Hooked podcast

Phil Dance is the new owner of Colorato Lures, so we take the opportunity to find out about his fishing background and his plans for the lures: https://www.coloratolures.com.au/contact-us/

Lee Rayner's best known for his Fishing Edge TV show, and its down to earth fishing style that places an emphasis on the DIY aspects of fishing while entertaining viewers. Lee has traveled the length and breadth of Australia, visiting some of the country's most remote and beautiful places. Yet he’s most keen on Victoria’s trout fisheries lately. Find out what Lee is up to most recently, here on the Hooked Podcast with Daniel (“Bro”) Brauman.

Captain Brett Goetze runs Reel Chase Charters onboard 57’ Amokura - a luxury Assegai. He charters from Cairns and Port Douglas to the Great Barrier Reef, Princess Charlotte Bay and Lizard Island. With over 20 years in the industry, Brett is also the treasurer of the Cairns Professional Game Fishing Association, and was also featured in the recent marlin fishing documentary about North Queensland. http://reelchasecharters.com

In this episode, Bro speaks with big game fisherman, Mark Watson, from Tasmania. With decades of experience fishing for tuna, kingfish and broadbill in Tasmania, Mark also has a reputation as a man who can land and tag that big game fish, no matter what the conditions. He’s had multiple tag-and-release trophies, but his collection of tales (and tails) and memories are the most valuable from his fishing life. He even gives us some advice about marriage!

In this episode, Bro speaks with Tim Dean from Calypso about that pinnacle fish - the marlin. Captain Tim Dean has been fishing the entire East Coast of Australia all of his life. Starting out at the age of 5 years old with his father John fishing from small boats on the South Coast of Australia for the big yellowfin which used to frequent these waters Tim saw his future. After completing an apprenticeship as an electrical mechanic in Sydney Tim undertook the Captain's Course. Utilising all the sea time he had logged on recreational and commercial fishing vessels Tim passed with flying colours and in the Summer of 1992 he set up the now infamous "Calypso Fishing Adventures" in Port Stephens New South Wales Australia Working and fishing hard numerous Tournament Victories and Fishing accolades flowed the "Calypso's" way. "I learnt at a very young age with my father that if you wanted to catch fish not only did you have to fish hard but preparation of tackle, bait (fresh is best), crew and of course boat was the key to a successful day. The old adage "if you had a line in the water you have a chance" saw us the first boat out and always the last to return each evening - and more often than not with a great catch of fish". A major part of the "Calypso's Season" is dedicated to Big Game Fly Fishing at Port Stephens. Captain Tim would like to invite you to come and fish with the busiest and best marlin fishing operation Australia has to offer. https://www.marlinfishingaustralia.com.au/index.php

Nine-year-old Cooper McGlashan started off his billfishing career with a black marlin off Port Stephens in January 2016. He’s gone on to catch many marlin, and now barrel tuna with his father, Al McGlashan.

This episode features Sean Savage from Streaker Marine, where Cuzzy Bro’s first bought a boat that was ocean-worthy. Sean is the second generation of a family owned and run business. His uncle and father, Leon and Paul Savage ,have been involved in boating all of their lives. As teenagers they were both accomplished water skiers and had also been attracted to the world of fishing. Leon, being an apprentice Boatbuilder and Shipwright, was already designing and building boats in his spare time. In 1973 the two brothers decided to make a full time commitment to their new company, L & P Savage Brothers Marine Pty Ltd, which was to build a range of boats called 'Streaker Boats'. The rest is history - Streaker Boats over the intervening years has become one of the most popular brands of fibreglass boats ever built in this country. You only have to look at the second-hand market and see the re-sale value of Streakers to see how popular they are. This is for many reasons - they are super practical, wide, deep, soft riding, stable, extremely strong, beautiful to look at, with an excellent finish - reasons that will give you confidence and satisfaction that Streaker is the right choice! Leon and Paul, and their entire staff, love boating. Not only is it their business, it is their total interest. They are totally, 24 hours a day, involved in boating. They love it and this is another reason why their boats are so good! https://www.streakermarine.com.au

In this episode, Daniel “Bro” Brauman speaks with Bill Molonis from Navico, about sounders and boat electronics, particularly his favourite brand, Simrad.

