Travelling around the Australian coastline has given my entire family an affection and an appreciation that we may never have experienced had it not been for fishing. We have been very fortunate to enjoy some of the most picturesque scenery our country has on offer.

Extremes are common place along the Australia coastline - consider for a moment the rugged wind swept beauty of the Tasmanian West Coast, the ancient formations of Victoria's Great Ocean Road, the tropic's where our inshore islands, coral reefs and deserted beaches present a breathtaking spectacle. Many times I've sat on a North Queensland beach and enjoyed the warmth and colour of a winter sunrise as it rose across the nearby islands. The spectacular sunsets here in the Territory leave you speechless as they melt into the horizon. Sunrise and sunset would have to be, without a doubt the most peaceful times of day. As anglers we are some of the few who are normally out and about to experience the spectacular arrays of yellows, reds and gold's that fill the sky.

It is in the tropics where mother nature created her masterpiece, not isolated patches of splendour but a entire wonderland of beauty. A wonderland where exists a fine balance between serenity and savagery. The serenity of the untouched wilderness to the savagery of a frenzied shark attack. Here in Australia's Top End the angler is constantly reminded of this fine balance by the ever present Saltwater Crocodile, and that within this fine balance live both predator and prey.

The extremes of nature were reinforced to me during a recent trip along the Territory coast. We had set out early and stopped as the first rays of the morning sun lit the sky to lurecast a small cutter adjacent to a substantial dropoff. This area was teaming with a variety of juvenile species that nudged each other out of the way as they attacked our retrieving lures. Casting the gutter edges I marvelled at our surroundings, the early morning sun danced across the water and sparkled amongst the nearby mangroves - it was great to be alive. Then a violent eruption brought us crashing back to reality as a three meter crocodile exploded from cover into a unsuspecting school of mullet. This prehistoric reptile had been waiting in ambush along the edge of the dropoff where the water was slightly cloudy, hoping to grab a bite for breakfast. This occurred within a stones throw of our boat - imagine our shock, we were totally unaware of this hungry predators savage intentions as we enjoyed the early morning serenity.

The crocodile quickly retreated to enjoy "mullet al a natural" and we departed in search of another gutter.