But there are other reasons, and some quotes from one of the best known and loved novels of all time- “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemmingway - might help.

“My choice was to go there and find him beyond all people. Beyond all people in the world. Now we are joined together and have been since noon. And no one to help either of us.”

In this quote, Santiago the main character, is enduring a long battle with a giant blue marlin from his row boat (The novella is set in Cuba in 1951).

Unlike Santiago, I had a buddy with me - sail kayak guru Paul O’Leary, and a film crew nearby to help share the physical and emotional battering our fish was dishing out.

But on your own or in a group, anyone who has been connected to a hard fighting fish of a lifetime, will know exactly what Hemmingway was getting at.

This brings me to my next quote: “If I were him, I would put in everything now and go until something broke. But, thank God, they are not as intelligent as we who kill them; although they are more noble and more able.”

This quote really appeals to me - had the fish known how Paul and I were going at some moments, it could’ve taken us out.

Our fish was around 200 pounds (the exact size will be debated for some time), while Santiago’s was over 1,000 pounds!

The size of Santiago’s marlin now makes it easier for me to understand Hemmingway’s next quote: “You are killing me, fish, the old man thought. But you have a right to. Never have I seen a greater, or more beautiful, or a calmer or more noble thing than you, brother. Come on and kill me. I do not care who kills who.”

And the last quote, one of Hemmingway’s most famous, is all about simply being out there to start with: “A man is never lost at sea.” People who kayak or sail will know exactly what he means.

From a modern point of view, while video has stolen some of the pen’s limelight, there is one thing that sums it up best, the moment when the fish finally jumps near the boat, it was without question the most amazing adrenaline charged fishing experience I have ever been part of, it will give you goose bumps, and I am glad to say that the footage, audio, and very agreeable cheer by Paulo match what we felt out there.

You can catch this episode and the new series at 4.30pm Saturdays on WIN Television.

It should air on June 11, but could be a week earlier or later depending on where you live. Check your local Television guide for air times.

See you on the water,

Rob Paxevanos

(This Column brought to you by the Hellenic Club of Canberra)

The Motley Crew’s rock fishing adventure

This week, keen fisho Gary Dixon of Mystery Bay details a first-hand account of his wonderful fishing experience off his local rocks:

ON a recent morning, I rose from the sheets in the wee small hours of daybreak to go on another fishing expedition.

I grabbed up all my gear and with my newly bought Fishing Australia 12’ surf rod stick and some more never-ending knowledge, I was sure to bring in a bag full.

I wasn’t used to the new rod yet, and the cast landed without proper direction, but fortunately I was chomped by a huge 4-5kg salmon which had me cheering and jumping around the rocks as per usual.

The fish was too big I thought to simply pull up with gusto so I dragged it onto the rock shelf below. I immediately jumped down to retrieve it.

Just as I placed my hand on the beast, wouldn’t you know it a wave came and cut the line on a rock and away the fish went.

“Oh damn!” I said to myself as I got drenched by a wave all for nothing.

“That’s fishing” I said to myself under a guise of disgust.

Anyway, I went back to my fish box and grabbed another three-ganger hook and a sinker (thanks Dash from Compleat Angler Narooma for the advice of the rig setup).

As I went to tie on the new rig, looking down at the rocks, there lay the big salmon washed higher up the rock shelf!

I could not believe what I was seeing. I quickly dropped everything and jumped down and grabbed the beast with an iron grip and took it up the rocks. “Yippee” I yelled to no one!

I felt so happy with my luck that I went back to show the beast to a group of local fisho experts who were pumped for a big fishing weekend.

I didn’t know much about the boys who I later named “The Motley Crew”, except to say I did a bit of bragging re my great catch and we all exchanged jovial banter about who was going to be Top Gun, The Dreamer, or the Messiah when we went for a fish.

The Motley Crew’s Mark Flynn aka Dreamer, Dean Barber aka Sleeper, Dave Bartley aka Top Gun and his son Daniel Bartley aka Novice and I aka Messiah then set about preparing for the next morning.

I knew I was out of my depth so I got down to the spot a little early.

Alas, within three casts the boys arrived wasting no time getting their lines wet.

Within minutes Mark Flynn aka Dreamer had an almighty behemoth 4-5kg salmon landed safe and sound with ease.

Next, Dave Bartley landed a salmon of the same size without much effort. Next, Mark Flynn landed another fish, this time a monster tailor, again with consummate ease.

I recast with some squid Mark gave me, when bang at the same time Dave Bartley has hammered a huge salmon which had took a run directly under my line and across Dreamer’s line.

Then, Dreamer says he is on and I looked to see a huge bream and, Dave’s salmon darting around my line. You must be kidding I thought to myself.

I had to stop fishing to help, and somehow in the mayhem both fish were landed.

I got to retrieve my rig without a fish and was feeling pretty used up and shocked at what was happening.

And then, to finally rub salt into the wound, young Daniel Bartley pulls in one of the biggest trevally I have seen (45cm!).

I take my hat off to “The Motley Crew” they were very humble fishos from whom I learned a lot.

It was truly a fun morning fishing session! I did manage to land the smallest catch of the day a tailor, so I guess I am still “The Novice”.

My applause goes out to Mark Flynn who has been renamed “The Messiah”, until our next battle, and Dave Bartley is still “Top Gun”.

As for Dean Barber well let’s just say he still keeps his tag as The Sleeper, as he slept in!

In the meantime if you try the rocks please watch for those rogue waves, that’s one thing I am experienced at, having snorkelled around the wash for much of my life.

Gary Dixon

(This column brought to you by the Hellenic Club of Canberra)

A tribute to Sam the fisho

FOR a man of so few words, the influence that the late Sam Shears had on me would take pages to write up.

Sammy was a commercial fisho for all of his working life even though very few would even realise that - such was his nature.

He went about his love of fishing with the least fuss he could muster. No bragging “I caught…” about him.

In an industry of highly competing egos, Sam stood out with his humility. I never heard him say a bad thing about another in a tough industry.

He fished his much appreciated Tuross River just about exclusively for 60 or more years of his life without one Fisheries conviction.

There is no doubt in my mind after representing the NSW Industry for 10 years myself, Sammy was the best estuary fisherman in NSW by a long shot and not for what he caught but for what he didn’t catch.

He fished sustainably long before the word became fashionable - he fished for need, rather than greed.

There is no doubt in my mind that the “meek” nature of Sammy was rewarded and he stands alongside a few other handy commercial fishermen - namely Peter, Paul, John and James.

And yes Sammy, I will pass on to the recreational fishermen your knowledge of your beloved Tuross.

- Ron Snape