Fishing Mags - The Good, Bad and the Ugly
Submitted by Adam Gallash on Wed, 2009-02-04 09:01
Hey Crew,
Just wanted to get some feedback from you guys about the current environment re - fishing mags. What do you guys think they are doing well at the moment? Where are they failing and faltering? We all know each publication has its own unique features going for it, but what is it that makes you go back to keep buying it? The quality of the photos, the stories, the articles, the amount of ads, repetition of articles? Other factors?
Cheers,
Adam
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tommytomato
Posts: 416
Date Joined: 25/07/05
I don't really buy them any
I don't really buy them any more, they always seem to be about other places other than the city limits, most mags i have bought in the past were great, great shots and good articles to read.
TT ( karl )
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
Apologies to anyone who works on Fishing WA and
Westernb Angler, but I feel thyey have really fallen away. The stories are prety much the same every month.
I like Fishing World for the new information on techniques and tackle that it reports edvery issue.
(Colin 1 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)
Moderator. Proud member of the Fishwrecked "Old Farts". Make sure your subscribed to Fishwrecked Reeltime http://fishwrecked-reeltime.com/
Stevef
Posts: 478
Date Joined: 27/02/08
IMO Western Angler is still
IMO Western Angler is still a standout, even on a national basis. It comes out Bi Monthly which ensures good quality & quantity of content. I also reckon that Hotbite is pretty good value.
On the other had I reckon Fishing WA has really gone backwards. My mother in law brought me a subscription to FWA (in error it shoudl have been Wangler) and I have noticed that the content and production values (spelling etc) are really poor and seem to be deteriorating. Still the odd good article but a lot of crap amongst it. A recent article (Rotto I think) was published and almost all the fish featured were bloody rock cods.
Dont buy the new one (cant remeber the name, but Ryan writes for it) so i cant really comment on it.
Just my 20c worth
Steve
kane
Posts: 1752
Date Joined: 07/12/08
I dont bother too often anymore
Get more useful information from this site, like previous replies say alot is away from metro or on out deeper than i can currently go in my boat.
Most of the magazines are basically advertisements.
And I really dont believe some of the reports featured in them, Tackle shop owners putting in reports of whats hot this month when mabe its what they want to sell more of this month so well pretend the fish are on and drag up some photos from a year or 2 to put in the magazine.
Yes I am very cynical! haha
Goooooone Fishin!
Gooooone Fishin!
jay_burgess
Posts: 4648
Date Joined: 18/08/05
I value quality articles
I value quality articles from experienced anglers and good photo's. The only magazine I really make an effort to buy now is Bluewater Boats & Sportfishing, always very proffesional and learn heaps from every issue.
Only ever buy the local WA ones when I see an article that catches my eye but even then it tends to really dissapoint me.
davey
Posts: 272
Date Joined: 17/05/07
mags
I used to buy all the mags but have found that they all seem to regurgitate the same stuff over and over.
its ok if your really into the offshore stuff but they seem to overlook a lot of inshore fishing,
UncutTriggerInWA
Posts: 2692
Date Joined: 05/09/08
Too bloody expensive
I agree with comments above. You can only read so many articles on how to catch Tailor. Not many articles define the fine art of Mulloway fishing.
Generally, these magzines are over priced and over-rated. Sorry, but that's my 2 bob's worth.
Cheers, Vince
http://vinceholt.spaces.live.com/
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Vince.
Work smart and fish often.
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Adam Gallash
Posts: 15653
Date Joined: 29/11/05
interesting
So a lot of you find value in 'how to's' and assistance in catching fish, or is it a balance between reading a good story as well.
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Barrd Up
Posts: 75
Date Joined: 25/10/08
Great question. Like many
Great question.
Like many others use to buy all regularly, now days only when a particular article catches my interest. But why?
1. Cost of magazines and changing priorities in Life.
2. Sites like this, spend a lot more time on line. Get more than one persons imput on a particular subject. Enjoy the stories from real people doing the same type of fishing I do or hope to do.
damo6230
Posts: 2029
Date Joined: 07/06/08
same same
doesn't matter what "hobbie" you are in too, after time they all seem to have the same stuff in mags.
