Free fishing activities will be conducted in Peter Depena Reserve, Dolls Point, today (Sunday) as part of Australia’s first national Gone Fishing Day.
NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) officers will organise activities from 10am to 3pm.
Activities will include free ‘try fishing’ sessions for beginners, ‘goodie’ bags including bonus lures, casting competitions, fishing advice, touch tanks, kids’ activities and Snappy, the DPI crab mascot handing out prizes.
Dolls Point is one of six locations in NSW where the DPI will conduct free activities, but grants have been given to 37 fishing clubs and organisations to also run events.
“There is no need to book, just turn up on the day,” said Minister for Primary Industries Niall Blair, who will launch Gone Fishing Day at a celebrity fishing tournament on Sydney Harbour.
Mr Blair said the state government was a major supporter of the event, which was being facilitated by the Australian Fishing Trade Association.
“NSW led the way last year when we organised our inaugural Go Fishing Day, and this state-wide event proved to be hugely popular with families enjoying a range of activities at both coastal and inland locations,” he said.
“This year we have joined with the national recreational fishing sector to deliver even more activities and information at Gone Fishing Day events across the country.”
Mr Blair said the normal requirement for fishers to have a valid recreational fishing licence (unless exempt) would not apply on the day, though all other regulations including size and bag limits, protected species and areas with fishing restrictions or closed to fishing would still be in force.
Further infiormation: dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/resources/go-fishing-nsw.