It all started with the fish when the innovative shapers and board builders out there decided to revisit the past for some inspiration. In doing so they brought back some lost skills such as resin tints and hand foiled fins.The Fish Fry has been a place for these fine craftsmen to showcase their skills. We have seen some amazing boards as shapers have pushed the boundaries over the last few years. As this new look at the fish has evolved to its many forms, it has influenced other shapes and designs along the way.This has spawned a renewed interest in other board forms by this same group and a wider following.Notably the Mini Simmons, Hulls, old school Logs and Pigs. It is pleasing to note that there are an increasing number of people building their own boards as well.All of this is to be applauded and celebrated as a positive for surfing.So it is only natural that these shapers and board builders continue to share their skills with us and include these other shapes at the Fish Fry.It has truly become a melting pot of ideas for like minded people.

This looks like fun

April 1st-3rd 2016 Christchurch, New Zealand.
A festive weekend bathed in surf, music, movies, art, beer and a great times!


Single Fin Mingle 2016 - Highlights from Jonathan Smit on Vimeo.

Some good news

BYRON BAY SURF FESTIVAL IS BACK!!

PRESS RELEASE · Byron Bay Surf Festival · ‘surf culture now’ · March 2016

In 2015 the Byron Bay Surf Festival did not run its popular annual event of 4 years due to  unforeseen operating circumstances. Fortunately these have now all been amended!!

The Byron Bay Surf Festival began with its debut event in October of 2011 founded by two local surfers James McMillan and Vanessa Thompson, and then later joined by Michael Jahn. Along with their family members and a dedicated crew of local volunteers, each year the festival quickly grew in popularity and success as the organisers poured more and more in to the event. Last year Michael and Vanessa departed from the festival team to pursue other commitments. They both, along with James, spent much of the past 5 years contributing to the creation, direction and development of the festival and are happy to see its progression into an even more globally recognized surf culture festival.

Given these circumstances, the whole team would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone, including the original landowners of Byron Bay, the Arakwal people, the local Byron Bay community, the many national and international visitors and fans of the festival, and importantly, every single supporter and sponsor, both large and small, for their generous contributions to making the Byron Bay Surf Festival the huge local and global success that it has so far become. Such a unique and diverse celebration of surf culture would not have been possible without the participation and support of all mentioned.

Looking ahead, original founder James McMillan, along with a new and experienced local team, have taken the gap year opportunity and are well into planning the next surf festival with many new innovations and ideas. The festival dates have changed to the end of February to coincide with the start of surf season and to celebrate the last days of each golden summer!! Byron Bay Surf Festival will continue supporting sustainability and the environment with a future goal of zero waste starting now and including operations and partnership alignments that support this continued direction.

Expect more surf, more art, more music and very cool vibes along with all that you have come to love about the festivals awesome atmosphere along the colorful foreshore, at Wategos beach and in the cool little town of Byron Bay!

Stay tuned to your favorite social media for updates!

www.byronbaysurffestival.com.au …Updating soon
byronbaysurffestival@gmail.com …for enquiries

Look forward to seeing you at the next Byron Bay Surf Festival February 24-26 2017

Peace, Aloha and Stoke! 

Just wanted to let you know there will be a screening of the FISH movie at the Sunhouse in Coolangtta on the 24th March. You are invited if you would like to come. Poster attached with the details. This will probably be the only Screening in OZ.


Looks like they had a great day and a great turnout at this years Cove Fish Fry

"Rare relics of surfing's yesteryear - in place of luscious servings of snapper, hapuka, and gurnard - were the order of the day as the third annual 'The Cove Fish Fry' got under way on the Waipu Cove beachfront yesterday.
Although the name suggests otherwise, no frying of fish took place. However, the appetites of hundreds of surf enthusiasts were appeased, with some travelling from as far afield as Gisborne and the South Island for the alternative surf-based event.
"I've been trying to get here for three years," James Newby, a first-timer at the Cove Fish Fry, said. "Up until last year I was working offshore in Australia, so until now it's never really worked out."
With a mass of 20-odd rare collectors' boards, some worth their weight in gold, stacked neatly into his Toyota Hilux, Newby said it was a pleasure to finally be able to travel to the Cove Fish Fry - a six-to-eight hour pilgrimage from Gisborne which, he said, was well worth making despite the 1200km round trip.
"I've met some really interesting people through this. Just seeing all these different designs - there's lots of different types," he said.
Chuffed with the turnout, Cove Fish Fry organiser Michael Cunningham said 2016's edition was one big 'shaka' of surf-infused culture, and a compliment to the event's growth since its inaugural running in 2014.
"It's one of those organic events where it kind of grows through the day, and then people slowly either get too hot or too tired and go home," he said.
"It's around about the same amount of boards as last year, [and] probably the same amount of people. We're really lucky with the weather, [and] there's heaps of diverse surfboards from all around the country. Having those unusual boards that have been stuck under peoples houses for years, and showing them and the history, is what it's all about."
By Josh Berry
- Northern Advocate

The Cove Fish Fry on this Sunday in New Zealand

Wish I could be there, but will be for sure next year. All the best and I hope it all goes well like the last ones.