Local photographer and fisher, Shane Chalker knows the feeling. In his case it was a giant herring in Wallis Lake that made his day. Not that he fits the age demographic, but in his kayak with fishing tackle in tow, he is just as zealous as any other hunter.

Conditions were perfect –top of the tide, super clear, warm water, little breeze- the type of day when fish can be easily spooked.

Having no luck casting surface and shallow diving lures among the mangroves near Godwins Island, he was about to head his kayak down to the bridge to fish the pylon structure. He saw his mate Warrick, in another kayak, had switched to soft plastics, concentrating on a small strip of sand among the weed beds in deeper water. He watched him catch a flathead about 40 centimetres.

He went for one last quick cast. As the pink Sebile Stick Shadd skipped across the surface, it got a massive hit. The fish didn’t hook on first hit, but had another go at the lure and was hooked.

Shane watched the fish make the most spectacular jump almost a metre in the air, contorting and struggling. He knew then it wasn’t a big tailor as his mate thought, but a giant herring – a fish he had once seen on display at the co-op and heard about at fishing club.

Two more jumps and the fish, about 60 centimetres long, made a blistering run, taking a lot of line. His Shimano 2500FI Stradic screamed. It took almost 10 minutes before the fish slowed and Shane could ease his hand under it.

“It looked amazing,” he said,” kind of prehistoric. It was long, silver and slender and built for speed. I’ve since learnt that these fish are extremely rare this far south, which made it even more special.”

He took it to the shallows for a few photographs before releasing it, “minus the kiss,” he said. He even wrote about the whole experience in Fishing World.

Another friend caught a yellowfin tuna at Forster Keys.

Other things Shane has been up to include fishing with Parramatta Eels captain Nathan Hindmarsh. It wasn’t the first time he had been fishing with Nathan but it was the first time Nathan had ever caught a marlin. Shane had been invited along to capture the action and he did just that. Shane’s work takes him to so many different locations and presents him with so many wonderful opportunities – he thinks he’s the luckiest guy around, especially capturing waves, fish and underwater photography.

Check out Shane’s website http://www.shanechalkerphotography.com/fishing-with-nathan-hindmarsh-fishing-photographer-nsw-australia.