No subscriptions but;
Western Angler I will look at on an issue basis as only some articles interest me.
Fishing world gets the same vote as Colin for tech gear etc.
Modern Fishing as WA I look on an issue basis as they tend to reguritate the same but I do like Kaj as a writer/inovator.
Dont mind NAFA but getting over sensationalised and to advert glossy but helps with homesickness .. ha ha
but definitely like "remote" articles and less testosterone articles. Tech info is good and user articles (ie Wild hikking mag has tester use the gear for a period of time and then report).
RECFISHWEST Member
Matt T
Posts: 875
Date Joined: 19/11/07
Too much offshore
Most mags have too much info on far away 'dream trip' fishing and not local stuff. Love the 'how to's' and instruction and gear reports. Seems they focus on fishing the west end of rotto and such and forget about going crabbing in the swan or herring / whiting fishing at the drains - stuff alot of the fishermen love to do. Don't get me wrong still love all the offshore stuff but not everyone spends summer chasing marlin in 40' Bertrams.
jay_burgess
Posts: 4648
Date Joined: 18/08/05
All a matter of oppinion I
All a matter of oppinion I guess Matt, as I prefer to read those 'dream trip' articles of remote and interesting places.
Matt T
Posts: 875
Date Joined: 19/11/07
Guess that's the tricky bit Jay
What you and I like to read may be completley different, yet we both love fishing! Can't go wrong with a few girls (bikini) in the mag though I rekon!
fishy fingers
Posts: 1719
Date Joined: 28/04/07
And dont forget
Jay actually lives a lot nearer those far away places so it's not so much of a dream for him to achieve as it would be for us southerners....but good luck to him.
To all the virgins..............Thanks for nothing!
saltatrix
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 30/03/08
This has been in many
This has been in many discussion in the past.
Everyone has a different opinion and with every new magazine that is released writers are spread thinner.
This makes it harder to gain content that will be new different and satisfying to a broad spectrum of anglers.
There appears to be a few stand outs in needs.
Fantasy - Anglers want to immerse themselves in a far away place to escape.
Howtos - Anglers want to know about targeting and method on a range of expertise
Technology - Anglers want to know about the latest and greatest
Fisheries issues - How it will impact them and what is happening.
Many articles appear to reincarnate themselves though with a modern version.
While some may have read these in the past others havent and the new elements appeal to anglers where they may like the new techniques or havent seen he past.
The big issue is encouraging young and old writers to put pen to paper about their experiences. Quality images are hard to find. Theres more than one article in getting the right photo and thats been done too.
An online article specifically on the photography of captures may improve the one thing that often doesnt follow. Good pictures.
It would need to be an article that suits a particular group of anglers.
How many times have you looked an article and said what lure or fly is in that fishes mouth?
The more mags the faster any ground is covered. So content is rendered old much sooner.
At some stage there will be an implosion of some of the mags which will intern mean a popularity decline of recreational fishing and associated industry fields.
You cant suit everyone all of the time and for many publishing fishing media is not a fulltime job or prime business. That would be a recipe for disaster.
Angling tourism is worth $10 billion to the Australian economy - 90000 jobs; more than any sport; spread the word
catchalittle
Posts: 1875
Date Joined: 04/09/08
Used to buy a few of the WA
Used to buy a few of the WA mags but now only Hotbite every now and then dont mind the Blue water mag and Fishing monthly as others have said a lot of articles are repeated in different ways.
Life is short so live it fast
Nathan
Nathan
HuggyB
Posts: 2515
Date Joined: 03/08/08
One thing that irks me with WAFM
Is they devote so much magazine space to a select fishing fraternity (breamers) IOM its a lot of dead space that appeals to a select audience. Other than that, I do like the general format of WAFM.
FWA went downhill and it seems like any Tom, Dick or Harry who has caught a fish recently can write an article for them (was the case with the last one I read some time ago, so no idea if it is still the case). The death knell for me was all that Outdoors rubbish they tried to incorporate, completely ruined the mag and the forum followed suit and went down hill there after.
