ASK Greg Williams how often he goes fishing and he’ll tell you: “Not enough.”
That’s about once every month or two – a big drop from the three-times-a-week habit he used to keep before work and fatherhood took over.
“Work and babies have put a bit of a dampener on fishing for now. But I will be fishing more soon,” the 34-year-old Alexandra Hills resident said.
Williams admits he’s “obsessed” with the sport – a passion that began when he was just four years old.
“I went out with my grandfather at Runaway Bay. I still remember it. We caught whiting and went home and cooked them up. I’ve been hooked ever since,” he said.
He spent much of his childhood casting lines with his dad at Aquatic Paradise, reeling in bream and whiting, and later camping at Home Beach on Straddie, fishing off the surf each day.
But his true passion for the sport took off after fishing from a boat with one of his best mates – a tradition that continues today, now often joined by his 17-year-old son Riley.
“Riley loves fishing too. It’s nice to do this with him,” Williams said.
These days, he’s often out in his 17-foot Haines Hunter, chasing fish around Peel and the southern bay islands, central Moreton, or north of Harry Atkinson’s Reef.
Among his best catches are a 13.5kg northern bluefin tuna near Tangalooma and a 112cm mulloway near Harry Atkinson’s Reef – both landed in 2023.
He’s also caught a few 75cm snapper, his favourite species.
“They’re hard to catch. I think it’s because they’re wise to boat noise,” he said.
“The trick is not to put the boat on top of the spot you’re fishing. You need to anchor up-current from where you want to fish.”
Williams said he only keeps what he plans to eat and releases the rest, especially breeding stock.
“There are some who say the bay’s fished out. I just think the fish have gone to quieter areas,” he said.
For him, fishing is as much about patience as it is about persistence.
“The key with fishing is patience and research,” he said.
