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NEWSLINESThe gamefishing world lost a treasured
artist when Australia’s world-renowned
bronze sculptor Bodo Muche succumbed to
his second stroke on 16 December 2017.
Bodo (78) had suffered another stroke two
years previously, but had seemed to make great
progress in his recovery with the loving assistance
of his wife and business partner, Robyn.
Throughout his recent rehabilitation, Bodo and
Robyn successfully continued their business
operations, sending a steady stream of
magnificent bronze sculptures to tournaments
and collectors worldwide. Although less mobile,
Bodo’s passion for nature, keen wit and sharp
humour remained unscathed. With an extensive
portfolio of Bodo’s sculptures already cast, Robyn
will continue the business, together with their
daughters Carley and Tania, and is maintaining a
supply from their bronze art foundries.
Bodo’s mastery of sculpture encompassed
nature artworks ranging from a life-size red deer
stag to a multitude of African wildlife and offshore
gamefish, and also included significant historical
commissions and monuments. Bodo’s sculptures
can be found on the mantlepiece of Her Royal
Highness Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham
Palace, and his bronze gamefish are displayed in
the International Game Fish Association’s Hall of
Fame and museum, where Bodo was honoured
as Artist of the Year.
Robyn and the Bodo Muche Studio remain
open for business and will honour Bodo and his
legacy of artworks by continuing to produce his
spectacular gamefish sculptures in bronze and
stainless-steel, the deluxe versions of which
feature his signature opal inlays. For more
information, visitwww.bodostudio.comBodo Muche’s
gamefish
sculptures
live on
Renowned gamefish sculptor Bodo Muche died last
December, but his artworks live on and remain
available from his wife Robyn, who continues to
run their Bodo Muche Studio.Opah caught deep-dropping
Two extraordinary captures were made off Tasmania’s Eaglehawk Neck on
January 21. Shane Kube and his friends were deep-dropping for blue-eye
trevalla on the slope of the continental shelf south of Tasman Island when they
caught a 180kg swordfish, months earlier than is usually expected for the start
of the Tasmanian swordfish season.
On the same day, Dave Glenn and Paul Goodwin were also fishing for blue-
eye trevalla with an electric reel on the continental shelf drop-off east of the
Hippolyte Rock. While dropping his bait to the bottom in 480m, Paul’s rig
suddenly stopped at around 250m. Suspecting that something may have taken
the bait, Paul hit the retrieve button on his reel and within seconds the rod
loaded up as something large slugged away down deep.
An hour later they finally had the fish boatside, after having to hand-crank it
in for the last half hour due to the electric reel overheating. Although caught
regularly by longliners, this tasty oceanic mid-water species is likely to be one
of the first opah caught on rod and reel in Tasmania.- Jonah Yick
Paul Goodwin with the tasty opah
he caught while deep-dropping
beyond the continental shelf off
Eaglehawk Neck, Tasmania.
Photo: Dave Glenn