BLOG: Seeya Martin & thanks!

THERE once was an Englishman who, presumably sick of the stereotypical inclement weather in the mother country, decided to venture across the way to this wonderful place called Australia...

Anglers have an uncanny ability to gravitate towards one another and no sooner had our English friend landed than he'd struck up a friendship with a couple of Aussie blokes who decided that the Englishman would be right at home "trotting the swim" so to speak, chasing blackfish along the picturesque foreshore of Sydney Harbour.

It was during this first fateful trip that I called my mate Evan to see if he wanted to head out for a fish, only to find him already on the water with his fishing buddy Greg. Apparently this English fella was there too and having a ball fishing with his familiar techniques in a foreign land. I decided to hop in the car and join the frivolity. That was when I first met Martin Salter.

Salter was a delightful chap with an enthusiastic desire to experience more of what both Sydney and Australia had to offer. When Martin revealed himself to be a former politician I baulked. For some reason my mind led me to images of John Hewson trying to explain the impact of the GST on birthday cakes – I don't think Hewson fished though, whereas Salter seemed to be a passionate angler, so I quickly cast aside my reservations.

Over the coming weeks and months I got to share a number of blackfishing sessions along the shores of Sydney Harbour with Martin and found him to be both a delightful chap and keen fisher with a history of involvement in the affairs of recreational angling back in the UK. While in Australia, Martin quickly broadened his network and was soon dedicating time to the advancement of recreational fishing here, culminating with his Keep Australia Fishing report. Why it took an Englishman on a transient sabbatical to shake us out of the doldrums and become the voice of reason for rec angling here is beyond me, but what I do know is that we now have real momentum on the back of the great work championed by Martin; the powers that be should grasp this opportunity to capitalise on the solid foundations which he has laid!

Martin's year-plus time in Australia has now drawn to a close and I'm sure he reluctantly leaves us behind for the land of bowler hats and warm beer. Farewell my good man, you are indeed a scholar and a gentleman ... even if you do like catching those creepy looking carp like "chub" thingies...