GoFish Nagambie will be held from April 25 to 28 with the festival hub located at the Nagambie Lakes Regatta Centre.
The competition zone will encompass 30km of waterways on the Goulburn River and Lake Nagambie, with anglers able to choose between using a boat or kayak to fish or show off their skills on the bank.
The river and lake will be stocked with native species, Murray cod and golden perch, in the hope all participants will catch something on the long weekend.
There is $500000 of prizes and cash on offer for all skill levels and ages with the largest cash prize for the angler who manages to pull in the biggest Murray cod.
GoFish Nagambie ambassador and freshwater fisherman Rhys Creed is excited about the competition and hopes a new generation of anglers take up freshwater fishing.
‘‘Bringing anglers of all abilities to one place to have a good time, learn more about fishing and for them to see what Nagambie has to offer is a huge opportunity for both the local community and the fishing industry,’’ Creed said.
Creed also believes it will be great opportunity to talk about the importance of catch and release in fishing to younger anglers.
The competition will be catch and release, with all fish returned to the water except for any European carp as they are listed as a noxious aquatic species by the Victorian Fisheries Authority.
Strathbogie Shire Mayor Amanda McClaren sees the festival as being a fantastic opportunity for the region to promote itself because it’s expected the competition will attract visitors from all over Australia and possibly some international visitors as well.
‘‘This is a fantastic opportunity for our shire and we encourage anyone interested to sign up because places are limited,’’ Cr McClaren said.
For more information head to gofishnagambie.com.au
