the Tuesday and came across the most beautiful beach surrounded by the conservation park. The mullet and salmon trout were running. We fished off the beach and every cast had a bite. The Brunners came home with a bucketful and the Foulkes with nearly a bucket full. It was magic! (Just like years ago the group was at Marion Bay fishing in front of the caravan park and the mullet were running). Jim smoked some of the fish and people lucky enough to still be at the park where able to sample them. Delicious!
It is always hard to pack up and say goodbye until the next time to such a terrific group of people so thanks everybody for such a great time, even though the fish competition count wasn’t very high the social aspect was terrific.
Rae Brunner.
August 13 - 20
Stansbury
Ph 888524171
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Pleasure Fishing Group Report for August 13 – 20 2011
A cold windy week greeted the 34 members of the ARPA Pleasure Fishing Group, who were brave enough to make the trip. It was typical August weather so we made the most of it.
Stansbury Caravan Park managers Mark and Jenni have transformed the park into a very nice place to be for groups such as ours, and made us very welcome.
Morning teas and afternoon "happy hours" were a beehive of chatter in the lovely camp-kitchen which is well equipped with all the necessities to cater for the patrons of the park.
Wednesday, mid week, was a day to remember. Mark and Jenni put on a BBQ for the group, and the ladies all supplied a salad to share. (see photo)
The raffle was drawn and there were many happy winners.
Outside the wind increased tremendously and annexes started to blow down. The willingness of the group to help one another kicked in and soon all camping gear was secured.
Thursday evening saw the group enjoy a "snitzel night" at the local hotel with lovely fresh salads.
Friday afternoon after happy hour was the presentation of the prestigious "Yellow Jacket" and prize for the longest fish caught for the week. This was won by Les who caught a 41.5cm Salmon, a lovely fish.
Nancy again delighted members with a poem that she wrote whilst in the park.
Unusual things that happened:
Trying to get an extra yard on his cast, Murray's bottom was closely followed by half his rod! All was retrieved safely.
Gerald still insists that it was a large Mulloway that cleared off with his bottom. Most members think that he snared the anchor rope for the pontoon!
All was too much for Ted who fell asleep in his chair on the beach. (see photo)
RJB
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Behind our cabin, in the grass
A Plover has a nest,
Exposed to wind and rain and hail
And every feral pest.
Each year she settles on this place
With four be-speckled eggs,
Her partner guards her from nearby
On coloured, spindly legs.
And suddenly, I had this thought,
From times mankind forgot,
Was this collective memory
That made her choose this spot?
How many years had Plovers come
To raise their young here?
When this was still Godwanaland
And ice-ages were near.
And are we not so much alike?
We tread familiar trails,
Return to places that we know
Pass on family tales.
Like migratory birds we come
To sites we love the most,
The ARPA Pleasure Fishing Club
Descends upon the coast.
We have our favourite fishing haunts
In the north it is Port Broughton,
Marion and Arno Bay,
Victoria and Point Turton.
With caravans and four-wheel drives
At Stansbury we stay,
There are villas with verandahs
And the cabins are ok.
On arrival at our chosen camp
A ritual takes place,
As members kiss and touch and hug
So friendships keep apace.
This bonding is a tribal lore
It holds the club together,
For like the little Plovers
We are birds of a feather.
And at this daily gathering
Are heard the tales of yore,
When Salmon Trout and Tommy Ruff
Would leap out on the shore.
When Salmon came in massive schools
There were Mullet on the boil,
You’d bag out in just half an hour
With very little toil.
The Plover’s eggs may never hatch;
The chicks might not survive,
The parent birds, they will return
To keep their genes alive.
And so too, will the fishermen
In spite of the weather,
Keep gathering at chosen shores
To share good times together.
As for the ARPA Fishing Club
I have a special wish,
That when they next set up their camp,
They’ll catch a lot of fish.
Nancy W
Pleasure Fishing Group Report for November 20–27th 2011
Our November camp was again at Point Turton. We come here often, not because the fishing is particularly good or that it is a place that has little wind, we come because it feels like our fishing home, and we are welcomed and treated by our hosts Malcolm and Jenny as though we are their close friends.
