Lifelong water enthusiast, Wally Boor, brings his love for the ocean to his newest venture, Caloundra Charter Co., offering family-friendly fishing experiences in Caloundra.
Wally Boor has loved the water for as long as he can remember. “It’s always been a happy place for me,” he says. “As a child in Melbourne, in the middle of winter, I’d dive straight into the freezing cold water. No one in their right mind would do that, but there I was—this little kid with blue lips and no intention of getting out.“
At just three years old, Wally reeled in three flathead in one afternoon—a moment that ignited a lifelong passion. “That sparked my love for it,” he says. By the age of 10, he was cycling across town with a fishing rod and bait, spending entire days on the water.
Over the decades, Wally immersed himself in water-based pursuits: diving, spearfishing, and offshore fishing. He transitioned from being a carpenter to a dive instructor and eventually to running fishing charters. “I’ve fished pretty much everywhere in Australia,” he says. His numerous fishing spots along the Sunshine Coast are a testament to a lifetime of dedication.
“When my wife and I moved to the Sunshine Coast in the early ’90s, it didn’t take long before I bought a little 13-footer and was out fishing every day after work,” he recalls.
Fishing has always been Wally’s refuge. “It’s my go-to when things get tough,” he shares. “It’s not about catching the fish—it’s about catching your breath.” When asked about the secret to fishing, Wally points to observation. “Reading nature, reading the water—it’s almost spiritual. You’ve got to be observant. You learn to feel it. Sometimes I’ll head out with no plan, but as soon as I’m on the water, I just know. I’ll look left, look right, and think, ‘That way.’ And it usually works.”
He also believes fishing is a valuable teacher for kids. “It gives them focus and keeps them out of trouble,” he says, fondly recalling his son’s early days fishing alone on the river—a passion that remains strong to this day. “Once it gets you, it owns you—in the best way.”
For now, Wally’s focus is on family-friendly fishing, sharing the joy that the water has always brought him. “Fishing levels everyone,” he says. “It’s about connecting—with nature, with yourself, and with each other. That’s the real magic.”
caloundracharterco.com.au
