By Daniel Bromfield >> dbromfield@marinij.com

It’s safe to say that Colby Ralls, a 16-year-old incoming junior at Terra Linda High School, is Marin’s youngest fishing entrepreneur. Yet fishing has been in the San Rafael resident’s blood since childhood, and he’s got more experience than a lot of fishermen twice his age, both on the shore and in the water.

Late last year, Ralls decided to parlay his passion into NorCal Catch, a company that offers fishing lessons for kids ages 5 to 15 in Marin County. He leads expeditions to local spots like Loch Lomond Pier, Paradise Pier and Bon Tempe Lake several times a week. Though he’s served as a deckhand on several boats, NorCal Catch thus far only offers fishing lessons from shore. Luckily, the San Francisco Bay has no abundance of shallow-water fish, from bat rays to leopard sharks to halibut to largemouth bass.

Though the business has only been operating for a few months, Ralls has already made plenty of friends in the local community. Seafood restaurant Pacific Catch in Corte Madera offers a voucher for a free kids’ meal for any session booked, and he’s donating some of the proceeds from sessions to the environmental nonprofits Surfrider Foundation and Seatrees. More information at norcalcatch.com.

The Marin IJ spoke with Ralls about his love of fishing and how he managed to turn it into a successful business.

Q How did you get hooked on fishing?

A One of my earliest memories was when I was around 3 years old; my parents took me out fishing in Quincy because our grandparents lived over there. We were fishing in this little pond. I remember when we put the worms on the hook, and I didn’t want to do it. I was too scared. So my dad taught me how to do it. It’s pretty funny. I think from around 4 years old I just started getting really hooked on fishing, and I just loved it so much.

Q Do you find that the people who you teach are also squeamish about putting the worm on the hook?

A In one of our sessions, this girl was scared to put the worm on the hook, but you kind of have to realize that that happens in life. It’s a cycle, and I think people don’t realize at first that maybe they’re the fish’s main food source and they’d be getting eaten anyway.

Q Why did you decide you wanted to translate your love of fishing into a business?A My dad was an entrepreneur. He started a coffee company called Addictive Coffee Roasters, and he actually helped me start my own business to make money and also just do what I love doing. He helped me with the website and getting it all started. I like teaching people and seeing how different people learn. It’s cool because I can reflect on that and use different strategies with different people to teach them how to fish.

Q Tell me about the PAASS (Project Awareness and Special Sports) Learn to Fish Day project.

A My dad’s friend has a daughter with learning disabilities and Down syndrome, and he’s a part of the PAASS organization. I think it’s cool because we can partner up with them and do cool things around the Bay Area, and also just to be able to share that experience with everyone and give everyone the fishing experience.

Q What are the challenges of running a business as a high school student?

A Making sure parents still trust me, because I’m still a teenager. I have a driver’s license. I have a fishing license. I have a little med kit. I have a bunch of safety things I tell them about, and that definitely gets them more comfortable.

Q Do you have any plans to expand your business in the future?

A I have some ideas for that. We could start taking it to a boat, going out farther for fish and catching different species. I was also thinking I can make my own supplies, like hooks, rigs and bait, making almost like a warehouse business.

Q What else are you passionate about besides fishing?

A I’ve always grown up on water. I’m a really big surfing guy. I surf all the time. My main spot is under the Golden Gate Bridge at Fort Point; I go there all the time. And boating. I play water polo. I’m president and co-founder of the Ocean Awareness Club at my high school. It’s about protecting the environment, and we do beach cleanups and things like that.