Around mid January to mid march fish begin to enter The Causeway Bay, Ostend. Schools of sprats appear first followed by yellow eyed mullet, eagle rays, piper, porori, kahawai, flounder and kingfish.
The Causeway Bay is a tidal mudflat with a tidal estuary which is a protected ecological area north of the causeway proper. It is home to tuna (eels), crabs, birds, shrimps, snails etc.
Sharing the bay are various birds according to season. The most commonly sighted are seagulls, black back gulls, kingfishers, variable oyster catchers, shags and ducks. To a lesser extent are pied stilts, dotterels, herons and swallows.
As a houseboater sharing The Causeway Bay I have noticed a marked improvement in the water quality, thus as a consequence there is a proliferation of fish and some seaweeds. Though almost unnoticeable some shellfish and starfish are appearing.
The waterfront on the east side of the bay nearest the children's playground and public toilets on Wharf Road at present is the most publicly used space and is shared with a small community of house boaters. It is wonderful to see families, tourists and picnickers enjoying this clear section of beach.
Personally, it would be nice to see boats moved 20 metres out from mean high water at least from the Sunflower houseboat to the boat ramp at the boat club.
That aside, the reason I write now is to share the enjoyment our family has feeding the vast schools of small fish that swirl around our legs whilst standing still in the water.
Can I inspire you to come down and try this?
I only wish I had an underwater camera. I'm not suggesting it has anything like the attraction of our popular marine reserves but sometimes if you haven't got that closeby a little can mean so much and please... Don't think the present marine debate..It is so not what I'm alluding to.
Bring your snorkeling gear and more importantly, an underwater camera before the season ends. Best to check the tides and clarity of water.
Please leave your fishing gear at home and enjoy these creatures in their natural habitat.
Don't get me wrong, our family love fishing, we just can't eat those creatures that trust us enough to visit us freely and give hours of fun watching their grace.
Steve Matatahi.
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