DIRK HARTOG ISLAND half way up the Western Australian coast remains, because of its rugged beauty and variety of fish species, one of my favourite fishing destinations. Just recently Bushy and I travelled to this piscatorial wonderland once again to film some segments for the TV show.

In 1616 Dutch explorer Dirk Hartog sailed into what is now known as Shark Bay, and explored the island which was eventually named in his honour. This is a wild and remote place folks, that has changed little since European settlement.

Not only is Dirk Hartog Island one of my favourite fishing holes it also happens to be one of my favourite feeding destinations as well, especially if you happen to be staying at Dirk Hartog Island Lodge. The lodge has all the comforts of home under the watchful eye of Kieran and Tory Wardle, and you'll be treated like royalty and eat like a king.

In the past Bushy and I have fished offshore and sight fished around the flats of the Island. This time around it would be rock fishing, or perhaps I should say cliff fishing as we fished some jagged escarpments that rose high above some very fishy water. The terrain on top the cliffs is rugged - I'm sure Neil Armstrong would have been pretty comfortable in this moon like landscape.

The wind was blowing from behind us as we cast our baits into the depth of the Indian Ocean from a rock ledge that was high enough to keep us safe from any ocean swell. The action started almost immediately with the Human Broom, Bushy getting hammered by a big snapper which eventually busted him off just under the rocks below.

I was fishing with 30 pound laser line with a 50 pound shock leader, wire trace, and ganged hooks rigged with a pilchard. Soon enough a large Long Tom inhaled the bait and started to cartwheel across the surface, jumping wildly before I was able to haul him up the cliff for a look. These Long Toms have teeth like Dick Emery, which fully justified my use of a wire trace. Folks,you should see the dentistry of these fish, they mean business. For any creature that is lower down on the proverbial piscatorial food chain, look out, because you're probably next for dinner. I cut the wire trace off, gave it a kiss, and released this fine Long Tom to fight again another day.

Soon afterwards, BANG!, the reel screamed off again. An unknown fish of considerable weight had attached itself to 'ol Rexy boy's line, although his fish was headed for a reef off to the left. This fish was giving me a real workout. Luckily I was able to turn him away from the reef and it wasn't long before we managed to land a gold spot trevally or turrum, with the use of an amazingly effective cliff gaff. This fish was absolutely amazing folks. There I was, two storeys up in the air, catching this tur-rum of between 6kg and 7kg on film for you folks at home. This family of trevally are real street fighters. With the aid of the next big wave I released the big turrum.

It is worth noting that these big fish found in close to the rocks were dining on the abundance of food found in amongst the washes. These environments provide tremendous opportunities for the land based angler willing to get themselves to remote and uncivilised places. As word of warning though, these high rock platforms are not an ideal place to take young children or inexperienced anglers; you need to have the right footwear and constantly have your mind on the job.

After a brief interlude for lunch we headed back up to the rocks and into more serious fishing. A massive thump met my bait's return to the water, and the rod was fully loaded once again. Folks, I don't need to tell you to go to a gym or run a marathon to get plenty of exercise, these fish will test you out. I like being connected to a big fish where you can feel the power of them. Eventually a lovely bald chin groper came to the surface to be gaffed. There would be no kissing of this particular fish as it was headed straight to the dinner table that night. The bald chin groper would have to be one of my favourite eating fish. I would put it up there with gummy shark from Victoria's Bass Strait, or the Patagonian toothfish which comes very close for taste.

Dirk Hartog Island is one of my very favourite fishing destinations, check it out if you get the chance.