A Sunny Day In Venus Bay
Posted January 3, 2008 
Comments(25)
Comments(25) On our way back home from the New Years Eve trip to Wilsons Promontory we decided to stop at Venus Bay. We had breakfast at a local cafe then headed to the beach to soak up the sun and catch some pippies (aka surf clams).
We had a lot of fun catching the pippies and ended up with about 15 kilograms worth of the little suckers. Enough for everyone who wanted some. I had a few for supper that night and they were pretty tasty too.
Anyways, I’ll leave you with a few photos from the day. These were all taken by Xuan. She took some pretty amazing photos.
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Hi, nice photos and well written. I enjoyed looking at them.
It is absolutely disgraceful that people are pippying at Venus Bay. Over the past few years, the beach has been destroyed by the constant digging of pippy hunters and the pippy populations have depleted significantly. I would most certainly not be proud of collecting 15 kilos of them. It is not only illegal (5 kilo limit) but it totally lacks any integrity or intelligence. Show more respect for our environment.
Lack of integrity or intelligence? That’s a bit harsh Sarah.
The bag/possession limit according to the Department of Primary Industries Victoria website is 5 litres per person or 1 litre if shucked. We were in a group of over 10 people with several of us fishing license carriers as well.
If there were any special pippy fishing restrictions specific to that area of Venus Bay at the time I definitely did not see any signs stating as such.
Totally agree with Sarah Belle. I am a local at VB and the last three summers have seen a massive increase in the numbers of people digging for pippies. Saturday 10 Jan I say a group of fifty going for it between beach 4 and 5! I have seen eskis so loaded up with pippies that it takes two guys to load them into the car, at least 30-50 kg of pippies (several thousand) gone just like that. Wonder where our native fish and birds are going to get their food from? The local Asian take away?
I know that some Asians can be over enthusiastic when it comes to catching shellfish at local beaches but at the end of the day though it’s up to the government to enforce laws and issue penalties to prevent over fishing.
Back in the 1980s shellfish and crustaceans in many beaches in Port Phillip bay were heavily over fished. The government then issued hefty penalties and eventually the local marine stocks recovered. Now seasonal fishing of the shellfish and crustaceans is allowed again with limits in place.
If you care so much about it maybe you should lobby your local government to do more rather than making comments some may find offensive.
Don’t worry, my wife and I have lobbied the South Gippsland Shire council. I encourage Sarah Belle and anyone else interested in the pippie issue to email council@southgippsland.vic.gov.au.
You may well think that you don’t like us to come and get pippies from your beautiful beaches, but I have not seen any sign of beach degredation. We all come (with fishing licences), we pick pippies, we eat at your local store, buy a pizza there for the drive back to Melbourne, and we leave no rubbish behind. Multiply this on the long weekend at least 200-300 people in total and I can tell you, we made a contribution to your lovely and polite local community.
I suppose there are always exceptions to this, but the authorities have done a good job dealing with them. Many thanks for your hospitality.
John
200-300 people? All taking roughly a bag limit each of 5 kgs? We pippy very occasionally for bait whilst we are fishing. I’ve noticed a very significant reduction in the pippy population in the last couple of years alone and this is BOUND to have an impact. Leaving it up to local law and government is a cop out. There have recently been valid and serious concerns that pippies are being harvested and marketed in suburban Melbourne markets. I think what we we need a revised bag limit on them and some heavy penalties for the deviation of laws or the place WILL be fished out. This sort of thing is NOT contributing to the community. Let me ask you this, once the pippies are gone, will you still frequent and ‘support’ this area?
You guys are concerned about the marine life yet there are more pressing matters present, I think you ppl need to get your priorities straight, there are massive global warming issues and not to mention the water restrictions saga, and to top it off the bush fires are in a rage, the government and councils have no time to be concerned about public fishing!!!
Adam Williams, by the sounds of your racist remark it is clear that the digging of pippies is not your issue but very much the fact that there are Asian people on ‘your’ beach taking ‘your’ bait. Would you have arked up if I, a blue eyed blonde hair Caucasian male was to do the same? Do us Aussies a favour, and take your ignorance elsewhere.
Erghh this is so childish!! I’m sure the local fish and birds will survive with less pippies on the beach. Adam Williams, it’s funny how you act like you’re so worried about the fish when you’re probably going to end up using those pippies to catch the fish that you’re going to have for dinner.
Also if the tourist weren’t coming to Venus Bay beaches to catch the pippies then I’m sure your local fishermen are going to do it anyways and then end up making money off the pippi sales.
There is a legal limit for all to abide by so what is the big deal? Its just part of life so get over it.
