Angler Profile - George Bourke

Nick Jones interviews angler and skipper George Bourke...

When you go fishing with George Bourke, there are three certainties:

1. You will feel welcome onboard.

2. You will be subjected to a constant stream of puns and one-liners.

3. You will catch fish.

I suppose the above must be a winning recipe for fishing charters because George has been running them under the Hauraki Express banner for over a decade, and in the process has grown somewhat of a cult following as the go-to guy for a fun day out on the briny.

Oh, did I mention he likes cracking funnies? As an example, ask George a question to which the answer is a definite yes and he will theatrically quip, “Does Dolly Parton sleep on her back?”

You might have seen George sauntering around the nautical heart of Auckland, Westhaven, sporting seaboots and a sun-faded Hauraki Express tee, his rusty hair glinting beneath a Just Another Fisherman hat. Despite his tall stature, he carries an air of approachability, and his full-bodied red moustache invariably fails to mask a cheeky grin.

The Bourke clan has a rich seafaring lineage; George’s Dad Pete tells me the Bourkes have been plying the New Zealand coast since the 1880s and, if you have a spare few hours (and a spare few beers), he’ll tell you all about it!

“I grew up sailing. I loved being on the water, but I didn’t enjoy the competitive aspect and that’s what killed the buzz for me – it’s like parents racing each other,” laughs George.

So, how did his love for the salty stuff lead to professional charter skippering?

“I stumbled into it a bit, to be honest. The local water taxis to Kawau were managed poorly at the time, we had a family boat and we decided to put her into survey. I suppose fishing charters were a natural progression, and every day out there I saw and learned more stuff, which in turn kept stoking the fire.”

The early starts mean George has grown to be a coffee enthusiast, famous for his on-water percolator brews, a.k.a. ‘Bourkey’s Perkies’. And the long ocean voyages have also fostered his talent for curating brilliant music playlists.

“When you’re dealing with a different bunch of people on charters every day it pays to play music that everyone will enjoy,” explains George.

His attachment to the saline also manifests in some unusual ways, such as his incredibly dry, cracked heels (or “Grand Canyons,” as George calls them).

George says his standard fishing charters out from Auckland involve chasing the workups in winter and spring or targeting kings on livebaits over the warmer months.

“It would be cool to do seasons in different locations and target different fish, but Auckland is actually a hell of a fishing destination.”

“I still love the spectacle of a booming workup, or the madness during a hot kingie bite within sight of the Sky Tower,” he says.

Although George is a serious fisherman, he doesn’t take fishing too seriously; he’s done enough days out there to realise that’s a mug’s game. If the fishing is slow, George is usually standing by with a gag or tall tale about an obscure corner of the Hauraki Gulf. He’s also not afraid to head upwind for a while to find more action.

I ask George for his best piece of fishing advice.

“Sometimes I see people whose day is ruined if they lose a good fish. There’s just no point agonising over it, it’s happened. Move on. It’s part of fishing – some things aren’t meant to be.”

I’ve been on the boat with George in these situations before. “Errrrrrwelllll, plenty o’ day left!” George will exclaim with his innate optimism, usually as he rigs up another slow-jig or jack mackerel livie and chucks it over the gunwale.

“It’s a funny thing. Those anglers who bring the best attitude often catch the fish of the trip,” he adds.

George has done his bit for the recreational fishing community, tutoring budding skippers and educating his clients on best-practice fishing methods for snapper and kingfish.

“A lot of people that come out on trips don’t understand barotrauma and the fact that most snapper are cooked by the time they’re hauled up from 50 metres.”

He’s also improved convenience for Auckland boat owners, helping to establish on-water fuelling services with the Hauraki Express vessel Midnight Oil.

So, what does George do in his spare time? He goes fishing, of course! For George, variety is the spice of life when it comes to non-vocational adventures.

“I really enjoy all types of fishing and the variety of experiences fishing offers. That’s the beauty of fishing: every day is different, and if one type of fishing is getting a touch boring then all you have to do is try a new location or technique. I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of it even though I’m doing it for work.”

Apart from the charter boats, George has a 4.3m side console for off-duty escapades.

“I love the freedom and sense of adventure that comes with little boats. My Extreme 430 Outcast is pretty capable, having accounted for a couple of marlin – you just need to pick the right day!”

When George heads out on friends’ boats, there appears to be a gravitational force that pulls him towards the helm. That’s not a problem for his chums, however.

“George actually drives the boat, rather than setting and forgetting the controls like most do. When he’s onboard, I don’t have to worry about anything,” chuckles fishing buddy Mitch Bunting.

Some might call that working on your day off, but George would simply say to them, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”

If you want to meet George and catch some fish, check out Hauraki Express charters:

July 2023 - Nick Jones
New Zealand Fishing News Magazine.
Copyright: NZ Fishing Media Ltd.
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