The Catch

In her book about the history of fishing in Australia, Anna Clark hooked me with her first cast. But what delighted me with this book is that while the author is a well-regarded academic historian, she is much more; she is a piscator, a hunter of fish, and she knows her readers are too. Clark is a professor of history, a fisher of facts who also fishes for fish. The Catch: Australia’s Love Affair with Fishing, takes only a couple of hours to read but is a fully informative account of fishing in this country, from ancient Indigenous practices through to the present day.

Charles Wooley, The Australian

I just couldn't put it down … my best fishing read to date

Rob Paxevanos, Fishing Australia

Clark's account is a worthy primer – handsomely illustrated and entertainingly written bait, if you like – for those who might want to trawl a little deeper for insights into the important place of fishing in our national psyche.

John Schauble, The Sydney Morning Herald