Ultimate Fishing: Australia

India (Indy) Thompson

Competitive fisher India (Indy) Thompson learned very early on that physical strength is no advantage when you’ve got a rod and reel – good technique is what ultimately helps you land the biggest catch.

Nothing makes Indy happier than being out on the water chasing fish that are sometimes the size of a small car, which she’s been doing with her family since she was a small child. Her competitive nature saw her take this passion beyond a hobby and into the sporting domain, with huge success. At the age of 16, Indy caught a massive 267.4kg swordfish off the coast of St Helens, Tasmania, netting her the female junior world record title – a record she still holds.

In her day job as a marine scientist, Indy is an advocate for sustainable fishing, working hard to make sure Aussies can continue to enjoy the sport for generations to come. Indy – who has a Bachelor of Marine Environment majoring in Fisheries Management and a Bachelor of Marine and Antarctic Science with first class honours – now enters ‘tag and release’ tournaments rather than ‘capture’ events, to ease the pressure on fish populations.