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For Ngahuia Trewartha, being part of the Surfing Reserve Committee has deepened that sense of belonging. “It’s been about more than just meetings – it’s been about gathering with others who hold this place close, sharing stories over meals, and swapping memories of surf sessions and the moments that make Fishery Bay so special.”

Through those shared experiences, she says, a deeper bond has grown between the land, the ocean, and the people who care for it. “There’s a real sense of community and advocacy that’s grown from this work – a collective love for the bay and a shared responsibility to protect it. Having the reserve formally recognised and unveiling the plaque together was incredibly special. It deepened our connection to the cultural heritage of this coastline, especially through learning and sharing stories with the Nauo Nation.”

The land and sea here are not only playgrounds for surfers – they are Country. The Nauo People are the Traditional Custodians of this area, including the waters surrounding Fishery Bay. Their cultural connections span tens of thousands of years, rooted in the rhythms of sky, land and sea. Nauo Country holds Fishery Bay as a site of deep spiritual and cultural significance. 

“Being part of the committee has deepened my connection to Fishery Bay,” offers local surfer Matt Trewartha, “by allowing me to initiate and participate in activities that help protect the environment and share with others the pride and respect we have for the area and its waves. Broadening the often-narrow focus of just being a surfer and getting waves to really wanting to give something back to the place. The process has created another path for us to learn about the cultural heritage of the Nauo people and their connection to the bay.”

The surf community of Fishery Bay was built on salt, grit and generosity. In the late 1950s, a handful of pioneers – Dean Slater, Gary Neale, George Wiseman, ‘Boof’ Bryant and Mike Ridgeway – chased swells along the Lower Eyre Peninsula in a battered 1932 Ford V8 with “West Coast Surf Chasers” painted on the side. No wetsuits, no legropes, just woollen jumpers, dusty tracks and a simple rule: if you saw another surfer, you stopped for a yarn.

By 1962, Trevor White and like-minded locals had formed the Fishery Bay Surf Riders Club, hosting some of South Australia’s earliest surfing competitions and stitching camaraderie into the culture. The 1970s saw the scene bloom – panel vans and sunburnt shoulders – while the 1990s brought better gear, bigger horizons and a surge of new surfers.

Today, three generations of surfers now share waves in Fishery Bay, and more women than ever are carving their lines into the bay. The equipment may have changed, but the rhythm remains the same. “The surfing community at Fishery Bay has always had this raw, genuine spirit, shaped by the wildness of the coastline and the people who have spent decades in the water here,” says Ngahuia Trewartha. “Over the years, that community has grown and evolved, but it’s still held together by the same sense of respect and camaraderie. You can feel it in the car park, in the lineup, and around the fires when people gather after a good surf. There’s always been that unspoken connection through the ocean.”

It’s not just surf culture – this coastline has weathered many fights, from the early resistance to fossil fuel extraction during the Fight for the Bight, to the current challenge posed by the proposed orbital-launch complex at nearby Whalers Way. “With plans for multiple rocket launches and new infrastructure, this project would impact the environment, wildlife, and the sense of wilderness that defines Fishery Bay,” says Ngahuia. “Being part of the reserve has strengthened our collective commitment to protect this coastline.”

For those who know Fishery Bay, memories are stitched into the salt and wind. Ngahuia’s are deeply personal. “Sometimes it’s quieter moments – paddling out with Matt when the water is perfect, watching our son surf with his partner, taking our granddaughter out there and watching her grow from a baby to a toddler, sharing moments with our family – these are the moments that fill my heart. Sitting around fires after a surf, cooking together and simply being present in this beautiful landscape. it’s these shared experiences, across generations, that truly capture the spirit of Fishery Bay.”

For Matt, memory is tied to both the sublime and the wild. “One moment that stands out was during a memorial paddle-out for a loved local surfer. The weather was wild – thunderstorms, lightning, lashing rain. As we paddled out, the most intense rain squall of the day passed over, and the wind seemed to increase, almost blinding us. We looked up to see waterfalls from the run-off begin to spill over the cliffs, and as they met the wind, bend and travel straight up into the sky. Twisting and bending upward as sunlight broke through the waterfalls lit up with rainbows before disappearing in the wind. In awe, we shared some waves and went in knowing it was a fitting send-off. Never seen that happen before or since. About the same time in the Whalers Way sanctuary, a lightning bolt struck the experimental Taiwanese rocket, rendering it inoperable and unable to conduct the test launch by a start-up space company. Coincidence? I think not.”

For Matt, memory is tied to both the sublime and the wild. “One moment that stands out was during a memorial paddle-out for a loved local surfer. The weather was wild – thunderstorms, lightning, lashing rain. As we paddled out, the most intense rain squall of the day passed over, and the wind seemed to increase, almost blinding us. We looked up to see waterfalls from the run-off begin to spill over the cliffs, and as they met the wind, bend and travel straight up into the sky. Twisting and bending upward as sunlight broke through the waterfalls lit up with rainbows before disappearing in the wind. In awe, we shared some waves and went in knowing it was a fitting send-off. Never seen that happen before or since. About the same time in the Whalers Way sanctuary, a lightning bolt struck the experimental Taiwanese rocket, rendering it inoperable and unable to conduct the test launch by a start-up space company. Coincidence? I think not.”

Time has carved its memory here. The community has protected it, and now, stewardship will carry it forward. Fishery Bay’s magic lies not just in its waves, but in the wilderness that surrounds it. Protecting that wildness has become central to the reserve’s mission.

“It’s become a space for shared purpose – a way to honour the past and look after the future,” Ngahuia reflects. “The older generation have been amazing – sharing stories, photos and memories as we built the reserve together. It’s been a real coming together of generations, keeping the spirit of Fishery Bay alive through story, connection, and shared pride in this coastline.”

Matt sees the thread running from the past into the present. “In a lot of ways, the small surfing community here is the same as it was many years ago – surfers hunting waves, camping out, telling stories, getting into the sort of mischief an isolated coastline allows. If it’s evolved, it’s because people are more aware of the impacts of increased visitors and industry. Being recognised as a surfing reserve connects us to the broader Australian surfing community and reminds us to be proud of who we are and where we live.”

When you paddle out at Fishery Bay, salute the headlands, look to the left and right point, feel the swell wrap into the reef, see the clear blue water and the white sand beneath you... and know that you’re part of something bigger.