WIRF

Get to know your WIRF network leaders

This month’s WIRF report focuses on WIRF leaders for 2022 – Allison Smith, Jamie De Agnoi, Jo Fyfe, Kelsi Gull, Lauren Yann, and Leanne Ngo.

WIRF LEADER

Name: Allison Smith Region: Carnegie in Melbourne and sometimes Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula Profession: non-executive director for some government services Speciality: mainly saltwater

What’s your fishing style?

My style is a bit random, less technical than most, but passionate. I talk a lot to the fish!

Favourite species to fish for?

You can’t beat a flathead – the best cooking fish in Port Phillip Bay.

Most memorable catch?

I’ve caught two gummy shark this year while targeting flathead. I though they would both get away because of the speed that that they took off, but patience won the day.

What do you hope to bring to the WIRF Leadership team?

My experience as a ‘wannabe’ (I still am one!) will help tap into the motivations of women lacking the confidence or knowledge on how to get into fishing. My passion for the mental health benefits of fishing should also help us communicate additional benefits of getting out into nature.

Highlight of AFTA 2022?

Simply WOW! My head is still spinning. So much knowledge, such a passion to communicate skills and approaches, and such a welcoming community.

If you could take a celebrity fishing, who would you choose?

Oh I reckon it would be the Dalai Lama – I think he’d teach me a thing or two about the philosophical approach to fishing.

What’s the best fishing advice you’ve been given?

Ask questions, ask for help, repeat.

Tell us an interesting or fun fact about yourself!

My friends call me ‘7 layer Allison’. I hate the cold so much that I look like the Michelin Man when I go WIRF LEADERfishing in winter.

If you were a fish, what species best describes you?

I think I’m a leatherjacket.

WIRF LEADER

Name:

Jamie De Agnoi Age: 41

Region:

Gippsland

Profession:

corporate leadership

Speciality:

salt and freshwater

Favourite species to fish for?

Hard choice, I’d have to say kingfish and snapper.

Most memorable catch?

That would have to be my first tuna on a fishing trip in Bermagui.

What do you hope to bring to the WIRF Leadership team?

I’d like to bring my passion for fishing to others, and encourage more families to actively participate in the local community angling clubs.

Highlight of AFTA 2022?

Networking for sure, speaking with and listening to the best of the best in the industry, and getting to see a whole other side of tackle and gear that is out there and available.

If you could take a celebrity fishing, who would you choose?

That’s a hard one. I’d love to fish with Merv Hughes, he’s my kind of person and I love watching his show.

What’s the best fishing advice you’ve been given?

When I was 16 my now husband told me if I wanted to fish I needed to learn how to rig, bait and cast myself. It was the best thing I ever did, because when I out-fish him he can’t say its because he helped me. It’s the most satisfying feeling when you land that big one, knowing you did it all yourself.

Tell us an interesting or fun fact about yourself!

Fun fact about myself that’s fishing-related – I’m the first female president of my local angling club.

If you were a fish, what species best describes you?

A dolphinfish – I’d like to say I have a bright and colourful personality, and I’m always up for fun times.

WIRF LEADER

Name: Jo Fyfe Region: Langwarrin Profession: events and visitor experience Speciality: saltwater

What’s your fishing style?

I mainly fish with bait in Westernport Bay, but I am more than happy flicking a plastic around an estuary to look for a big flatty.

Favourite species to fish for?

I love to fish for snapper, gummy shark and King George whiting.

Most memorable catch?

Definitely my first snapper! My friend and I desperately wanted to catch a snapper. We ventured out in Westernport Bay following a friend who was familiar with the sand banks and channels. We ended up landing two 7kg fish.

What do you hope to bring to the WIRF Leadership team?

Anything and everything that could help empower more women to give this sport a try. I happy to put my hand up to lend a hand planning or running events, workshops or giving advice for first-time fishers.

Highlight of AFTA 2022?

Meeting and networking with so many keen and knowledgeable fishos. There is a powerful network of passionate people out there willing to work together to empower more women in the sport.

