AL MCGLASHAN
On the water since he was knee-high to a toadfish, Al wears many hats – underwater cameraman, writer, producer, host… and all-round good dude!
Al has fished and dived for longer than he can remember. Spending more than 200 days on the water each year (300 days a year before kids!), he’s forged a career around the deep blue and couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
“Seriously wouldn’t swap what I do for anything,” Al said.
“It’s the best job in the world.”
HOME AND AWAY
Based in Sydney (NSW, Australia), Al’s followed his passion all over Australia and around the world… and just about every person he’s been in contact with hasn’t forgotten him!
An affable Aussie (and next level when loaded on coffee!), it’s easy to understand why Al has friends all over the globe.
“My mates all have saltwater in their blood… sport fishers and commercial fishers, spearos and divers all share that passion for the ocean.
“At the end of the day, we all rely on the ocean – whether it’s for work or play – and we share a common interest not just to look after it, but enhance it and keep it wild.
“Without healthy oceans, we’re all stuffed!”
POWER OF THE PEN
Despite having no formal training in writing (his high school English teacher still doesn’t believe it!), Al has contributed to hundreds of magazines and other media outlets around the world.
He’s authored several books, including the best-selling The Complete Fishing Bible, and has had a long-running regular column in Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph newspaper.
“Just as well I’ve had some good editors over the years to knock my words into shape and make me look good!
“It’s photography and cinematography that’s been my main interest for a long time, so much so I’d rather grab a camera than a fishing rod.”
Al’s ocean images and vision have been seen right around the globe – published and broadcast through specialist and mainstream media outlets, as well as exhibited in art galleries.
Chances are you’ve seen some of Al’s work, but haven’t known it was his.
You can view a sample of his work at McGlashan Media.
VIRTUAL INSANITY
Spending so much time in the water with his cameras, Al has seen some amazing things. Serene experiences such as diving with whales, swimming around huge schools of baitfish with marlin feeding on them, and encounters with giant squid.
From the serene to the insane, his most memorable underwater experience was coming face-to-face with a 300kg+ mako shark.
“We were offshore from Port Stephens [NSW, Australia] and had a marlin beside the boat, tagged and ready for release.
“This fish was very uneasy and playing up a lot. As the guys were holding its bill boatside, I jumped in the water to record its release… I wanted to get some photos for ID purposes and for the magazines.
“As soon as I jumped in, the marlin really calmed down, which was a little bit odd, but I didn’t think anything of it.
“Everything was going to plan… after getting some shots boatside and diving down to get some shots from underneath, I dropped back just behind the boat to get a final shot and that’s when things went pear shaped.
“Suddenly, I felt a big whoosh go past me… then turned to see a massive mako shark attacking the marlin beside the boat!”
Having managed to safely swim back to the boat amid the frenzy, Al said everyone onboard told him how lucky he was the shark didn’t eat him first.
“That shark was never going to eat me! He naturally feeds on fish, not humans.
“I look back on this experience as one of the most amazing of my life… it was the biggest privilege to be part of – definitely not on the menu – and to witness the raw power of nature so close.
“It’s something I’ll never, ever forget… and I have the photos to prove it!”
Our ol’ mate Al and his wife (and business partner), Audi Croft.
FISH FOREVER
Al’s produced a number of documentaries and television series over the years. The latest, Fish Forever – produced with his wife, Audi Croft – is undoubtedly his best work.
“Those who know me well also know this is definitely Auds’ influence rubbing off on me to produce such high-calibre content!”
Into its third season, Fish Forever showcases the plight of the world’s oceans and fisheries. Rather than focus on the doom and gloom, the observational docuseries proves how working together to protect our oceans benefits everyone.
“If we don’t understand something, how can we attempt to protect it?
“By sharing our journey and capturing the true beauty of the marine world, we hope to inspire more people to appreciate it and want to protect it for the future.”
Deploying satellite tags into some of the biggest fish in the ocean, Fish Forever captures spectacular vision in some of Australia’s most amazing locations – from kingfish migrating right into suburban Sydney waters, to chasing yellowfin tuna out wide and even probing the depths of vast canyons for broadbill swordfish.
As a research-focused series, it’s entertainment and education all in one.
DIRE STRAITS
It’s been a long and hard slog to build a solid reputation in the piscatorial space, although Al wouldn’t have it any other way.
It’s now one of his major goals to bring onboard more recreational anglers to help protect what we all love.
“Our oceans are in dire straits and plastic pollution is one of the main culprits… we desperately need everyone to get on the same page.
“The run-off pollution we see around Sydney is so bad… rubbish washed into gutters and drains, into the harbour, then way out to sea.
“You’re either part of the problem or you can make a change and be part of the solution.
“It’s so easy to make a difference… everything from picking up plastic wherever you see it, right through to getting involved in citizen science to better understand fish species so we can better look after them.”