Extreme Fishing with Robson Green

Robson heads to the town of Itatí in the northeastern province of Corrientes in Argentina. On the southern shores of the second biggest river in south America, the Paraná, Robson lays some baited-lines to catch the largest freshwater fish in world – the short-tailed river stingray. Further down river he searches for the pacu, a close cousin of the piranha. Using a curried-fruit lure, the boys mix up the bizarre fish food, then cast towards the reeds and wait for the normally timid fish to feed. But Robson’s first real bite is not at all timid! Leaving the river behind, Robson’s next stop is the Iberá marshes, to a traditional working cattle ranch. Robson is here for the lagoons which are home to packs of piranha. But before getting near the water, Robson earns his Gaucho spurs fishing for cattle with a lasso. Robson gets a chance to catch both yellow and river piranhas, the hook just has to be in the water for a second or two before there is a tug. Robson’s last visit is to a place renowned for producing record breakers, the Salto Grande Dam on the river Uruguay.

Robson’s journey continues in Patagonia, a region spanning the southern parts of Chile and Argentina. He is on a mission to fish at the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia. This place really is the end of the Earth – if Robson went much further south, he would end up in Antarctica. But before Robson gets there, he is after an extra-special prize. Ushuaia is in Argentinean Patagonia. But on the Chilean side of the border, in Torres del Paine, there could be waiting one of the catches of Robson’s life. Robson was raised on salmon fishing, and in the waters here swim Chinook salmon, the largest on the planet. The biggest Robson has ever caught was round 18lb. In these waters, he hopes to get one double that size. When he gets one on the end of his line, he can barely believe the fight this mighty fish puts up. With its runs and leaps, this is one of the most spectacular sights ever seen on the water. But with a fish like this, there are no guarantees – and just because Robson has it on the line, it doesn’t mean he is going to get it to the shore. However, fishing at the ends of the Earth holds still bigger worries in store for Robson. Just as he arrives, a fuel protest sees locals blocking the roads. Suddenly, Robson and his crew are trapped and his whole journey to Ushuaia and the ends of the Earth is in jeopardy. Still, it gives him the chance for more fishing. In a deserted spot, he celebrates a big catch as nature intended – shouting at the top of his voice, whilst running for the hills… naked. But, Robson cannot stay in Chile forever. He may have only come here to fish, but soon he finds himself making a thrilling break for the border. In Patagonia, commercial fishermen go after another prize catch, and it gives Robson a chance to bag the biggest crab of his life, the centolla. These things get to well over 3 feet across and look like the stuff of nightmares. As Robson tries to get his hands on one, he quickly realises that these guys do not take any take prisoners. Soon, the Geordie actor is a working Patagonian crab fisherman, dealing with some of the most foul- smelling bait of his life – and some of the scariest-looking creatures he has ever plucked from the water.

The actor teams up with Cpt. Taco Perez at Fort Lauderdale in Florida to catch a sailfish, but is disappointed when his expedition proves less than successful. However, his efforts finally pay off in Miami, where he finally manages to land the fish with the help of a local man with 30 years' experience in the field. Later he heads inland to the lakes and creeks of Gemini Springs to try his hand at bowfishing from a flat-bottomed airboat, and visits the West Palm Beach Fishing Club to hunt for the bull shark - an aggressive predator that has been known to attack humans

Robson’s Panamanian adventure begins in the 164sq ft Lake Gatun in the middle of the Panama canal. To increase his chances of landing some of the beautiful peacock bass reported to inhabit these waters, Robson has joined up with world record-holding angler and local legend Ciccio, who is brimming with confidence about this trip. “I can’t wait to get stuck in!” enthuses Robson. After feeding fruit to some local monkeys, Robson casts his first line with assurance. However, it is not until a few hours and several unsuccessful casts later that Robson lands his first peacock. “I’m happy about the fish, but I’m even happier I best Ciccio to the prize!” he says. Not to be outdone, Ciccio quickly brings in another – much larger – fish, but Robson’s good mood remains. ”What a way to start my trip!” he says. “I’m beginning to fall in love with Panama.”

