Fishing Australia

Peter Phelps is one Australia’s best known and most loved actors, and if you don’t recognize his name have a peek at the photos hereabouts and you’ll probably soon be thinking ‘Hey I know that guy…’

Yep, Peter has been on a stack of hit TV shows from "Sons and Daughters" to "Stingers", from "Underbelly" to the Channel Nine and WIN Television's current hit series "Rescue Special Ops".

Peter grew up in on the surf on Sydneys Northern Beaches so it is any wonder he took to the acting roles in this environment like a duck to water: He was on the original "Bay Watch" series and also appeared on Point Break as the Aussie Surfer.

But his love of the water doesn’t stop with a surf board; he loves all sorts of water based sports including as you can probably guess by now…Fishing!

Peters friends Les Hill and Tim McCunn, both who are on the current Series of "Rescue Special Ops", were booked in for a trip with me but when the dates were changed due to weather they had to decline thanks to the official duties actors get tied up with.

So Phelpsy put his hand up in a flash-yep he’s one of those guys that always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Before we knew it we were sitting together on a plane to Cairns, much to the disgust of Tim and Les.

The first mission was a scenic drive up the escarpment to Lake Tinaroo where we were keen to have crack at some barra and also settle Peter in and check out his fishing skills.

Peter cottoned on pretty quick and was soon competent with both baitcaster and threadline fishing reels.

The barra?? We’ll they didn’t want to play despite all the best advice of our local guru Shane Third who took us into some of his most secret spots. That’s those lake barra in a nutshell though: big and hard to catch.

Never the less we had a ball: the lads were in the tropics, the weather forecast was good, and we had a great itinerary ahead of us.

The next morning I was the one doing the learning as Peter took the lead at Amateurs day at the Cairns Race track . 

It all started when a Hummer Limousine picked us up at reception from the Marinas Shangri-La Hotel; man this ride was huge and was pimped to the max.

We were joined by my mate Deb Murray who manages the local WIN Television station, Glenys Duncombe and Justine Warren from the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation, Donna Finlayson who has booked boats for me in Cairns for some 7 years, and Berni Morrall from the Shangri La who helps me look after celebs when ever visiting the area.

A sip of champagne and lots of photos later we were at the races and climbing out into what locals claimed is the social event of the year. And they were right, everyone was there!

Despite sticking to his regime of not touching alcohol for over six months Peter was still the life of the Party. And despite being recognized and adored by all and sundry he managed to stay down to earth and get along great with all his fans.. That’s just another string in his bow-no doubt he was the kid at school that could do anything.

Having no idea which horse to back and how, I teamed up with Berni and we put five on the same horse as Peter. We lost, but Deb won and so I decided she was now the punter to follow.

My alliances chopped and changed over the next 7 races in a very entertaining way…no doubt helped by the stunning weather, sips of different champagne and an atmosphere that was like something out of a movie. Heck we were all dressed up in Paradise with somewhere to go!

To top the day off Berni convinced me to put 5 dollars on a horse thanks to its fishy name of ‘Line by Line’. It was the main race of the day and after getting a 50 meter lead right from the start she amazingly hung on to win by half a length! We certainly didn’t send the bookie broke, but what a hoot to win like that!

That night Toni and Sean Jones from City Life Magazine took us to dinner at Villa Romano which is one of many places to dine in the heart of the Esplanade Restaurant Precinct.

On the walk over we noticed they had movies on at the Esplanade Pool and people of all ages were relaxing on the lawns or taking a dip. If that isn’t a pretty cool lifestyle then tell me what is.

Cairns has really come of age with some brilliant town planning and amenities that is seeing people move or holiday there in droves! I can’t think of anywhere in the tropics that has brilliant fishing and so much else to see and do.

At the ‘Villa’ I ordered the Yellowfin and Mahi Mahi and to be honest was not sure it would be up to scratch, but how wrong I was.

It was fresh local produce and cooked to perfection with some spices that were more closely guarded that the holy grail. It was without question the best piece of yellowfin I have ever tasted-WOW.

Our host Daniele Guerra spoiled us with some wonderfully warm hospitality while Phelpsy kept us entertained with acting stories from near and far.

Daniele finished the night off by insisting I have a shot of a special drink that I can’t remember the name of, but he did promise ‘Don’t worry…she’s no hangover this a one’. The forcast was for calm seas the next day so how could I resist.

I slept like a baby which was good-we had a big day ahead of us; you see Peter was helping me host the “Go Fish For Sick Kids” Charity Tournament that is raising funds for a childrens playground on the rooftop of the Cairns Base Hospital.

After a 5 am start and the usual radio and press interviews we finally boarded ‘Genie’ a 56 foot Riviera that looked more like something out of Miami Vice than a fishing boat.

The sail past was grand as 7 big boats powered away from the marina, all pointing into calm seas and each one helping to raise over $1,500 for the playground. After several very unlucky cancellations earlier in the year thanks to strong winds, we were stoked this event was finally happening.

Some 45 minutes later we slowed off the plane wide of Thetford Reef and a spread of Rapala X Rap lures and skipping garfish hit the water.

Not long after one of the lures went off and Peter got busy reeling in a nice shark mackerel of around 75 cm long that shined a brilliant emerald green when fresh from the water.

He was pretty proud of himself, as most newcomers to this scene are with a ‘sharky’… the pressure was already off but I had a strong suspicion there was even better fish to come.

It is amazing what a sunlight and calm seas can do for the backdrop, and after the last trip when the weather was bad I nearly had to pinch myself-this was the same place but bright coral and heavenly blue waters surrounded me rather than dull shades of grey.

Peter caught a few more shark mackerel and a mack tuna and was suitably impressed…we were getting there.

With a few runs on the board our skipper Troy Dallaman and boat owner Paul Barry decided to point Genie towards some bigger fish.

It was time to give Paul's better half Regina the next strike, which worried me…she was a lady, and they always have lots of luck…but to double her luck she was Irish…how could the boys compete?

Sure enough the next bite was a ‘big un’ and line peeled off the reel at an exciting speed. Regina worked up a sweat on what turned out to be a stunning Spanish mackerel; a prize table fish and a great effort for the ladies...

Peter’s competitive side was out now, he wanted one, and was hell bent on manning the rods until the next one came our way.

Now I don’t normally equate calm sunny mid day weather to good mackerel fishing, but since the reduction in commercial mackerel fishing in Queensland was implemented a few years ago they have made a big comeback.

And the proof was all around us: Peter soon hooked and fought two ripper spaniyards, not quite as big as Regina’s, but still stunning fish. The boys had saved face and this was one happy ship for all aboard.

Quite a few other anglers fishing both near and far caught their first big Spanish, something they will long remember, and I was wrapped to be able to host the weigh in later that evening. The fireworks that topped off the Cairns festival in the back drop were a fluke, but the organizers and I happily took credit for them.

It is always good to see that fishing helps brings people of all walks of life together in wonderful environment that just seems so natural.

There were all sorts of great stories from the sea; one lovely lady who lost her husband earlier this year caught a ripper mackerel, it was the first day she had got out and enjoyed herself since losing her soul mate of some 40 years.

I would be speaking on behalf of many when I say that I was wrapped that Peter could loan us his time and help see that absolutely everyone had an especially good time. Thanks again champ.

Likewise we were all glad to be able to show him a more typical day in this stunning part of the world.

See you on the water.

Rob Paxevanos