I grew up in a coastal NSW town. In the early ’70′s pippies were a feature of summers down at the beach. The kids used to dig ‘em up for fun then watch them bury themselves again. We started seeing Sydney-siders come and catch them and take them away in buckets. Now, many years later, pippies do not exist there anymore. I am sure that there has been an inpact to the local ecology, but I wouldn’t know what it is. I feel sorry at the loss of the pippies, but am sure that when mankind makes himself extinct, they (or something else) will return and re-balance the ecology making the planet a much better place. I just wish that we could be around to apologise to Mother Nature for what we’ve put her through.
ITS THE BLOODY ASIANS TAKING TOO MANY PIPPIES ARRRGH
The asians who come to venus bay for the pippies are just pillaging this area, they have no interest in anything else and plead ignorance when questioned. As a part time local resident in this area we are all concerned at the falling numbers in pippies compared to 3-4 years ago. The numbers of fisheries officers patrolling the beaches has increased over the last couple of years but it is still not enough to stop the invasion…………..
You blame Asian you blame everyone…
Take a chill pill guys….
I know that in my youth I’d go down to Venus Bay and get potato sack full of pipis for fishing that I would keep in the fridge or pickle. I’ve seen locals take a tractor down the beach and drop a rake into the sand taking hundreds of kilos of pipi’s in one hit. Mind you there was no bag limit then. Still you think you are different, alas you are not.
Complaining that it cause degradation to the beach is just ridiculous you look for them [pipis] in the intertidal zone any hole that is dug is refilled at high tide…You should ban stingrays and flounder from the beach if this is a point for your argument.
The best solution is banning it all together then no one comes and gets clams off “your” beach…
Basically its your right, if we wish to take the pipis you take them…Its no different now to it was 50 years ago only its not a local in a tractor or me with my potato sack…It’s everyone exercising there rights to collect them.
The collection limits are forever being decreased eventually it will reach zero point at then the area will be part of the Bunarong Marine Park and your problems will be solved.
Or will they?
There’s always a compromise…
P.S. Kham I hope you have more sunny days on the Bass Coast.
Catch ya later
Zai Jian
Chào ông
If anyone wants to know, the catching limit has been reduced from 5 to 2 litres per person since mid 2009. So, the local gov do care about some concerns raised which is fair enough. To be honest, I have witnessed some people, unfortunately, Asians, deliberately ignored the rule and filled up their eskis a lot more than that.
We are so lucky living in this beautiful country. Believe me you would not find something like this in many parts of the world and it is part of our accountability to preserve this nature gift.
Adam Williams When was the last time, you carried a full size esky on your own? just because there are two people carrying an esky doesnt mean that it is full. Esky’s are large and quite akward to carry. And i havent seen these new clear ones which allow you to see into them….. I must keep an eye out for them.
When you see people doing something wrong, it is your right to speak up. But when you point of the race of the person who has done the wrong, you are being a racist.
The government has spent a lifetime brainwashing the next generation of Australians telling us how multicultural we are. But they forget to mention people like you, instead of seeing the fault you see the race. Because anglo saxon australians are the supreme race. IIm sorry to the anglo saxon folk who have been supportive of Kham’s post. But sometimes you just have to fight stupidity with stupidity.
Coast line erosion happens naturally. Your car is killing my environment, stop driving. Your beef patties are one of the largers contributors to global warming, stop eating meat.
Im sorry you feel that “your beach is being violated” by us asians. Maybe we all should just go back to where we came from. Maybe then you wont be so grumpy.
Racism sucks. so it sucks to be you.
Only Venus Bay has pippies? Rye has it too, plenty of it when there’s low tide.
Nice blog and lovely to read. Pity for the few uneducated racist that should get out and see the world. You’re not in Venus Bay because of the pipis (and if you are, I feel sorry for you) and next time you make racist comments, check the clothes you wear and the things you own. I bet you more than half is made in Asia and if it weren’t for the Asians, you probably can’t afford most of them. I do condemn those people who disregard the law just as I do those that leaves puffers and other unwanted fish to die by the beach or pier. For your information, the last time I was on beach no.5, the only people I saw digging for pipis were non-Asians. There are many factors that explains the fluctuation in pipi abundance each year and it is related mostly to tidal conditions. The next time you think the Asians are just pillaging your area or just taking and not giving, consider that you’re in Asia Pacific and that your entire economy relies on Asia. Get out of your well and see the world.
Great to know there are pipies there and I will make sure everyone carries exact 2kg home when I visit Venus Bay. Catching pipies is probably the most attracted idea for people/family visiting the area. Digging is fun and they are nice eating. Hopefully no one crys because they are in my yummy soup instead of being on the hook as fishing bait, and of course, I hope those fish they catch are legal size too.
