Rainfall couldn't deter a record number of anglers taking to the water to compete as part of an annual fishing competition.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Riverina Classic Catch and Release Fishing Competition took over the shores of the Murrumbidgee River in Darlington Point over the weekend, with the 2020 event seeing 582 people cast off in search of the largest haul possible.
Competition committee member Jeanice McCosker said it was pleasing to see so many people disregard the weather and take part in this year's event.
"It was very successful," Ms McCosker said.
"[The] drizzly weather was not as nice as we would have hoped for, but a great majority had a very good time and we had very positive feedback [from those competing]."
Anglers raked in 239 fish over the course of the three-day event, with carp the most common catch among fishers, with 109 caught during the competition.
Fishers competed to take out the champion angler trophies, with Jyi Romeo claiming the junior division with a haul of four fish for a total of 196 centimetres, while Hans Peter Lhota was the champion angler for the senior division, netting seven fish for a total of 418cm.
READ MORE
This year's event also raised funds for mental heath not-for-profit Rural Outreach Counselling, with the event raising $20,000 for the organisation.
Ms McCosker said the committee were "really proud" to contribute $20,000 to the organisation for a second year, with the donation meaning the event has donated over $100,000 in funds to charities since lines were first thrown out in 2014.
Keeping with tradition, the competition organisers also did their part to ensure the stability of the fish population within the Murrumbidgee River, releasing 10,000 native fingerlings into the river, with 5,000 Murray Cod and 5,000 Yellowbelly fingerlings being distributed into the river.
Ms McCosker said the event committee aims to keep the fish population sustainable so the event can be held for years to come.
"We won't have a fishing competition if we're not sustainable," Ms McCosker said.
"It's good to be able to help maintain fish numbers [in the river]."
Champion Anglers
- Senior Division - Hans Peter Lhota (seven fish totalling 418cm)
- Junior Division - Jyi Romeo (four fish totalling 196cm)
Largest Murray Cod
- Senior Division Male - Will O'Connor (96cm)
- Senior Division Female - Amy McColl (62cm)
- Junior Division Female - Tiani Saunders (65cm)
- Junior Division Male - Coopah Ryan (72cm)
Largest Yellowbelly
- Senior Division Male - Brent O'Donnell (50cm)
- Senior Division Female - Vicky Williams (50cm)
- Junior Division Female - Matilda O'Donnell (45cm)
- Junior Division Male - Jyi Romeo (54cm)
Largest Carp
- Overall - Thomas Fuller (75cm)
