As perhaps the world’s oldest sport and pastime, fishing has become increasingly popular with amateur and professional fishermen in recent decades. Improved gear and accessibility to remote locations have provided opportunities to fish from land for some of the oceans’ most prized fish.
Dirk Hartog Island is located off the coast of Gascoyne in Western Australia, within the Shark Bay World Heritage Area. The island is approximately 650 square kilometers in size and was discovered by the Dutch sea captain Dirk Hartog in October 1616. It is well known in Australian history as the first landing point for European explorers on Australian soil.
Located 19 nautical miles off the coast of Western Australia, the island is now considered one of Australia’s top ecotourism destinations. It is often referred to as a rugged and impressive ‘fisherman’s paradise’, although there is more than just fishing on offer.
While most of the quality fishing footage created these days is shot on or around boats, this film focuses entirely on sport fishing ‘on land’. All of the fishing caught and portrayed in this film is filmed on shore as a group of experienced anglers land some of the most sought after table fish in the sea.
You will be traveling with a group of intrepid and experienced anglers as they visit the “Holy Grail” of land sport fishing! Filmed over 4 years, this location is a 30-hour journey from start to destination. It’s like being right on the spot as you get tangled up with some of the most prized sport and table fish known to man. Spectators will marvel at the size of the massive Baldchin Groper, Spangled Emperor, Pink Snapper, Tailor and many other varieties of fish caught only on land.
On Dirk Hartog Island there are simply no boats required. The incredible footage captured to create this film is a testament to the skills of anglers, garnered from years of amateur fishing on the Australian mainland. You will be amazed at the stark scenic beauty of this magnificent island in the far north-west of Australia. This is simply shore sport fishing to compete with the best boat fishing on the planet.
Witness beach fishing in deep channels, as well as clifftop fishing in seemingly bottomless waters where the larger species roam. Nothing is unattainable for this group of fishermen who have been fishing on this island for many years, adapting methods and fine-tuning their skills to overcome any adversity.
In addition to the amazing fishing, you’ll see newly hatched turtles run to the safety of the water through the sand on the beach, fighting off crabs and birds to survive. The sight of wildlife on the island is magnificent, including dancing crabs and migratory birds.
In recent years, a myriad of documentaries and fishing movies have emerged showing angling around the world. “Dirk Hartog Island – Unleashed” is one of those films that takes viewers to one of the most remote and beautiful places on the planet.
This is a ‘must see’ film for any fisherman, especially those who understand the effort involved in planning and traveling to remote destinations. Few places in the world provide the quality fishing experience available to visitors to this magnificent island location. The film is available online on Amazon.
