Next month local fishers will get a chance to join the fight against that menace of our waterways – the carp – in the annual catch a carp competition.
The 2016 Campbelltown City Council version will be held at Lake Mandurama Reserve, Cleopatra Drive, Ambarvale on Sunday, March 6.
Previously held at Eagle Vale pond, the competition has proven so successful at reducing carp numbers that council, in partnership with the Dharawal Men’s Aboriginal Corporation, will this year host the event at Lake Mandurama, in an effort to reduce carp numbers in this waterway.
There will be prizes on offer across a range of age categories, including biggest carp caught, smallest carp caught, most carp caught and a mystery length prize. Participants can also enjoy a free sausage sizzle and the chance to win great raffle prizes thanks to event sponsors BCF, Trophy Mart, Rotary Club of Campbelltown and Sydney Sustainable Living Festival.
Carp are classified as a noxious species, and have been linked to algal blooms, waterway erosion and a reduction in native fish populations.
Intensive recreational fishing for carp in small, closed water systems has been shown to dramatically reduce numbers.
Mayor of Campbelltown, Cr Paul Hawker, said the Catch a Carp competition was a fun, family friendly event that helped raise awareness of an important local issue.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“We hope that by targeting lakes and ponds around Campbelltown, we can deplete the numbers of carp and improve the health of our waterways – giving our native fish and waterbird populations the best chance of survival,” Cr Hawker said.[/social_quote]
The Catch a Carp competition is the one day of the year that fishing is permitted at Lake Mandurama. Participants are asked to supply their own fishing equipment and are encouraged to use corn kernels as bait.
Not only is it a great bait to catch carp, but it also helps to replace bread, which is bad for the health of our wildlife.
Participants can throw a line in the water between 7am and 10.30am and are advised to arrive early to maximise fishing time and have the best chance of catching a winner.
Competition entrants aged 18 and over will require a NSW fishing licence to compete (some exclusions apply).
To pre-register, or to find out more, visit the catch a carp website or contact Council’s Environment team on 4645 4601.
