Hook, Line and Sinker (TV program)
| Industry | Television production |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Hobart , Australia |
| Products | Television series production |
Hook, Line and Sinker was a fishing-focused television series from Australia, produced by HLS Productions based in Hobart, Tasmania. The program was hosted by Nick Duigan alongside Andrew Hart and first aired in 2001. It was broadcast nationwide on Southern Cross Seven and 7mate, with 7mate taking over airing duties from the eighth season beginning 19 May 2012. Prior to this, the show appeared on Southern Cross Ten until that channel transitioned to the Nine Network in 2016. Typically, episodes were scheduled for Saturday afternoons.
Blending entertainment and humor delivered by its hosts with informative fishing news and stories from around Australia, the show offered a unique mix. The Canberra Times characterized it as a combination reminiscent of "A River Somewhere meets Russell Coight". By 2012, it had established itself as one of Tasmania’s longest-running television productions.
An important segment titled "The Deep End," regularly featured research updates from the University of Tasmania, highlighting work conducted at its Marine Research Laboratories in Hobart and the National Centre for Marine Conservation & Resource Sustainability located in Launceston.
In 2021, Nick Duigan left the series after securing endorsement from the Tasmanian Liberal Party to contest a seat in the Tasmanian Legislative Council. After producing 24 seasons comprising a total of 300 episodes, Hook, Line and Sinker aired its final installment in March 2025.
Reception
Rob Black from The Observer praised Hook, Line and Sinker as one of the most well-liked fishing programs in Australia, noting its distinctive blend of lifestyle content, culinary segments, and irreverent humor that set it apart from conventional shows. Phillip Ellerton of The Mercury remarked that the DVD releases provide an innovative, engaging, and often comedic perspective on fishing that appeals beyond just enthusiasts. Similarly, Rohan Wade writing for The Mercury pointed out that although the program’s focus leans more toward lighthearted fun than intense angling techniques, this approach attracts viewers looking for an alternative to highly polished interstate fishing productions.
External links
- Articles with short description
- Seven Network original programming
- Southern Cross Television original programming
- Fishing television series
- 2001 Australian television series debuts
- 2010s Australian television series
- Television shows set in Tasmania
- Recreational fishing in Australia
- Australian sports television series