JOHN "Stinker" Clarke's passion for fishing and his contribution to the promotion of Port Stephens were highlighted by guests at his book launch last Friday.
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Mr Clarke, who has written a column in the Examiner for 27 years, launched his fifth book, Fish Port Stephens, on November 14.
"It's already flying off the shelves," Mr Clarke said.
"It's because everyone thinks all my secrets are in this one."
Fish Port Stephens combines information from his first book, Something Fishy, with past Examiner columns and new information about modern fishing techniques.
Mr Clarke shares early fishing memories and how he came to write a fishing column in the Examiner.
In front of a friendly crowd at Fingal Bay Sports and Recreation Club last Friday, past Examiner owner and editor Keith Campbell shared the story on exactly how Mr Clarke came to write his weekly column.
"The idea of Stinker came from a cricket trip we made back in the 1980s," Mr Campbell said.
"John said to me 'the problem with your newspaper is it doesn't have a fishing column'.
"I said to him 'and who is going to write this fishing column? You're a PE teacher, you can't write'."
Mr Clarke's books are available in newsagencies, selected stores and through his website stinker.com.au.