ABOUT four times a week, Billy Randall puts on his fishing backpack, grabs his rod and rides his bike to go fishing with his school friends.
It has become his passion.
Billy’s father Ash said his 13-year-old son took up fishing through the interest of other boys in his class and from watching fishing clips on YouTube.
“Plus, he would always notice people fishing off the bridge in Rickertt Rd, and that made him interested,” Mr Randall said.
The Alexandra Hills teenager enjoys fishing from the shore at local spots including Tingalpa Creek, the Thorneside foreshore and Raby Bay.
To date, Billy fishes on foot, but Mr Randall said his son had his sights set on getting a small tinnie.
“He goes as often as he can,” he said.
“He has a backpack with fishing tackle and straps his rod onto his bike and off he goes.
“He has torches packed and he follows the tide. I think it’s wonderful.”
Mr Randall said he sometimes accompanied the boys on their night-time fishing trips out of concern for their safety.
“Billy’s a better fisherman than I am,” he said.
“But I like to spend time with him. It’s a good bonding thing.”
Fishing isn’t Billy’s only outdoor pursuit.
He also enjoys motocross riding, taking his KTM85 to Queensland Moto Park at Willowbank, and plays AFL for the Bombers at Alexandra Hills.
“He’s an outdoors boy,” Mr Randall said.
“He likes camping and he would love to go hunting, although I am against shooting animals.
“Fishing is safe hunting, and it gives him the freedom to get out of home and do something with his mates.”
Billy regularly catches flathead and bream – his largest catch, a big flathead, slipped away at Thorneside.
“Billy was devastated,” Mr Randall said.
“He got it onto the mudflats and his line got caught.”
Despite all the time spent chasing fish, neither Billy nor his dad are particularly fond of eating them.
“I grew up on the land,” Mr Randall said.
“We ate lamb and beef. I can’t deal with fish. Only my wife eats fish.”