Western Angler is also pretty good, but does suffer from being same old same old from issue to issue - year to year.
Hotbite is a bit meh for me, bought a couple and unless they have a compelling article I doubt I will add a third to the stack.
I dont really buy a lot of magazines - pretty much only if an article/feature grabs my attention. One thing I would like to see (and they have it in Modern Fishing) is a rundown on the gear they use, line class etc in a little box. I like knowing what the "pros" use. I think they call it the battle box or something like that.
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
Feral
Posts: 1508
Date Joined: 01/11/06
cant say i buy many mags as
cant say i buy many mags as i think if your going to learn something properly youve got to get a better source (like the internet).. i like reading what the average person can catch (with good gear naturally) .. ive learned more about popper fishing from reading posts and pm's from the likes of honsu , jay and brad than i ever would from a mag.. who cares what rex hunt can catch with a staggering budget and guides to show them where to go (as they never tell a location or gear used -naturally) but if jay posts up a pick of a solid fish at least i might be able to ask a question about it and hope for a reply :)
i did like the idea of a battle box telling line class and gear used.
i think i get enough dreaming material from the internet without needing to buy a mag that cant advise me on my particular question ..
JMO Clint
saltatrix
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 30/03/08
Western Angler is also
Western Angler is also pretty good, but does suffer from being same old same old from issue to issue - year to year
I wouldnt say same old same old. I would say there is definately some overlap.
This standard with a lot of magazines. This is because you may be reading an article on say an up coming Salmon season. There maybe a difference in location, tackle and technique.
Articles can appear similar as they maybe he same fish. When youve been around a couple of decades those overlaps are going to appear more often.
Plenty of fishos buy a range of Magazines and papers as they would rather read about fishing than the daily newspaper so rather than one they buy the lot especially for say a lunch break.
That overlap is to appeal to the new and seasoned reader. Unless you invent new fish its going to appear the same info.
If I informed people that I was starting a Bream magazine 20 years ago they would have choked and died on their own laughter.
The internet has changed fishing for ever. Im sure some would feel they are deprived of oxygen if they were without access to information that further overlaps.
The internet has many people with good information and theyd be kidding themselves if they stated they discovered it all on their own. Some of it more than likely from magazines.
Techniques such as jigging and lure fishing for bream are not new. When I mean new Im saying 20 years plus. The digital information age has boosted the popularity of these types of fishing 10 fold from their previous lives.
New technology such braid has allowed them to become even greater. Baitcasters and Mr Twisters for flathead and bream are probably older than most the people that visit the forums.
Find some fishing magazines 20-25 years old. Very interesting reads to see what has eventuated.
Youll see storys of blokes in tinnies catching Samsons in 8 metres of water using baitcasters and 6-8 kilo mono. No PE6900 tow rope in 120 metres of water.
Thats probably the first time you have heard that on the internet. If you think vertical jigging is hard try that one.
Thats how much fishing has evolved. Same fish different place, time, techniques.
Angling tourism is worth $10 billion to the Australian economy - 90000 jobs; more than any sport; spread the word
Shorty
Posts: 1549
Date Joined: 10/05/08
I brought 3 of the current
I brought 3 of the current issue of the "The west australian fishing magazine" (with Ryan on the front)
That picture on page 54 is probally the greatest fishing picture of all time
Most magazines have the same stuff over and over but i have never read a fishing magazine i didn't like,,theres always something of interest in everyone of them.
I do think the guys in FWA look like clowns with sponsorship logos all over there shirts anda month or two ago i watched the show (never bothered before ) and that nick and jacko can really yak like a pair of women,,but its all good,,,,
Colin 3 > long standing and highly respect member of the prestigous Colin's club.