If you could take a celebrity fishing, who would you choose?

Ellen DeGeneres…? See – you’re already laughing! An amazing day on the water doesn’t always have to be about catching the biggest fish! Always make sure you have fun doing it with maybe even a little bit of daggy dancing when things are quiet.

What’s the best fishing advice you’ve ever been given?

Plan your day around the tides and the weather… did I mention the tides?

Tell us an interesting or fun fact about yourself!

I don’t eat any fish or seafood. I’m happy to catch, prepare and cook for others, but as much as I try I don’t like the taste.

If you were a fish, what species best describes you?

I found this question hard so I asked my bestie. This is what she said: “Flounder – you lay low and are happy blending into the crowd, camouflaging in the sand. You know how to handle yourself, you’re patient, the quiet achiever. But when the time is right, you are up and about, stealth, precise and always bang on! Plus, you’re ‘kinda’ weird looking!” Haha!

WIRF LEADER

Name: Kelsi Gull Region: Ballarat Profession: Production worker Speciality: A bit of everything

What’s your fishing style?

I love any type of fishing but I am pretty fanatical about lure fishing, in particular surface fishing for any species.

Favourite species to fish for?

That’s an impossible question! I love my estuary fishing in Southwest Vic so I’m going to go with estuary perch. They are just an awesome native fish.

Most memorable catch?

I recently caught a 20kg school shark off the surf. The first run after I set the hook was absolutely epic!

What do you hope to bring to the WIRF Leadership team?

I hope to inspire women and girls a like to take their fishing to that next step to being independent whether it be in the form of writing articles, that first boat or getting into some tournaments.

Highlight of AFTA 2022?

The whole event it was great to network and meet so many wonderful people from all sectors of the industry.

If you could take a celebrity fishing, who would you choose?

Paul Worsteling chasing Estuary perch on surface.

What’s the best fishing advice you’ve ever been given?

When bait fishing, remember to ALWAYS loosen the drag. It is generally a mistake only made once.

Tell us an interesting or fun fact about yourself!

Last cod opening, a massive thunderstorm was approaching and as it got closer there was lots of lightning. Retrieving my lure whist thinking ‘I better be out of here’, I heard a strange ticking noise, then got zapped straight through the rod. Fair to say I left pretty quick!

If you were a fish, what species best describes you?

I’m known for having bit of an appetite and I’m not picky so basically, I’m a walking Redfin except during lockdown where I evolved into a Flathead lying in wait for the unsuspecting Uber driver.

WIRF LEADER

Name: Lauren Yann Age: 44 Region: Wonthaggi, Bass Coast Profession: Registered midwife/nurse Speciality: saltwater

What’s your fishing style?

Usually bait fishing, but love trying soft plastics too.

Favourite species to fish for?

Whiting and squid.

Most memorable catch?

55cm Flathead on soft plastics.

What do you hope to bring to the WIRF Leadership team?

Enthusiasm for fishing. Willingness to share my own limited fishing knowledge and experience to other women in fishing, encouraging more women in fishing.

Highlight of AFTA 2022?

Getting to meet other WIRF leaders and mentors.

If you could take a celebrity fishing, who would you choose?

Hey Michelle Brittain, want to go fishing? Fellow WIRF member Michelle looks like she’d be fun to fish with!

What’s the best fishing advice you’ve ever been given?

Keep casting!

Tell us an interesting or fun fact about yourself!

I love to fish, but allergic to fish. I can’t eat any fish I catch, but squid is delicious.

If you were a fish, what species best describes you?

Australian salmon, can put up a bit of a fight when required.

WIRF LEADER

Name: Leanne Ngo Age: 40 Region: Mornington Peninsula & Bayside Profession: Associate Professor, Online Learning & Technology Speciality: saltwater

What’s your fishing style?

I’m an ‘eging’ angler and a fan of lure fishing.

Favourite species to fish for?

Southern calamari, Australian salmon and snapper.

Most memorable catch?

