FISHING has long been Chelsea Loney’s “happy place” and now it’s a passion bringing her whole family together on and off the water.
The Cleveland mother of two said her love of fishing began at a young age, casting lines alongside her grandfather and uncle at Yeppoon, a tradition she now proudly shares with husband Michael and their children, Jack, 7, and Anna, 5.
“It’s something I’ve known all my life,” Ms Loney said.
While she and her husband did not meet through fishing, she said it quickly became a shared passion – and a competitive one.
“Fishing for us was just coincidental, but now I have to say the competition is fierce,” she said.
“He has also always fished and used to do competitions from the Little Ship Club.”
But for Ms Loney, the real reward is watching her children discover the joy of the sport.
“I enjoy them catching fish more than me,” she said.
“I see their fierce nature come out and see their eyes light up.
“The joy is beautiful to watch. It’s moments like this that make it all worthwhile.”
Family fishing adventures have become a regular part of life, with trips ranging from local waters to the Whitsundays, where they chase prized catches including coral trout and red emperor, along with tuna, mackerel, cod and nannygai.
The family fish from an 18-metre Princess yacht, which they take north every second year, basing it at Hamilton Island and flying up regularly between June and October.
“We find every reef and fish our hearts out,” she said. “It’s so good and a beautiful thing to do as a family. It gives you Vitamin D and fresh air.”
Closer to home, Ms Loney said there was just as much enjoyment to be found in simple outings, fishing from the shore, a tinnie, or even the family pontoon.
“We catch bream, whiting and snapper, and there’s plenty of fish from the pontoon,” she said.
The family also drops crab pots in Hilliard Creek and around Peel Island, recently hauling in an impressive catch.
“In two days, with four pots, we recently got 12 sandies – all keepers,” she said.
Fishing holidays are another highlight, with the family regularly booking private charters to explore new waters.
One standout moment came on a trip off Kokomo, where they hooked a sailfish.
“It took three people to wheel it in. It was a credit to the charter company,” she said.
“We released it and watched it swim away. This was a trophy moment.”
More adventures are already on the horizon, with the family planning a marlin charter off Hawaii over Christmas.
Even closer to home, Ms Loney said recent trips in Moreton Bay had delivered memorable experiences, including landing a red emperor and several parrot fish.
“It was a nice experience to do something so nice close to home,” she said.
Above all, she said it was the sense of escape and connection that keeps drawing her back to the water.
“I love being on the water,” she said.
“It’s beautiful and there is a level of freedom in breaking your routine.
“You just feel everything flow out of you.”
