Fishing for fame

Freshwater fishers will have a chance to catch more than a fish this summer if they enter a special fishing photography competition.

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and the Freshwater Recreational Fishing Trust have teamed up to run the competition, which will see 12 of the best fishing photos published in a special 2010 calendar.

NSW DPI recreational fisheries director, Peter Turnell, said the theme for competition was ‘Freshwater recreational fishing and all that it is to you’.

"Cameras are now part of most fishing tackle bags and the calendar is a great opportunity for people to offer their best photographs for others to enjoy," he said.

Mr Turnell said freshwater fishing environments offer some of the best landscapes in the State, so the winning photos might not be of only fish.

He said the competition was open to anyone who uses a camera and takes a picture that illustrates their interest in freshwater recreational fishing.

Entry is easy. Photographers can enter online, or through the post. But given the shape of the calendar, Mr Turnell said horizontal pictures would have a better chance of selection.

Photographs must be sent in by 30 July 2009 in time for selection and production of the 2010 calendar.

There are 12 prize packages to be won (all currently valued at more than $800), one for each photo to be featured in the calendar. Every entrant will also receive a free fishing lure.

Mr Turnell said the calendar would also contain detailed information on freshwater fishing rules and species, providing longevity to the educational information already distributed to the angling community.

"This is another great example of fishers’ licence fees working for them. Money raised from the recreational licence is placed in trusts, overseen by angler representatives, and can only be used to create better recreational fishing opportunities," he said.

More details can be found on the DPI Fisheries web site at:

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/recreational/freshwater-fishing/competition

Further reading

Recreational fishing licence fee