Nicholas Moore

Name:

Nicholas Moore

Location (City/State): 

Mackay, QLD

Profession/Job: 

GIS Manager/ Spatial Analyst – Analysis of all things maps and mapping. One of the most complementing desks jobs there is for fishing.

Favourite angling location?

The Mackay and Whitsunday Region. Where else in the world can you travel 50km inland and be catching multiple meter barra and 50cm sooties consistently in some of the most picturesque impoundments in Australia. Ten minutes from home, catching metre plus barra in the creeks and on headlands, access to flats filled with permit. While 50k’s out to sea you have access to GTs, Spanish mackerel, and a host of different demersal species. Makes it hard to decide where to go fishing.

Favourite species to chase?

Any species that has fins and gills. Although I have soft spots for barramundi, GT’s, and impoundment sooties.

Favourite style of angling? 

Any style that requires a level of strategy, precision, and execution where technique, timing and one percenters matter. I really enjoy surface fishing, jerkbaits, power finesse fishing (fishing finesse styles covering water quickly).

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

I have not known life without fishing, it’s a part of who I am. It all started thanks to my dad. As soon as I had the coordination to hold a rod and reel, I started fishing. This evolved rapidly into lure fishing for largemouth bass and then fly fishing at the age of five.

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

Lure fishing for largemouth bass and flyfishing for rainbow trout growing up in South Africa. Both these styles of fishing taught me the natural patterns, importance of understanding fish and their behaviours to surroundings and seasons while observing the wonders of the African Wildlife and the interconnected relationships.

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

For me it’s the whole journey. All the places it takes you, the people you meet along the way, the thought processes, understanding ecosystems and the endless individual species habitual nuances. Fishing is my flow activity which concentrates me in the moment but connects me to the people that shares the same passion and connects me back to the rhythms of nature. 

Who or what inspires your angling?

There is no individual, but I highly admire those that have mastered their craft in the pursuit of dialling a species, a technique, a style, or both.

The reason why I fish is the never-ending learning curve, limitless challenges that fishing presents and deciphering how to better myself. It’s that feeling that you get when it all comes together, and you know you nailed it. It is this feeling that inspires me to better myself.

What has been your favourite moment/memory in fishing?

There are so many to mention. Here’s a few that standout in my mind.

On arrival in Australia, all I had was my fly rod in hand luggage. In the first week in Mackay, I went down to the river put in a cast, I had a slight knot in my fly line, so I started undoing it, at that moment the line started peeling through the guides and had a decent fish jumping at the end of the line. Eventually I landed it. It was the first time I had seen this species, a barra. This ended up being my first decent fish in Australia.

First time heading out to specifically target GT's. Pulled up at this spot, mates were still rigging their rods. I cast out a stickbait and thought “How do you work these things” and first fish nailed the lure, and I landed it. It turned out to be a mad day of fishing with multiple GT’ from our doorstep.

We had been fishing a point in Kinchant Dam every weeknight for almost a month and a half. The fishing was crazy with 20-30 fish sessions common in those weeks. We were in the tackle shops every day to get more gear and the word soon spread. The night of the giants was one to remember. That night I broke my PB twice with it ending on 119. It was the captures between all our mates sitting in separate boats side-by-side that made it mental. The biggest fish landed that night was a behemoth 135 by a good mate, and then 123, 122,116,110 and a bunch of other metre plus fish caught.  

What’s your angling goals for the future?

I like the thought of challenging myself strategically. One goal is catching a metre barra and 20+kg GT on the same day from the same boat. It’s a hard thing to do. Another goal is a 120cm saltwater barra. Watching my son grow up and potentially enjoy the same epic memories that I have made with fishing. If he is so inclined winning a fishing comp with my son. The other goals are to fish an Aussie bass tournament and to catch a billfish on my home waters.

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

Take the time to understand the species. Research the species, and more importantly research the species and the food they eat. The food will tell you a lot about the species. This will set you up for success. Have a plan, strategize the day and execute that plan, but be nimble and flexible enough to change with what nature is telling you to do.

Lastly buy the best gear you can afford at the time. Having nice quality fishing gear that you look after makes the fishing experience that much more pleasurable. 

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

Share in each other’s successes, build others up, not knock them down. Respect the knowledge you receive from others but pass on your own learnt knowledge to others.

Lastly and most importantly, protect and manage the resources. We want it around for many years to come. Share knowledge that will protect and better manage the resources but not deplete them. 

What does the Daiwa brand mean to you?

It is that 20% that makes the other 80% shine. It is my trusted, innovative, reliable, and quality enabler of fun. Daiwa has certain flare to its products that gives you a feeling that it has been made with care which makes you want to use it, have it and enjoy it. It makes my fishing a lot more enjoyable.