Hi Maxime, can you first introduce yourself to the readers of Pêche.com Magazine?
Maxime Bury -Hello, to all, I am Maxime Bury instructor fishing guide in Reunion, fisherman for many years, I first started in the Mediterranean (kayak and boat) by fishing for bluefin tuna on hunting, fishing for amberjack and liche on livebait or denti with soft lures.
It is in Australia that I really discovered exotic fishing by spending a year on the road in search of the best fishing spots in the country, jacks, king fishes, queen fishes, sharks or snappers, this country gave me the desire to discover and share my passion on a daily basis.
I then moved to the island of Reunion in 2017 in search of ever more intense sensations and new experiences. Not far from the mainland, this French island is a destination that abounds in many exotic species such as the famous carangue ignobilis (or GT) dream fish for many fishermen, but also large yellowfin tuna, marlin, sailfish, mackerel and other wahoosâeuros¦ The variety of catches is an asset of this beautiful place.
Why did you become a fishing guide?
Maxime Bury -Passionate about the sea since I was very young, I started fishing at a very young age, this passion has never left me, but it is after my trip to Australia that this conviction revealed itself to me: I want to make a living from my passion, during my studies in science faculty, I wanted to become a teacher... And what better way than to teach fishing! Everything was obvious to me and I decided to embark on this wonderful adventure.
What kind of guidance products do you offer?
Maxime Bury -Several techniques are used here: jigging and slow jigging, fishing with livebaits, casting with soft lures, trolling and even occasionally popper fishing.
For the boat, I chose a 7m Parker open boat powered by a 150hp Honda 4-stroke injection engine, offering high flats, this hull is ideal for the techniques practiced in order to offer maximum comfort and safety at sea. The boat is equipped with 10 rod holders, 1 powered livewell and a Garmin 8410XSV GPS sounder coupled with an Airmar 1KW transducer in Medium and Low Chrip. I limit the number of participants to a maximum of 4 per trip in order to maximize the space and the fishing pleasure of everyone.
What does being a fishing guide mean to you?
Maxime Bury -For me, being a fishing guide is first of all to know how to teach and transmit knowledge and techniques in a pedagogical way in order to give a maximum of chance to my trainees to enjoy themselves. It is also to have a "sense of water", to be attentive to the slightest detail, to be able to observe its element and to react consequently by taking the good decisions. It is also to adapt to each personality, to be able to transmit a passion and to take more pleasure in making someone fish than in fishing himself.
Do you fish or not fish when you are guiding?
Maxime Bury -No! I consider that my role is to supervise my trainees, to be there for them, to maneuver the boat in order to put them in the best possible conditions and to anticipate as well as possible everything that could happen while guaranteeing their safety. I am not here to fish and have fun on my own, but to supervise and train. The fishermen trust me and I intend to honor this trust by giving the best of myself every second of the session.
The only rare cases where I had to take the rod in hand were on big marlin or yellowfin tuna that got the better of all the trainees in the boat and didn't feel up to working those fish anymore or needed a few minutes of rest.
What do you do when you are not guiding?
Maxime Bury -I take the opportunity to spend time with my wife, I do sports (beach volleyball, windsurfing, golf...) and I go out prospecting for new places or experimenting with new techniques. I think it is vital to have other occupations in order to change one's mind so that the passion remains a passion and does not become just a "job".
What is your view on guiding in France?
Maxime Bury -Living in Dom Tom I don't have too much feedback on what is happening in France, I think that guiding is becoming more democratic in recent years which will allow to put some order in everything that is happening in order to better control the profession.
What advice would you give to people who would like to start this adventure?
Maxime Bury -My first piece of advice would be to ask yourself one question: "Am I cut out for teaching? This is for me the main aspect of this profession, to know how to assimilate and pass on your knowledge. Of course, I would not mention the fishing skills which must be excellent and your environment which you must know like the back of your hand.
One aspect that many forget is "Passion", living from your passion is fantastic, we all agree, but when passion becomes a daily job, with the passing years, will it not fade away? What is a hobby becomes a source of income and can also become a source of stress. So beware of this and maintain this passion so that you can pass it on.
It is not yet easy to make a living from this profession in our country, especially considering the number of graduates who come out every year, so start with a precise and well-studied project before launching yourself, afterwards, if it works, it will only be happiness!
As a fisherman what is your dream?
Maxime Bury -My dream would be to fish all the most beautiful places in the world and to catch as many species as possible that I have not yet had the chance to catch, such as roosterfish, red carp or a huge tarpon!
Thank you Maxime, we wish you to accomplish all your dreams.
