TURTLE AN INSPIRATION TO EVERY FISHERMAN

OVER the weeks ahead I will showcase some of the new gadgets and tackle designed to help make it easier for us fisherman to catch fish.

But being the first week I want to highlight the most important thing you need and it doesn’t fit in any tackle box. It’s desire. Meet one of my favourite Gold Coast fishermen: Timmy Turtle.

After discovering the wonderful world of fishing a couple of years ago and then learning he couldn’t afford a boat, Timmy didn’t give up, he simply built a raft and put an electric motor on the back.

He has since built a strong YouTube following as he records all of his adventures. Like the time he was in the main shipping channel in Brisbane chasing jewfish and barely believed water police rafted up alongside to see if he was OK. Or the time he joined the million dollar boats off Mermaid Reef chasing mackerel. So far Timmy has landed everything from mangrove jack to Murray cod, but rumour has it he has his sights set on his biggest challenge yet: landing a shark.

Another thing that has endeared Timmy to fans is he releases every fish he catches.

He also is a great example of where there is a will there is a way. More important than having the best boat, the greatest tackle box and fishing rods, is the love of just spending time of the water.