Hello Fish at Bushrangers Bay
A major drawcard is the presence of grey nurse sharks which appear to call the bay home
Bushrangers Bay has become a snorkeller’s paradise due to its protected status, relatively easy access and resident grey nurse sharks.
The access road into Bass Point was recently fully paved, just before the pot holes became heritage listed. Long overdue, this initiative protects remnant rainforest from erosion and encroachment by those looking for car parks.
Bushrangers Bay is an Aquatic Reserve, gazetted under fisheries legislation and is fully protected. It’s very noticeable with some common species of fish like yellowfin bream being larger and less flighty than one would see outside where fishing is permitted.
The bay is also an important training ground for scuba divers and freedivers as it provides a mix of depths and is protected from swells.
A major drawcard is the presence of grey nurse sharks which appear to call the bay home. They are small, from just over a metre to about 2m, with occasional larger ones. They are remarkably tolerant of visitors armed with cameras and seeking the perfect shot of a toothy grin.
Listed as critically endangered, the grey nurse are not the only at-risk species to be found. There are patches of the strapweed, Posidonia australis, in the shallows. This is a vulnerable species of seagrass found in quiet marine bays.
Fish species include yellowtail, luderick, blackspot goatfish, hulas, mado and red morwong, along with many invertebrates such as cuttlefish, sea urchins and the occasional lobster. There’s also seaweeds, including cray weed, and species of encrusting red algae.
On a recent trip there, my snorkel buddy and I aimed to arrive early but the carpark was already full. It seems that watching the sunrise is the ticket of entry for a dip in the bay.
For more fishy tale and guides to local snorkel and dive sites, follow Duncan's YouTube Channel Illawarra Underwater
