Fishing columnist Eddie Riddle farewells Alan Zavodny and Marty Price

The NQ game fishing fraternity is reeling after losing one of its most colourful characters last weekend with the passing of long-time charter skipper and legendary mariner, Eddie Riddle writes.

Two legends of the ocean are being honoured.

The North Queensland game fishing fraternity is reeling after losing one of its most colourful characters last weekend with the passing of long-time charter skipper and legendary mariner, Alan Zavodny.

Known widely across Australia and internationally, Alan’s name was synonymous with light tackle game fishing, red reef species, and salty tales that could fill a logbook – or a library.

From the billfish-rich waters off Townsville to the rugged reefs wide of Cairns, Alan Zavodny made his mark as a fearless and fiercely knowledgeable captain.

At the helm of various game boats, he guided anglers to trophy fish including marlin, mackerel, tuna, and the iconic reef reds – lots of them, particularly nannygai and red emperor.

His uncanny ability to locate bait schools using marine electronics and to consistently tag multiple billfish earned him accolades across decades.

Colourful life well lived - fisherman Alan Zavodny was a guest on nationwide television show True Story with Hamish and Andy - 2018

He was Runner-up Skipper in the 1996 Townsville Billfish Challenge, and in 2006 led the 44′ Southern Cross Five Star to tournament victory, tagging seven billfish and securing the Gold Coast Gamefish Club Interclub Shield.

But Alan Zavodny – simply AZ to most who knew him, was more than just a skipper.

He was a storyteller, a writer, a character, and a champion of the sea.

He penned fishing reports for the Townsville Bulletin in the late 80’s and contributed to glossy covered national magazines, painting vivid word pictures of Cape Cleveland and Bowling Green Bay that inspired anglers from all walks.

In fact, this columnist in part owes his own journey to Townsville to one of Zavodny’s fish-rich tales.

I fondly remember reading AZ’s description of Salamander Reef and billfish you could almost walk on, nearby and just wide of Bowling Green Bay

I came for 2-week fishing holiday in the mid-eighties, and it is a sabbatical that has never quite ended, thank you AZ.

Tragically, a serious cycling accident in 2014 robbed Alan of his sea legs – ending his career at sea.

A court later acknowledged his condition made it impossible for him to safely return to charter work, but even landlocked, Zavodny remained devoted to fishing.

He was often spotted around Lucinda and the Dungeness boat ramp, helping collect data for Queensland Fisheries and mentoring the next generation of anglers with that familiar sparkle in his eye.

Tragic loss - widely known and well-respected gamefishing and charter boat skipper Alan Zavodny lost a long time battle with cancer last weekend

In 2018, his larger-than-life personality reached a national audience when he appeared on television’s True Story with Hamish and Andy, regaling viewers with his wild seafaring yarns.

Zavodny was eccentric, loveable, and unforgettable – part pirate, part philosopher, and all fisherman.

He may be gone from the helm, but his wake will ripple through North Queensland waters for years to come.

He once told a Townsville Bulletin reporter, “If I died tomorrow, I couldn’t complain. I’ve had the best life.”

Tight lines Alan, and again, thank you.

A ‘lively and generous presence’

And the North Queensland fishing community continues mourning with the heartbreaking loss of one of its most familiar and beloved voices.

Marty Price – long-time co-host of the NQ Fishing Show – sadly passed away early this week, leaving behind a hole that will be felt not just on the water, but across the airwaves and in the hearts of thousands.

For over 15 years, Marty was more than just a co-host on 4K1G’s Saturday morning fishing show.

He was a mate to his listeners – a loyal, lively, and generous presence who gave freely of his knowledge, wisdom, and humour… though he understandably kept a tight lid on his favourite barra spots.

Marty’s journey through the fishing tackle world began as a teenager behind the counter at Lounds Pro Tackle.

Marty Price was a respected Townsville fisherman and long-time host on The NQ Fishing Show.

He would go on to share his deep passion and sharp product knowledge at the Tackle Shack, Fishing Warehouse, and later, for many years at Aqua Marine.

Marty had the kind of infectious enthusiasm that made people not just love fishing more, but understand it better.

His on-air partnership with fellow fishing tragic Gary Powis was, to fisher men and women, the stuff of radio gold.

Together, they created something special – a place where stories were shared, laughs were had, and fishing, in all its muddy, salty glory, was celebrated.

Gary paid a moving tribute to his mate and co-host, “His love of high-end fishing tackle was legendary. He was a true connoisseur – and if you let him get started talking about gear, he wouldn’t stop,” Gary remembered fondly.

“But what we had on air… that bond… it only comes around once. We were mates, and we were lucky to do something we loved together every week. That’s a gift, and that, my friend, will stay with me forever.”

Marty Price was a respected Townsville fisherman and long-time host on The NQ Fishing Show.

To the loyal listeners of the NQ Fishing Show, Marty wasn’t just a voice on the radio – he was family.

His passion for the sport, his warmth, and his quick wit made him a Saturday morning ritual across the North.

He’ll be remembered with a rod in hand, a story on his lips, and a grin that said, “There’s fish to be caught.”

He will be sorely missed – by his co-host, his fishing mates, the tackle industry, and by a listenership who saw him as one of their own.

Rest easy, Marty… the tide won’t feel the same without you.

Cast a line in their honour

With these unexpected and shocking losses, many of the greater angling community might well cast a line in honour of either – or both, of these men this weekend.

It’s as if the Weather Gods might be honouring these Townsville fishing identities with calm seas and light winds forecast for much of the Herbert and Lower Burdekin footprint today and perhaps through to Sunday afternoon.

Despite the cool conditions, barramundi remain a realistic angling option, as do mangrove jack and salmon when anglers consider doing their thing within local creeks, rivers and estuaries

David Hodge changes tactics and fishes deeper to snare the winter run of local barramundi

David ‘Hodgie” Hodge showed me a few pics of some fat barra and jacks that he’d claimed last week while fishing one of his pet spots within a local creek.

While one barra had a deep diving minnow style lure hanging from its mouth, another 80-ish cm model, along with a solid jack, were both fooled with an over-size soft plastic.

“Old Radioactive Rooster (colour) has been doing it, hey,” Hodgie said when asked about the most successful winter colour when using his favoured 7-inch Halco Paddle Prawn lure.

Hodgie was happy to tip Bully readers that most quality fish have been taken in the deepest bowels of the creeks, the well experienced lurecaster suggesting that anglers weight their lures accordingly.

“Yeah mate… all of them caught deep and even adding a ball sinker in the loop knot to make sure they (lures) get down to where the fish are.

Meanwhile, coastal boat ramps are expected to be a hive of activity as reef hotspots and inshore shoal areas beckon.

Spanish mackerel is the fish most might expect to catch with tides improving as they build towards next Friday’s new or dark moon while trout, emperor and nannygai will be on offer when anglers fish close to the bottom.

Inshore, popular grounds like Cape Cleveland, the Mack Patches and Maggie Island Shoals should give up numbers of Spanish mackerel albeit anglers are hobbled by a single fish possession-limit and a 2-fish boat limit of Spanish when there are 2 or more people on board a vessel.

Anglers are also reminded that Spanish mackerel are protected by a 75cm minimum legal size.

Originally published as Fishing columnist Eddie Riddle farewells Alan Zavodny and Marty Price