A great catch at a Gaden fishing workshop

Aim

Fishing workshops are designed to teach responsible fishing practices to children, providing an enjoyable educational experience. The program is funded by the Recreational Fishing Trust, with its major goal is to teach the basics of fishing to a newcomer and to encourage them to continue in the sport.

Participants develop knowledge and understanding about:

• Fishing rules and regulations
• Fishing safely and responsibly
• Fish anatomy, habitat and fishing skills (baiting, rigging and casting)

General workshops: saltwater and freshwater

DPI runs general fishing workshops in both saltwater and freshwater locations. The location sites vary over time but generally are located in either departmental owned facilities or safe locations which have been risk assessed by agency staff.

• Freshwater workshops are also often run at departmental fish hatcheries, such as  Gaden (Jindabyne), Dutton (Ebor), Narrandera and Grafton.
• Saltwater workshops are run at places such as, Brunswick Heads, Ballina, Evans Head, Coffs Harbour, Urunga, The Entrance, Lake Macquarie, Potonga, Narrabeen, Balmain, Darling Harbour, Cronulla, Lake Illawarra, Narooma and Batemans Bay.

Workshops are for children aged between 8 and 14 years. Workshops generally last no more than 5 hours and the number of maximum participants is 30.

What is included in Fishing Workshops

Thank you letter

A charge of $40 applies per child to all Fishing Workshops, except the Community Engagement and Special Needs Fishing Workshops which are conducted free of charge. The charge subsidises the cost of gear used/given to the child at the completion of the days activities. Over the course of the day, children are taken through a series of activity or lesson sessions including;

• rules and regulations
• fishing safety and responsibly 
• conservation of fish habitats
• knot tying
• line rigging and baiting
• casting techniques, retrieval of fish and fish handling

At the completion of the day, each child is receives a rod, reel, tackle box, hooksafe, shirt, cap and goodie bag to take home with them. At some venues a BBQ lunch and or morning/afternoon tea is also provided. At the end of the day, a quiz session, provides each child with a prize to take home, plus a certificate of achievement.

Participants with prizes and goodie bags at the end of a south coast fishing workshop.

All fishing workshops are run by experienced Fisheries Education Officers, in conjunction with other DPI staff. Fishcare volunteers and local angling club members also provide invaluable assistance and experience on the day.

• See the Cronulla South Primary School blog
  

Your child's safety on the day

DPI complies with the NSW Commission for Children and Young People, by ensuring all staff and volunteers undergo working with children checks and follow the practices as outlined by the agency.

Sites used by the agency to undertake the workshops are risked assessed by experienced DPI staff and risks and hazards identified and minimised.

All parents are encouraged to ensure there child is appropriately dressed for the days activity, including enclosed shoes, they bring a water bottle and sunscreen is applied beforehand. Children with allergies and or health conditions are catered for provided information has been given prior, by correctly filling out the requested paperwork and returning it to the appropriate Education Officer, three working days prior to the workshop.

How are Fishing Licence Fees being used to support this program?

The NSW Recreational Fishing Trust provides funding to ensure the workshop program continues around the state. With these funds we are better placed to ensure consistent messages, effectiveness and equity in our workshop program. Quality take home materials such as rods and reels ensures the education experience lasts longer.

How do I get involved in these Fishing Workshops

Individuals

General fishing workshops are advertised in local papers, on our website and at agency offices, each advert has contact details attached and you are encouraged to call this number to lodge your interest with the agency. You will be sent out a set of forms for completion and return. Workshop payment is via credit card only and must be paid prior to the event.

All participants wear safety glasses
for eye protection.

Contact your local Fisheries Education Officer (table below) for more information.

Groups/organisation

A number of special needs, community engagement and NESB fishing workshops are undertaken each year. These are free to each participant, however it is the responsibility of the group/organisation to provide transport to and from the location and qualified carers where necessary.

Limited numbers of workshops are available each year so unfortunately not all requests can be met. For more information contact your local Fisheries Education Officer (table below) for more information.

When are the next Workshops at DPI?

Freshwater workshop timetable

Saltwater workshop timetable

Workshop feedback

Learning new skills with friends,
makes for an enjoyable day.

