The Old Fremantle Traffic Bridge

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August 25, 2014

***All photographs are copyright to Marc Russo. Contact me via marcrussophotography@gmail.com to purchase***

It was 1988 and i was 12 yrs old. For quite a few years before I would hear stories of my uncle Alan catching lots of Tailor and silver bream at the old Freo traffic bridge. I always wanted to go and join the fun but it was a little dangerous. Finally i was allowed to come along and catch a few fish. He usually went of week nights after work or after school for me so uncle Alan, Dad and myself got the fishing gear ready and uncle Alan picked us up in his HG premier and off we went to fish this almighty location.
Being young and full of beans I didn’t realize how dangerous the walk out and climb down and the balancing act across beams was. It wasn’t the fall it was how fast the current rips through and would kill even the best swimmer. I didn’t care, all I wanted to do it fish and fish hard!
I soon became a Freo traffic bridge local from way back in 1988 (26 yrs ago).
For all 26 years I have been back religiously and fished this spot. I’m my opinion it’s the best fishing spot in Perth hands down. It has the biggest mixed bucket available from Tailor, flathead, Black and silver bream, whiting , Skippy and a hell of allot more. I don’t like to talk it up or advise people to go there in case they fall in. I now wear a PFD there just in case. In the 25yrs I know of 4 deaths there from people falling in so please take care if you go there.
There is 2 ways of getting down. Safest and the way i advise is to park in the car park on the northern side and walk the walkway underneath then climb down from there. Other way and crazy way is climb down from the footbridge. You have to lower all your gear down. I have don’t it a couple times and for all the hassle and danger you best off on the safer option.
Last week i heard a rumour that they need to do something with the bridge. Either knock it down or refit it out safer. See link below…
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-05-10/fremantle-traffic-bridge-at-risk-of-collapse/2714610

It was time to put my photography skills to work and for once take some pictures for myself instead of other people.
Over 2 weekends i went down with my new Lee filters and photographed all the meaningful spots that i used to climb down and fish from as they are all such great memories so if they knock it down i can remember all the great times when i get a few printed on canvas.
Here below are the photographs and below that i will be adding my fishing pictures from way back when i was 12 till current. (that will take a few weeks so stay tuned)

Looking down from the top

This is an old Photo. This is me aged 12yrs with my first haul of fish from the Traffic bridge. So young to be climbing down and risking fishing here. I was a dare devil from a young age