AUSTRALIAN recreational fishing farewelled one of its most influential names this week when Hal Harvey lost his brave fight against pancreatic cancer.
Hal passed away on Monday at the age of 55, leaving behind a wife, Liza, and three children.
One of the sharpest minds in the recreational fishing industry and always at the forefront of new trends in the tackle trade, Hal was first diagnosed in 2011 and exceeded most expectations in keeping his private battle going for more than three years.
During this time he savoured some fantastic experiences on and off the water with family and friends, including trips to the Rowley Shoals, one of his very favourite locations, Shark Bay and Tasmania.
The son of Jack Harvey, by all reports Hal stayed positive right to the end, including a sneaky departure from hospital for a spin in a sports car only a few weeks ago.
Hal had an extraordinary impact on the WA recreational fishing community, both in his business deeds with his family enterprise, the time-honoured Bluewater Tackle chain, and with his fishing writing for the Sunday Times and Western Angler over many years.
He loved fishing deeply and passionately championed the rights of recreational fishers.
When he wasn’t working or fishing, and he commented that it was often hard to separate work from pleasure in his life, Hal had the odd combination of a penchant for dancing and fast cars, as well as a healthy obsession with his favourite OKA offroad vehicle.
Although he was often reserved in company, he was a quite marvellous wordsmith who was seemingly more comfortable putting his thoughts into print than into actual words.
None of Hal’s columns touched more people than his final one in Western Angler in 2011, when he revealed his condition to the wider world.
“I find myself not doing anything much different today, and believe me, I have had a long, hard look at it,” he wrote back then.
“I feel like I’ve been on track, which is rather nice.”
He leaves the entire recreational fishing community with a rich legacy and his influence on angling in this country will live on.
Rest in Peace Hal Harvey, a true fishing legend.
