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Sneaky Fisho Brookvale: Popular northern beaches tackle shop goes under

What happened to the Sneaky Fisho, a popular tackle shop for amateur anglers on the northern beaches? SEARCH OUR FULL LIST OF NSW BUSINESS INSOLVENCIES.

The eye-catching great white shark mural on the Sneaky Fisho tackle shop on Pittwater Rd, Brookvale. The mural is still there, but the shop has closed down and the business has gone into liquidation. Picture: Jim O'Rourke
The eye-catching great white shark mural on the Sneaky Fisho tackle shop on Pittwater Rd, Brookvale. The mural is still there, but the shop has closed down and the business has gone into liquidation. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

One of the most popular fishing tackle shops on the northern beaches has closed its doors, owing suppliers and other creditors close to $250,000.

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Sneaky Fisho, at Brookvale, with its distinctive “undersea” great white shark paint scheme, used to attract amateur anglers from across the city.

The premises of the former Sneaky Fisho tackle shop on Pittwater Rd, Brookvale is now up for lease. Picture: Jim O'Rourke
The premises of the former Sneaky Fisho tackle shop on Pittwater Rd, Brookvale is now up for lease. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

It also used to operate a thriving online store selling big name brands including Shimano.

As of June 29, Sneaky Fisho was “wound up” and is now “in liquidation”.

In an effort to get paid, Shimano, the giant multinational fishing tackle manufacturer, successfully applied last month in the NSW Supreme Court for a winding up order.

Documents obtained by the Manly Daily show that Sneaky Fisho owes Shimano close to $120,000.

The interior of the Sneaky Fisho tackle shop, before it closed, showing the Shimano rod display stands. Shimano Australia is owed close to $120,000. Picture: Supplied
The interior of the Sneaky Fisho tackle shop, before it closed, showing the Shimano rod display stands. Shimano Australia is owed close to $120,000. Picture: Supplied

The court has appointed a liquidator, Giles Woodgate, from Woodgate & Co.

Creditors can apply for a winding up order. Winding up is a process where a company’s outstanding matters are finalised, its assets liquidated, and it ceases to exist as a company.

Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) documents show that an application to the Supreme Court, for the winding up of Sneaky Fisho Pty Ltd, was commenced by Shimano Australia Fishing Pty Ltd on May 12.

The tackle shop had already closed its premises in late March and stopped its online store. Its Facebook page still describes the business as “Sydney’s #1 Fishing tackle retail and online store”.

The empty interior of the former Sneaky Fisho tackle shop this week. Picture: Jim O'Rourke
The empty interior of the former Sneaky Fisho tackle shop this week. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

Its Facebook page had close to 13,000 followers and it used to supply fishing reports to customers and subscribers.

One of its senior staff had a weekly fishing column in the Manly Daily.

A search of documented held by ASIC named Beau Worthington, of Bayview, as the sole director of the company.

A statutory report by the liquidator to Sneaky Fisho’s creditors, lodged on July 27, said that nine secured and unsecured creditors are owed a total of $248,179.

It said that the company’s Westpac bank account was overdrawn, and that Mr Worthington had stock, with a retail value of $5007 at his home.

The distinctive exterior of the Sneaky Fisho tackle shop on Pittwater Rd, Brookvale when it was still operating. Picture: Supplied
The distinctive exterior of the Sneaky Fisho tackle shop on Pittwater Rd, Brookvale when it was still operating. Picture: Supplied

The document said that Shimano Australia Fishing Pty Ltd was owed $119,524.

On the Sneaky Fisho Facebook page a person complained that the business still owed him money for work on its website.

Back in March, just prior to it closing, the Sneaky Fisho promoted a “Moving Sale” on its Facebook page, offering up to 60 per cent off prices “store wide”.

The premises are now empty and the shop is advertised for rent.

The Manly Daily has attempted to contact Beau Worthington for comment.

It has also asked Shimano for a comment.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/manly-daily/sneaky-fisho-brookvale-popular-northern-beaches-tackle-shop-goes-under/news-story/f6b0c420221bedc72bfe9a415c207f76