Normally I enjoy sitting down to write a proper editorial, but the past three months have been… well, a little bit mind-bending. Life has been moving at a pace that’s left me blinking and wondering how it all happened so quickly.
The biggest news is that my Ladies 10kg Line Class IGFA World Record has now been officially ratified. Even writing that still feels surreal. Go me!
A big part of that success belongs to Dean Silvester, whose guidance and whose imported jerkfly, were instrumental in the capture. And it was Steve who encouraged me to fish nylon straight through, something I’ve historically avoided because my experience was that mono always felt too springy on the reel for my liking. Whilst that’s true of the ready-spooled crap on kids outfits, it turns out that quality gear even when we’re talking mono makes all the difference. Lesson learned.
The Jerkfly that did the damage. The barra of Marraboon were not interested in anything else (they were hardly interested in this, tbh!)
But what has impressed me even more than the technical side of the capture has been the extraordinary sportsmanship shown by Dee Masters and her husband Jason. Dee held the record for nine years and one day before my fish came along. Within moments of the capture becoming public, they reached out to wish me luck with the claim and when the ratification came through, they were the first to congratulate me. That kind of generosity says everything about the best parts of our recreational fishing community. Dee and Jason, I hope we get the chance to share a day on the water together one day.
In the middle of all this excitement, I’ve also just coordinated what I believe is the first topwater competition for whiting. The Women’s Rec’ Fishing League ’TingX woMENTORnament saw five mentoring boats gather on Tuross Lake, NSW, fishing three five-hour sessions. The RSI from walking surface lures was very real! Participants travelled from as far away as Bacchus Marsh in Victoria and Maclean on the NSW north coast, which still amazes me (and warms my heart).
Just some of the fish that came to the mat during WRFL’s ’TingX.
Conditions were far from perfect, drizzling rain, very little wind and even a glass-off during the final session, but we fished hard and still managed to boat whiting. The biggest of the event was a 41.5cm fish landed by mentor Rose Watanabe, who went on to take Champion Mentor honours. She’ll now captain an all-girls team in the Mallacoota round of the Vic Bream Classic, sharing that opportunity with Champion Mentee Monica Karmadonoff. It was a fantastic event and a real credit to everyone who made the journey.
And there’s certainly no slowing down. Friday the 13th sees me arriving in Newcastle to convene the inaugural FiSHEr Leadership Forum for WRFL. This event has been made possible through support from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust (our licence fees at work), OzFish Unlimited, Mercure Newcastle, and a whole group of WRFL leaders who have generously donated their time.
Jo hopes to see FiSHEr Leadership Forums supported in every state of Australia.
The aim of the forum is simple but powerful: equip more women with the skills and confidence to step into leadership roles within recreational fishing, whether that’s running events, advocating for waterways, mentoring newcomers, or shaping the future of the sector. More than forty women will gather for the weekend, many of whom have already been completing WRFL-sponsored study through the Recreational Fishing Fundamentals and Vocational Development course. As the course trainer, I’ve had the privilege of watching their progress firsthand, and I can already feel the buzz building for what will be a very special weekend in Newcastle. Bursaries have also helped ensure women from regional and remote areas could attend, which is something I’m particularly proud of.
Some of the cohort from ’TingX woMENTORnament have a giggle at one of Starlo’s jokes. He was still bleeding from oyster cuts when he took this photo.
Of course, none of this would be possible without Steve, who has been quietly holding the fort through all of it while continuing his own content creation and preparing for our next adventure. It’s probably fair to say that with everything going on in my world, he’s been carrying more than his fair share lately. I suspect the mental fatigue of managing both our schedules might even explain why he wasn’t quite as nimble on those oyster-covered rocks recently… sorry about that, Hon.
Soon we’ll both get a chance to slow down a little as we head off on a three-week kayak exploration of South Australia, fishing reservoirs and the Coorong along the way. The trip will also include our appearance at the Let’s Go Fishing Round 4 Forum, where we’ll be sharing tutorials on targeting Golden Perch and Murray Cod, along with a few “hours of power” in local tackle stores answering questions and talking fishing.
Home Sweet Home for April. Starlo and Jo look forward to reporting back on life in this epic inflatable shelter from Murrumbidgee Outdoors Australia. Paired with the Bluetti, it promises to be a relaxing version of camping!
This trip will be a bit different for us, too. For the first time in years we’re leaving the slide-on camper at home, swapping it out for a 4 x 4 metre inflatable tent from Murrumbidgee Outdoors Australia. We’ve been invited to participate in the final testing phase of their new lightweight family range, a far cry from their original “Barracks” models that could probably double as emergency field hospitals. I’m looking forward to sharing how it performs out in the wild, and if it lives up to expectations you might see our trusty slide-on appearing on the market sooner rather than later.
So yes, it’s been a big few months. Records, competitions, forums, road trips and new gear all in the mix. I promise I’ll try to slow down long enough to write something more reflective next time.
Until next time, FISH ON!
For three decades Jo has worked with businesses and personalities, helping them to promote themselves in one form or another, whether through graphic design, advertising, promotions or marketing.
She has owned a fishing rod for just as long, but it’s only been in this new century that it hasn’t been allowed to gather dust.
Jo is a passionate advocate for the sport of fishing and its promotion as a healthy lifestyle for women.
To find out more about Jo visit her website HERE
Or you can visit her Fishtopia Web site HERE or on the banner below.
Jo is also the founder and National President of the Women’s Recreational Fishing League (WRFL) Inc. The work they do is very important in balancing the participation ratios of fishing in Australia, thus making the collective voices of Aussie anglers more harmonious and powerful, as well as shoring up the economy of the sector. For more information visit their Website at womensrecfishingleague.org
