Another year has passed and what a year it has been. As I look back through last year’s resolutions at the things I managed and things I didn’t, I cannot help but think that 2009, with the “Credit Crunch”, is a year that many will want to forget. Being self employed, I’m thankful I weathered the storm but my thoughts go to those who were less fortunate.

So what does Twenty Ten have in store for me?

Each day I try to remind myself that this is no trial run and we only get one chance in life. Over the past year I have had time to reflect on what I do and what I want to do and 2010 is going to see a big shuffle round in my work life...

Team WSF...
After over ten years of writing for the angling press, this year I will not be writing any serial features in the paper-printed angling monthlies, I will be concentrating my efforts right here on WSF. Times have changed and the internet is now where it’s at, so I’m proud to have been asked to be part of the all new (shush - soon TBA!) ‘Team’ World Sea Fishing. I will still be doing my bit for magazines, but on a more casual basis.

Over the years I have been submitting articles and photographs to magazines, my love for photography has grown and next year I feel it’s time to push it up a level so I’ve invested in a whole new load of camera kit too. For me fishing is a lifestyle sport – a journey of obsession – one of interesting people, cool places and awesome fish and there is no better way to portray this than with a camera.

Onto fishing...
I spent the first ten years of my fishing life coarse fishing, and the last twenty years both sea fishing and coarse fishing, and although I still love both dearly, sometimes I feel that I have little left to accomplish in both disciplines and I need something new to get my teeth into. I pride myself in being a good all-round angler but there is one area that I feel I let myself down... and that is fly fishing. In all honesty, I’m crap at it so, over 2010 I plan to get myself into some saltwater fluff chucking - here at home for bass on my local South Hams beaches, and for Bonefish and the likes when I’m in the Florida Keys. Of course as well as learning to fly-fish better, I will still be coarse and sea fishing as normal!

Fishing in Florida...
It’s now been a year since we launched our Florida holiday operation www.fishinginflorida.co.uk and what a year it has been. Firstly, thanks to all of you who have sent me kind comments about my live Florida blogs over the last year. It’s an honour to know that so many of you actually take time to follow what I get up to!

Next year is going to be a massive year for Fishing in Florida and I shall be out in the Keys throughout spring until early summer for the whole of Tarpon season... I can’t wait! And with the success of this year’s winter trips to the Keys, it’s looking like I shall be back out in the Keys for several months next winter! I’m even considering spending next Christmas fishing in the Keys.

If you fancy spending next Christmas fishing in the Keys, give me a shout. If you still fancy a trip chasing 100lb Tarpon this spring, you’d better be quick as we only have a few spaces left.

Whilst on the subject of Florida... I have my eye on a new boat! My Bay Ranger 2200 is an awesome machine, capable of fishing in just 14 inches of water but I want something that will get even shallower for specialist Bonefish and Redfish fishing... and there she was - the ‘Ranger 184 Ghost’. I think she’d look just lovely tied alongside her ‘Bay 2200’ big sister!! But we’ll have to wait and see as this one still has to be run past the Fishing Permission Officer for approval and negotiations may take a while. Watch this space!

Catch and release...
For years I have felt passionate about C.P.R.! I’m not talking human First Aid here; I’m talking fish first aid! C.P.R. stands for Catch, Photograph & Release. Now, I eat fish and I take fish for the table but after watching The End of the Line, it worries me that we could be heading for a ‘Fish Crunch’!

It can be said that the “Lunatics run the Asylum” (these same lunatics govern our fishing and caused ‘the’ credit crunch) and it concerns me there is a remarkable difference between their - the UK Government (DEFRA) MLSs (Minimum Landing Sizes), which are appallingly LOW, and the Angling Trust’s RRSLs (Recommended Retention Size Limits), which are fair, but sadly neither take into account that many of these species, are not even classed as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council or Marine Conservation Society. Puzzling - take your pick perhaps??

So to sum up, 2010 looks set to be an exciting year for me. Our Florida holidays have been a great success and this looks set to continue; my feature writing and photography are about to enter the next realm, which will give me fresh inspiration; I plan to try and master saltwater fly fishing; and I’m even dreaming of a new boat! But they’re plans and dreams and not really New Year’s resolutions, so to end I thought I would share my genuine one with you... as from 2010, I aim to TRY and return unharmed, any fish, that isn’t locally classed as sustainable.

Here’s wishing all WSF’ers and their families, and indeed every angler around the Globe, a Happy, Prosperous and fish filled 2010!