SIMON Bubbers says constant baiting and untangling will pay off for his sons Jedd and Bodie as they develop a love of fishing.
When the 42-year-old Birkdale man took his sons to a father-and-son fishing weekend recently, they ate chicken the first night and beef brisket the second.
He may not have caught many fish with sons Jedd, 10, and Bodie, 7, but he believes they all captured some life experiences that he can never give his boys again.
The expedition, with his brother-in-law and nephew Camden, 10, and other friends, saw the group fishing off the beach and camping at Noosa’s north shore for several days.
“The biggest catch was the one that got away,” he laughed. “One of the boys hooked something big, we got a glimpse of it as he reeled it closer, then the line snapped and off it went.”
For Simon though, fishing with his boys is mainly about untangling the tangles and baiting the hooks.
“There are lots of tangles and lots of untangling. Most of all, I try not to get hooked. When you fish next to each other, the boys will often hook your line,” Simon said.
Bait was mainly pippies gathered at the beach and some mullet which was brought along.
“It’s just good to be on the beach in good weather,” Simon said. “The boys caught a few whiting and dart, but they were undersize. But best of all, they seem to catching on to the love of fishing.”
Simon said this activity had been spurred by their grandfather Gordon Randall, of Birkdale, who takes them fishing in his tinnie.
“I like to take them every second weekend if I can. They are starting to learn the skills. It’s resonating with them that they can get something if they persist and that’s a good lesson.”
Favourite spots are off the rocks at Raby Bay, from the tinnie at Peel Island and, during the school holidays, at Hastings Point.
“We’ve been going there for a few years,” Simon said. “The novelty used to wear off after 15 minutes, but now persistence has kicked in, I’m looking forward to the next time.”
