Meet the Team

Michael Bonnici

Drawn to the ocean and the species that live within Mike it is an angler that lives to fish. A Sydney local Mike is drawn by the thrill of the whole angling experience. The anticipation of the trip, the adrenaline rush of the strike, and the thrill and satisfaction of the catch.

While Mike spends much of his angling time chasing his local snapper, kingfish, and marlin populations, the lure of tropic species sees him hitting the Great Barrier reef in pursuit of iconic species like dogtooth tuna.

About Michael

Name:

Mike Bonnici

Location (City/State):

Sydney, NSW

Profession/Job:

Glazier

Favourite angling location?

Great Barrier Reef

Favourite species to chase?

Dogtooth tuna

Favourite style of angling?

topwater

When did the love of fishing grab you and was there someone that got you into it?

I’ve always loved it from a young age. At around five my dad always took me. We didn’t really know what we were doing but loved the time together.

What was the style of fishing that you did when you first started fishing?

Bream and flathead but soft plastic for snapper is when my fishing really took off.

What (e.g. escapism, competition, connection with people/nature) does angling give you?

The freedom and the excitement in making a fishing plan, then going out and doing it regardless of the weather or other things that may get in the way. I also enjoy competitions for the atmosphere and excitement of competing.

Who or what inspires your angling?

The thrill and challenge of setting and achieving goals.

What has been your favourite moment/memory in fishing?

That’s a tough one because I have a few. One would be watching my wife Hayley achieve things that most guys dream about, such as a 20kg+ kingfish on topwater, and a 194kg blue marlin on 15kg to win $50,000 in a tournament.

What’s your angling goals for the future?

A 50kg+ dogtooth and 30kg+ kingfish on topwater.

What advice would you give to new anglers entering the sport?

Take it easy and enjoy the learning curve. You learn the most from time on the water, and it's far more rewarding than having everything shown and spoon fed to you. Fishing is a lifelong sport, there's no rush.

What can we do as anglers to make our sport and the industry better in the future?

Respect each other.

What does the Daiwa brand mean to you?

Daiwa to me is about the gear and the people behind the gear. I’m lucky to get to see behind the scenes and I see how hard they push to do better.