Reel Life

Fishing is perhaps the ultimate grey nomad hobby, and even those who have hardly previously thrown a line in can find themselves caught hook line and sinker.

It appeals on many different levels. It’s a great way to keep the food budget down (assuming you catch something now and again); it encourages you to spend more time appreciating some of the magnificent country you will be visiting; it can be quite a sociable pursuit that will, at the very least, give you something in common with a lot of your fellow travellers; and finally it can be extremely good for your relationship. Some couples like to fish together while others see it as an opportunity to spend a few hours apart. Living in a caravan or motorhome together 24/7 can be pretty intense and I reckon the old fishing rod has saved more grey nomad marriages than Dr Phil ever could.

Oh, and last but not least. Fishing is pretty easy. While there is an endless amount to learn about what bait to use, what species to target, the currents, the tides, the lures and the equipment, the basics really are pretty standard. If you put a baited hook on the end of a line connected to even a cheap rod you have got a chance of catching something for tea. And if even that is beyond you. Just ask Fred in site 27 or that Akubra-wearing weather-beaten old nomad over there sharpening his knife. Trust me … if there’s one thing grey nomads like to talk about more than fuel prices, it’s fishing. And you will find no shortage of experts ready to dispense their knowledge.

I remember a long-term traveller who went by the name of Jonesy who had just discovered the joys of fishing. I first met him near Kununurra in Western Australia where he was desperately trying to catch a barramundi in the River Ord. Every day he would walk along the river asking everybody he met for advice and tips about how to land the mighty fighting fish … and every day he would fail.

By coincidence, I bumped into him some time later near Darwin where he was in the process of getting lessons on how to throw a cast net from a serious looking angler. I asked Jonesy if he ever did land a barramundi while he was out west. He shook his head sadly.

“Well mate, if you can’t catch something here maybe you should just take up stamp collecting instead,” said the wise old angler.

Somehow, I’ve got this sneaking suspicion that poor old Jonesy has put his fishing rod in a cupboard somewhere and is, as you read this, poring over his burgeoning stamp collection! He is, however, the exception rather than the rule.

Talk of fishing at both the River Ord and Darwin reminds me that when you are in unfamiliar areas, fishing can be a hazardous pursuit, so take care. When you are up north, crocodiles are an issue and, wherever you are, currents or freak waves can cause you serious grief.

Anyway, enough with the bad stuff. Fishing is healthy, it’s fun and it’s rewarding. Once the bug really takes hold, you may find yourself wanting to get a bigger freezer to cope with your haul.

Remember though, the various states and territories all have their own rules and regulations governing such things as fish size, seasons and bag limits and, in some states, you’ll be required to buy a fishing licence.

As a grey nomad you will more than likely be going into some of the most fishing friendly country in the world. If you are from the south, the fish you land will make your mates back home green with envy. And, if you’re smart enough to bring a crab trap with you, wait until you see the size of the muddies you catch. This really is the life.

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