From First Bass to AFTA: Amanda’s Big Fishing Adventure

Corey Goldie
40 minutes ago
6 min read

What started as a trip to Queensland with Corey turned into an adventure I certainly won’t forget anytime soon!

Thanks to the incredible support of Brad and Yolanda from Bluefin Boats, along with Bone and Doris from BAZ Fishing World, I had the opportunity to join Corey for the Bass Electric Tour at Lake Moogerah, attend my very first AFTA Trade Show, and experience a side of the fishing industry I had never really been part of before.

And what a trip it turned out to be!

A Very Special First

For someone who had never competed in a fishing tournament before, I certainly managed to tick a few boxes on this trip.

I caught my first Australian bass, entered my first fishing competition, and attended my first AFTA Trade Show. Not a bad list of firsts!

The Bass Electric Tour at Lake Moogerah was definitely a little nerve-racking. Walking into my first competition, surrounded by experienced anglers, I really had no idea what to expect. But I got out there, gave it my best shot and, most importantly, had an absolute ball. Coming 22nd out of 32 competitors in my first-ever competition wasn't too bad either!

I’ll happily take that result — especially considering I was still learning what I was doing. And yes, I’m already thinking I might be able to improve on that next time and this time hopefully outfish Corey on both day one AND day two (instead of just day one)!

The People Behind the Brands

One of the things I quickly learnt on this trip is that the fishing industry is about much more than boats, rods, reels and catching fish. It’s about people and relationships.

Corey has built some fantastic relationships through all his connections, and this trip gave me the opportunity to finally meet some of the people I had heard so much about.

It was fantastic to meet everyone in person. Corey has always spoken incredibly highly of so many people and told me so many stories, so it was really nice to finally put faces to the names.

It was fantastic to meet everyone, have a chat and get to know each other properly. With each person I met, I felt incredibly welcomed.

I cannot express how welcomed I felt from Brad and Yolanda from Bluefin Boats, Bone and Doris from BAZ Fishing World and their teams. A lot of the times I should have felt like a fish out of water (yes - pun intended), however everyone was so supportive and encouraging and took the time to "dumb things down" for me that I really felt like I was a part of the team.

They have all been fantastic supporters of Corey and what he is doing, and I really appreciated the opportunity to be there alongside him.

Being welcomed into that side of Corey's world and being included rather than simply being "Corey's partner who came along for the ride" meant a lot to me. (Although, to be fair, I did spend quite a bit of time simply trying to keep up!)

Then Came AFTA

If the fishing competition was a first for me, the AFTA Trade Show was another completely new experience. Walking into the trade show and seeing just how big the Australian fishing industry really is was pretty impressive. There were boats, rods, reels, lures, electronics, accessories and countless fishing brands all under one roof.

Corey and I attended as brand ambassadors for BAZ Fishing World, while also proudly supporting and representing Bluefin Boats, and it was a fantastic opportunity to meet people from across the industry.

For me, it was also a chance to see firsthand the relationships Corey has developed through fishing and the work he has been putting into building Corey’s Dam Fishing.

I’ve always known fishing is a big part of Corey’s life, but being there with him gave me a much better understanding of just how much work, time and genuine relationship-building goes on behind the scenes. I loved meeting people from the industry, having conversations, learning about different products and hearing the stories behind the businesses and brands we see every day.

I also loved being able to stand beside Corey and be part of it with him. It definitely gave me a taste for more.

But sometimes the wheels fall off....

Of course, no great adventure would be complete without a few things going wrong, and we certainly had our share!

Corey's Amarok decided it wasn't quite as enthusiastic about the Queensland adventure as we were; and broke down on the way up. What should have been a relatively straightforward road trip suddenly became a logistical exercise that probably deserved its own whiteboard, flowchart and full-time transport coordinator.

By the time we finally made it home, our transport tally had become something of a running joke.

Five different cars — including two hire cars. One borrowed boat.A few trains.And an Uber.

At various points we honestly wondered what else could possibly go wrong.

But somehow, we kept moving. We got to the tournament. We got to AFTA. We got ourselves home.

And despite all the drama, stress, last-minute changes and kilometres travelled, I wouldn't change the experience.

Well... maybe I'd change the car breaking down. I would definitely change that part!

But looking back now, those dramas are probably some of the things we'll laugh about the most. It certainly made the trip memorable.

More Than Just Fishing

What I really appreciated about the whole experience was being given the opportunity to be part of something that means so much to Corey.

I wasn't just there as his partner. I got to compete. I got to catch my first bass. I got to meet people in the industry. I got to learn more about the products, businesses and brands involved. And I had the opportunity to proudly stand alongside Corey representing Bluefin Boats and BAZ Fishing World.

That meant a lot.

The crew from the Bass Electric Tour, Bluefin Boats and BAZ Fishing World, made me feel incredibly welcome and included throughout the experience.

It also gave me a completely different appreciation for the fishing industry. There is so much more to fishing than simply getting out on the water and catching a fish.

There are manufacturers, distributors, retailers, competitions, sponsors, content creators and brand ambassadors — but behind all of those things are people who genuinely love what they do. Being able to experience that firsthand was something I really enjoyed.

Would I Do It Again?

Absolutely! In a heartbeat!

Despite the breakdown, the hire cars, borrowed boat, trains, Uber rides and everything else that was thrown at us, I'd happily do it all again. In fact, I think this trip may have created a bit of a monster!

I can definitely see myself doing more fishing competitions, trade shows and events with Corey in the future. Who knows, maybe there are a few more bass tournaments in my future? And maybe one day I'll even improve on that 22nd-place finish!

Look out Corey!

What's Next?

This trip has definitely given me a taste for what is possible, not just for Corey and Corey’s Dam Fishing, but for the adventures we can have together.

I'm incredibly grateful to Brad and Yolanda from Bluefin Boats and Bone and Doris from BAZ Fishing World for their support, encouragement and for giving me the opportunity to be part of the experience.

It was an adventure filled with plenty of laughs, a few stressful moments, some fantastic people and some very memorable firsts.

Hopefully this is just the beginning. There are plenty more adventures to come, more people to meet, more fish to catch and, if this first experience is anything to go by, probably a few more unexpected detours along the way.

Although perhaps next time we'll aim for a slightly simpler plan...

One car. One boat.And absolutely no breakdowns!

Again - A Huge Thank You

A massive thank you to Brad and Yolanda at Bluefin Boats for their support of Corey's Dam Fishing and for helping make it possible for me to experience my first Bass Electric Tour.

And an equally huge thank you to Bone and Doris at BAZ Fishing World for their support of Corey, Corey’s Dam Fishing and now me as well. It was an absolute pleasure being able to represent BAZ alongside Corey, and I’m looking forward to hopefully doing plenty more of it in the future.

And of course, thanks to Corey for dragging me into his fishing world in the first place. I went to Queensland as Corey's partner, thinking I'd tag along for a fishing tournament and see what all the fuss was about....

I came home having caught my first bass, competed in my first tournament, attended my first AFTA, met some wonderful people and discovered a whole new world that I genuinely loved being part of.

I have a feeling I might be hooked now. So I'll just sit tight and wait for the next event to roll around. I'll be pumped and ready to take on whatever is put in my path. Look out fishing world! Amanda is headed there with absolute gusto! LET'S DO THIS!