The father of the Northern Territory’s recreational fishing world chuckles when he tells how he left school at the age of 15 after failing his exams.

Greece-born George Voukolos, who arrived in Australia as a migrant boy not knowing a word of English, says: “I wasn’t the best of students – I just wanted to get out to work.

“The night before my exams I went to the movies instead of staying home and revising.”

He owns Australia’s leading fishing equipment store: Fishing & Outdoor World, which holds a commanding position in Darwin city centre.

It has been voted the nation’s best shop for recreational anglers three years running, once with 80 percent of the vote.

“I’ve always loved fishing – it’s relaxing, exciting, great fun. You get addicted to it. Some of my earliest memories are of catching fish. My family lived on the water.

“We used to fish off the wharf and catch loads of jewies, goldies, even barra.”

Recreational fishing has gone through a revolution since those early days with the development of highlysophisticated lures and, more recently, scoping, which allows anglers to track fish and even see them take the lure.

Like all weekend fishermen and women, he is glad that commercial gillnetting is to be banned.

George is 73 and still works seven days a week, but his son Ronald now runs the 1000 square metre shop, and his son Michael looks after the finances and promotions.

They employ 11 full-time staff and five part-timers, all of them keen anglers.

George, who was born on the Greek island of Kalymnos, migrated to Australia when he was five after his father Mikes was invited to use his skills as a sponge diver in Darwin.

His family was one of the early migrants to Darwin from Greece and started what was to become an 8000-strong community of Territorians with Kalymnian heritage.

George went to Parap Primary School and Darwin High School before failing those exams, particularly maths, and going out into the world.

He tried painting and carpentry for a few months before going to work for sports store owner Keith Kemp.

Within a few years, still only 22, he had teamed up with fishing mate Col Stringer and rented a store in the city centre.

The partnership last for eight years until Col moved to the Gold Coast to succeed in the real estate industry and become an internationally-renowned Christian preacher.

Fishing & Outdoor World, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, moved into its new premises from across the road seven years ago.

George got married to June on his 21st birthday – they met when he coached her basketball team.

They have been married for 52 years and have spent a lifetime sharing each other’s interest.

Both were keen ten-pin bowlers and are both on the NT association’s hall of fame, along with Ronald, who was once the highest-rated player in Australia.

George also played basketball for Pioneers and owned race horses with his good mate Paul Cattermole.

He remembers Paul asking him to take champion thoroughbred trainer Colin Hayes and his wife Betty out fishing.

“They loved it. Betty said, ‘We’ve trained horses for the Queen, but that was the best thing we’ve done’.”

George and June love Darwin.

After Cyclone Tracy, they opened their store and gave away masses of camping gear, eskies, stoves and gas bottles.

Their faith in Darwin’s ability to rebuild after the tragedy has been repaid by Territorians and countless tourists having faith in them.

Many of George’s regular customers have grown up with him and have included judges, doctors, police commissioners, tradies and people from all walks of life.

They all have one thing in common: a healthy addiction to fishing.