Michelle hopes more women will get hooked on fishing

Michelle Brittain has been saltwater fishing off the Mornington Peninsula since she was six. The 38-year-old was taught by her father and grandfather and learnt there is more to the sport than just hooking a fish. “My grandfather was a very relaxed man,” Michelle says. “Through fishing he taught me patience, to be quiet and tune in to what’s around me. As a teenager I’d hire a little yellow boat from Kananook Creek. You didn’t have to have a boat licence; you could just hire them and head out fishing.”

Michelle’s passion for the adventure of fishing continues. In fact, she has become a leader for Women In Recreational Fishing and is inspiring and supporting other women to take up the sport. WIRF was created in 2017 by the Victorian Fisheries Authority. Through its Facebook community, WIRF provides a place for women to share fishing knowledge and discover recreational fishing events. WIRF welcomes women of all skill levels to join.

Through WIRF, 10 women including Michelle have been given the chance to take part in a leadership program scholarship to develop leadership skills and contribute to the future of women in fishing. A network of Peninsula WIRF groups is being created. “Two leaders choose a location to fish and then the leaders guide women with their fishing or the species they’re targeting. We also run events and tackle shop nights. It’s educational and community focused.”

For beginners, Michelle recommends first heading to their nearest tackle shop. “The tackle shop will have a weather report, they know what’s biting and can give you a guide on what you need. The Victorian Fisheries website has lots of information on places to fish as well as information on different species. Make sure you educate yourself before going to an area on what species will be around. Even just walking along the pier and having a look at what people are catching and what they’re using helps.”

When it comes to equipment, Michelle says the quality of fishing line matters. “Good-quality line has good resistance; you’ll be able to catch your fish more easily and it’s not as likely to snap, which is better for the environment too.”

Sustainability is important to Michelle and informs her approach to fishing. “We’re lucky in our local bays that we have the right grounds for a wide range of species to reside. The majority are sustainable; they breed well. Some people try to achieve a bag limit whereas to keep our stocks healthy I promote catching only what you need.”

You can find Michelle on Instagram @shells_saltliving_; to learn more about WIRF, go to @wirfnetwork; and visit the VFA website at www.vfa.vic.gov.au