AHEAD of what shapes to be a good season for anglers, the New South Wales Department of Primary Industry will hold the third annual Gone Fishing day on Sunday.
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Held at the Noreuil Park Foreshore from 9am to 3pm, the Albury community fishing event is one of six to be held across the state.
More than 30 stall holders will offer advice on fishing, as well as plenty of kids’ activities, touch tanks, casting competitions and more.
Cameron Westaway, senior fisheries manager for the DPI, said he was hoping to encourage more anglers to head to the water this summer.
“More than 850,000 people in NSW go fishing every year,” he said.
“We want to celebrate that and encourage more people to take part.
“Whether you’re a kid, a first-timer or an avid angler, come down and learn from the experts.”
Sunday’s event shapes as the perfect way for amateur anglers to step up their game as summer approaches.
Mr Westaway said getting some first-hand knowledge from some of the best fishermen in the region would be the perfect kick-start for anyone looking to drop a line in.
“We’ll have some great local tackle guys who really know the area,” he said.
“The best advice I can give is to keep it simple to start, stick with worms or corn as bait, and go somewhere where you’ve been told you’ll have a better chance of hooking something.
“Everyone has good days and bad days, but it’s just great to get out there in the end.
“Even if you don’t catch anything, the important things is just getting out and fishing safely.”
It’s looking like it’ll be a year to remember for Border-based anglers, after the Victorian Fisheries Authority released more than 69,000 trout into the Hume Weir earlier in the week.
Despite some less than desirable conditions in northern parts of the state, Mr Westaway said the weather had been favourable in the Albury-Wodonga area.
“The season is looking pretty good, it’s been a bit dry up north but we’ve been fine down here,” he said.
“There have been some good reports of trout in the mountains, the yellowbelly are starting to switch on too.
“Lake Hume has been going OK, we’re looking forward to the opening of the cod season in December now.”
In addition to the recent trout release, the Victorian Fisheries Authority released more than 60,000 Murray cod and 170,000 golden perch last summer.
It comes as a similar push to get more people fishing is underway in Victoria, with authorities hoping to have more than a million recreational fishermen in the state.
