Aa a keen recreational fisher here in WA, I have become increasingly accustomed to losing access to locations that are dear to my heart and which have been a huge part of my angling life.

On some occasions, these spots have been closed for genuine reasons, but all too often they are the result of bureaucratic bungling and interference that dresses up exclusion as a solution to a problem that never really existed in the first place.

Take for example, the closure of vehicular beach access at Hooley Road near Augusta.

It was a spot where I loved to go salmon fishing in autumn, and when investigated the reasons behind the closure simply did not make any sense to anyone other than those pushing it.

And then there is the Lefroy Brook upstream of the Pemberton trout hatchery, the best stretch of trout water in WA, where fishing was banned to protect water quality already heavily comprised by farming and livestock access.

These two spots, which I value greatly, are really just the tip of a much larger iceberg and I dare say most regular fishos would have a list of their own favourite locations that they’ve been locked out of.

However, what will most likely be my next spot lost, under the guise of conservation, will hurt the most, personally.

It is strongly rumoured that the waters around Simpson and Burnside islands, on the east side of Exmouth Gulf, will become sanctuary zones in the new marine park.

I’m told a lot of pressure to this end has been brought to bear on the State Government by one particular high-profile community member with considerable money and influence.

I love Exmouth Gulf and would have spent more time in it than anywhere else on my regular trips to Exmouth.

Personally, Simpson and Burnside are the jewels in the crown of my fishing adventures in Exmouth Gulf.

There are other great fishing locations around the gulf, but these two islands are right next to the Wilderness Island camp, which I have been lucky enough to visit every year for almost two decades.

Every year I take a bunch of kayakers to Wilderness, and we mainly fish around these two little islands, rarely seeing anyone else there – it is simply as good as kayak fishing gets in Australia and probably anywhere in the world.

There are no sustainability concerns for the species we target, we have virtually no environmental impact and hardly keep a fish, unless it’s a mangrove jack or cod from up a nearby creek, but rather enjoy superb sportfishing for a range of species including golden trevally, queenfish, longtail tuna and huge giant herring, releasing almost everything we catch.

The area also supports a small number of charter operator with clients from around the world who pour money into the local economy to experience low impact, low take fishing tours that often focus on fly fishing.

Some of my greatest fishing moments have happened there, including a world record giant herring, surprise Spanish mackerel and some epic struggles with big golden trevally in skinny water.

Throw in paddling alongside dugongs, turtles and manta rays, and the incredible sunsets, and it is just a special place to go fishing which I have developed a deep personal connection with.

During my times at Wilderness I have made great friends and had a lot of unforgettable times around camp, as recently as earlier this year, when we even had some eastern staters join us, and they too fell in love with the place instantly.

The treasured memories of fishing around Simpson and Burnside will stay with me forever, but will be tinged with more than a hint of sadness if I am never again able to experience the sheer joy that paddling around this area with a rod in hand provides.

It will be just another beloved fishing spot lost to future generations, sacrificed at the altar of ideology.

Photo Caption: Catching and releasing big golden trevally on the east side of Exmouth Gulf could soon be a thing of the past under a new marine park.