Key PointsOriginally from Hong Kong, Bryant Wong has been fishing round Sydney Harbour for twenty-four years.He now guides senior members of the Chinese language group to the perfect fishing spots.Wong has documented 1,800 completely different fishing spots.
Bryant Wong, 41, migrated to Australia from Hong Kong 24 years in the past and mentioned he instantly started exploring areas in and round Sydney Harbour for fishing spots. So far, he mentioned he had fished at round 1,800 places.
The proprietor of a Hong Kong-style restaurant within the north-west Sydney suburb of Carlingford mentioned he now leads excursions of the spots for senior members of the Chinese language group to, “share the expertise and pleasure of fishing”.
Since he started the excursions in 2017, he mentioned he had launched greater than 100 folks to numerous fishing spots in addition to teaching them in profitable catching methods, sustainability and security.
Wong, whose household have been concerned with island tourism again in Hong Kong, mentioned his curiosity in fishing started at age six.
The happiness of not figuring out what fish you may catch, that sense of shock, is like opening a gift, and it fascinated me.
Bryant Wong
Wong talked about that throughout the ‘explosive water’ interval (the time between day and evening, when it is simply getting darkish), there can be particularly giant fish, guaranteeing a superb catch. Credit score: SBS
‘Discover each nook of the Harbour’
Wong mentioned he had been drawn to Sydney Harbour from his very first go to to Australia in 1998.
Within the years since, he is caught to a promise he made to himself to discover “each nook” of the harbour for good fishing spots and set off on trains and buses and later, on foot, by bike, climbing hills and wading in water.
“Again then (earlier than the pandemic), I nearly accomplished (the dream), visiting over 1,000 fishing spots,” he mentioned.
Throughout the pandemic in 2022, with extra free time, Wong mentioned he was decided to complete his plan to doc the 1,800 places he had found across the Harbour.
Wong was captivated with fishing, to the extent that he even skipped college to fish all evening in Manly. Credit score: SBS
‘Right here, solely my footprints exist’
He mentioned every fishing spot had its appeal. He recalled one of many hidden fishing spots.
I found a brand new world, untouched by anybody else. I used to be the primary to go there, and the extent of pleasure was indescribable.
Bryant Wong
Wong talked about that reaching this fishing spot required a 1.5-hour stroll and even climbing a 50-degree slope. He carried his bike and fishing gear, enduring hardships to get there.
“You possibly can inform if somebody has been right here by trying on the traces within the soil,” he mentioned.
“Right here, solely my footprints exist.”
After visiting every fishing spot, Wong mentioned he would report his journey on a map on his telephone, marking the spot with a coronary heart emoji.
Wong mentioned fishing in Sydney was simple as a result of there was plentiful fish and a number of places Credit score: SBS
“I do not often share these secluded fishing spots; I wish to protect the dedication and uniqueness of being the one one to go to,” he mentioned.
“If these locations are found and change into widespread fishing spots, it might probably disrupt the peaceable atmosphere … You possibly can’t assure that everybody may have a way of public duty. I do not wish to pollute these locations.”
‘Fishing could be very exhausting to fail at until you are unfortunate’
Wong mentioned Australia’s atmosphere and ecology ensured principally good catches.
Fishing in Sydney was simple as a result of there was plentiful fish and a number of places, he mentioned.
Wong mentioned that not all fish caught are allowed to be consumed. There are strict round which fish may be eaten and which have to be launched again into the water, so Wong suggested fishers to familiarise themselves with these earlier than setting out.
One in all Wong’s fishing companions exhibits off a report catch. Credit score: Bryant Wong
Sharing the enjoyment of fishing
In 2017, he mentioned he determined to start out sharing his know-how and native data with senior members of the Chinese language group.
Fishing with the aged permits me to meet their needs and contribute to society in my very own means.
Bryant Wong
He mentioned he had thus far launched greater than 100 folks to numerous fishing spots in addition to coached them in methods and security.
Wong talked about folks discovered him by means of phrase of mouth, asking him to take senior members of their households to completely different piers and boat harbours to fish, hoping to unfold the talents and pleasure of fishing to extra folks in the neighborhood.
