The annual Rochester Carp Catch is returning for its 13th year, inviting families to cast a line, while helping remove invasive carp from the Campaspe River.
The community event will be held on Sunday, October 18, with registration from 11am and fishing running until judging at 3pm.
Competitors can fish anywhere along the Campaspe, with categories for under-10s, under-18s and open anglers.
Everyone who registers will receive a can of corn for bait, while the Rochester Anglers Club will be on hand to measure the catch.
The event has become a much-loved fixture on the local calendar, attracting hundreds of participants each year.
Strathallan Rochester Family Landcare member Veronica Groat said this was the 13th year they had been taking carp out of the Campaspe.
“It’s a good community event.”
Last year’s event drew about 300 people, with roughly the same number of carp caught during the day.
While there are prizes, including fishing gear and $50 vouchers for first and second place winners, the bigger goal is protecting native fish.
Carp are an introduced species that damage waterways by stirring up sediment and competing with native fish for habitat and food.
Any native fish accidentally caught during the competition are to be returned to the river.
“The river is a bio link and we’ve got to look after it and look after native fish,” she said.
The event is also proving popular with young anglers, with the under-18 category recording the highest number of registrations last year.
Beyond the riverbank, the Carp Catch also gives Rochester businesses a boost and competitors buy supplies locally, including bait, food and drinks, while visitors often stop in at the town’s cafés, pub and shops before or after fishing.
The day will also feature a sausage sizzle, drinks, fruit and ice-creams, making it as much a family outing as a fishing competition.
A sign promoting the Carp Catch is expected to go up near the Campaspe River bridge by October 1, giving anglers plenty of notice to dust off their rods and to reel in a few unwanted visitors.
The Victorian Fishing Authority will provide educational materials and resources for the event.
Recent Campaspe River fish survey results revealed encouraging trends, showing declining carp populations alongside increasing numbers of native fish species.
The Strathallan Rochester Family Landcare group meets at noon on the last Sunday of each month at the Rochester Hotel, with everyone welcome.
For more information, search Strathallan Rochester Family Landcare on Facebook.
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