Record numbers of anglers travel to Goondiwindi to fish Classic competition
OzFish’s Goondiwindi Chapter has put together another mammoth effort to successfully deliver the 2024 Goondiwindi Fishing Classic on the Macintyre River. This is a great event that engages the local community in sustainable fishing over the Kings Birthday long weekend, while raising money for projects that support local fishing.
The catch and release competition lured 372 entrants (including 103 juniors and 74 females) to this rural Murray-Darling Basin town. With over one quarter of this year’s participants travelling more than 100km to fish between the two weirs in Goondiwindi. OzFish local members manned the registration area for two days as competing anglers streamed in to enter their catches.
All captured native fish were measured, photographed and immediately released back into the river. Over the event, 5 Murray Cod were caught with the largest being 87cm, a 53.5cm Yellowbelly was the largest of over 200 hundred recorded for the weekend. 281 Carp were also culled and properly disposed of during the competition, helping to reduce the impact of invasive species on the Macintyre system and its native fish populations.
Michael Kirk, OzFish’s River Culture Officer, travelled from Moree for the weekend with OzFish’s River Repair Bus, said
‘It was great to see the catches coming in over the weekend, each year that we fish in this sustainable way helps this stretch of river and beyond’.
The event finished with casting competitions and refreshments at the local bowls club with many donated prizes and winners announced in the afternoon.
‘We’d like to thank the local businesses who get behind us and provide prizes to the event every year. And give a shout out to all the competitors that come from far and wide, you really make our weekend a success’ said OzFish Goodiwindi Chapter President Nathan Turner.
Strong commitment from the Goondiwindi Chapter and amazing support from the local community ensure this family event continues to be a true success year upon year.
If you’d like to join the OzFish Goodiwindi chapter learn more here.
