Our mighty swan river
I have been doing a lot of night diving in the swan over the last couple of weeks at night and I’m surprised at what good condition the lower swan is in . There is a huge amount of marine life that blows me away every dive.
I have seen something different each time I have dived from seahorses hanging onto mooring ropes, scallops swimming mid water, huge flathead over 40cm,dinner plate size flounder, schools of small sambos, Skippy, silver bream, black bream, tasty blue manner crabs in xos range, mulloway crocking, coral and an abundance of huge mussels, big cobbler and of course those succulent swan river king prawns and some fish I haven’t seen before
.The condition of the bottom is what got me I expected it to be silty. Monday night as me a rockpom were getting ready for our second dive when I noticed a large fin in the shallows under knee deep water unfortunately we couldn’t get down to the waters edge fast enough to get a good look at it but we both decided it was a dolphin made going back in the water all that much better knowing that .Ended up a good night with 365 prawns and some crabs and scallops between the two of us. It’s a great way to spend a night, beats sitting at home watching tv . Going for another dive tonight with rockpom.
Rodrat
Posts: 1672
Date Joined: 13/01/07
365 prawns
Thats a top effort.
Do you eat the prawns and/or freeze some for bait?
******* RECFISHWEST MEMBER *******
FISH FOR THE FUTURE
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
If only we could get rid of the blowies
I love fishing in the Swan, but blowies just blow me away. Sounds like there is still a lot of good fish and crustaceans in there though Bill.
(Colin 1 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)
Moderator. Proud member of the Fishwrecked "Old Farts". Make sure your subscribed to Fishwrecked Reeltime http://fishwrecked-reeltime.com/
Bill
Posts: 437
Date Joined: 24/03/07
Haven’t seen allot of
Haven’t seen allot of blowies Colin.
Rodrat I eat a heap and freeze a few .The bigger ones I keep for garlic prawns and some I butterfly and crumb then freeze
Rodrat
Posts: 1672
Date Joined: 13/01/07
MMMMMM
Making me hungry bill.
******* RECFISHWEST MEMBER *******
FISH FOR THE FUTURE
Dreamweaver
Posts: 4688
Date Joined: 01/12/07
That's good positive news Bill
With all the algeal blooms etc, pressures from close proximity phosphate based fertilisers (due to more 'water's edge' developments etc) and all the other bad news, it's heartening to hear a positive first account! Especially on species like cobler.
Colin(Colin 2 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)
Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!
Ryan Thipthorp (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
Swan!
Agree Bill, the Swan is alive and kills the thoughts of some who reckon they wouldn't eat stuff from the swan and the system isn't good!
Been meaning to get down myself for some prawns & crabs........hopefully soon!
* Oceanside- Advice, Knowledge, Experience....that's our difference *
Owner/Operator "Oceanside Tackle & Marine"
364 South Street, O'Connor, Perth Ph# 9337 5682
Jody
Posts: 1578
Date Joined: 19/04/07
Jealous
Pretty keen on those scallops Bill.
I do whatever the little voices tell me to do
TWiZTED
max199
Posts: 812
Date Joined: 09/05/06
Hows
the water temp? 16 degrees cel.? Do you have a 3mm or a 6er Bill? I've eaten the mussels, prawns and crabs, they're the best in the state I reckon. Hows the croaking, so loud and continuous, it's incredible.Where do yous go?.......Maxy.......
SamC
Posts: 2013
Date Joined: 30/08/06
Seeing many crabs down river
Seeing many crabs down river lately Bill?
keen to get the tinny out n get a few!
cheers
sam
Cheers,
Sam
mako magic
Posts: 5785
Date Joined: 03/08/05
mmmmm boat full of 22 deg
mmmmm boat full of 22 deg water hehehehe
ROCKPOM
Posts: 629
Date Joined: 23/04/07
thanks Bill for another good
thanks Bill for another good night!!
Pete D
Posts: 1681
Date Joined: 07/06/07
Picked up just over a kilo
Picked up just over a kilo of prawns and 5 big crabs last weekend. Water a bit chilly in the top 6 metres, but below that is still 20 C.
Tried a few scallops - very, very tasty, but need to find some big ones.
Lots of little (10-20cm) pinkies about too.
Heres a couple of pics from last year.
Cheers Pete
Andy Mac
Posts: 4778
Date Joined: 03/02/06
How big was the flounder in that pic?
Dinner plate size?
Cheers
Cheers
Andy Mac (Fishwrecked Reeltime Editor & Forum Moderator)
Youngest member of the Fishwrecked Old Farts Club
mako magic
Posts: 5785
Date Joined: 03/08/05
top pics pete
top pics pete
Bill
Posts: 437
Date Joined: 24/03/07
I recon you would do okay
I recon you would do okay drop netting on the outside of the morings on the strectch between blackwall reach and bicton baths in the 14 meter range sam
only a 3mm max and a shark skin under that, that shark skin is the best $$ i have ever spent.
Only one dive last night bloody cold when we got out and procrastinated for too long and only did one dive but still got a good feed in the one dive.
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
Great pics Pete
Can't believe how clear the water is.