In this episode, Bro speaks to Trapman from Bermagui. The commercial fishing industry is one of the most complicated and often misunderstood industries. The idea behind Trapman Bermagui is to try and dispel some of the myths and misconceptions that exist and to give people more understanding of what is involved in the everyday life of a commercial fisherman. I would also like to bridge the gap between commercial and amateur fishermen, by sharing some of my knowledge and experience to help create a more sustainable and enjoyable ocean for everyone. My dad has been a commercial fisherman since the 1950s, line fishing kingys and snapper and trapping out of Sydney. I started life sleeping in a fishbox on dad’s boat, which I much preferred to daycare. I spent all my school holidays working on boats with other professional fishermen, learning about fishing and diving. At 15 I became the youngest commercial fisherman in Sydney. When I started, I was line fishing, trapping lobsters and mullet netting during the autumn season. I bought my first tinny with money I made selling fish to my school teachers. At 18 I upgraded from the tinny to a 6m boat called Princess (named after my dog). A 32ft swift craft boat (Zoe) that I bought next turned out to be a lemon, so I traded that one for a 7m predator boat which was dark blue and creatively called Blue Boat. I had Blue Boat for 16 years. I mostly fished Kingfish as well as trapping for lobster and fish, and sharks. I would travel up and down the coast a week at a time to break up the boredom, fishing out of Port Stephens, Culburra, Seal Rocks, South West Rocks and Bermagui. In 2000 new fishing regulations were introduced. Lobster quotas were applied along with shark trip limits and mullet netting was banned in Botany Bay. These new regulations meant a big drop in income so I bought a line east and chased Yellowfin and Albacore to try to make up for it. By this stage I had become one of the top commercial fishermen in Sydney. In 2007 I bought the Marilyn M Sailfish (named after my mum). Shortly after, I met my wife and we decided to leave Sydney for a quieter life. Opting for a seachange, we moved to Bermagui in 2012. Since moving to Bermagui I have mostly focused on fish and lobster trapping, along with a little King fish and tuna fishing. I recently sold Marilyn M and upgraded to the Narissa J which is now moored at Bermagui Fishermen’s Wharf. Moving my fishing business to Bermagui has been a huge learning curve. There have been many challenges, like learning new fishing grounds and the biggest one, the inconsistency with king fishing. It is very seasonal which is hard to get used to. Snapper is also inconsistent, although the shark fishing here on the South Coast has been good. Overall, fishing in Bermagui I find you catch more quantity but the quality is not always there. Commercial fishing is a really tough industry. The biggest issues I find as a fisherman are things like inconsistent fish means inconsistent pay, fishing is completely weather dependent and seasonal, the seals here are crazy. It is tough physical work which means my hands burn and hurt and my body is always aching, plus there is constant anxiety /stress, the regulations and licensing systems are always challenging us, my clothes stink and so do I. But of course, there are some good things about the job too. I get to be out on the ocean, part of nature. I see things that most people never will, such as the majesty of great white sharks swimming beneath the boat, whales breaching at sunrise and the company of dolphin pods as I work. I get to do what I love for a living and live in a great part of the world. It’s also really rewarding to see people eating and enjoying my catch. It feels good when my plans work out and I get a good catch. There is also great camaraderie here amongst the community. The commercial fishermen work together and help each other out. There is also a lot of support from local businesses and the people in this small town. Website: http://trapmanbermagui.com

Glenn “Watty” Watt was given a chance to chase a dream in 2011 and grabbed hold of it with both hands. Originally from Victoria, Barefoot in the Northern Territory was born in 2013 and continues put a smile on Watty’s face every time he’s on the water. Within a few years a reputation was building of a good time, laughs, learning, adventure and of course innovation and quality fishing for those who went on safari with Watty. Remember fishing should be fun, and when it is you’ll always catch more. Check out the different charters and membership options here: https://www.barefootfishingsafaris.com.au

Meet Daniel (“Bro”) Brauman from Cuzzy Bro’s Fishing, and fishing out a bit more about his story, and how he got into fishing and some of his favourite fishing stories.

Mario Imbriano is the president of the Canberra Game Fishing club, and Daniel caught up with him at their Tuna Competition in Bermagui in June 2019.