A Widower Used Gumtree to Find a Fishing Companion and More Than 60,000 People Flocked to His Advert

A testament to the fact social media isn’t purely a time wasting distraction that only millennials use.

Widowed pensioner Ray Johnstone turned to social media to find a “fishing mate” after his previous one passed away. The 75-year-old posted an advertisement on Gumtree with the hope of finding some new company for his beloved fishing trips.

“I asked for it on Facebook to start with but didn’t get any answers,” he told the ABC. “Now, it’s gone bloody viral, hasn’t it?”

It sure has. Since he posted the ad on Monday, it’s received more than 60,000 views and several potential fishing partners.

The ad itself read: “I am a Land Based Fisherman I have all the gear for all types of fish that is required for Land Based Fishing [sic] what I want is a fishing mate in a similar position to myself who also wants someone to go fishing with.”

Johnstone has received several calls from all over Australia, “at least half a dozen people” who have said they’re willing to go out fishing with him. He told the ABC he can’t believe the amount of attention he’d attracted, especially after an afternoon of doing media interviews.

He joked, “I won’t be able to walk down the street soon.”

So, what’s the plan?

Apparently, he’s got a few local fishing trips planned in waters off Adelaide; but first, he’d like to do a bit of land-based fishing with his son-in-law.

Reel cute. (Get it?)

Photo: Gumtree (Ray Johnstone) and Giphy