Tackle World & Outdoors Mandurah: Local team with a passion for fishing

“We also have a fair bit of boating chandlery and bits and bobs. We dabble in the essential camping equipment and have a core spearfishing range,” he said.

“We have four bait freezers and offer rod building, reel servicing/repairs and line spooling. We are more than happy to help anyone set themselves up to start fishing, even if you have never touched a rod before.”

The business has operated for nearly 19 years, 17 of those as part of the Tackle World group. It is proudly local and very much a family affair, said Russell, who has been involved since “day dot”.

“We put everything we had into a building not far from where we are now, and from the day we opened we grew and grew until we needed a bigger space,” he said.

“We have moved all over town, including a second store in Miami which we have since sold to another family to continue their passion for fishing, just like us.

"We even owned a boatyard for a while there, and so we have (hopefully) settled with a spruced-up tin shed from the 80s that gets bloody hot in summer and freezing cold in winter.”

“We have three full-timers - two of my kids, Thys and Bayer, and Alex, our newest member of the team. Thys is our guru - a keen bream fisherman and spearo. 

"He is up-to-date with all the new fishing technology, and the ‘go-to’ for everything fishing. Bayer is the girl behind the social media, our computer whiz and ‘go-to girl’ for anything the boys don’t know, visual merchandiser and full-time vacuumer.

“Alex is a mad mulloway fisherman and can talk the pants off anyone. He is knowledgeable and an asset to the business. My wife is the accounts lady and, as much as she hates it, she won’t let anyone else do it. And everyone calls me ‘the grumpy one who comes in just for the yarn’.”

Keeping up with changes in fishing rules and regulations and having sound local knowledge is something Russell and the team endeavour to do.

“At the moment the crabs are going crazy, as usual,” Russell said.

“We have just had a very successful crayfish season as well, with the new cray fishing laws that were put in place, we saw a huge increase in the sale of lead core rope, rope weights and the like.

"The marron season is closing up for the year and we saw a huge increase in the popularity of nets and snares as well, so it looks like more and more people are getting out, which is awesome to see.”

The team prides itself on being passionate and knowledgeable about what they do. They love helping customers out with the essentials without overloading them with unnecessary items.

“We will jump over hoops to help you out as much as we can,” Russell said.

“I’ve watched the staff sit down for sometimes hours with customers drawing and making rigs, or showing customers how to use their sounders, fridges and electric reels.

"Our boys are also happy to chat about your catches, and boast photos with each other. The air is generally buzzing with laughs and a ‘cheers buddy’ as people walk out the door with their latest purchase, and the occasional “Daddy look at this fish!” in reference to the resident barra, Junesy.

“It’s not just a fishing shop, it’s somewhere for advice and a good old-fashioned yarn. We like to think Mandurah families support us, so we can put back into our community.

"Being locally owned, you know the money stays in Mandurah. We support local fishing clubs and charitable and non-profit organisations. 

"I love walking down the street meeting people who support our business and who stop us in the shops to show their photos and things like that.”