Angling for more records
Ryan reels in 2000th whopper
A SEASONED Far North angler, who has rubbed shoulders with royalty, has notched up another milestone.
Cardwell charter operator Ryan Moody is all smiles this week after landing his 2000th metre-plus barra.
The 106cm fish was reeled in by client Phil Capes near Port Hinchinbrook Marina, 180km south of Cairns.
“We went up the channel during the day, but things were a bit quiet,” the 49-year-old said.
“As we came back, I recognised a situation where big barra were coming to the surface to feed and decided to give it a crack.”
A 101cm gem was caught just minutes after they reeled in barra number 2000.
It was another magic moment in a colourful fishing journey, which began during his childhood in Townsville.
“One day when I was about 12, Dad got hooks in his hand,” he said.
“I had to drive the boat back to Townsville.
“We pulled up at the beach and he ran up to the hospital with two hooks hanging out of his hand.”
Always keen on a career in angling, he worked on mackerel boats before moving into game fishing and then barramundi.
Over the years he has spent time with celebrities, such as golfer Greg Norman, boxer Barry Michael and the King and Queen of Sweden.
In 1989, he began his own charter business, now known as Ryan Moody Fishing, which he runs with his wife Karen and brother Ian.
The biggest barra he has landed remains a 144cm giant, caught in Townsville’s Bohle River.
From number one to 2000, Mr Moody said the thrill of landing huge barra had never waned.
“Clients become nervous and excited, their knees start to shake,” he said.
“It never gets old, but the big days on the water are starting to take a toll. It’s a young man’s game.”
Mr Moody plans to cut back his charter commitments from next year to focus on his online fishing course business.
Pending a decent wet season, he expected Far North barra fishing to thrive after the introduction of a net-free fishing zone in Cairns last year.