It feels comfortable here and we have developed a routine that we all enjoy.
The club is well named because the pleasure and fishing go hand in hand. If the fish are not responding we are still happy enjoying the pleasure of each others company.
As I am one of the members without a partner I find it a wonderful experience to be so warmly welcomed by everyone, and I look forward to the greeting hugs that are readily given. Our club is growing in number and fifty eight of us were at this camp. The members willingly share the tasks involved in organising the various club activities and the night we go out to dinner. Thanks to Bob, Nancy and June, we had a very enjoyable challenge this year. Before the camp we were asked to submit a photo of ourselves when we were about twenty years old. The photos were displayed and over two days we were required to match member’s names with early photos. No one was able to get a complete match but Wendy and Ross K, who were the winners, got all but three. An unexpected benefit was the opportunity to look into the photos and see what we were all doing roughly fifty years ago. We were also pleased to see what an attractive and handsome group of people we were.
Fishing on the jetty was quiet, particularly through the day. An early start got better results provided you had on enough layers to withstand the cold. Under the watchful eye of jetty fishing coach Roly, some strong family competition developed between Margaret and John M. Neither would leave the jetty until they had as many fish as the other, so it was fitting that they both won the prizes for most fish caught. Wily old Gerald won the yellow jacket for the longest fish which he caught from his favourite spot away from the jetty.
We always spend at least one day trying out Burners beach. A lot of people take their lunch and go early. I decided to wait for what little tide there was and go in the afternoon. When I walked onto the beach I was amazed at the line up of people all fishing so close to one another. Any stray mullet that ventured by would have had trouble finding a way between the lines. The most action we had was when Jan S. managed to hook herself and had to have the hook removed in the Yorktown casualty department. Her Husband David had to defend himself in the showers when he overheard the rumour being spread that he was responsible. Very few mullet were caught that day, but those of us who tried Levens Beach later in the week had better results.
In addition to fishing, our daily activities include a walk to the shop in the morning by the ladies, morning tea at 10am, happy hour at 5pm and cards at 7.30. We had one night out to dinner at the bowling club, and Nancy took this opportunity to deliver her wonderful poem which she dedicated to our good friend Don T. who recently passed away. We were so pleased that Joy was able to be with us and she knows that she has the sympathy and support of us all.
We had a great treat when Margaret B. filled us all with scones, jam and cream one morning and the final night BBQ was amazing, with twenty six salads and enough meat to feed an army. I enjoyed the camp very much and I feel like we have become one big extended family.
Peter Cave
Memories of Point Turton
Dedicated to Don Thorpe
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| We are lucky with the
weather The air is mild and warm, A gentle breeze caresses No threat of wind or storm.
And all along the jetty With rod and line and bait, The optimistic anglers Prepare to stand and wait.
Some come with little trolleys Very fanciful affairs, While others are content To rest on folding chairs.
We’ve been coming here for years The Pleasure Fishing crew, In four wheel drives and caravans Our friendship to renew.
And to catch a feed of fish But if not, it doesn’t matter, There’s the company of friends As we sit around and chatter.
For we are getting older And some of us are frail, It’s hard now to remember When we were fit and hale.
Our grand-children are adults Have children of their own, And we are left to wonder Where all the years have flown.
But in those years behind us Traditions have begun, A fishing culture has evolved Embracing everyone.
The "old" hands in the business With the wisdom of their years, Pass on their fishing knowledge To young receptive ears.
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There are lessons to be
learned There are stories from the past, How to thread and knot the lines The skills required to cast.
To understand the winds and tides To set a float just right, To hunt elusive squid In the darkness of the night.
The recipes for berley You’ll not find in a book, Which bait is best to buy How to keep it on the hook.
To skin a Leather-jacket To bleed a thrashing Shark, It’s the legacy of fishermen To leave behind their mark.
When they leave us, we remember How much to them we owe, From little acts of kindness, To the techniques they would show.
And so all along the jetty As we walk with rod and line, Are the echoes of a trolley And we know that all is fine, For the Fishing Club is family We’re a company of friends, And we’re wise enough to value That true friendship never ends.
Nancy Weisbrodt November 2011
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