Get to know your WIRF network leaders This month’s WIRF report focuses on WIRF leaders for 2022 – Allison Smith, Jamie De Agnoi, Jo Fyfe, Kelsi Gull, Lauren Yann, and Leanne Ngo.
WIRF LEADER Name: Allison Smith Region: Carnegie in Melbourne and sometimes Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula Profession: non-executive director for some government services Speciality: mainly saltwater What’s your fishing style? My style is a bit random, less technical than most, but passionate. I talk a lot to the fish! Favourite species to fish for? You can’t beat a flathead – the best cooking fish in Port Phillip Bay. Most memorable catch? I’ve caught two gummy shark this year while targeting flathead. I though they would both get away because of the speed that that they took off, but patience won the day. What do you hope to bring to the WIRF Leadership team? My experience as a ‘wannabe’ (I still am one!) will help tap into the motivations of women lacking the confidence or knowledge on how to get into fishing. My passion for the mental health benefits of fishing should also help us communicate additional benefits of getting out into nature. Highlight of AFTA 2022? Simply WOW! My head is still spinning. So much knowledge, such a passion to communicate skills and approaches, and such a welcoming community. If you could take a celebrity fishing, who would you choose? Oh I reckon it would be the Dalai Lama – I think he’d teach me a thing or two about the philosophical approach to fishing. What’s the best fishing advice you’ve been given? Ask questions, ask for help, repeat. Tell us an interesting or fun fact about yourself! My friends call me ‘7 layer Allison’. I hate the cold so much that I look like the Michelin Man when I go fishing in winter. WIRF LEADER If you were a fish, what species best describes you? I think I’m a leatherjacket.
WIRF LEADER Name: Jamie De Agnoi Age: 41 Region: Gippsland Profession: corporate leadership Speciality: salt and freshwater What’s your fishing style? A bit of everything really. Mainly saltwater bait fishing, but I do get out a few times a year in the estuaries and streams. 100
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Favourite species to fish for? Hard choice, I’d have to say kingfish and snapper. Most memorable catch? That would have to be my first tuna on a fishing trip in Bermagui. What do you hope to bring to the WIRF Leadership team? I’d like to bring my passion for fishing to others, and encourage more families to actively participate in the local community angling clubs. Highlight of AFTA 2022? Networking for sure, speaking with and listening to the best of the best in the industry, and getting to see a whole other side of tackle and gear that is out there and available. If you could take a celebrity fishing, who would you choose? That’s a hard one. I’d love to fish with Merv Hughes, he’s my kind of person and I love watching his show. What’s the best fishing advice you’ve been given? When I was 16 my now husband told me if I wanted to fish I needed to learn how to rig, bait and cast myself. It was the best thing I ever did, because when I out-fish him he can’t say its because he helped me. It’s the most satisfying feeling when you land that big one, knowing you did it all yourself. Tell us an interesting or fun fact about yourself! Fun fact about myself that’s fishing-related – I’m the first female president of my local angling club. If you were a fish, what species best describes you? A dolphinfish – I’d like to say I have a bright and colourful personality, and I’m always up for fun times.
WIRF LEADER Name: Jo Fyfe Region: Langwarrin Profession: events and visitor experience Speciality: saltwater
What’s your fishing style? I mainly fish with bait in Westernport Bay, but I am more than happy flicking a plastic around an estuary to look for a big flatty. Favourite species to fish for? I love to fish for snapper, gummy shark and King George whiting. Most memorable catch? Definitely my first snapper! My friend and I desperately wanted to catch a snapper. We ventured out in Westernport Bay following a friend who was familiar with the sand banks and channels. We ended up landing two 7kg fish. What do you hope to bring to the WIRF Leadership team? Anything and everything that could help empower more women to give this sport a try. I happy to put my hand up to lend a hand planning or running events, workshops or giving advice for first-time fishers.
Highlight of AFTA 2022? Meeting and networking with so many keen and knowledgeable fishos. There is a powerful network of passionate people out there willing to work together to empower more women in the sport. If you could take a celebrity fishing, who would you choose? Ellen DeGeneres…? See – you’re already laughing! An amazing day on the water doesn’t always have to be about catching the biggest fish! Always make sure you have fun doing it with maybe even a little bit of daggy dancing when things are quiet. What’s the best fishing advice you’ve ever been given? Plan your day around the tides and the weather… did I mention the tides? Tell us an interesting or fun fact about yourself! I don’t eat any fish or seafood. I’m happy to catch, prepare and cook for others, but as much as I try I don’t like the taste. If you were a fish, what species best describes you? I found this question hard so I asked my bestie. This is what she said: “Flounder – you lay low and are happy blending into the crowd, camouflaging in the sand. You know how to handle yourself, you’re patient, the quiet achiever. But when the time is right, you are up and about, stealth, precise and always bang on! Plus, you’re ‘kinda’ weird looking!” Haha!
WIRF LEADER Name: Kelsi Gull Region: Ballarat Profession: Production worker Speciality: A bit of everything
What’s your fishing style? I love any type of fishing but I am pretty fanatical about lure fishing, in particular surface fishing for any species. Favourite species to fish for? That’s an impossible question! I love my estuary fishing in Southwest Vic so I’m going to go with estuary perch. They are just an awesome native fish. Most memorable catch? I recently caught a 20kg school shark off the surf. The first run after I set the hook was absolutely epic! What do you hope to bring to the WIRF Leadership team? I hope to inspire women and girls a like to take their fishing to that next step to being independent whether it be in the form of writing articles, that first boat or getting into some tournaments. Highlight of AFTA 2022? The whole event it was great to network and meet so many wonderful people from all sectors of the industry. If you could take a celebrity fishing, who would you choose? Paul Worsteling chasing Estuary perch on surface.