I caught a 45cm (1.5kg) hooded southern calamari off Rye pier on my second cast. I almost lost my rod as it was pulling so hard. As I was reeling it in, I lost it, but it came back and hooked on again just by the tip of its tentacle. I didn’t have a gaff or net with me, nor did I want to break my egi rod, so I laid down as close to the edge of the pier as possible and reached out to pull up the squid. Yep, the Kraken squirted its ink all over the place!

What do you hope to bring to the WIRF Leadership team?

Share my fishing passion for healthy and sustainable living. Fishing affords many benefits, such as being outdoors, supporting our wellbeing and mental health, and simply having a nutritious meal from freshly cooking your own catch. In addition, I would like to empower all women and families in our diverse communities to give fishing a go, build confidence in their abilities and finetune their angling skills through education and fun social activities.

Highlight of AFTA 2022?

The Speed Dating Networking session with the fishing industry’s ‘shakers and movers’ was one of the highlights of AFTA 2022. New WIRF leaders had the opportunity to chat, connect and learn from a diverse range of leaders in the fishing industry.

If you could take a celebrity fishing, who would you choose?

Lewis Howe (School of Greatness podcast) – half a day with him, you will have all sorts of exciting and empowering conversations!

What’s the best fishing advice you’ve ever been given?

Head out just when the sun rises or sets and tides change. Then, if the fish aren’t biting, you get to take in the mesmerising view!

Tell us an interesting or fun fact about yourself!

I’m the founder of a small volunteer group called Boomerang Bags Clayton South. We make reusable tote bags from donated fabric for use in our local community. We aim to raise awareness about reducing plastic bag use and textile waste. Together we have sewn just over 1000 bags, volunteered 450+ hours and deflected 150kg+ of textile from the landfill!

If you were a fish, what species best describes you?

Atlantic Salmon. Despite the long and complex path to reach its destination, it remains a focused and thriving fish, traversing across oceans, battling uphill fresh river streams, and defying all odds to reach its goal! * The Australian Fishing Trade Association’s annual tackle show, where members of the tackle trade meet to do business, networking, and evaluate new products.

This network has been created to encourage females to participate in the fishing activity with the family (not just to observe). It is linked to the Target One Million drive to increase participation to get one million Victorians fishing. Our aim is to establish an interactive facebook group for women to enable them to talk, gain and share knowledge to engage in recreational fishing activities in a comfortable manner. Female anglers of all levels will be encouraged to join, post and learn from one another. https://www.facebook.com/ groups/womeninrecfishing

FISHING NEWS

Nesting boxes deployed

Spring is in the air and that means one thing: breeding time for Murray cod and trout cod!

At VFA’s Snobs Creek hatchery near Eildon, staff have been busy preparing nesting boxes in which cod broodfish will lay their eggs over the coming months. The boxes mimic hollow logs in lakes and rivers, where cod do their thing! The inside surface of each nesting box is wrapped in ‘egg-screen’, similar to fly wire on a porch door, which provides a grippy surface upon which the eggs can attach.

With 20 brood ponds at Snobs, this shed is chock-full of nesting boxes, which have now been deployed.

Stephen Vidler explains how the process is carried out.

“Each year, between September and November, nesting boxes are placed in urban ponds, where large broodfish are kept yearround,” he explained. “These mature fish range in size from 70-100cm, which is the optimal breeding size.”

The cod lay thousands of small, white eggs in the nesting boxes, and the sticky eggs adhere to the mesh lining. This lining is then cut into segments and transferred to incubation tanks.

Temperature controlled and oxygenated water is pumped through the tanks to maximise the number that hatch into larvae, which happens around 8-9 days later. The larvae are transferred into rearing tanks and are fed on a steady diet of sea monkeys, which are grown on site.

After two weeks the larvae are transferred to special outdoor ponds, full of more live food, and remain there for up to three months. The water temp and oxygenation is monitored, along with the health of the fish.

When the cod reach fingerling size, they are moved to tanks inside the hatchery for 24 hours, where they are cleaned of microorganisms.

Finally, the cod fingerlings are ready for release into lakes and rivers, typically growing to catchable size in 4-5 years. - VFA