ZIG GREGOREK - BIG FISHING ALL OVER THE WORLD

Kdu Magalhães

The great advantage to be a full-time professional guide is not, as many people think, to be able to fish all year around, free as a bird, in full contact with the sea and the sky. No, the greatest advantage is to be able to meet very interesting persons, some of them looking as coming out from a Hemingway’s or Conrad’s book. 

Zyg was one of them. Big guy, looking as the huge “Obelix” from the Asterix books, he got to my boat introduced by friends of IGFA. He was highly recommended as a winner of the last two Rolex/IGFA Qualifying Mauritius tournaments. He is also the owner of The Anglers Paradise  - a countryside complex with 34 luxury self catering villas (see: www.anglers-paradise.co.uk). And he makes his own wine, a feat not so easy as he lives in south England. 

We did some great fishing together, and I became a real friend of his.  To my surprise, I realized that I had met a guy with a live much more colorful than mine. I think that until those past days I could not think it would be possible to happen. The history of his life was so astounding, that I asked him to make a summary of it, and I am sure you will enjoy it just like I myself did.  

Further to Kdu's request for information relating to myself, I have below, provided the readers with a brief synopsis. 

In relation to my nationalities, I can claim up to ten… 

The part of Poland my family originated from was taken over by the Russia (family had big estates – even a cardinal in Rome) now part of the Ukraine, which makes three. Born in Karachi, used to be India and now is Pakistan (5); then to East Africa as a refugee living in mud huts; passport issued for Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika, each one a separate country (8), Tanganyika now Tanzania (9). I now have a British passport (10). 

First language is Polish, second language is Swahili, third is English, I can also understand the Slavic language and Russian. 

Childhood 

I had a crocodile as a pet, threw stones at a lion as a little boy and a coconut at a hippo that chased me.  

The first fish caught was a mudskipper where I nearly died in quicksand chasing it. Born in 1943 – my fishing licence says 1963 so I say I’m only forty. 

I fished in England in the Thames, walking 6-7 miles to get to the fishing, nearly blew my hand up with a homemade bomb whilst fishing for trout. 

I packed up when I went to Manchester University. Started again when I got married, reclaimed and built my own 5-acre lake in Devon, now have Anglers Paradise with nearly 30 lakes on 170 acres of land. I have caught carp to 34 lbs, Golden Tench to 5lbs 8oz, Golden Orfe to 6lb 8oz, eels to 5lb 4oz, Conger Eels to 50lb, Red Gurnard to 8lb, Cod to 30lbs, Pollack to 20lbs, Ling to 30lbs, Coalfish to 25 lbs, etc.  

I only started big game fishing 7 years ago… my first 100lb fish was a Wahoo of 104 lbs. I only need one more billfish to be one of the very few people in the world to have had them all, Long Billed Spearfish 84 lbs, Shortbilled Spearfish 70 lbs, Swordfish 115 lbs, Atlantic and Pacific Blue Marlin to 700 lbs, White Marlin to 80 lbs, Striped Marlin to 150 lbs, Sailfish to over 70 lbs. The only one missing is a Black Marlin - I have hooked them over a dozen times, they threw the hook, broke the line or did not connect properly. I will hopefully get one in Mozambique this year. 

I was the first one ever to win the marlin world cup twice in Mauritius hence qualifying for the Rolex IGFA offshore championship and got sponsored by Penn, which helped a lot. In the process, I have fished all over the world both sea, lakes and rivers. The Nile and Zambezi, Tiger fish and Nile Perch. I fished Taliban country on the Borders of Pakistan and Afghanistan, which was very frightening. Cauvery River in India for 58 lb Mahseer. 

I was the first European to attempt catching the Coelacanth in Comores (nearly got arrested as a mercenary in the harbour at night) also Ascension Islands. 

I have caught two different species of shark over 1000 lbs: the Great White and the Six Gilled shark, Thornback ray (Bathriya) 245 lbs, Stingray over 200 lbs, Rooster Fish to 30 lbs, Hammerhead Shark to 300 lbs (Zyg fish – latin name Zygenia), Wells Catfish to 97 lbs (had to dive in for this one), Dogtooth Tuna to 121 lbs, Yellowfin tuna to 70 lbs, Bonito to 41 lbs, Whit Tip Shark to 300 lbs and many other memorable catches. 

At the moment, I am filming a pilot for a TV series called HOOKERS with my daughter Zenia as a presenter. I have a small part called the twilight zone with Zyg Gregorek.  

I do hope to go to the English Channel for 3 days and nights to try to be the first person ever to catch a billfish from England. A bit apprehensive, as it is a small boat and no fighting chair. But I will have a lot of wine!