KYLE Johnson has come a long way from catching “little fish” with his father during his younger years.
Today, the 23-year-old Redland Bay local ventures out in Moreton Bay and off Amity Point, landing some of the big catches that he once admired his father for.
“Fishing – it’s one of those things that I’ve always done and always loved. I may as well stick with what I know and what I love,” said Kyle, who spends as much time fishing as he can, as long as life doesn’t get in the way.
Kyle fishes aboard a 4.5m tinnie with his friends, primarily targeting squire, cod, duskies, mackerel and flathead, often using live bait or lures.
But his favourite catch is the jew fish.
“I like them. They fight hard and are good to eat. I usually keep them. You can’t go wrong,” he said.
Although Kyle enjoys catching a variety of fish, his favourite fish to eat is coral trout, which he typically fries in beer batter.
“Fishing is something that’s always been in my blood, and I love the variety of experiences it offers,” he said.
Over the years, Kyle has ticked off several items from his fishing bucket list, particularly during a remarkable journey in 2021 and 2022 when he and his father, Michael, sailed halfway around Australia.
“It was awesome. Basically, it ticked almost all the boxes you can tick,” Kyle said of the trip.
Some of his favourite moments from the adventure included chasing barramundi in the northern river systems and fishing the reefs off the Kimberleys.
“I prefer fish from the ocean. You’ve only got to look at the water quality. If the water is dirty and muddy, so are the fish,” Kyle said.
“When the water is clear, so are the fish. But it’s the reefs where the tasty fish are.”
While Kyle enjoys the thrill of fishing, he emphasises that not every fish is kept for eating.
He practises “catch and release” often, valuing the fun of the sport over the need for food.
“I really do fish for fun, not food. I mean, I keep as much as I can, but I am happy to let them go,” he said.
“Fishing is a fun way to hang out with mates.”
Some of Kyle’s biggest catches include a 30kg Spanish mackerel measuring 135cm in length, and an 83cm barramundi.
He recalled the fight he had with the barramundi.
“The barramundi put up an awesome fight,” he said.
“I had been trying to catch one for a week, and then just before I was going home, I went out by myself and landed a big one.”
For Kyle, the best days are always spent fishing.
“Best days are fishing days,” he said with a broad smile.
