Remember last year's Gone Fishing day at Tenterfield Dam? Lots of fun was had but conditions were atrocious, and organisers are hoping to avoid a repeat with a rescheduling of this year’s event to this Sunday, October 28.
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There’s also been a relocation downstream to Tenterfield Creek, where the statewide Gone Fishing Day becomes a Carp Muster in Tenterfield, with the noxious pest in the sights of fishers old and new.
Organiser Michael Davey of OzFish said the stretch of creek from behind Coles to Naas Street is badly affected by trench carp.
These invaders eat the eggs of native species like the threatened catfish and murray cod.
They also tend to stir up the mud which absorbs oxygen, affecting water quality and making it difficult for other creek life to breath.
Participants will be equipped to tempt carp onto the hooks over native breeds, with a variety of soft plastic lures and a carp delicacy: corn kernels. Mr Davey said there’ll be a few fishing with worms and at least one with his fly rod.
“Carp love taking flies off the surface.”
The carp muster follows a workshop in Shirley Park conducted by NSW Fisheries looking at fishing rigs, safe fish handling, size and bag limits and how to cast a line.
The new OzFish tent bought through a $500 Tenterfield Shire Council community grant will get an airing, so look for it at the park.
So far 32 have signed up for the one-hour workshop (from 10am) and only four spots remain, so go to the Tenterfield OzFish Unlimited Facebook page or call Mr Davey on 0412 241 934 if you’re interested.
The action then moves to the creek with everyone invited to take part in the muster by throwing in a line somewhere between Shirley Park and Naas Street, although parental supervision is required for younger fishers.
All participants go into the draw for new rods and there are more prizes for those putting a dint in the carp population. OzFish will have a sausage sizzle with the snags again donated by Wizards Butchery.
Mr Davey hopes to educate local kids on creek health in the hope that they may opt to come done after school and do a bit of fishing, so the carp population is controlled if not eliminated.
He said there are probably a dozen carp in the creek below the Bowling Club, and more in the pools near Millrace.
