FRANK Prokop has been fishing since he was about three years old.
The 57-year-old was born in the US and remembers catching bluegills as a kid with his dad.
“I’m the eldest of six kids so I still thank dad for the patience to take us four older boys together,” he said.
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READ NOWWhen he was 14 and living in Wollongong, Prokop realised fishing was more than just a hobby.
“I announced to mum and dad that I was going to be a fisheries manager,” he said.
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Prokop then went on to become Australia’s first recreational fisheries manager in NSW and the first in WA, has managed the rock lobster fishery, was the foundation chief executive of Recfishwest holding the position for 14 years, twice chairman of Recfish Australia and won an Australian Sports Medal in 2000.
The Hillarys resident has also put his extensive knowledge into about 16 books on fishing, including the Australian Fish Guide, which has sold more than 100,000 copies.
He will discuss this success at Woodvale Library from 6pm on February 28.
The author talk will also include a short presentation and give an insight into non-fiction writing and how to “communicate with a wider audience without dumbing down the facts”.
“Anyone who has a question about fishing or people interested in writing and wanting to know about the complexities of collating lots of information into a popular and useful format should attend,” Prokop said.
“I will have a couple of fishing stories but the talk will also appeal to people who like a good chat about the outdoors and how to get your message across.”
Cost is $4.
Book at www.joondalup. wa.gov.au.