It was more than just a collection of fishing gear—it was a treasure trove of history and passion.
For over 50 years, my grandfather called St Leonards and the Bellarine Peninsula home.
His love for King George whiting (KGW) and calamari was a defining part of his identity and, as a young tacker, he passed that passion on to me. Those early fishing trips, casting lines side by side, became the foundation of a lifestyle and tradition I carry with me to this day.
As we sifted through the box, each piece of equipment told its own story. There were the old-school Japanese-made 4.5 Yo-Zuri Squid Jigs, reliable and full of character. Norway’s Mustad hooks, legendary in their durability and craftsmanship, sat alongside countless homemade sinkers. It was remarkable to see how these timeless tools still held their strength and reliability, just as they had decades ago.
"Can't beat a size #6 Mustad hook for the KGW, Andrew!" my grandfather reminded me, and I can vouch as his hooks are my go-to for whiting to this day.
, and around 100 pre made rigs Snapper & Whiting rigs for sale (which i bought at 50c-$1 each), along with pretty much anything you can think of related (life Jackets, Stuff for a boat etc) that he had collected over the years...more so old gear mixed with a bit of new, I ended up buying a reel ,some rigs, soft plastics tackle bag,squid jigs etc, oh and Paul Worstlings guide to Westernport Book which I have read back to front about 20 times now LOL