Jody
Posts: 1578
Date Joined: 19/04/07
Watch it Shorty
"and that nick and jacko can really yak like a pair of women"
Thats just mean and nasty
TWiZTED
Shorty
Posts: 1549
Date Joined: 10/05/08
Its a compliment,,i have
Its a compliment,,i have seen women yak and there make great paddlers and peddlers
Colin 3 > long standing and highly respect member of the prestigous Colin's club.
Albee Mangles
Posts: 985
Date Joined: 20/05/08
I usually read
more than one mag, each has its own flavour and style. I read Western Angler every issue, especially that new Kayak Column, its farkenn amazing!! That guys a brilliant writer!!!!
Seriously tho, apart from mags i'm associated with, i buy them based on that particular months content.
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Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
I wish I knew who that that kayak columnist is
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Kelvin8r
Posts: 475
Date Joined: 12/08/08
I like People mag for the
I like People mag for the articals and Picture mag for the fantastic crossword.... whoops wrong forum :P
saltatrix
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 30/03/08
Actually there could be
Actually there could be something in that. A 6 kilo pretested mono comp with a max outer fishing range of 6 mile. To qualify fish have to be a minimum over 4 kilo.
Angling tourism is worth $10 billion to the Australian economy - 90000 jobs; more than any sport; spread the word
kane
Posts: 1752
Date Joined: 07/12/08
Thats a bloody great idea!
Id be in that for sure.
Goooooone Fishin!
Gooooone Fishin!
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Never seen a copy of WAFM,
Never seen a copy of WAFM, not sure its stocked around where I live.
bear
Posts: 184
Date Joined: 30/03/06
Till, Let me know where you
Till,
Let me know where you are and I'll chase one up for you. I'm off to Exxy for 10 days tomorrow, but will do it first thing when I get back.
I Live in My Own Little World,
But it's OK, They Know me Here.
Proud to be Associated with:
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Reefmonkey
Posts: 711
Date Joined: 22/09/08
I still buy wangler and fwa
I still buy wangler and fwa every issue pretty much just for something to read, wangler has some good articles like the recent one about replacing the floor of a boat. fishing wa i find has some good articles but some pretty poor ones these day the spelling and grammar has definately gone down hill, it also gets to me the stories such as how to catch metro spaniards but the in the pics in the back ground all u see is low lying red scrub islands( haven't seen them around metro) or steve c's metro monster tailor with the kalbarri cliffs in the background.
I'd like a metro mag even if its jus cheap and crappy like FWA back in the day. Even if its made on the cheap with articles like the old how to catch herring for younger kids wanting to get started, wats happening at the local ramps talking to the people going out wat they're catching and they also get a chance to get a pic in the mag or u might see old salty joe or your mate pop up in there. also maybe articles goin out with just the local ledgends. mainly for the people who want to get started and the local weekend boaties/fisho
Dave J.
kane
Posts: 1752
Date Joined: 07/12/08
I couldnt agree more reef monkey
Goooooone Fishin!
Gooooone Fishin!
davey
Posts: 272
Date Joined: 17/05/07
mags
a mag i used to read in UK used to put a rig used column against the article, just a simple drawing of the rig used, bait etc.it was very useful when trying to target new species or a new place.havent seen anything like that here but im sure it could be a worthwhile addition to help us that are not so familiar with all the methods
Dreamweaver
Posts: 4688
Date Joined: 01/12/07
Damn good thread!
Some VERY interesting, relevant and on target comments guys!
The stand out article last year, was by a guy called Colin Molloy on 'Boat Ramp Etiquette' in the November issue of FWA. He tells me, as far as he was aware, no one had touched that issue before and he deemed it important. Certainly DPI thought so, they summarily plagiarised it in their next issue !
OK, hedonistic, narcistical fun over !
1) I can't stand the 'competition' between the mags (and therefore (especially) the forums! GET A LIFE AND GET OUT MORE! At the end of the day, there's not one author and therefore there's not one mag or forum.
2) Yes; having bought several mags for some years, and, as an avid reader, and, having gone through the submission phase, it IS hard to come up with something different.
3) Humbly, it was great to get a LOT of positive feedback on that article I wrote, and it took a LOT of work.
