Port Smith Lagoon WA - All year round fishing!
Submitted: Friday, Oct 13, 2006 at 14:59
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Speak
Just returned from a place called
Port Smith Lagoon. It's about 140kms south of
Broome. The surrounding land is owned by the Bidyadanga Community. There is an excellent caravan park with powered sites, plenty of water, spotless facilities and a
shop. This is managed by 4 very friendly and experienced people who have an agreement with the community, which allows visitors to explore the surrounding area by boat or 4WD.
The lagoon is about 6 kms long, lined with mangroves and teaming with fish. If you don't have a boat, you can hire one and will be shown the best
places to fish. At low tide (and they are big tides up that way so care is needed) you can drive onto
the beach and fish from the shore in the protected waters of
the lagoon. THERE ARE NO CROCODILES.
To the north of
the lagoon are some great fishing and picnic spots, accessible by 4WD only. The cliffs are spectacular and the water pristine. To the south are creek crossings to some beautiful inlets and if the tides are favourable, lovely drives along deserted beaches, adorned with the most beautiful shells.
In the 10 days we were camping there, we still hadn't exhausted the many
places to see.
I understand the area is accessible all year round, even in the wet! It's a very good dirt road off the main highway and leads straight to the caravan park and lagoon. It's
well sign posted from the highway and about 23kms long.
From a request made by the Bidyadanga Community, there are no maps of the area. But the caravan park owners are happy to tell you the best spots to visit and how to get there. Contact details ph: 91924983 portsmithcaravanpark@bigpond.com.au
It's
well worth a visit.
Reply By: Member - Robyn J (QLD) - Friday, Oct 13, 2006 at 18:13
Friday, Oct 13, 2006 at 18:13
Certainly changed since we were there in 1990. No powered sites in those days. We ended up leaving after 4 days because we couldn't keep the Freezer going for all the fish we had caught. After the trip we went
home and got a gennie to stop that happening.
The tides were unbelievable. One day exploring at low tide for crab holes and ended up stranded from the boat and better half and kids because the tide had turned. He had to motor over to pick me up. In one day we caught 12 different species of fish. We left the boat on
the beach each day and depending on how the tide was it was a struggle sometimes to drag the boat to the water or sometimes we had to walk in water to get to the boat.
We we went to WA in 2005 we stayed at
Barn Hill a bit closer to
Broome by about 100ks. Both
places give you different experiences and different landscapes.
The rock formations on
the beach at
Barn HIll is just an an pleasure to look at especially with the sun setting on them.
Cheers
Jenkie
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Follow Up By: Speak - Friday, Oct 13, 2006 at 20:09
Friday, Oct 13, 2006 at 20:09
Tides are fantastic I agree! But as long as you have the right tide charts and double
check with the park owners, it is not a problem. We have also stayed at
Barn Hill, but found
Port Smith Lagoon and surrounding area far more versatile and interesting. Granted you don't have that fabulous sunset view, but if there's an on shore breeze, you're stuffed! At
Port Smith Lagoon there are still plenty of
places you can find to fish from that are out of the wind. Both
places certainly have their merits though!
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