Lachlan Slade was the first to see the rod wriggle as he hooked on to a toadie. Shortly after, Alexander Ampolus was the center of attention as he was reeling in with ease, a docile flathead of a decent size. 

The 14-year-old visiting from Sydney was thrilled with his catch and spoke highly of the workshop.

“It is so educational, it teaches you a lot of skills and the rules about fishing so that there are fish for everyone – unlike Sydney where there is none,” Alexander said.

The kids fishing workshop runs twice each year with the help of trained Fishcare volunteers. DPI fishing workshop coordinator Stephan Thurstan said kids walk away from the program hooked on fishing. 

“A lot of parents don’t have any fishing experience. The kids will see an add on tv and want to give it a try. The program is perfect for that – it gives the kids something to do during the school holidays and it gets them outside,” he said.

“We get great feedback from their parents. They often find their kids wont tell them what they had learnt at school, but instead they wont stop talking about fishing.”

The young fishers learn all sorts of skills, such as casting, knot tying, assembling rods and reels as well as invaluable information on how to fish sustainably within the rules and regulations. 

Children aged eight to 14-years-old enter the program at a cost of $40. They receive a fishing hat, rod and reel to take home which has been subsidised through the Recreational Fishing Licence Trust.