REEF
ENCOUNTERS
A great day’s fishing goes far beyond catching fish on the Great Barrier Reef
WORDS TAYLA GENTLE
REEF
ENCOUNTERS
A great day’s fishing goes far beyond catching fish on the Great Barrier Reef
WORDS TAYLA GENTLE
On any given day, Nick Milford’s office might be the crystal waters of the Great Barrier Reef or the incredible atolls of the Coral Sea. A few years ago you could have found him casting off the coast of Mozambique or sailing into the British Virgin Islands. He’s living out many anglers’ dream—a life on the water. But his purpose, and his passion, is far greater than that.
Does your local spot look like this?
He and his team at Port Douglas’ East Coast Angling are driven to make the fishing industry more sustainable. They’re recognised as a Reef Guardian Fisher, and have recently achieved an impressive ECO Certification with Ecotourism Australia. Nick chairs the Douglashire Fish for the Future initiative, where he connects local kids with sustainable reef practices, and he’s a member of the GBRMPA Local Marine Advisory Committee. To say East Coast Angling are doing their bit would be putting it lightly.
Pairing fishing with science to protect our endangered ocean spaces has been a passion for Nick ever since he jumped on a scientific research expedition boat and spent five years circumnavigating the globe chasing record fish on fly.
A good day's fishing shouldn't be defined by going home with an esky full of trevally, according to Nick.
“Sure, fishing culture can be a bit rednecky, but it’s all about teaching and educating,” he says. “I teach kids how to be better anglers than their dads. Like, when you explain to kids that the reason a fish is thumping around on deck is because it’s hot and it’s burning—you immediately see their brains tick over. And you know they’ll remember that for next time.
‘The same goes for teaching adults how to cradle a fish properly, use barbless hooks or not touch a fish's gills with sunscreen on your hands. This is all part of sustainable fishing.”
It comes down to stewardship. According to Nick, the definition of a “good” day on the water isn’t going home with an esky full of trevally or mackerel—it’s enjoying the art of fishing without doing any damage to the water, to the reef or to the natural order of things.
There's more than just fishing, especially for the younger generation.
As well as a stunning location, you can catch some pretty decent fish.
It’s why he and his team prefer top water fly fishing. “With fly fishing, the fish remains in its natural hunting state,” Nick explains. “It’s intune with the environment, it’s chasing the fly. You’re also walking in knee deep water, not anchoring to a reef… there are so many benefits.”
Whether it’s a day trip or a liveaboard week, the East Coast Angling team lives by a steadfast anti-overfishing rule—you can only catch as much as you can eat on the boat. And no fish goes home with you.
This is in direct response to the chartered fishing boats out there creating chum lines. “We may ruffle a few feathers with the way we do things… but in my opinion you don’t need 20 people dropping lines at the same time, attracting sharks and causing unnatural stress and predation.
‘We’re all about enjoying the scenery, enjoying the food, enjoying the fishing and then going home,” Nick says. “You often hear older people saying ‘oh you should’ve seen how good the fishing was when I was younger’—and I don’t want that for my kids.”
East Coast Angling are based out of Port Douglas, and have been running tours since 2017.
To ensure this, Nick’s business has the accreditations to back their commitment to sustainable tourism practices and the environmental policies, and plans to make sure they remain on track. From switching to low-emission diesel engines, to monitoring their waste management, East Coast Angling are always working to minimise their impact on the environment around them.
“I’m very passionate about this. We all want to look after our fisheries, but we need guidance,” he says. “I got the eco accreditation, because I want our community and our clients to know that we’re doing our bit.”
While a good day's fishing shouldn't be defined by going home with an esky full of fish, it is also pretty good when you catch some fish.
Listening to Nick talk, his passion for sustainability, and for fishing in general, is palpable. The way he describes fishing the extinct volcanic atolls of the Coral Sea could convert anyone into a top water angler. “The variety in this part of the world is just incredible,” he says. “We still catch things and go — ‘what is that?’ — and we have to get out the book. Every day is exciting.”
NEED TO KNOW
East Coast Angling are based at the Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina, in Port Douglas. A range of sportsfishing and mothership tours are available.
Call 0409 870 123 to discuss or click below.
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