There’s Plenty of Fish in the Sea — But Coastal Businesses Are Drowning
Six years ago, Steve Kontos took a leap of faith. After holidaying in Port Victoria since he was 12, he started Insane Charters, a fishing business that brought his love of the ocean and the Yorke Peninsula together.
He’s worked bloody hard — surviving a five-year snapper ban, COVID lockdowns, rising fuel costs, and now a phone that’s stopped ringing, thanks to fear.
“There’s still plenty of fish in the sea,” Steve says. “In fact, the fishing is better than ever.”
The algal bloom hasn’t touched Port Victoria. The water’s clear. The catch rates are up. No stinky fish, no green slime, no funny taste. Just good-sized King George whiting, squid, trevally and plenty of fun to be had out on the water.
Panic-inducing headlines like “Holiday Makers Cancel as Algal Bloom Wreaks Havoc” are spreading more damage than the bloom itself
The media is like a double-edged sword at times.
It’s taken real, honest reporting (you know who I’m talking about) to highlight the environmental catastrophe unfolding in parts of the Gulf. But sensationalised headlines have lured a false sense of fear, hook, link and sinker — and that’s not anything a government grant can fix.
The devastating algal bloom is causing headlines internationally. It’s real. It’s sad, and it’ll take time to recover. But as a regular visitor to the Yorke Peninsula, I can tell you, that unless you’re hell bent on baiting up and bagging out from places like Stansbury, Port Vincent, Edithburgh or Ardrossan, it’s business as usual. There’s still glorious sea views, pubs with cold beer, playgrounds to be explored and beaches to walk on (yes! I’ve walked on them and I’m still here to tell the tale). They are just as beautiful as ever. If I hadn’t have been following the news or nearing the bottom of my Summer fish stocks, I’d be none the wiser.
And just a 30 minute drive across to the Spencer Gulf, you could catch King George Whiting while eating a banana!
“I haven’t brought up a single fish that looks harmed in any way, shape or form — and I’d never send one home with a customer if I thought it was unsafe,” Steve says.
But this isn’t just about catching fish — it’s about saving seaside towns.
Steve Kontos might not be a ridgey didge Port Vic local (who knows what secret handshake or blood oath you need to earn that title in a country town), but his charter business helps keep the little coastal town going.
He’s not even asking for a handout —”I’d rather take people out, get a rod bent, and send them home with a feed and a smile. That’s what it’s all about.”
This isn’t a guilt trip — it’s a call to action. If you love these places in summer, they need you now.
Book the trip. Buy the fish. Share the facts. Spread the word.
Let’s not let a misconception wipe out our coastal playgrounds.
Here’s some ways you can support affected coastal regions and make some cool memories while you’re doing it –
👉🏼Grounded YP Arts Festival (August 15-24)
👉🏼Fluerieu Unearthed (August)
