Interest mounts as anglers count the days to Manilla’s ‘Carp Muster’

Expert and amateur anglers alike are counting down the days to the inaugural Manilla ‘Carp Muster’, which will be held on November 22-23.

Namoi CMA's Anne Ferguson said there has been a great deal of interest in the muster during the lead up to the event, which is being run by Namoi CMA, NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and the Manilla Fishing Club.

"The Carp Muster gives anglers the opportunity to win thousands of dollars worth of great prizes by catching the pest species in the Namoi and Manilla Rivers from Barraba to Manilla and Warrabah to Keepit, including Split Rock and Keepit Dams.

"The main centre of activity will be the Manilla Showground where people can register and weigh-in their carp, as well as get involved in tree planting and ‘Water Watch’ activities," she said. 

NSW DPI Conservation Manager, Milly Hobson, said while carp have been blamed for a range of river degradation issues, it was more likely the combined effects of catchment-wide influences including uncontrolled stock access, lack of riparian vegetation and de-snagging were contributing to the poor health of our waterways.

"The weekend offers a fantastic opportunity for the community to learn more about the impact of carp on native fish and how planting trees, removing willows and re-snagging the water can benefit native fish," she said.

The Carp Muster forms an integral part of the Namoi Aquatic Habitat Initiative, a joint project between Namoi CMA and NSW DPI, which aims to bring back native fish to the Namoi by improving aquatic and riparian habitat.

"NSW DPI and Namoi CMA held their first Carp Muster in Narrabri last March to showcase other on-ground works being done as part of the Initiative, and more than 300 people participated to help remove more than 500kg of carp from the Namoi River.

"With interest growing in the lead up to this Carp Muster, we’re hoping to have a similar turn out at Manilla," Ms Hobson said.

Registration for the Carp Muster will be at the Manilla Showground starting from 7am - 5pm on Saturday, November 22, and again from 7am - 12pm on Sunday, November 23. You only need to register once and only legal fishing methods can be used during the event.

Every carp that is caught and weighed-in will give anglers more chances of going in the draw to take home a prize, with category winners including the biggest carp caught, and mystery prizes for both junior and senior categories.

"We have some great prizes up for grabs from Tamworth Fishing Tackle and Outdoor Camping Centre, AquaNorth, Spar Supermarket Manilla and local Manilla businesses.

"So get the camping gear out, get out on the water and catch a carp, or get your hands dirty planting a tree and learn what makes our native fish happy," Ms Ferguson said.

For more information about the competition call Anne Ferguson, Namoi CMA on (02) 6742 9202 or Milly Hobson, NSW DPI on (02) 6763 1206.

Further reading

Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Threats to fish habitats