Wow….I was planning to drop in to admire the reported beauty of Venus Bay and hopefully meet some friendly locals. I have read Venus Bay offers great hospitality and great surf fishing during the winter periods (year round too). While searching for some photos to show the family of the exciting upcoming visit to Venus Bay I encountered this blog. The blog starts off showing the true beauty of Venus bay and great images of the local beaches (well done Kham, you’re a champ). However, having read some of the remarks from what appears to be a small handful of irate locals I am dumb founded to read such racism and uncalled- for remarks about Asians invading Venus Bay for pipis! – call the national guards, we are invaded. Is this a joke! Comments like “lack of intelligence”, “Asian Invasion”, “Arrrg Asians” what the!! Remarks like this can only come from non-true-blue Aussies who spend too much time harvesting pipis and abusing the environment themselves. I guess building a town over wildlife habitats so close to breaking surf does little harm to the environment……fair go!
Blaming others and especially finger pointing “Asians” for collecting too much pipis is definitely hurtful, selfish and totally un-Australian. This blog was meant (I believe) to share and encourage all to experience the beauty of Australia and not a platform to slander others through ignorance. We should all learn from our past, look forward to the future and live our current lives as sharing human beings. People collecting too much “whatever” should be approached and informed of the impact of their actions. Finger pointing and racist comments have no place in this modern society. Using pipi collecting as an excuse to exercise your true racist nature is cowardice.
Yes, I will still visit Venus Bay as I run a tour guide business, showing 1000’s (not 200-300) of foreigners (Asians inclusive) to enjoy and appreciate the great wonders of Australia. I have Venus Bay as my targeted tour guide site and who knows, by introducing overwhelming interest in pipi collecting I can accelerate council declaration of Venus Bay as a “Wildlife Sanctuary”. Long live the pipis! …
I look forward to your next adventure write up champ!
U F***ING PHO F***ERS, STOP TAKING THE PIPIS AT VENUS BAY. I’M A LOCAL RESIDENT AND AM DISGUSTED WHEN I SEE A HOARD OF YOU ASIANS COMING DOWN AND PILLAGING THE ALREADY STRUGGLING PIPI POPULATION. YOU ALWAYS TAKE ABOVE THE REQUIRED LIMIT. HOW DO I KNOW THAT? WELL WHY IS IT WHEN LOCAL RESIDENTS LIKE US WALK PAST YOU HIDE YOUR BUCKETS/RICE BAGS ETC.. REEKS OF GUILT.
I DON’T MIND THE SINGLE ASIAN FAMILIES COMING WITH THEIR KIDS FOR SOME FUN TO PIPI BUT IT IS WHEN I SEE A MASS GROUP THAT IRKS ME TO THE BONE.
ME AND A FEW MATES MAKE IT OUR MISSION TO CALL IN FISHERIES WHEN WE NOTICE DODGEY AFFAIRS DOWN AT THE BEACH.
YOU’RE LUCKY YOU DO NOT KNOW THE LOCATIONS TO COLLECT WILD MUSSELS AND OYSTERS DOWN AT THE BAY, OR THOSE RESOURCES WILL BE DEPLETED.
* Expletives edited from original comment
Oh no, Australians aren’t racist at all…
I wouldn’t usually let such comments go through but since it did make one or two valid points I let it go.
While I certainly don’t support overfishing of our country’s resources from anyone I don’t think name calling and using words like “YOU ASIANS” really helps your cause. The worst thing is you topped it off with calling yourself “chalk supremacy” which killed your whole argument.
Hi Kham,
Great blog buddy, i envy you of having visiting everywhere
. hehe thanks for the inspiration by the way i am now planning to go to lake emerald and great ocean road (seems like a must) . by any chance do you have any other recommendation of which place to go to within 50-100 km radius of melb city.
and guyss chilllll !!!! … pipies population may decrease and worst case extict (which is unlikely to happen this generation ). i know its good to care of your enviroment etc, but do you know whats going to happen in 20-40-60 years maybe after you die ?? who knows mate. … they make that place you love so much to famous tourist attraction ??(more pipies going to be captured etc) ?? oil digging nearby maybe and oil spill ( thats going to make you cry bad) or how about lets say war !
and gezz GUYS dont make this blog a spamming of anger. go somewhere else and GROW UP !
Hi Anthony,
I really hope you do visit Emerald Lake and see the beautiful sights along the Great Ocean Road.
There are just so many places within a 50-100 km radius of Melbourne that it’s difficult to suggest something without knowing what you’re into.
If you haven’t already checked out VisitMelbourne.com I suggest you do as it’s packed with heaps of information on things to do and places to visit.