It’s in its fifth year and it gets bigger each year – the annual Campaspe Carp Catch is on again, so dust off your rods, find your special spot and register to win some great prizes.

The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is organising the free carp fishing competition along the Campaspe River on Sunday 20 October, which is also National Gone Fishing Day.

It will run from noon to 3pm, with five registration, judging and barbecue sites along the river. 

North Central CMA Project Manager Angela Gladman said the event is a fun way to highlight the scourge of the introduced species.

“Carp are the rabbits of our rivers. They are a major component of the Murray-Darling Basin’s fish population and they cause significant damage to rivers, wetlands and the natural environment,” she said.

“We are working with community organisations such as the Echuca Moama Landcare, Strathallan Family Landcare, Rochester and District Angling Club and the  Longlea & District Landcare to put this carp catch event on, with funding assistance from the Victorian Fisheries Association.

“Register at one of our five hubs at noon, grab some lunch and put a line in. Judging will take place back at the registration spots at 3pm.”

The registration and judging sites are:

• Axedale River Reserve, off William Street
• Ayson’s Reserve at Elmore, on Burnewang Road
• Campaspe River Reserve near the Rochester water tower
• Strathallan Community Hall on Strathallan Road
• Echuca Lions Park at Ogilvie Avenue

There will be prizes for the Best Catch and the Biggest Bag.

“It is important everyone aged over 18 has fishing licences and complies with relevant fishing laws,” Angela said.

“It is also important everyone has fun, and takes home the understanding that introduced fish like the carp can damage our waterways and crowd out communities of our magnificent native fish.

“The Campaspe River is a significant environmental asset to Victoria, and is home to a number of threatened and vulnerable native fish.

“The North Central CMA has been doing a lot of work in recent years to improve the health of the Campaspe River through the delivery of water, and working with farmers to protect and enhance the bank vegetation through the Caring for the Campaspe project - one of the results being the return of fish such as the Murray-Darling rainbowfish and increased numbers of the iconic Murray cod.

“This is great news, and every carp pulled out of the river on the day will help.”

The event is part of the North Central CMA’s Caring for the Campaspe and Waterwatch projects, funded through the Victorian Government’s $222M initiative to improve the health of waterways and catchments.

It is also funded through a grant from the Victorian Fisheries Authority and the Victorian Government’s Regional Riparian Action Plan.