Well, here I am, writing a post I never thought I’d write. My wrasse fishing book – titled The Ballan and the Sea – has just been published by Medlar Press Ltd. A big thanks to Rose and Jon at Medlar, who have both been friendly, patient, and endlessly helpful.

It feels entirely fraudulent to be considered an author but I suppose I’ll have to get used to it. The book is essentially a 200-page (ish) memoir – or a fishing autobiography. It’s certainly not a fishing “how to” – that’s here – intentionally, it’s far from it. It’s about adventure: light-hearted rock fishing, walking and nature. It’s time spent with friends in nice parts of the country.

My scribblings were, of course, never intended to be a fully formed book. When I found wrasse fishing around four or five years ago I simply felt compelled to start documenting what I was doing. I was soon pottering here and there, quickly rediscovering some joy in my angling which had, unfortunately, begun to dim. I was tired of carp fishing, specimen angling, and the relentless ‘sameness’ that social media pushes on us. Crikey, it’s even worse now that we’ve all that AI slop to contend with… What a shitfest.

… But anyway. Sometime after the birth of my first child, three years ago, the writing started taking on a life of its own. In between the sleepless nights I found a motivation to write. I’d lie awake with my phone on ‘extra dim’, jotting down ideas and excerpts while the family slept. A wrasse fishing book just kind of sprouted forth!

During the events of the book, I’d fish just once a month – maybe twice, if I was lucky. Those trips to the coast became my rest, my quiet time… ‘Escape’ feels too strong a word, because there was no need to escape from the utter joy at home; but that monthly ‘reset’ allowed me to be a better father and husband at home, I hope. In truth, it’s still much the same now – except that in the last few months my brownie points have all been spent hiking in Wales, in preparation for a charity event last week. I’m fitter than I’ve ever been, but bugger am I missing the coast.

My passion for wrasse fishing still burns strong – as bright as ever. I’d quite like to write something else, book-wise, but nothing has gripped me like the coast – and stuck! Never say never, I guess. If you’d like to purchase a copy of the book, you can find it here – it’s selling for £22 on the Medlar Press site.

Thanks all.