BORN - Terang in 1967, so in 2006 that makes me 39 years of age.

MARRIED - In 1992 to a great chick called Sue. No Kids.

OCCUPATION - When not dangling a line or working in the fishing media, I lay carpet and floor vinyl.

NICKNAMES - Shep, Rocket, Fishin' Rod.

FISHING HISTORY - Ever since I was knee high to a grasshopper, my father took me fishing. Nearly always down to the Curdies River to chase the wily black bream. No doubt, that's where I picked up my breamin' addiction. Spent some time in the Army near Wodonga and cast the odd lure at the trout and redfin in the Hume Weir and the Mitta River from time to time.

After that I spent a fair amount of time wooing my future wife and fishing of sorts got put on the backburner for a while. About the age of 25, I seriously picked up the fishing habit from where I previously left off. Basically I went back to fishing school. I'm still
learning. Not long after I penned my first article and spent the best part of a year trying to get published. Once it finally happened, I never looked back. Gradually, doors began opening and I met a lot of people in the industry, some of which have become great friends. Very few people can make a substantial living from it but what I do earn, I put aside to fund the next fishing expedition. I find this works extremely well.

I generally enjoy fishing tournaments, mostly because of the involvement some of them bring. I always participate and fish the annual Media Challenge held at a different sweetwater locations in Victoria every March long weekend. The original organiser, Bob Ceveri, is an exceptionally hard working, passionate man when it comes to fishing as well as looking after his writers. Bob put this friendly tournament together nearly a decade ago. Fellow anglers in the fishing business always get together for a social weekend as well as wetting a line and the prizes on offer do not matter. It's having fun and catching up on old times with great mates over an ale or three that really matter. Wouldn't miss it for the world!

FAVOURITE FISHING METHOD - Without a doubt, trolling hard bodied lures would have to top the list. I realise a lot of people find this method extremely boring, but believe me, just keeping an eye on speed, direction, current, snags and structure, and keeping a constant eye on the sounder so you can stay in the strike zone keeps me very busy. Next on the list would be cast and retrieval of a variety of lures and plastics, and lets not forget bait fishing.

FAVOURITE LURES - For bream, E.P's and small mulloway, any estuary fish really, it would have to be Halco Scorpians, 35mm, suspending in metallic colours. Trolling or casting. Please upgrade the split rings and trebles. For trout and reddies I only use Lofty's Cobras in a variety of colours, favoring the white/pink-white as these lures are the most visible in deep or discoloured water.

FAVOURITE SPOT - Yes, I'm boring! The Curdies River and Peterborough Lake. Only 30 minutes drive away. I've fished this estuary hundreds of times and know it above and below water level, like the back of my hand.

FAVOURITE FISH - Acanthropagrus Butcheri; The southern black bream; followed
closely by the yellowfin bream, estuary perch and mulloway, in that order.

OTHER HOBBIES - Gardening, but not if it interferes with my fishing time! Making money and living life to the fullest. You are a long time dead so get out there and enjoy!

ADVICE - Take a camera fishing. Disposable ones are cheap, take a half decent shot and allow you the choice to release the trophy fish back into the water to breed again. A picture lasts a lifetime and looks better than a frozen carcass in the freezer!