I am now an expert fisher of fish, so much so that various angling companies are slugging it out to sponsor me.

I am just waiting for the cheques from Berkley, Nitro, Sensei, Gulp and all these other fishing companies to come rolling in.

Before leaving Katherine in 2016 for the break, it was just a humble angler who was more used to chasing cod in the Murray River and probably had more success yabbying than anything else.

But all that has changed.

It says so right there in very bright colours on my shirt.

“Barra Bandit,” I am.

Not having ever caught a barra, I have wondered about this. Perhaps my sponsors have got it wrong.

But then I snagged a barracouta from the Elizabeth River jetty in Darwin on the last days of my holidays and it all starting making sense.

Not the barra for which the Top End is so famous, barramundi, which I thought the “bandit” was hunting, but those evil, skinny things with lots of teeth.

By the way, not ever having hooked a barracouta before, I did ask the other anglers on the jetty what to do with the thing.

“Full of bones,” said one.

“I think they’ve got poison in them,” said another.

Oh well, biggest fish I’d ever hooked on the jetty but the bandit has a nice, environmental side, so I tipped it over the side and away she went.

By now, most readers will have realised that I am the owner of a new fishing shirt, a Christmas present from my wife.

As someone who suffers from skin cancers, an all covering light-weight shirt was just the ticket.

But it has benefits I had never dreamed of, not least the fake insignia declaring this humble angler to be an expert, what a laugh.

I have discovered that it’s okay for us macho, hairy-chested types in the Top End to wear our very bright shirts into public view with no shame, even a hint of pride.

Down to the shops, even to parties, the fishing shirt is a late addition to Territory Rig it seems.

Grown men who have missed the golfing revolution, and wanted to steer clear of the bike lycra fashion, can make bright statement of their own with their fishing shirts.

Sales staff, both ladies, told my wife when she bought the shirt they also loved the comfort of the Chinese-made polyester garments, and they’d never, ever been fishing.

They certainly do a great job of sun protection.

Now, could one get away with wearing one to work?