The actor heads to Cuba, where he begins by fishing with locals on an esplanade in Havana. He then visits one of the country's biggest rivers, the Rio Hatiguanico, to hunt for tarpon, before travelling to the remote island of Cayo Romano in search of bonefish. Having landed some impressive game fish, Robson sails to a reef near Trinidad marina in the hope of catching something for his dinner.

The actor goes angling in Brazil, where he fishes for deadly black piranhas in the Amazon river. He then heads to Rio Negro where he encounters pink river dolphins, and goes to the remote fishing community of Jaraua as he sets out to catch the world's biggest freshwater fish - the 10-foot long pirarucu.

The actor casts off in the Chinese regions of Zhejiang and Xiu Shan, where fishing is a very important skill. At Qiando Lake he joins 100 locals in trying to land a bighead carp and samples the revered catch. More culinary experiences await as a result of Green's hunt for octopus, and he tries his hand at cormorant fishing - but has trouble restraining his bird's constant efforts to escape.

Robson begins his journey at Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe, Africa, where he hunts down the vundu catfish, known locally as the `steam train' because of its strength. He also examines the kapenta fishing industry, which is integral to life in the country because it provides protein for the low-income populace. In Victoria Falls, he has to prove his courage when angling for tiger fish in a deep pool called the `boiling pot', before braving the grade five Zambezi whitewater rapids.

The actor travels to the Philippines, where fishing plays an important part in the economy and people's diets. He begins by hunting the highly intelligent green and blue dorado, before catching and eating a jellyfish. He visits Casulian Island to learn about the illegal practice of dynamite fishing and meets two men convicted of the crime. Finally, Robson is left to fend for himself overnight on a tropical island. Last in the series.

Robson heads to southern Australia to catch some of the most exotic creatures he has yet encountered. He dives in a shark-proof cage to recover abalone, a form of mollusc; tangles with feisty blue manna crabs; retrieves poisonous octopuses; and joins in the World Championship Tuna Toss.

Robson Green’s off to Oz to face some of the world’s most dangerous creatures. He meets the crocodile that starred in Crocodile Dundee before heading to the Northern Territory in search of barramundi. Then he’s off to Darwin to track down some milkfish, followed by a trip to the Great Barrier Reef.

Robson's fishing quest takes him from the north Atlantic to the South Pacific.

Robson travels to South Africa, where he finds himself in shark-infested waters while paddle skiing. He also tries his hand at reef fishing in a bid to land the biggest salmon of his career.

It is time to set sail for new shores, and Playa Flamingo Marina in Costa Rica seems the best place to start. It is the largest marina in the country and a major destination for game fishing. On the menu are wahoo, marlin, tuna and the spectacular sailfish. Purported to be the fastest fish in the water, the creatures have been known to reach speeds of up to 68mph. Can the actor hook the ultimate prize? After being exposed to the elements in Costa Rica, Robson wonders whether he is out of his depth fishing on the open sea. Thankfully, he is aided by two savvy seamen, who teach him some essential tricks of the trade. Trolling slender ballyhoo lures, which zip through the water, they set about trying to attract tuna. It is not long before the crew spots a pod of dolphins – a sure sign that tuna are about Next, it is up to Upala in the north, near the border with Nicaragua, to meet up with some very special anglers. The Club National de Pesca is Costa Rica’s most exclusive fly-fishing organisation. River-angling may be Robson’s domain, but these fishermen use a decidedly more extreme technique After meeting some of the club’s esteemed members, Robson and the group go down to the water’s edge. The actor is appalled to see that the river conditions are less than perfect, as the water is coloured and very deep. But his guides are not deterred, announcing that they will don lifejackets and float down the river, trawling their lines with them. This is a big shock for a man who is used to having his feet planted firmly on the riverbed. But the worst news is yet to come – the men are fishing for machaca, a relative of the piranha... The last leg of Robson’s Costa Rican junket sees him travel to southern Utala to spend some time with an indigenous tribe who rely on fish as their main source of food. The Maleku people teach Robson to use a basic line-fishing method in which fruit provides the bait for some hungrier machaca.