A river runs through him: an interview with 2025 OzFisher of the Year, Sean Finn

From throwing handlines as a kid to leading one of New South Wales’ most active OzFish chapters, Sean Finn’s journey has been anything but accidental. Recently named the 2025 OzFisher of the Year, this is how he balances full-time work, family life, and volunteer hours – without missing a beat.

For Sean, the Hastings is more than just his local river. It’s a living story, and he’s determined to ensure future generations have the chance to write their own memories.

What are your earliest fishing memories?

I got stuck into it when I was about seven years old. I fished with a handline down in Canberra for carp. Sometimes, it was a wise idea for me not to be at home, so I’d take the handline and corn, go to the local pond, and fish.

It gave me a chance to breathe easy and enjoy the outdoors. It was a moment away, and I think that really got me hooked – just having that peace. Obviously, the excitement of catching a fish or two is always great, but although it’s a cliché, there’s nothing like being on the water.

What does the Hastings River mean to you?

I’ve only lived in Port Macquarie for four years, which is just a drop in the ocean in terms of how one can really experience a river. When I first fished the Hastings, it seemed incomprehensibly massive. But the more you fish it, the more you learn. You get this understanding, and it feels familiar because you’ve been to all these places you want to fish and explore. Then you start quantifying its depths – and that’s a special thing.

When you understand a river’s depth, not just its width and length, you get an intimate appreciation for how important things are. You know why you need a healthy Zostera patch in Big Bay. You understand there are seasonal seagrasses up at Wine Burners. You know the importance of mangroves.

It’s these little pockets that build the river’s story and depth, and that has shaped me as a conservationist. The more you understand, the more you want to learn. It’s like reading a novel where you want to keep turning the pages – and it’s a book that never ends.

Where does your passion for conservation come from?

When I was young, I had certain things that took up all my time. As I got older and earned a bit of money, my horizons expanded. I got into different hobbies. But now I’ve peeled it right back to all the things I liked as a kid – and that was pretty much just fishing. When you pursue different passions, you start to shed the layers that don’t mean as much, until you get to the core. Simplifying my life has allowed me to focus on the things that matter – like the river.

That’s the journey I’ve gone through, and it’s led me to running an OzFish chapter. Sometimes I think I don’t do enough and want to do more, but I’ve stripped everything back to focus intently on what counts. And the Hastings River matters to me.

What’s been your proudest OzFish moment?

We’ve had so many, but we recently ran some Fish Talks where we discussed water quality, fire and floods. That night, all these respected people and scientists came together, motivated to continue caring for rivers. It made me realise that it’s not just me who cares.

Every time I meet someone new, I get to share my passion for healthy rivers and maybe connect with someone like-minded. Fishing is just the fruit of the tree – but we have to take care of the plant and the ecosystem that supports it. That’s how you build a connection with the river, and it’s comforting to know there’s a national organisation like OzFish backing these efforts.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced?

There are some in the angling community who feel that nothing anglers do – even as a collective – can really improve river health. But we know that’s not true. We know angler activity can impact waterways.

We generally understand that logs and snags are good for fish, but we don’t always have a great appreciation for things like oyster reefs, seagrasses and mangroves. So that’s part of our challenge – to address those gaps and highlight the opportunities that stronger, healthier habitats create.

How do you keep your local OzFish Chapter involved and engaged?

I don’t think you can mobilise a community in a meaningful way quickly. That’s why I went to a BCF store the other week, set up an OzFish stall, and just said hello to people as they came and went. Some stopped and asked what OzFish was about, and we had a conversation about what our chapter is doing and why it matters.

We’re so used to being sold to—online or every time we go to Coles someone’s asking for a donation – but our river’s not like that. It just needs our care.

You can’t build a genuine connection with a community unless they’re internally motivated to act. The more we can foster that, the more we’ll achieve in the long run. It’s a slow burn and can be frustrating, but it’s meaningful.

We already have amazing fishing in Hastings. But it could be even better. More metre flathead. More elbow-slapping whiting. More stonking bream. We just need to do our bit. I think we need to shift our language from negative to positive. Sure, we need space for tough conversations – but we should also talk about the opportunities we have to make a real difference.

What advice would you give to someone who loves fishing but hasn’t considered giving back?

Sometimes it’s a one-way relationship. The river gives us joy and memories – and sometimes we need to step back and put the river in the foreground.

We’ve got an opportunity to pass on a river that’s even healthier than the one we grew up with. That’s exciting. It’s simple: recognise how much meaning the river has brought to your life, and choose to give back.

I think about my daughters catching a metre flathead out of the Hastings – even though my biggest is only 90 cm. Maybe they’ll land proper monsters. That would be pretty awesome. That’s the goal.

Fast forward 20 years—what do you hope your legacy looks like?

It’s nice to look at a project and know I helped get it to that point – but it’s deeper than that.

Right now, I take my kids fishing on the boat. Sometimes they want to go, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes they’re just hijacked, and I take them. But there’ll come a time when they take me fishing.

When that day comes, I’ll sit back and enjoy the moment. Knowing I helped make the fishing better – that’s what matters.

Sean’s story reminds us that caring for a river isn’t just about science or strategy – it’s about love, legacy and connection. He reminds us we’re turning memories into momentum, casting not just for fish, but for a better future. As the Hastings flows on, so will Sean’s impact – quietly, steadily, and full of heart.

Want to read about the other OzFisher of the Year winners? Read the full wrap on the link below.