Although I go back a little further, the fifties and sixties were great times for hunters and fishermen who appreciated the great outdoors oftentimes wetting a line or burning a little powder. Sadly though, folk of my vintage have seen an ideological shift from reality to fantasy among legislators influenced by minority groups who would seek to dumb down our outdoor activities with no-go areas along with a plethora of rules and regulations designed for no other purpose than to emasculate hunters and fishermen. Sharks, Parks and Narks, relates an example of how perceptions have changed toward land-based shark fishing over half a century; how these perceptions have influenced legislators, and the behaviour of those entrusted to interpret and enforce examples of the aforementioned, ideologically-based legislation.
About the Author: Obsessed with fishing from an early age, Geoff first fished with his parents Gordon and Jean Wilson as a small child on their annual Christmas holidays at Queenscliff and later, Portarlington; seaside destinations within a half hour run from his birth city Geelong in Victoria, Australia. It was at the latter that Geoff caught his fist decent fish, when - as a nine year old - he set forth alone from the campsite to the Portarlington pier where he caught a flathead of almost four pounds, an event which cemented his future as a fishing devotee and later as a fishing writer. In March 1963, Geoff had his first article published in Australia's Angler's Digest which was about catching large snapper land-based from Corio Bay. This was followed by a good many others over the years for various magazines; most which are now out of print or have changed ownership and format. Geoff also began writing a weekly fishing column for the Geelong Advertiser in August of 1980 and that column continues uninterrupted until the present. Geoff's first book on fishing was entitled "Fishing Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula" and was published in 1982 and is currently in its fifth revision. Other fishing location guides followed and were top sellers. However, Geoff's first international best seller was "Geoff Wilson's Complete Book of Fishing Knots and Rigs" published by the "Australian Fishing Network" which in numerous editions and revisions, remains widely available both on-line and from fishing retail outlets and elsewhere. "Sharks, Parks and Narks" is somewhat different in that it shows how a lack of meaningful consultation with stakeholders, by those charged with legislating rules and regulations governing same can end in fiasco. Geoff may be contacted through www.fishingknotsandrigs.com