He goes by the nickname “Happy” and Michael Robinson has certainly had good reason to be cheerful lately.

The 52-year-old car washer has been turning heads in and round the docks of Hamilton Harbour.

Not because of his exploits with the bucket and sponge but rather for the large catches he is making in the murky waters of the Island’s port of call.

This week, in particular, has been a fruitful one for Mr Robinson who landed an impressive grey snapper and a yellow tail snapper. Both fish tipped the scale well over ten pounds and were caught with fresh bait on 60lb test line.

“It’s not unusual to catch big fish like this in the harbour,” Mr Robinson said. “One time I caught a blue bone porgy and steel head jack at Albuoy’s Point. The porgy weighed between ten and 15 pounds and the steel head ten pounds.”

Of course there’s always the proverbial story about the one that got away.

“I had a big run-off this morning,” Mr Robinson grinned.

“I don’t know what it was. But it must have curled around something and slipped the hook.”

As for the ones that were not as fortunate, Mr Robinson added: “They gave me a good fight. I had to quickly get them under manners to get them in.

“The battle lasted only a few seconds. I have actually caught three yellow tail snappers this week.

“The water is starting to get cooler and so they will always be around.”

Mr Robinson’s passion for fishing spans decades.

“I have been fishing all of my life,” he said, with an immense sense of pride.

“I have fished both inshore and offshore and prefer either one. I love the hunt and, of course, eating my catch. Fishing is my survival because I eat what I catch.

“I like to eat turbots, bonitos, white water snappers and yellow tail snappers and prefer my fish fried. “The biggest fish I ever caught was an 80-pound wahoo fishing on Challenger Bank. It was like eight-feet long or something like that. “I also once lost a rockfish fishing at Ducking Stool. That was also a very big fish.”