Sunfish "Take a Kid Fishing Day" Hosted by EMFMI

[Member]

Sunfish Take a Kid Fishing Day 25th March 2012
Hosted by Ewen Maddock Fish Management Inc.
Rotary Park / Cotton Tree Sunshine Coast
Members of Ewen Maddock Fish Management Inc. had the privilege of hosting approximately 25 kids for the annual Sunfish/Australian Fishing Trade Association initiative, Take a Kid Fishing Day at Rotary Park Cotton Tree on the Sunshine Coast. With the recent flooding events that occurred during the week just gone and heavy showers that persisted the night before the event. Members of the stocking group were ominous to how many kids were to turn up on the day, along with how the fish were going to bite, as there was plenty of freshwater within the Maroochy River catchment area. Upon the kid’s arrival and to start proceedings, registrations took place with a briefing to the kids to what they may catch, size and take limits and identifying certain species. Many members of the group were on hand to give advice and to assist the kids on how to rig their rods, measure the fish they caught and ways of baiting their hooks with a variety of morsel baits.
Upon checking the location the day before, the river was chocolate brown on an outgoing tide. However, as the event was being held near the mouth of the river and we were blessed on the day with a high tide mid-morning, a good run of salt water to where the kids were to fish was evident. As the tide turned, we could see the dirty water mark where the fresh met the salt, several hundred metres upstream, which gave us an opportunity to land some small, yet nice healthy estuary species. These fish included Flathead, Whiting, Bream, Estuary Cod and a couple of Morwong. For some kids it was the first time they actually held a rod let alone coming face to face to a fish they had caught themselves. Unbelievably every kid caught a fish and at days end, approximately 50-60 fish had seen themselves measured and photographed before their release with the kids.
As the tide slowed and turned, so did the fish. It was decided that the BBQ was to be lit, as an abundance of sausages were sizzled and the long yarns began. The kids were elated to receive a sample bag and a prize each which saw them smiling from ear to ear, happy with their day on the water. EMFMI’s contribution for the days’ event, saw members of the group obviously satisfied, and humbled, observing the excitement and joy the kids experienced throughout the morning.
EMFMI would like to thank and acknowledge Sunfish, Queensland Fisheries and the Australian Fishing Trade Association for such a fantastic initiative for “Taking a Kid Fishing Day”. Next year we are hoping to hold the event at EMD where the fingerlings have matured to a size where the kids can enjoy catching some nice Bass from the banks.

Cheers Dave