'Can you hear me in the beck?'

Standing in back of the crowd at the Doubtless Bay Fishing Contest, Karen turned around to see if anyone was standing in the stream behind us? 'Nope, definitely nobody in the beck.'

Assured the crowd was with him, the the MC then got on with it, handing out fishing rods, lifejackets, nets, GPS units and fish finders from the local tackle shop for monster kingfish, bluenose and a huge cheque for $2500 plus a circular saw for the largest snapper.

The intangible culture was palpable. Plenty of big sunburned boys with rod calloused hands knocking back Red Lion, nodding in appreciation and filling us cultural interlopers in on the state of affairs. One turned to his mate: 'those are some beg fush, eh Bro?'

I lent my helping hand to the locals by scooping up two snappers weighing in a total of 10 or 12 kgs at the charity auction of the contest catch. That was enough to feed seven at a BBQ, plenty for breakfast, some to leave with our friend Rob, who lives in Coopers Beach, and a thick fillet to take on the road.

Some very fine, very beg fush, and only $28 for the lot. Not bad, eh Bro?