Gone Fishin'

by Nino Culotta (Pseudonym), John O'Grady

More adventures of the "Italian" journalist in Australia Nino Culotta (John O'Grady, 1907-81).

Genres: Humor, Fiction, Australia, Comedy

220 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

Nino Culotta is a pen name of John O'Grady.

Reviews

[Kris Ashton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funnier, better written and superior in almost every way superior to O'Grady's iconic They're A Weird Mob. It does, however, lack much of the social commentary of Weird Mob, which is why Gone Fishin' is virtually unknown by comparison.

Back in 2012 I followed in O'Grady's footsteps and visited all the places he mentions in this novel 40 years on. I even tracked down the son of the publican, McConkey, who still lived in Bodalla. I published a story about it, which you can read for free here: http://nrmaopenroad.oomphhq.com/?iid=...

[Vladnev · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a work of its time. Most challenging in this respect was its frivolous use of a particular word describing black fish and the whole premise of an Irish-Australian author writing from an Italian immigrant point of view. The latter is ironicly used to self-congratulate Australian settlers' attitudes and characters.

If you can set all that aside, I found some of the situations described to be entertaining insights into the lives of blue collar Australians of the 60s. Also, I can't decide if my new favourite word which I will never be able to use (macrifluvious) is real or fiction.

[Shae · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like fishing or want to hear about someone else learning to fish, you'd probably like this more than I did. It had some really funny stories, but the actual fishing knowledge bored me a bit.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite funny in places. Enjoyable.

[Greg Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

not quite over-egging the pudding just yet; another sequel to "They're a Weird Mob"; more Australiana which looks a bit quaint today; light reading

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gone Fishin’ is the third book in the Nino Culotta series by John O’Grady. The building trade is in a slump and Nino has been told by a Macquarie Street specialist to take a year off and go fishing. Never one to do things by halves, Nino meets up with Shorty Bent and fairly soon has a fishing licence and is learning from the master, his friend, Old George, Shorty’s brother, Tich and Shorty’s Old Man. Once Nino gets the hang of net fishing, there’s a trip down the South Coast and a visit from his building mates, Joe and Dennis. This delightful book features absolutely no political correctness (OK to call blackfish niggers), although O’Grady does get a few words in about the effects of the A Bomb, the H bomb and Sputnik on climate change. Dealing with government departments gets a good serve, and the illogicality of legal sizes and legal nets also draws plenty of discussion; nonetheless, the Fishing Inspector comes out as a reasonable fellow. There is plenty of drinking, fishing and smoking in this one, as well as an engagement and a fight. Once again, O’Grady asserts the friendliness and loyalty of Aussie mates, and it is difficult to believe that the Mullet Marketing Board has not had input into this volume. A fun read.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

The mythical Nino Culotta is ordered by his doctor to take a rest from work during a downturn in the building business and decides to go fishing. He becomes friends with a professional net fisherman and they go fishing in various Sydney locations now all long since worked out by these superheroes.