(Colin 1 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)
Moderator. Proud member of the Fishwrecked "Old Farts". Make sure your subscribed to Fishwrecked Reeltime http://fishwrecked-reeltime.com/
GusG
Posts: 547
Date Joined: 07/04/08
WOW!!
The water is really clear and those photos are great. Good to hear the river system is in such good condition.
Bill
Posts: 437
Date Joined: 24/03/07
Back for another swim
Back for another swim tonight bbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
mako magic
Posts: 5785
Date Joined: 03/08/05
gee think it will be pretty
gee think it will be pretty cold tonight, a few strong drinks afterward to warm up might be the go tonight lol
Bill
Posts: 437
Date Joined: 24/03/07
when i got home last night
when i got home last night had 3 testicals
thebear
Posts: 246
Date Joined: 09/06/07
You couldn't disseminate
You couldn't disseminate between the franc and the beans eh? ROFL Bloody cold then.
______________________________________
IF IT BLEEDS,.........WE CAN KILL IT.
______________________________________________
I JUST LOVE THE SMELL OF NAPALM IN THE MORNING
MEMBER FFC BLOCK 212
CPBA MEMBER
Adam Gallash
Posts: 15661
Date Joined: 29/11/05
Lol
Classic, good photo's Pete, love that prawn one.
Site Admin - Just ask if you need assistance
Ryan Thipthorp (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
clear!
Not always that clear Gus, makes it a great dive when it is.....they cant hide the little buggers!
I'm getting some winter add on's for my summer wetty Bill and i'll be down there!
* Oceanside- Advice, Knowledge, Experience....that's our difference *
Owner/Operator "Oceanside Tackle & Marine"
364 South Street, O'Connor, Perth Ph# 9337 5682
Bill
Posts: 437
Date Joined: 24/03/07
Are you diving tonight ryan
Are you diving tonight ryan ??
Jody
Posts: 1578
Date Joined: 19/04/07
LOL!!
Jeeeeez Bill, you might want to lighten up a bit on the medication old boy.Your a worry
I do whatever the little voices tell me to do
TWiZTED
saltatrix
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 30/03/08
There is a 6 foot diameter
There is a 6 foot diameter main drain at the back of Midland. All the stormwater which collects anything dumped on the roadside in the Midland region washes into the river.
The majority of food that lives in th Swan is fine. The mussels may be suspect at certain times of the year depending on what is present but apart from that it should be ok.
Dont know how old Black Bream would fair eating molluscs that may have been filtering heavy metals over their life period?
Remember when Ascot or Belmont racecourse spilt all that insect poison off the racecourse?
Angling tourism is worth $10 billion to the Australian economy - 90000 jobs; more than any sport; spread the word
mako magic
Posts: 5785
Date Joined: 03/08/05
i remember fishing in the
i remember fishing in the yarra in melb near one of the main drain outlets from the city streets, used to get so many good bream mullet carp even trout from it and it was true salt water, seems some fish might have liked macca's or stuff like that, but what you see on top can generally be different to what the water actuallt looks like underneath the crap at the top section of water
saltatrix
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 30/03/08
The issue with the Swan is
The issue with the Swan is that much of the contaminants are still stored in silt upstream. When there is a bit of a flush the silt is stirred and the nutrients are brought up.
Even if the polllution stops tomorrow the silt contains enough contaminants to cause blooms for over a decade.
Maybe the banning of chemical fertilisers in urban areas is already having an effect on the Swan already?
Angling tourism is worth $10 billion to the Australian economy - 90000 jobs; more than any sport; spread the word
Corza
Posts: 148
Date Joined: 25/11/07
love that squid
lol, you would know about cold water, you made sure there was enough in the boat on the north leg,"Mako Magic"
Yeah but we didn't use the bilge as much as in the south comp matt.
Love that That squid pic, for all the underwater photography I've done, that is a good one!!!!
Makes me feel like my going for my first dive in the swan,
Was never keen after talking to Perth student divers...
Anyone up for one early next week, I wouldn't mind tagging along...I won't bring a net...
Dreamweaver
Posts: 4688
Date Joined: 01/12/07
Education
I might be wrong here (only been wrong once in my life - and that's when I thought I was - NOT! LOL) , but isn't it more about the non use/education of phosphate fertilisers (so as not to feed blooms), or is that just one issue? Good point Salt on (semi) rural feeder streams but is more work required on educating 'water side' residential property owners too?
Great pics too and well spotted Andy - I thought it was just a river bed shot
(blind old coot that I am LOL).
Colin
(Colin 2 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)
Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!
Bill
Posts: 437
Date Joined: 24/03/07
When you see the flounder
When you see the flounder like that you punch them in the head which instanly stuns them poor things don't know what hit them
Ryan Thipthorp (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
nah, busy w/end!
But, i'm getting the jacket & hood today Bill and i'll be down there more often with less winter shrivalidge
Charged up my batteries for my HID L/Cannon (awesome torch eh) so i'll be ready!
* Oceanside- Advice, Knowledge, Experience....that's our difference *
Owner/Operator "Oceanside Tackle & Marine"
364 South Street, O'Connor, Perth Ph# 9337 5682
Bill
Posts: 437
Date Joined: 24/03/07
They are great torches used
They are great torches used mine for the first time last night.
was a little too early in the water last night as the tide was running a little fast still