Vale Jim Robb 1947-2025
On 4 July 2025, Western Australia lost one of its long-term fishing identities, with the passing of Jim Robb.
Raised in Collie, Jim’s first job was as a diesel mechanic working for the mine. His spare time was filled with football with his mates at the Collie Saints Football Club, where he won numerous awards and a premiership in 1972. But his real passions were fishing and scuba diving.
When an opportunity to buy a fishing boat arose, he decided it was time to migrate his passion into a full-time job as a commercial fisher. So, he bought his first fishing boat, Penguin 2, where he shared his time between Windy Harbour, Augusta and Busselton fishing for crayfish or gillnetting, depending on the season.
Over the years he moved on to his beloved boat, Sveti Nikola, which would be his last.
Jim was a classic old-school fisher. His colleagues tell stories about hanging onto the heritage and preferring to read the sea and use his landmarks, while ignoring the modern fishing technology onboard.
Jim loved the fishing life and his mates. He cherished the opportunity to share a beer and a chat with close friends while sitting in his ute overlooking Windy Harbour at sunset.
Jim’s passing is a massive loss to the commercial fishing industry. His oversized personality and stories will be sadly missed by many in the commercial fishing industry.