To fish or not to fish

I’m not new to fishing. Growing up in Southern Tasmania surrounded by water and boats, it was the norm, but my dad was always in charge of the gear. It was something we just did together, and it had a natural flow and intelligence being out on the water.

I am new to fishing from the shore, and it’s been a learning curve. I’ve taught myself to cast good distances, tie leaders and knots, use lures — both metals and soft plastics — with varying degrees of success. I’ve also learned how to loosen line to manage a snag.

Some of this I’m sure, was in the memory bank from childhood, but most has come from talking to fisher folk here on the Island, or going down the rabbit hole called Youtube. It’s become a passion, and I might be on my way to obsession!

So my days start with a wind and tide check, looking down onto my beach and asking myself ‘will I or won’t I’. The indecision comes purely from the forecast and me being the maverick I am.. “Surely not all the fish disappear in a 15 knot onshore breeze?”

Today, in a gentle 5 knot northerly I caught a lovely flatty. My first fish of the season. You have never seen a grown woman so happy to reel in a fish.

It’s been a long Winter….