Courtesy of New Holland Publishers
Legendary Australian fisherman, underwater photographer and TV personality Alistair ‘Al’ McGlashan has released a new edition of his best-selling book The Complete Fishing Bible, five years after the last version. The sixth edition of the guide spans 528 pages and is packed with updated advice on the latest fishing tackle, technology and techniques McGlashan uses, as well as hundreds of new photos and lesser-known angling spots. McGlashan is best known for appearing on the series Fish‘n with Mates, available on Netflix, Prime Video and 7Plus, and the documentary Life On The Line: The Story of the Southern Bluefin Tuna, which premiered on IMAX. The Complete Fishing Bible, with a foreword by fellow fishing legend Rex Hunt, was first released in 2007.
“To this day, The Complete Fishing Bible has been one of the hardest projects I’ve ever undertaken. It is a compilation of fishing and filming right around this country,” McGlashan commented. “But since I first wrote it, fishing has changed dramatically. New species have been discovered, techniques have been refined, and new fishing hotspots have emerged. It’s an exciting time to be fishing, and as a result, it was the perfect time to completely update The Complete Fishing Bible. This edition will help everyone fish better, no matter their skill level, budget, or where they fish in Australia. I’ve shared everything I’ve learnt over a lifetime of fishing, so you can catch more fish without making the same mistakes I did. It’s all in this book.”
The guide, written with the help of McGlashan’s partner Audi Croft, details techniques for fly-fishing, fishing in freshwater and saltwater, and while boating. It also outlines what to expect from Australia’s top fishing spots, including Southwest Rocks, Port Phillip Bay and Lake Glenbawn, as well as tips for finding and reeling in the most popular fish species. Finally, you’ll find a handful of recipes you can use to cook with your catch. A government survey published last year found that 1 in 5 Australian adults said they participate in recreational fishing every year, which contributes $11 billion to the Australian economy and 100,000 jobs. On TikTok, hashtag ‘FishTok’ has been used 2.2 million times and, last year, the NSW Government held a first-of-its-kind meetup for teenage fishing enthusiasts and their families, designed to encourage young Aussies to get outside and teach them the best angling techniques.
“Seasoned anglers and people new to the game will gain great knowledge and enjoyment out of this magnificent publication,” writes Rex Hunt in the book’s foreword. “Over the years I have seen a lot of people come and go in this business. My gut feeling is that in the future when the history of Australian angling is written, this young man, Alistair McGlashan, will stand amongst the elite.”