Many people facilitated the experiences that have underpinned the collection of information that made it possible for me to write this book, none more so than my parents, Marion and Jack Kearney, my wife, Hope, and children, Josie and Tom. For their generosity in tolerating my avoidance of even essential chores when exciting fishing opportunities presented, time after time, I am forever most grateful. My grandchildren, on their own, represent inspiration.
In my university days two scientists—Jack Evans, Professor of Physiology at the University of New England and Dr Jack O’Hagan of CSIRO Indooroopilly Laboratories—provided scholarships, laboratory space, support and scientific guidance that were well beyond that warranted by the abilities I had demonstrated. Their faith in me was pivotal in my university education.
Many scientific colleagues and fishing companions supported the development of my research and recreation over the sixty-odd years covered in this book. Many have passed on, but the impact of senior scientists, including Jim Joseph, Dick Baird and John Gulland, remains, as does the memory of many fishing mates such as Billy Smith and Cec Higgins. Research colleagues including Barney Smith, Tony Lewis and Pierre Kleiber and the many other members of the Skipjack Survey and Assessment Programme based in New Caledonia were much more than just people I worked with on skipjack tuna throughout the vast area of the central and western Pacific.
Persuasive friends kept encouraging me to put pen to paper to record the stories and fisheries commentaries we shared, particularly the ones that continued well into the night after a day’s fishing. Of special mention are those that arose after wading the spectacular sand flats of New Caledonia chasing elusive bonefish or, after a day’s fly-fishing, around a campfire on the banks of the upper Murrumbidgee River. These latter stories were particularly insightful as they often had the assistance of one of the world’s great facilitators: a bottle of forty-year-old Rutherglen vintage port, on these occasions in the hands of Johann Bell, John Harris and Barney Smith.
Johann’s continuous encouragement over the last five years, at least, very politely blended with just the right amount of persistence in convincing me of my responsibility to write a book such as this, warrants particular acknowledgement. Martin Bowerman has been almost as persistent. Peter Gibson provided excellent advice on how to find a publisher. I am most appreciative of the outcome he catalysed.
Stephan Schnierer, a proud member of the Watego Clan, very kindly obtained the approval of the relevant families that was critical for the publication of the chapter on Indigenous techniques. Celeste Lees of the Tweed Shire Council provided support in sourcing photographs that was in both timeliness and quality way beyond what could be expected.