Before Mark LeCras became a superstar for West Coast Eagles, he was just an ordinary kid growing up in the WA coastal town of Cervantes, who spent as much of his spare time as he could going fishing.
Mark’s family business is in cray fishing, so it goes without saying that fishing is in his blood. And apparently – so is a bit of mischief!
“My dad had this old tinny that he’d use every day, he’d take it out on the ocean and moor it before he went on the cray boats. I’d then swim out and pinch the boat and spend the day fishing. And I always had to make sure it was back in place before dad got back!”
“I still have that boat today and use it all the time. And I reckon it won’t be long before my kids pinch it off me!” Mark said.
The old tinny – named Rickety – has taken second place now to Mark’s newly built Fury boat, which he has just taken possession of after watching it being built in Fremantle over the past 12 months.
The 28-foot dual console vessel has been dubbed Sea Eagle; and now that it’s finished, will no doubt be out off the coast of WA all summer long!
Mark says with this new boat, it’ll open up lots of opportunities for fishing that he’s never had before.
“Fishing is definitely my passion, and every time I plan a trip, I always work it out around a particular fishing spot. I’ll work out where I want to go and what I want to catch, and then plan the 4wdriving and camping trip around that.”
“I really like chasing barramundi, and any barra fisherman knows that the goal is to catch one over a metre in length. I’ve done that twice, once in Port Hedland and the other time in Derby,” he said.
“With my new boat I’ll be able to go fishing in the Abrolhos and Mackerel Islands, which is something I can’t wait to take my kids out and do.”
Since retiring from West Coast Eagles, Mark has been concentrating a lot on fishing and boating. Mark presents a weekly fishing report on Channel 9, giving his up-to-date tips on where to go and what to catch. He’s also recently gone into partnership on a tackle store, Tackle HQ, which he says specialises in jigging. Mark is more than happy to give his tips to anglers and chat about fishing, because he’s always on the look out for new spots to go and new species to catch.
“With the demersal ban in place now until December, fishing around the metro area is all about rock lobsters,” Mark said.
“Anyone with a boat is geared up now to go out and catch crays, and you see them every day. Hundreds of boats head out each day off Freo to Rotto, off Ocean Reef and Cervantes, and they come back with their bag limit every day.”
Aside from catching crays and taking his new boat out, the next few weeks will be busy for Mark both with his tackle store, and as a presenter at this year’s 4WD and Adventure Show next month. Mark will be on stage talking about his fishing adventures and giving his tips on the best places to go and what you’ll catch. The Perth 4WD and Adventure Show is on 8-10 November at McCallum Park.