Partnership workshops 

Watch the Cops and Koori Fishing Workshop Promo video.

Gaden Hatchery Fishing Workshop Feedback

Dear Stephen, I would just like to thank you for the fantastic opportunity my students had in participating in your Trout Fishing Workshop on the 2nd of October 2011. Despite the freezing weather every boy had an awesome time. The day was well organised  and excellently supervised by your experienced staff.

Many of the students that I brought would never get the opportunity to learn about fish, fishing and conservation. As part of our outdoor educational program, it was a wonderful opportunity for our boys to develop knowledge and understanding about responsible fishing practices, fishing rules and regulations, fishing safety and fish anatomy. Our school cannot wait until next year, we would like to bring more! Once again, thanks, Tracey/Canberra

Dutton Hatchery Region Fishing Workshop Feedback

Narrandera Hatchery Fishing Workshop Feedback

• Feedback from Narrandera workshop  31.5 KB
  
• Feedback from Narrandera workshop  94.7 KB
  

Western Region Fishing Workshop Feedback

As it's the last day of the school holidays I just wanted to tell what a great time fishing my boys have had these holidays. They have spent the best part of the holidays riding up and down river on their bikes to various fishing holes, fishing and swimming. All thanks to the workshop. They have become fishing obsessed and get up at 5.30, unheard of for most 14 yr olds!!, just to go fishing. Best of all they have caught some really big fish that they thrilled with. Cheers, Michelle, Central West Tablelands

Sydney Region Fishing Workshop Feedback

Please thank all ( Bob, Bill, Gary & others) with regard to yesterdays workshop. Our three boys: Zach, Lachlan & Sam had a great day. Sam was very pleased with his catch - Snapper. All the boys commented that they had more fun than playing X-Box; so it must have been good!

Just like to let you know Dion really enjoyed yesterday's workshop, he is proudly showing off his new fishing rod and vowing to catch some fish for me. Thank you for organising the workshop.

My son and two of his friends attended the Fishing workshop at Sydney International Regatta centre, Penrith on Fri 24th April and I would like to say a big thank you to the organisers. The boys had a great time and are still enthusiastic even though none of them even caught a fish. The bag they were given was excellent. Many Thanks.

Just wanted to thank you and your colleagues for the wonderful day you gave the kids at the Fishing Workshop, everyone had a great day and we were most impressed with the organization of the day. Jacob's Dad was so envious of his shirt, they were so pleased with all the gear. Parent, Fay, Sydney 2010

I just wanted to write to you to thank you for offering such a wonderful fishing program. Aaron had a wonderful day and came home reiterating all that he had learnt about fishing and its restrictions. He is now very keen to talk about his experience in an assessment task due next term. It is always a challenge as a parent to find engaging and educational activities during school holidays. I congratulate you and particularly the volunteers for providing such a memorable day. I will certainly be singing your praises. Parent, Mary, Sydney 2010

Thank you for organising today's fishing clinic. I enjoyed it very much. I liked catching the fish and also learning about the size limits and how much you are allowed to catch. My Dad is going to take me fishing next week and I will be using my new fishing rod that I got today. Workshop participant, Sydney 2010

Southern Region Fishing Workshop Feedback

Hi Stephen my son Jai attended the fishing clinic on the 10/12/11 this is a thank you for the day as he thoroughly enjoyed it and didn’t stop talking about it for a couple of days we try and go fishing every weekend off shell harbour and clinics like the one you held makes kids realise how important it is to sustain the oceans resources and finer tips on fishing so on that note thank you and please keep programs like these going as they are a good thing for the kids and parents alike please feel free to inform us by email off any other clinics or programs that you run in the future.

Who else runs Fishing Workshops in NSW?

DPI also supports the 'Hooked on Fishing' programs run by the Department of Sport & Recreation during school holiday periods at centres such as, Lake Keepit,  Broken Bay and Myuna Bay. For more information contact the Department of Sport and Recreation on 13 13 02.

Fishing education programs are also run by some fishing clubs, councils and community education centres. To find the groups in your area, contact your local council and request a list of the local community organisations.

For more information about the Department's fishing workshops, contact Dee McElligott, Recreational Trust - State Coordinator, Community Programs, on (02) 95278531 or 0408437547.