A group of mates are set to descend on Phillip Island this weekend for a ‘fishing trip’ reportedly months in the making. 

Jon Spragg, 39, and four lifelong friends — all active members of the ‘Captain Nemo in the third’ Bet With Mates group — are understood to have booked an early Saturday morning charter departing from Rhyll. 

“We’re hitting the open seas at 6am and will be out for most of the day. No one will have any phone reception so it will be good to just switch off,” said Spragg, who reiterated multiple times that he and his party will be unreachable by phone.

“We might not even bring them, there’s no point.”

However, inquiries made by this masthead have established that no such charter boat exists. 

After further investigation, The Pakistan Star can reveal that none of the group — who reportedly have several futures multis riding on Cosmic Crusader in the Caulfield Cup and a now-annual tradition of “trying to get Ka Ying Rising beat in The Everest” — has ever actually been fishing, with the closest any member has come being “a barra parma in 2019”.

The Pakistan Star has also learned that Spragg made a 12pm group booking at the Wooli Tavern on Saturday, with the note: “tables closest to the TAB screens, cheers”.

Spragg’s wife — who asked not to be named — confirmed that he had been “particularly performative” in recent weeks, laying out new fishing gear on the bed and “talking loudly about tides”.

When questioned regarding the pub booking clashing with the fishing charter, Spragg highlighted the importance of having alternative plans in place. 

“It’s plan B, just in case the sea is angry that day, my friend.”

More to follow.