Sam Gilchrist

Name: 

Sam Gilchrist

Location (City/State): 

Coffs Harbour, NSW

Profession/Job: 

Operations Management

Favourite angling location?  

The East Coast of Australia.

Favourite species to chase?  

Yellowtail kingfish, giant trevally, dogtooth tuna and snapper.

Favourite style of angling? 

Topwater angling.

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

My earliest memories cast back to the age of three fishing with my father and my pop (on my mother's side), they planted the seed and from then on fishing has been a significant part of my life.

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

Predominantly beach fishing for Australian salmon and tailor with ganged, brined pilchards. Though I was a genuine wharf rat, spending all my free time walking the bank of The Entrance lakes chasing flathead, bream, and tailor.

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

Fishing is my source of peace and connection, while also being a source of adrenaline, drive, and perfection. Sounds strange, but I would say the connection and peace part is attributable to being outdoors, escaping the busyness of life and indulging in what nature has to offer. The rest is a result of chasing monsters on surface lures. Everything has to be perfect, and the rush is something money cannot buy.

Who or what inspires your angling?

Where I draw my inspiration from varies constantly, though the greatest inspiration to me and my angling currently is my 10-year-old son Roly. His love for fishing is infectious and his ability to think outside the box challenges me almost every time we fish together.

What has been your favourite moment/memory in fishing?

There's a lot, I have been so lucky, but the two that stand both occurred this year (2025). Roly landing a 119cm barramundi on the cast absolutely blew my mind. He caught a 119 and two 110's on jerkbaits that weekend. Recently I had the privilege of fishing in Oman with great friend Lee Younan-Wise. On that trip I was blessed to land a 52kg giant trevally. This moment still has not fully sunk in for me.

What’s your angling goals for the future?

To fish with Roly and my friends as often as possible. Though my species-specific goals are to pursue a 60+kg dogtooth tuna, a 30+kg yellowtail kingfish and the unicorn that will always be on my list, a 1m+ snapper. Though a Cubera snapper, peacock bass and giant tarpon would be fun to catch too.

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

Enjoy your fishing, above all else, slow down and enjoy each moment. Technically speaking, perfect your knots with lots of practice. This will see you maximise your opportunities when they arrive.

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

I feel we're on the journey toward better already, by that I mean the sport is more popular than ever. It's now cool to fish! When I was young it certainly was not cool to be an angler. Though to take the next leap into the future I think sustainability needs to be the next focus point. Anglers and governments alike need to understand the environmental and economic benefits to having fisheries that extend beyond 'sustainable' and are healthy and thriving. A review of recreational bag limits, commercial harvest quotas and methods, with a considered education element behind it would be the next things on my wish list.

What does the Daiwa brand mean to you?  

I have been working with the Daiwa team for a little over six years and it has been an absolute privilege. They're at the forefront of the sportfishing development, quality, and equipment progression. Their R&D program specific to the Australian market has changed the sportfishing landscape and I pinch myself knowing that we're working on this together. The DYFC program is another wonderful example of the Daiwa team's forward thinking mentality.