One Step Ahead — A Warren Steptoe Retrospective

For more than three decades, Warren Steptoe has been one of Australia's most prolific and highly regarded fishing and outdoor scribes. Sadly, he retired in 2015. The man's had a tremendous influence on my own fishing, photography and writing journey over the last 25 years, so it was impossible to let his retirement pass without shining the spotlight on his career and the enormous contribution he made to recreational fishing and boating in Australia. You can download this special retrospective feature, which ran in the March/April 2017 issue of FishLife magazine, by clicking on the cover image below (it takes a moment to load).

Jewfish on Lures: Lessons Learnt

The last couple of years have been a happy blur of fishing, photography and writing... but mostly fishing. And the bulk of that angling time has been spent pursuing jewfish or mulloway on lures off the rocks in northern NSW. Sure, it can be hard-going at times, but the rewards are certainly there for those with the time and inclination.

Sadly, this post also coincides with the last-ever print edition of FishLife magazine. The demise of premium print publications in Australia, particularly in niche industries like fishing, is a growing trend and a reflection of the increasing challenges faced by publishers. Even the major operators are feeling the pinch of falling magazine sales and reduced spending from advertisers. It’s an unfortunate commercial reality, and such a shame. I’ll certainly miss my quarterly hit of hard copy FishLife goodness. And yes, that is a tailor on the cover of the final issue...  Vivé le chopper.

On the Rise — FishLife magazine

Well, 2017 seems to be in a hurry, doesn't it? It feels like the year's only just begun, and yet here we are at the end of summer already. As always, I'm a bit slow off the mark with this post about the latest issue of FishLife magazine (Jan/Feb 2017). While the print edition is off the stands, it's available free online until the end of March.

The J-Files

Since returning to my old stomping grounds on the NSW north coast earlier in the year, I've been spending way too much time chasing mulloway or jewfish on lures off the rocks... and shooting a pile of pictures along the way!  It's been a fun ride, and one that I'm excited to share in the Nov/Dec 2016 issue of FishLife magazine, which is available free online until the end of January 2017.