Dave Wilson got the fishing bug early in life, catching trout with his Dad in the cold country of NSW.

Since childhood, his biggest passion has been catching, keeping and caring for native fish and helping other people to build and maintain their aquariums.

It took him a while to pursue that passion full time.

Over the years, Dave's done all sorts of things: he's made sausages and been a police officer.

But he's a puddle pirate at heart, and that has taken him to remote creeks and tributaries right around the Top End, from Maningrida working with traditional owners to Cape York.

Along the way, there have been brushes with crocodiles and even a plane crash.

Dave Wilson spoke to the ABC's Miranda Tetlow on Late Lunch.

https://www.abc.net.au/radio/darwin/programs/latelunch/late-lunch-with-dave-wilson/13594524