From the office of fishcare

Monday 25 February 2008

Catch a Carp Day

Did you know that in many countries, carp are considered a delicacy? And here in Gippsland, carp are a big export business of K & C Fisheries of Sale who process more than 1,000 tonnes of carp each year into quality products including whole fish, crayfish bait, carp fillets, smoked and dried carp, carp bodies, and carp roe. Carp skins have even been tanned to produce leather-like belts and hand-bags.

In England fishing for carp is big business. Across southeastern Australia Catch a Carp days have become popular family fishing activities. You can join in the fun at Fishcare's sixth annual Catch a Carp Day, on Sunday 16th March at Port of Bairnsdale.

Entry is free and prizes will be awarded to Open and Junior classes for most number of carp caught and for heaviest carp. All entrants will be in the lucky entrant draw for night at the Best Western Mitchell Motor Inn.

Keen anglers can register on Sunday 16th from 7am. After registering at Port of Bairnsdale entrants can fish from any part of the Gippsland Lakes or it’s tributaries, then return to Port of Bairnsdale for weigh-in between 1pm and 2.30pm and presentation of awards at 3pm.
Displays, activities and carp tasting will run from noon at Port of Bairnsdale, on the Mitchell River, behind the Post Office.

Keith Bell from K & C Fisheries will be present with displays and carp tasting.

Waterwatch will have an interactive display. Kim Snyder from East Gippsland Waterwatch encourages members of the public to have a go. “The water bugs found on the day will give people an opportunity to see what fish in the river would usually feed on. The activities will be interactive – you can have a go at sampling the water and bugs”.

Fishcare East Gippsland Inc., hosts of the Annual Catch a Carp Day at Bairnsdale, will be on hand to answer questions, assist with fishing and tackle, and take enquiries for new memberships.

“Fishcare’s Catch a Carp Days just gets bigger and bigger. Last year there were 84 entrants and 67 carp were caught from the Mitchell River near Lindenow, Glenaladale and the Backwater, Clifton Creek, the Tambo River” says Tonia Stokes, Fishcare Facilitator, “it’s a great day for the family or the serious angler, with great prizes and plenty of give-aways, displays and activities at Port of Bairnsdale Sunday afternoon”

For more information contact Fishcare on at the DPI office in Bairnsdale or log on to the Fishcare website.

Fishcare’s Catch a Carp Day is supported by the National Heritage Trust, K & C Fisheries, Mulloway Fishing Charters, EGCMA, and Best Western Mitchell Motor Inn.

See Catch a Carp Day PDF poster here.