He mentioned he believed fishing was appropriate for all ages, and it might additionally domesticate qualities corresponding to perseverance, making it a superb exercise for seniors.
Wong on a fishing journey with senior members of his group. Credit score: Bryant Wong
“Fishing requires a whole lot of perseverance. You must rise up round 5.30am within the morning to set out, and also you additionally want to organize a whole lot of tools,” he mentioned.
“Typically, you even need to stroll on rocky roads, which requires a sure degree of bodily health.”
He solely takes one or two seniors fishing at a time and chooses comparatively easy-to-reach fishing spots. Up to now, his oldest fishing companion was 94.
Throughout the fishing course of, he teaches fishing methods and takes movies for post-fishing evaluation and trade. Afterwards, the contributors can higher grasp the methods and steadily discover extra hard-to-reach fishing spots.
Seeing the joy of the aged after they catch their first fish … the happiness of their eyes. Whenever you see them blissful, you may be blissful, and you will be greater than prepared to proceed (educating them to fish).
Bryant Wong
Not solely teaching them in methods, Wong additionally shares the enjoyment within the different methods.
“I’d convey the fish again to my restaurant to steam it and provide it totally free to the aged,” he mentioned.
“Typically, I give the fish to my staff to take house and share with their households.”
Wong says he enjoys seeing the grins on the faces of the senior members of his group throughout fishing journeys. Credit score: Bryant Wong
Security comes first
Wong harassed that was an important side of fishing and that ample data gathering needs to be accomplished beforehand.
He mentioned he made certain that his senior companions have been geared up with important gadgets corresponding to headlamps, anti-slip spiked footwear, and life jackets, amongst others.
One in all Wong’s common fishing companions, Kong-Wing Tsang, 64, has been going fishing with Wong for nearly three years and mentioned their first fishing journey was a really blissful reminiscence for him.
“The primary time I went fishing with him, after I was placing on a life jacket, he (Bryant) mentioned my and instantly gave me (the right) one,” he mentioned.
Tsang has been studying to fish with Bryant Wong for the previous three years. Credit score: SBS
‘Novices studying fishing want skilled guides’
Wong mentioned over time, these fascinated by his fishing course had obtained “youthful and youthful”. These days, folks aged of their 20s and 30s usually joined in, he mentioned.
He mentioned fishing in Australia didn’t require the lengthy ready instances typical of conventional fishing.
As a substitute, he mentioned he simply taught new fishing strategies to contributors corresponding to “rock fishing”, the place, with correct preparation and bait placement, fish would constantly chew.
As instances change, fish are literally changing into smarter. Fish evolve, and so should people.
Bryant Wong
Along with fundamental security consciousness, novices wanted to study selecting the right thickness of the fishing line, the dimensions of the float, learn how to learn tides, currents, climate, and wind course, and even the habits of fish, “as each step was interconnected”, he mentioned.
Wong talked about that even a single hair falling into the water could possibly be sensed by fish. Due to this fact, each step wanted to be extraordinarily delicate.
“Fish’s lateral traces can sense vibrations from 50-100 metres away. Refined sounds and lightweight may have an effect,” he mentioned.
Wong emphasised the significance of getting a mentor to information newbies. Credit score: SBS
‘Stubbornness has pushed me by means of 24 years’
Wong mentioned he was a problem-solver and cussed when it got here to fishing.
“So, I have been figuring issues out alone, and it took me 24 years to get to the place I’m now. I feel it is this stubbornness that has pushed me by means of these 24 years,” he mentioned.
“I consider it is the eagerness that comes after perseverance. As a result of, like everybody else, I used to wrestle to catch fish. How might I find it irresistible then? It is solely after mastering the talents and experiencing success that I began to take pleasure in it increasingly, even to the purpose of changing into deeply immersed in it.”
Wong visited the SBS Sydney studio to be interviewed. Credit score: SBS
Now, I really feel like there’s nothing I can not do.
Bryant Wong
