Alex Ciccozzi
Instagram: ciccotz
Favorite Species/ technique /style of fishing
The saltwater scene is where you’ll find me targeting anything from bread and butter stuff through to larger line burning species. But as far as my favourite techniques and options go I really find it hard to look past live-baiting for big South Oz yellowtail kings, casting a few X-Raps at surface busting tuna or dropping a Storm Koika micro jig onto the offshore reefs below!
Favorite fishing location?
Marion Bay, South Australia. Located at the foot of Yorke Peninsula this small coastal town provides a gateway to some exceptional inshore and offshore fishing options not all that far from the Adelaide CBD. From deep-water reef fishing for snapper, nannygai and gummy sharks through to seasonal pelagic action with school bluefin tuna, samson fish and yellowtail kingfish on the cards this place ticks a lot of boxes for me with such diversity on offer.
How did you get into fishing?
I started at a very young age fishing local piers and waterways with my grandpa catching an assortment of bread and butter species, typically including squid and garfish. Later down the track my now wife’s family introduced me to the saltwater boating scene and it’s fair to say I was instantly hooked and haven’t looked back since!
Why you love fishing?
Fishing provides everything you ideally want in a hobby. From a sense of challenge and perseverance to achieve an end goal in the more serious circumstances right through to being a simple and relaxing way to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life by getting outdoors and enjoying the elements. Being able to share it with close mates and family makes it even more special and I get just as much of a kick out of seeing or helping others catch fish.
Greatest fishing memory?
Boating my personal best yellowtail kingfish to date at 154cm. After losing a few big fish in quick succession and being minutes away from pulling the pin to go home one last ditched effort saw us finally come up trumps. We certainly earnt every single bit of it too with a grueling fight amongst heavy boat traffic and the fish even broke through the net as we attempted to lift it on board. I still recall my heart skipping a few beats as it laid in the water with my trace entangled in the then-broken landing net. But thankfully lady luck was on our side and with some quick thinking in what is now a relative blur of events we somehow managed to pull it over the gunnels by hand to get it on-board. I still recall turning around to see my mate laying flat on his back with the fish on top of him and a broken net by his side along with my leg bleeding from a trailing hook that was millimeters away from being firmly lodged in my calf. Stressful stuff but cool to have a story behind what is to date one of my most memorable captures.
Favorite Rapala Product?
The Rapala X-Rap Long Cast series. Fully rigged with VMC in-line single hooks in an array of HD and UV colour design patterns these things are serious saltwater weapons!
