01/11/2025
WHAT PRICE ADVENTURE?
Since the dawn of time, humans have followed their spirit of adventure. For many, this deep-rooted instinct drives them to push their limits, seeking challenges that test both skill and courage.
Whole continents would never have been discovered, mountains climbed, oceans crossed, nor nations explored without a human spirit of adventure.
With our earth mostly discovered, we humans push our spirit of adventure to other outer limits. It may be scaling a mountain face, extreme mountain biking, chasing blinding speeds on motorbikes, surfing towering waves, snow jumping, cave diving, heli-skiing, base jumping, skydiving, wingsuiting, hang gliding, or any form of motorsport. All of these demand absolute trust, both in personal skill and in the performance of the equipment.
Offshore fishing is no different. It also comes with inherent risks; yet, like all adventurers, anglers often challenge themselves, sometimes as part of a team and sometimes alone, pushing their abilities in pursuit of a goal.
For me, solo fishing became a necessity. I had the flexibility to predict favourable seasons and conditions, then arrange my work around them. That meant fishing more often than most, and inevitably going alone when experienced crew couldn’t match my schedule. Was I just lucky? No. Success came from time, effort, expense, and persistence - often in less-than-perfect conditions. Some of the best bites happen after rough weather, when oxygen-rich water triggers feeding frenzies.
Today, technology has transformed solo fishing safety. Modern weather forecasting, seaworthy boat designs, advanced communications, and reliable electronics mean the ocean is far safer now than in the days of Hemingway’s “Old Man and the Sea.” We have automatic and manual life jackets, ignition cut-off switches, EPIRBs, AIS systems, and a host of other safety tools that make responsible solo angling a far cry from recklessness.
Only recently, I had a story on solo fishing rejected by one of the world’s most widely distributed premium boating magazines. The reason? They claimed it was “promoting dangerous activity!” Yet the same publication regularly features solo sailors!
So why, then, do governing bodies appear determined to limit adventure and achievement?
Recently, the Game Fishing Association of NSW (GFANSW) has gone a step further by introducing new eligibility criteria for its Coastal Waters Trophies, ruling that fish caught by solo anglers, even if tagged and released, will no longer qualify for these awards!
It seems that individual clubs may still choose to recognise solo captures within their own club competitions; however, NSWGFA has encouraged clubs to align with the new state-level policy.
The rule applies only to water-based solo anglers, such as those fishing from boats, kayaks, or jet skis. This change does not affect land-based anglers fishing from the rocks or beach, who remain eligible under existing rules.
This stance directly contradicts the rules of their parent bodies, the International Game Fishing Association (IGFA) and the Game Fishing Association of Australia (GFAA). While they claim it’s for safety, one can’t help but wonder whether other factors are at play? Whatever the reasoning, the outcome is clear: committed, responsible anglers are being discouraged, and the very spirit of adventure that fuels our sport is being eroded.
In a further display of confusing hypocrisy, solo anglers can still claim NSW and Australian record captures under the Game Fishing Association of Australia (GFAA) framework. In my mind, this encourages a catch-and-kill mentality that we outgrew many years ago with the introduction of more environmentally friendly catch-and-release techniques. In fact, our sport has withstood numerous attacks from irrational legislation and detractors due to the evidence of effective environmental management since the introduction and promotion of tag-and-release practices.
Boating alone does not automatically increase risk! In some cases, having inexperienced crew aboard may intensify safety issues. While there are arguments on both sides, stripping solo anglers of recognition, or excluding their catches from awards sends the wrong message.
But wait, there’s more! I am informed that this same archaic organisation has now discontinued all Junior competition because they could not keep up with modern “Working With Children” standards. Instead of improving themselves and instituting the defined guidelines that all clubs, groups, and organisations must comply with, their answer is to simply close the door on their children’s opportunities, impeding our sports' future and again depleting the spirit of adventure.
Rather than penalising individuals, associations should lead the charge in promoting safe practices, providing training, and ensuring members have the skills and knowledge to achieve their goals responsibly. Yes, the ocean will always carry risk. That’s part of its challenge and its allure. But the answer is not to shut down opportunity — it’s to educate, prepare, and inspire.
Because a world without adventure? You can count me out.
Words and Image by John "Bear" Willis😉
