NSW Department of Primary Industries

Gone Fishing NSW Day

More topics in this section

Sunday, 8 October 2023
Mark the date in your calendar NOW!

Gone Fishing NSW Day

Gone Fishing Day is back in 2023!

Once again DPI will be running a host of major events around NSW to celebrate our love of fishing and encourage everyone to get out on the water. It doesn't matter if you haven't fished before or if you're the keenest of anglers, Gone Fishing Day is for everyone!

Free NSW DPI community fishing events for everyone will be hosted by DPI across NSW on Sunday 8 October from 10:00am – 2:00pm (see below).

There will be something for everyone, including beginners, who want to learn about fishing, as well as activities for the keen angler.

DPI Event Details

DPI will be hosting free community fishing events on 8 October 2023 from 10:00am – 2:00pm.

At the Sydney and Port Macquarie events, you can also swap your traditional witches hat nets in exchange for more environmentally friendly crab traps. To register for the Crab Trap Exchange, please book through the links below.

We are also requesting people to register for the fishing sessions for the Sydney event so please book through the link in the comments below (Sydney only, no need to register for the other event locations).

Come join us at the following locations:

  • North Coast - Town Green, Port Macquarie
    • Register for Port Macquarie event Crab Trap Exchange - Book Here
  • Central Coast - Restella Ave Foreshore, Davistown
  • Sydney - Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith
    • Register for the Sydney event Crab Trap Exchange - Book Here
    • Register for fishing session at Gone Fishing Day Sydney event - Fully Booked
  • South Coast - Reddall Reserve, Lake Illawarra
  • North West - Crossing Theatre Park, Narrabri
  • South West - Bill Robertson Park, Cowra

Fishing clubs and organisations

Many fishing clubs and organisations will be running their own community fishing events and activities in their own local area on NSW Gone Fishing Day – on or around 8 October 2023.

Applications for club fishing packages and grants have now closed for 2023.

More Info?

For more information email gofishing.nsw@dpi.nsw.gov.au.

Gone Fishing Day is run in collaboration with the Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation.

Activities in NSW are supported with funding from the Recreational Fishing Trusts and NSW DPI. This is all part of ‘Fish for Life – Building a healthy fishing future’.

Fish For life logo

Image gallery

Crowds at the Sydney Gone Fishing Day

Families fishing on a river bank

Families fishing on a river bank

A lucky angler with his catch

A lucky angler with his catch

Crowds around the giant cast tank

Crowds flock to see what is in the giant cast tank

Keen anglers learning to fly fish

Expert advice on all different fishing forms

Children learning to cast

DPI staff teaching children to cast

Crowds enjoying free giveaways

Free fishing giveaways on the day

Photo taken of angler with fish

Capturing the moment a lucky angler lands a fish

Crowds looking at stalls at gonefishing day 2019

Crowds of people enjoying stalls at the 2019 Gone Fishing Day

Crowds looking at information stalls at Gone fishing day 2019

Crowds looking at information displays

Kids learning to cast at a casting clinc

Learning to cast is fun for all ages

Families fishing on a river bank at a gone fishing day event

Gone Fishing day is fun for all the family

Families fishing on a river bank
A lucky angler with his catch
Crowds around the giant cast tank
Keen anglers learning to fly fish
Children learning to cast
Crowds enjoying free giveaways
Photo taken of angler with fish
Crowds looking at stalls at gonefishing day 2019
Crowds looking at information stalls at Gone fishing day 2019
Kids learning to cast at a casting clinc
Families fishing on a river bank at a gone fishing day event
www.dpi.nsw.gov.au