“Time spent fishing is time well spent” has become a guiding motto for Nudgee teenager Nate Willcox, whose love of Brisbane waterways is now leading to big catches in a national junior competition.
The 15-year-old recently landed several standout catches during the April round of the Aussie Junior Fishing Classic, including a 122 cm threadfin salmon and a 105 cm jewfish caught in local waters.
Run by Queensland organisation 2 Bent Rods, the competition gives young anglers aged between 3 and 17 the chance to fish anywhere in Australia while competing across multiple categories.
Growing Up Around Nudgee’s Waterways
Nate said he has loved fishing for as long as he can remember, with many of those early experiences happening alongside his mum, stepdad and relatives.
“My whole family loves going fishing,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter if we catch anything or not, it’s always good to spend time together and have a bit of rivalry on who catches the biggest fish.”
Fishing trips around Nudgee Beach and the Port of Brisbane eventually turned into something more serious as Nate began targeting larger species including jewfish, threadfin salmon and giant trevally.
He said the Port of Brisbane remains one of his favourite places to chase jewfish and threadfin, while Nudgee Beach is his preferred spot for whiting and flathead using yabbies and soft plastics.
Monster Catches During National Competition
During the April competition, Nate reeled in a 122 cm threadfin salmon using live herring and 20 lb leader. On the same night, he also hooked a 105 cm jewfish while chasing cod using live tailor bait.
Photos shared from the event also show Nate holding an 85 cm flathead caught in shallow water near Bribie Island, along with a giant trevally landed on a topwater stick bait.
His favourite species, however, remains the mulloway, also known as jewfish.
“My favourite fish to catch is the Mulloway/Jewfish, especially when they get over that metre-10 mark,” he said.
Junior Fishing Event Continues to Grow
The Aussie Junior Fishing Classic started as the Queensland Kids Fishing Classic before expanding into a national competition over the past two years. According to 2 Bent Rods, the event was created to encourage young people to spend more time outdoors while building confidence through recreational fishing.
The competition now includes categories covering fish species, crab catches and environmental activities such as rubbish collection while fishing.
Organisers say the event has attracted families from across Australia as interest in youth fishing continues to grow.
More Than Just Catching Fish
While Nate’s catches have attracted attention online, he said one of the best parts of the competition is the chance to spend more time outdoors with mates and family.
“I can’t wait for the next AJFC so I can have an excuse to go fishing more but also to spend time with mates and get off screens,” he said.
Another quote that has stayed with him is simple: “Chase fish, not drama and attention.”
The next Aussie Junior Fishing Classic will run from June 27 to July 12. The competition allows young anglers aged between 3 and 17 to fish from almost anywhere in Australia, provided they are fishing legally within local rules and regulations.
Participants can enter catches across 15 categories, including species divisions, crab catches, most species caught and even a rubbish collection category designed to encourage care for waterways and the environment.
The event began as the Queensland Kids Fishing Classic before rapidly expanding into a national competition as more families joined from across the country. Organisers say the competition was created to give young people a fun and supportive way to enjoy the outdoors, spend time with family and build confidence through recreational fishing.
More information is available through the 2 Bent Rods website and the AJFC Facebook group.
Published 25-May-2026
