About Us

Australia America Fishing Connections, Inc (AAFC) was formed out of our love for travel and for the incredible sport of fishing. We work directly with foreign operators to make your dream trip a reality. You do not pay extra for our services; in fact, we usually get you the best prices and can customize all aspects of your vacation. Whether you want to fish days on end, dawn to dusk or mix in some diving, eco-touring, or other culture, we will provide the best in personalized customer service.
Who We Are

Co-owned and managed by married couple Randall Bryett and Kate Van Gytenbeek, AAFC was established in 1998. Kate Van Gytenbeek holds an MBA in international business and was one of the founders of Fly Fishing in Salt Waters magazine. Kate claims to have been raised by wild trout but we know better. Having been brought up in a very “green”, very outdoorsy family – fishing was as natural as drinking water. Her father, Pete Van Gytenbeek, was the first executive director of Trout Unlimited and he instilled in Kate a deep love and appreciation for all things swimming which she carries today. A firm proponent of catch and release some of her first fishing memories involve sneaking along the riverbanks “releasing” other fisherman’s catches – never mind that the poor trout were undoubtedly already dead – it was the thought that counted- and her father who suffered the reprimands with a smile on his face. Kate continues her exploration of exotic and interesting fishing destinations as well as those in her own backyard. It was during one of those expeditions that Randall Bryett came into the picture.

On assignment in Australia for Fly Fishing in Salt Waters magazine, Kate was covering the participation of Billy & Jody Pate in an international fly fishing tournament in Mooloolaba (central east coast of Australia). As press, Kate was not fishing, just reporting. Randall Bryett was the captain for Billy Pate and Kate spent much of the tournament on the flybridge with the captain – well, the rest is history.
Randall grew up on the beautiful Sunshine Coast of Australia with some of the world’s best fishing around every corner – and he certainly took advantage of it. As a child he fished on every beach, in every river and pond he could walk, bike or hitchhike to. He attended Maritime Academy full time in 1992 with dreams of running his own boat. He worked the local hotspots of Mooloolaba as a deckhand and multiple seasons on the prestigious Lizard Island (Barrier Reef) chasing the Giant Black Marlin. As he will tell you, “mate, there is nothing on this planet that is remotely like catching a grander (1,000+ lb marlin), wiring them close, tagging them, and watching them go – most incredible animal in the world!”
Randall has worked in many aspects of the fishing industry, specialty tackle shops, rod making, charter operations, tourism marketing and promotion. With this background he was invited to share his knowledge at boat shows and fishing club meetings in Australia. Although he claims that the seminar show stuff is best left for “experts and the famous” (as he does not consider himself to be any more than “just a fisherman”), he was seen on the circuit for more than a few years. Respected by his peers for his knowledge of fishing and technique, which he attributes to being “just information” passed on from his mentors, eventually he was driving his own sport fisher. Ironically the Wahoo was the boat on which he held his first deckhand job and for a time it was his own. For the time being, however, Randall traded Wahoo in for an American wife

Although Randall’s initial thoughts about fly fishing vs tackle fishing are not printable, he has come to love this new challenge in his life and can speak with expertise on all methods. Initially, AAFC was a natural way for Randall to stay in touch with his fishing friends, acquaintances and co-workers in Australia but it has grown into something more. Not only are we a unique source of information on Australia and many other exotic destinations but we will also be leading groups of anglers and intrepid explorers to various locales. Kate is a certified Aussie Specialist (a formal designation from the Australia Tourist Commission) and will share her unbridled passion for the beauty and seemingly limitless bounty of Australia. Randall, being an Aussie, has trouble adjusting to the not so wide-open spaces of the USA, but he is having a great time learning the American version of English.

Let us help you plan the trip of a lifetime, or maybe take you on one! Give us a call.
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Registered Seller of Travel since 1998