Mitch Taylor

Name:

Mitch Taylor

Location (City/State): 

Sutherland Shire Sydney. NSW

Profession/Job:

Director/Plumber 

Favourite angling location?  

It’s hard to choose just one, because I love variety in my fishing. But if there’s one constant in the perfect angling location, it’s isolation. I enjoy being completely off the grid, surrounded by nature with no one else in sight. So, if I had to pick, it would be either chasing bass in the upper reaches of a remote stream or fishing out on the Great Barrier Reef. Two very different experiences, but both offering that same sense of solitude and connection to the environment.

Favourite species to chase?  

Aussie bass—hands down. Nothing beats the aggression of a surface strike. If you put an Aussie bass the same size as a GT, the bass would eat it!

Favourite style of angling? 

Any type of surface fishing—I’m all for it. One of my favourites is throwing Bait Junkie Kikker Curlys from the kayak in local creeks during summer.

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

When I was a young kid, I’d head out on my pop’s boat down at Currarong near Jervis Bay, bottom bashing for flathead with hand lines. We’d always manage to bag out. My pop had his favourite spots, which he’d line up using local landmarks—and he was always spot on.

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

My early fishing days were all about the basics—bottom bashing and land-based bait fishing. But everything changed when I discovered soft plastic lures. It opened up a whole new world of fishing for me. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about waiting for a bite—it became about actively hunting fish, reading structure, working the lure, and feeling every subtle bump and strike.

Soft plastics brought a new level of excitement and versatility to my fishing. I became obsessed with the technique, the variety of presentations, and the challenge of fooling fish into biting an artificial lure. It pushed me to become a more skilled and thoughtful angler—and that passion hasn’t slowed down since.

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

Fishing gives me this itch I constantly need to scratch. Once you start figuring things out and catching fish consistently, that itch only grows. You find yourself chasing bigger and better catches—it becomes a never-ending loop of progression and obsession.

But then there’s the other side of it—the peace. As I mentioned earlier, being isolated in nature brings a sense of calm that’s hard to describe. There’s nothing more serene than standing in a beautiful spot, completely immersed, with nothing but the sound of nature’s chorus around you.

Who or what inspires your angling?

As a kid, I loved looking through old photos of my pop with the monster-sized fish he had speared. I remember thinking, one day, I want to catch a fish that big. Now that I’m older and more established, it’s come full circle. One of my greatest joys is taking my daughter fishing and teaching her how to catch fish. Watching her light up with excitement over an average-sized bream brings me pure happiness—it's not about the size of the catch, but the memories we create together. 

What has been your favourite moment/memory in fishing?

One of my most unforgettable moments was taking my boat out to the Barrier Reef and, on the final day, hooking a monster 40kg Maori wrasse on a handmade stickbait I’d crafted myself. The surface explosion when that fish hit was out of this world. I immediately yelled to my mate to reverse off the edge of the reef—and he did so with such urgency that the boat took on a heap of water.

After a tough fight in deeper water, this true giant finally revealed itself. Without hesitation, I handed my rod to my mate, grabbed the fish with everything I had, and launched it into the boat. Moments later, I was standing in ankle-deep water, holding the big green beast, with a remora casually swimming around the deck. It was one of those rare, epic moments in my fishing career that I’ll never forget.

What’s your angling goals for the future?

My goal is to become a more consistent and well-rounded angler across all species. I’m currently focused on refining my finesse fishing skills and constantly pushing myself to improve in every style of angling. Ultimately, I want to master a wide range of techniques so I can confidently adapt to any fishing condition or target species.

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

Fishing isn’t as simple as it seems. The more you understand the species you’re targeting, the better your chances of success. Put in the time to do your research—learn their habits, behaviour, and environment—and it will pay off on the water.

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

One thing I strongly believe in is respecting your catch. Whether you're releasing a fish or taking it home for a feed, it's important to handle it with care and integrity.

It can take many forms, but ultimately, if you're releasing a fish, you should do everything you can to minimise harm and return it to the water as quickly and safely as possible. If you're keeping your catch, it's important to dispatch the fish humanely and handle it properly to ensure you get the best quality from it.

The way a fish is treated immediately after being caught can have a significant impact on its eating quality—and showing respect throughout the process reflects good sportsmanship and responsibility as an angler.

What does the Daiwa brand mean to you: 

For me, the Daiwa brand represents both family and innovation. It’s a company that genuinely embraces family values—not just in how they promote the brand, but also in how they operate internally. Being part of the Daiwa team truly feels like being part of a family.

The team is made up of passionate anglers who live and breathe fishing. Their commitment to developing innovative products tailored specifically for local conditions is second to none. The gear coming out of Daiwa is game-changing, and it's always exciting to see what they’ll come up with next.