While camping at Emerald Beach, the lure of the many beautiful beaches surrounding us was far too great, and saw us heading north to explore Woolgoolga Beach. This proved to be a good decision as we drove onto the sand at the incredibly picturesque Flat Top Point. From there we headed south, looking for a good spot to setup camp for the afternoon.
On route we passed multiple promising looking holes in the surf, all sure to hold fish, before coming to a stop at Dammerels Head. We selected the rocky point for both it’s aesthetics as well as the promise of species other than dart, which we were beginning to tire of.
While our kids chased (and amazingly caught) crabs, we kitted up our fly rods and walked out onto the point. It was nearing low tide, but there were still a few deeper areas around the point, with some promising white water to add some excitement.
I started off with a white Crazy Charlie, and was soon into a juvenile trevally. A few casts later and I noticed a larger fish following my fly in through the surf. This saw me tying on a larger, chartreuse clouser minnow, while a large jellyfish washed up close to my feet and left my dancing like Michael Flatly.
After this, things quietened down for a short while, other than the sight of what I believe to have been a large ray breaching the surface just 30 meters in front of me. And then, shortly before heading back to the beach for some family time, I hooked into a decent sized trevally of around 30cms. Sadly, while trying to get it onto the reel, I released the pressure and the fish came off. The blow was lessened slightly when I hooked into another small trevally, which I did manage to land, although it was nothing close to the one I’d lost.
Nick sadly hadn’t had the same luck, and walked off the rocks having not landed a fish.
Back on the beach we lit a fire and enjoyed a rare South African treat of boerewors, braaied to perfection, on the only bread we could find – left over naan from the previous night’s curry. It proved to be an amazing combination, and so the Afro-Indian fusion of boerie naans was born!