4) I think this THE most important! Perhaps not let us look at 'the issues' from our perspective (though warranted), but, look at it from every OTHER fisher. Like forums, magazines have their place in the market. There's an obvious media/informational synergy between print media and the internet. Hotbite and FW, as a mag/forum amalgam tend to cater (generally) for the 'entry level' fisho and many would (therefore) find the magazines (even) thrilling.
5) OF COUSE, Fishwrecked caters for ALL levels of fishing, without fear, favour or derogation. Therein lies this sites GREAT strength. But print media is still a draw card. Fiswrecked (notwithstanding any physical presence advertising) does not exist on the counter of every Tackle/boat shop counter.
6) YES! I don't hate how NCF grew (from one shop in Queensland(?), but I don't like the Kmart Kill market presence they have - for ALL the salient historical exchanges we have.
7) At the end of the day, may I suggest that it is salient to be cogniscent that, at any point in time, there will be MANY fishers at different stages of 'development, awareness, desire etc.
So, I guess I'm saying that the whole schema is amorphic.
With the more than hundreds of articles written across and within the plethora of magazines, it IS hard to please ALL of the people ALL of the time.
Colin Molloy
RECFISHWEST Member
(Colin 2 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)
Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
Occasionally there is some gold to be found in the local mags
Number 2.
(Colin 1 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)
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mullows
Posts: 738
Date Joined: 25/12/08
wheres my dictionary!!!
Just spent 20 minutes looking up the dictionary for some of these words Colin, bloody hell....amorphic, cogniscent, schema, plethora, synergy :-) :-)
Too scared to put anything on here now. Just as well I teach PE and not english!!! lol
Cheers
Mullows ----------------------------------------------------------
If you're not livin' on the edge, you are taking up to much space!!!
The Older I get the better I was :-)
Dreamweaver
Posts: 4688
Date Joined: 01/12/07
LOL Mullows
Sorry mate, had a few drinks and was on a linquistic role
, anyway, you get the ghist where my heart is 
Colin Molloy
RECFISHWEST Member
(Colin 2 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)
Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!
ZIGGY
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 08/03/08
HOTBITE
Value for money, It covers all catagories, Its even got one for you Adam the travelling tinnie
Adam Gallash
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hheeheh
The 'real' travelling tinnie's gone mate, he upgraded and left us small boaties behind. ;)
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Salmo
Posts: 913
Date Joined: 15/08/05
tinnie
Its only 3 foot longer mate.....
you are making out the new ride is a gin palace....
flangies
Posts: 2550
Date Joined: 11/05/08
I think the best mags are
I think the best mags are the fishing tips and techniques that come in the 3 pack, its amatuer written and its 99% landbased accessable and its a great read. Learned alot of knew things and 3 for 7$ beats 7$ each with majority of whacked out spots i can never get to and advertisement for a reel i can never afford.
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7739ian
Posts: 948
Date Joined: 25/06/08
Only read them
in the Doctor's waiting room. Wangler is is becoming a Reader's Digest blurb with nowhere near the quality it used to have - still, no right to complain if i don't have to pay for it. To be honest, the reports on Fishwrecked are more varied, often very well written and current rather than months old.
saltatrix
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 30/03/08
I wonder where we would be
I wonder where we would be today if Ian Stagles had closed Wangler over a decade ago and never started a fishing forum. Im sure he would be healthier today.
The amount of selfless hours he has put in the past into fishing meetings with different parties is horrendous. Something he has never really boasted.
If the work in hours was represented in dollars I think he would shudder. The mag was never going to be a cash cow.
This is prior to any Recfishwest. His is one of more action than words.
Magazines have to plan a publish unlike a newspaper. Some articles are preplanned to be released pre-season to an anticipated fishery season for the people who want to know prior tackle, technique and time.
People like Bluie Vaughan are guides, Hitchen is exguide. Harvey was born in a mono manger.
I dont think Scott Coghlan is going to cease what Ian Stagles was doing. However he probably has a mortgage like evryone else.
Scotts challenge is greater. He is one of many local publishes now and the internet compounds the pressure. The transition from slide to digital is occuring.
