HIS work has taken him all around the world, but these days David Robertson is happiest fishing the waters of Moreton Bay.
Mr Robertson, 76, of Victoria Point, said the bay had become his favourite fishing spot since moving to Queensland 13 years ago.
While recent ill health has limited how often he can get out, he still aims to fish every week when conditions allow.
“I am retired now so I fish mid-week,” he said.
“The congestion at the boat ramps on the weekends is horrific.
“I leave that to the guys who work during the week.”
Mr Robertson heads out in his 5.2-metre Quintrex tinnie, favouring spots including the Rainbow Channel off North Stradbroke Island, the Rous Channel near Peel Island, and the waters between Ormiston and Wellington Point.
“I check the wind and the tide,” he said.
“If the wind is strong, I go to the islands which are sheltered.
“If the tide and the wind are right, I will go to Peel.”
He is not fussy about what he catches, saying snapper, sweetlip and flathead are all common in the bay.
His largest flathead measured 69cm and was caught off Long Island near Karragarra Island, while his wife, Merrilyn, landed a similar-sized school mackerel off Peel Island.
One memorable catch was a painted sweetlip, which he released after being unsure what species it was.
But his favourite fishing story involves not a fish, but a rod.
“We had stopped to anchor at Potts Point north of Macleay Island,” he said.
“I put the rods in and Merrilyn would make the coffee.
“I hadn’t secured the first rod properly.
“It was tug, tug, tug and then the rod went over the side.”
About half an hour later, fishing the same spot, Mr Robertson reeled in his line and discovered he had caught his own rod.
“The best part was the snapper was still attached,” he said.
“It was small, so I threw it back, but I was very happy to get my rod back.”
Mr Robertson’s love of fishing began in childhood, learning the craft from his grandfather in the south of Scotland.
“My grandparents lived near a trout stream and I loved fishing there,” he said.
“I was about 10 when I caught a 700-gram brown trout.
“I took it up to the house, but we left it out overnight and the cat got it. I’ve never forgotten that.”
He hopes to try fly fishing in Australia, both in coastal waters and inland rivers near the Gold Coast.
“I even did a double take one day walking around Eprapah Creek when I saw a fly fisherman,” he said.
“We stopped for a chat.”
When it comes to eating his catch, Mr Robertson keeps it simple.
“I like it cooked in a pan with olive oil and butter,” he said.
“Any leftover fish or grinners always make good fertiliser.”
