If you like fishing but hate the menace that is the carp species, well, carpe diem, as the poet Horace says.
You can only seize the day once a year, but it’s better than nothing, so get your fishing gear out and head to the Eagle Vale pond on Sunday week, March 22 to help reduce carp stocks.
That’s the day this annual fight against carp – also known as the Campbelltown City Council Catch a Carp competition – returns to Eagle Vale pond.
The competition continues to grow in popularity each year, with many local families taking advantage of the chance to cast a line for a good cause.
Mayor of Campbelltown, Councillor Paul Lake, said the Catch a Carp competition helped raise awareness of an important local issue.
“Carp are a noxious fish that have a negative impact on plants, animals and general river health,” Cr Lake said.
“Last year’s event saw more than 90 fish caught, and we’re looking for keen anglers to help catch even more this year to help reduce the impact of carp on the various native species that inhabit the pond.”
Carp can survive in poor water quality and low water levels and have been linked to algal blooms, waterway erosion and a reduction in native fish populations.
A noxious species, carp are generally not suitable for consumption, and participants will be required to hand in their catch at the end of the event.
But there’ll be lots of prizes on offer, including mystery length, biggest carp caught, most carp caught, and for the first time, a prize for the smallest carp caught.
A free sausage sizzle and raffle will help make it a fun day out for participants and spectators alike.
The free community event will be held between 7am and 10.30am at Eagle Farm Reserve, located on Emerald Drive.
The event is the only day of the year that fishing can be conducted at the pond, and participants aged 18 or over require a fishing licence to compete (some exclusions apply).
To pre-register, or to find out more, visit campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/CatchaCarp or phone 4645 4346.