I dont thinks its a "no where near the quality". I think its people have more choice.
I think when all the magazines have disappeared and the content is totally digital people may struggle a little with their digital content diversity.
It did however pay to work in a tackleshop or be a member of a fishing club. The past portals of information. GPS coordinates werent published on mass. People boat fishing had barely afforded a paper sounder.
The internet has made some gurus in short time, prior to that it was just just a little harder
Angling tourism is worth $10 billion to the Australian economy - 90000 jobs; more than any sport; spread the word
MR T
Posts: 10
Date Joined: 10/06/08
I agree with Saltatrix. Also
I agree with Saltatrix. Also I wonder how many people would still be using cane flick rods if it wasn't for fishing mags and now the net. I personaly like Wangler and have been buying it from day one.
MR T
scotto
Posts: 2472
Date Joined: 21/04/08
they all suck
the only one i get anything from is Bluewater boats and Sportsfishing, but guess what, i still buy them all.
i get sick of reading the same thing week in week out, and get extremely pissed when i buy a magazine and the feature article is how to catch a phucken herring off the esperance jetty, but i still buy them all.
i hate how someone flukes a fish - how to catch dhuies on a mack mauler -, and then writes a stuffin article about it like its a common occurance, but i still buy them all.
i get annoyed when the same location is "exposed" in the same mag or same month. but i still buy them all.
i guess the only thing i like about them, is that there is always one picture, or if your lucky, one article, that you look at and go "fuck yeah, thats pretty awesome", but unfortunately, it only happens once per issue.
but i'm addicted to fishing, and i'll still buy them all.
Shorty
Posts: 1549
Date Joined: 10/05/08
I brought two today,,i saw
I brought two today,,i saw Hotbite had a thing on Bream,,which is my new interest and FWA did as well,,so i thought i had better buy both and cover all bases,,
Seems the covers are the most important,,its sometimes an impulse buy if i see something,,these days i don't have time to read them in the newsagents,,which i would normally do
On Edit> well one mag says high tide is best the writer in the other one says a falling tide is best,,now i am more confused,,lol
Colin 3 > long standing and highly respect member of the prestigous Colin's club.
Ryan Thipthorp (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
Magazines!
Adam,
To answer your questions;
FWA, struggles to keep good writers but caters for a mix of readers, certainly not what it used to be but has a place. Pictures not bad depending who's taking them!
Hotbite, a very good read, a monthly punch of fishing info and whilst it doesnt always have depth it gets the point over quick. I hope the advetising doesnt take over, thats all. Pictures good considering its on matt finish and normally only a few pics!
Wangler, a good publication and has stepped up with Scotty at the wheel and a new change of direction. More info & techniques given out via some of the features would help. Pictures normally good but depending who's taking them!
WAFM, a good publication also with quality content. The variety of articles spreads across the metro area & upnorth. The pictures are normally good with plenty of how to & indepth info. I dont like the amount of pages dedicated to Bream Tourno's etc as its a small market and thats the only negative!
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Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
yep i rekon hotbite is a
yep i rekon hotbite is a pretty good mag. probably the only one i consistantly buy, unless there is an article im interest in IE: Ryans kidney slappers!!
As ryan said, its pretty straight to the point, and the articles in here are quite often written / photoed by fisho's. quite often articles of localised areas and fish species, not just the monties, or abroholos, or all these fancy places most normal people dont visit.
plus its cheap!!! only $3.95!!
Pete D
Posts: 1681
Date Joined: 07/06/07
Quality pics in that article
Quality pics in that article too Bodie
Cheque in the mail Ryse? haha. It was a great day on the water - specific target and target was found.
Cheers Pete
inkbandit79
Posts: 22
Date Joined: 01/02/09
New to town
only fishing in perth for 6 months I have found the local ones to be okay and giving advice but after stumbling on this site the info is s%#tloads better and the guys here all seem to be pretty decent fellas and not shy on giving advice just wish i could pry the boat of my bro to get into the blue soon thanks guys