By Kayla Olaya
It has become a common sight on Saturday mornings on trains and buses headed towards Sydney’s waterways: teenage boys with full backpacks and fishing rods in hand.
Taylor Rogers, 15, and his friends would be the only kids their age out at dawn when they started fishing five years ago.
Now, their peers have jumped on the bandwagon – all thanks to “FishTok”, a genre of social media content for documenting big catches and sharing tips.
Teddy Alvarez-Garcia, front, and Taylor Rogers fishing at Darling Harbour on Saturday.Credit: Flavio Brancaleone
“I always see a new group of kids fishing,” Taylor said. “You always see them on the train, like [in] Circular Quay, Darling Harbour … you always see someone walking around with a fishing rod.”
FishTok has sparked the craze, particularly among boys aged 12 to 15, Taylor said.
“It’s become a bit of a trend,” he said. “I taught my brothers how to fish, and then my brothers taught friends how to fish, and then everyone posts their fish on TikTok.”
Taylor and his friends post pictures of their catches on social media.Credit: Flavio Brancaleone
If teenage boys – often maligned for spending too much time on video games and scrolling social media – getting into fishing wasn’t on your 2025 bingo card, you’re not alone.
But Alex Bellissimo, founder of Bellissimo Charters rock fishing guided tours, says fishing gear company Daiwa Australia has been effectively marketing towards the younger generation for years, aided by the social media trend.
“I know, certainly throughout Sydney, there are a lot more kids fishing,” Bellissimo said, adding that teenage boys are trading in video games for fishing with friends.
“It’s a positive shift – it’s a much healthier shift,” he said. “It’s keeping them more grounded. It’s getting them to understand nature more and the ocean … I think it clears their minds a bit.”
William Kim, of Croydon Park tackle shop Iso Fishing Lifestyle, has seen an influx of teenage boys come into his store. They typically fish in harbour locations, he said.
Kim also attributes the rise in popularity to social media, where teenagers brag about their catches and upload pictures of their fishing days.
“Being on your phones is kind of part of fishing now, so it has become a lot more social ... [with friends] and social media,” he said. “With fishing, one thing that you see a lot of, no matter of the generation, is that if they catch something, they want to brag about it. It’s friendly competition.”
Lure fishing, which uses a synthetic bait, is the most popular option for the younger generation of recreational fishers that includes Taylor, who enjoys fishing with his friends every weekend.
“I have so many memories from fishing – we’d wake up, early-morning fishes are the best, and we always tell stories … and it’s just such a good thing to do and get outside,” Taylor said.
“You’re there with your mates for a couple of hours, all day. Might go for a night fish, and then you’re always geeing each other up when you get that fish.”
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