Fishing is the best form of natural relaxation. Our family often went fishing together on weekends, making it a great family outing. The mornings spent preparing our fishing tackle, often untangling the lines from the previous trip. To catch tailor we needed to put two or three hooks into a gang, so the fish could not bite through the nylon lines. Some fish needed smaller hooks, so we made up several different types of rigs in readiness, depending on the weather, and tidal currents as to what size weights, sinkers, and floats we needed to keep our lines in the water. The choice of bait or lures normally decided by the time of day or what type of fish that we wanted to catch.

The next job was to prepare our food,thermos flasks and cordial drinks. My sister and I buttered the bread leaving Mum to finish making the sandwiches, and adding the biscuits and nibbles to keep us kids satisfied. The sea air always made us hungry.

We normally left home in our Ford A25 utility about two in the afternoon. Mum and Dad in the front seat while my sister and I sat in the back under the fitted canvas top. Dad drove down to the Fremantle ferry jetty. Once there we would unpack our gear, choosing the best spot, preparing to settle in for the night. That is right; we would stay out all night fishing and enjoying the fun of being out there together until about nine o'clock in the morning.

Sometimes we caught heaps, if they were hungry we even used the innards of the fish for bait. Even if the fish were not biting, we used to love the reflecting lights of the harbor, the sound of the water lapping against the jetty and the different size boats going up and down through the harbor entrance. As kids, we especially loved watching the beautiful sunset at night and the golden lights glistening on the water in the morning as the sun popped up over the horizon.

When we arrived home, we were all happy to relax into our beds after a hot shower with out an argument from us kids.

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