The unlikely start
Back in Year 7, my motivation to go fishing had nothing to do with catching massive fish — it was pure FOMO. My best mate since nursery, George, started spending all his weekends on the bank with a new friend of ours, Sam (who actually created this website).
Realising I’d need to pick up a rod if I wanted to hang out with them, I reluctantly tagged along. We started basic: float fishing for roach, rudd and perch. But the turning point came when I hooked my first carp. The sheer power on the other end of the line changed everything instantly. I was hooked, and what started as an excuse to see my mates became a lifelong obsession.
Hustling and finding my path
Over the next two decades I honed my angling while working every job under the sun — running a paper round, working shifts at my dad’s bakery, pulling pints in pubs and sweating on kitchen lines. Realising I needed a path that could support me, I gravitated toward cameras. I took a job as a photography technician at a college, aiming to build a career in wedding or event photography. At that stage Nuffinbutfishing was just a passion project; I never truly believed it could become a full-time job.
The CARPology era and life milestones
Everything shifted the day an email landed in my inbox from CARPology Magazine. I landed a role there and spent nearly seven years in the heart of the carp fishing industry. It was the ultimate proving ground. I travelled across the UK and Europe, got my hands on the latest tackle before anyone else, and filmed alongside top angling pros. Filming and presenting endless product reviews refined my camera skills and taught me how to present on camera.
It wasn’t just my career growing at CARPology — my personal life took off too. It’s where I met my now-wife, Marielle. During those seven years we moved in together, got engaged, married, and welcomed our daughter, Lily, into the world.
Taking the big leap
Going full-time with Nuffinbutfishing had been on my mind for a while. I wanted freedom — to be my own boss, set my own schedule, and spend more quality time with my family. The drive to make that a reality hit a tipping point when our daughter was just three months old. I handed in my notice, called Marielle, and said:
We’re going to make this work.
Marielle has been ridiculously supportive through the whole journey. Fast forward to today and she’s an integral part of Nuffinbutfishing, running the admin side of the business — the stuff that would otherwise bore me to death — so I can focus on creating content.
Living the dream
Fast forward to today: I’m typing this directly from the bank of a French fishery, waiting for a 60lb+ monster to scream off with my bait. Nuffinbutfishing isn’t just a channel anymore — it’s our family business, and this site is its official home.
Joe
