Misterfisherman - A dream come true for Josef Camilleri

We all have our dreams.  We all have high hopes and wishes for a more fulfilling future.  I have mine.  Sadly though, not all of us are lucky enough to see our dreams take a real form, to be able to see them, touch them and savor their real meaning in our own lifetime.  But some are, and I am one of them.

Ever since I was a little boy, one would always find me with a fishing rod in hand, trying to hook a Mulett off the pier in my hometown of Msida.  

My father had a small fishing boat and I can still see him and my dear mother, together on this tiny boat, ‘irejxu’ as the sun set in those memorable summer nights.  

Sadly, both my mother and father are no longer with us, but it is to them that I owe the love they instilled in me for the sea and for fishing.  

Thank you mama for instilling in me your powerful drive to face life with courage and to never let go of your dreams.  

This Mister Fish venture was my lifelong dream, and I owe it to you, dear mama and papa. 

This is what makes Mister Fish so much more than a business venture for me.  It is my hobby, indeed my life passion and I am very happy to be able to share it with you all, friends of Mister Fish by viewing Mister Fisherman.

The summer season is almost knocking on our door, and many of us  start frequenting the sea.  With an advantage on other countries, in Malta we need not travel for hours on end  to arrive next to the sea as we all practically live a stones’ throw away.  Many go by the sea to relax or to eat a ‘kisra hobz biz-zejt’ with the family, others love swimming and others are passionate about grabbing their fishing rod and spending a few quiet hours next to our beautiful sea fishing.

Mister Fisherman is a program dedicated to fishing.  It is a programme suitable for all types of audiences and all ages especially young people who wish to move away from the noise and find a different way of enjoyment.

There is a lot of technique involved in fishing.  During this program I will be explaining the various types of fishing, and different types of bait used to catch various fish.  The program is not aimed solely at the keen fisherman but also for those interested in nature and our surrounding sea.   The techniques shown and explained are not only for the professional, but also for the beginner.  We shall be exploring the difference between rock fishing, from land and from sea.  We will also be looking into the types of boats used in our seas and also the care and maintenance needed.

During the next series of Mister Fisherman we shall be showing different fishing techniques not only shot in Malta but also in other countries.    This will give our local fishermen an insight on how fishermen from other countries fish.  We are always trying to seek out new techniques that are unknown in Malta and that is what we chase constantly.

Sport fishing is becoming increasingly popular, and we aim to also teach via our program how to conserve fish for future generations.    This is also done through the various fishing clubs in Malta who also work hard to promote this aspect.  In my opinion, in Malta , the most important thing that should be handled is the use of large fishing nets which are dragged across the island, also fishing nets that are left purposely in bays, thus trapping all kinds of species of fish – big or small.  From studies conducted by the University of Malta, the first three metres around the coastal shore of Malta are dead, this is a result of over fishing by nets day and night.