Annual junior fishing competition draws hundreds of young anglers

MORE than 230 young anglers from across the region battled sweltering heat on Australia Day to take part in the annual Ballina RSL Club junior fishing competition.

The free event offered a prize pool of around $10,000, with winners across multiple divisions taking home rods, reels, lures, soft plastics, hooks, Yeti gear, shirts and vouchers.

One of the standout moments came when an entrant landed a 92cm flathead, which had to be returned to the ocean under NSW fishing regulations, designed to protect reproductively important female fish.

For many of the younger participants, the event marked the first time they had ever caught a fish.

Families lined the boardwalk to cheer on contestants and celebrate their achievements.

Jay Morgan, of Hooked on Brewing, Bait & BBQ, has helped run the event for the last few years.

It is one of the few junior fishing competitions on the Far North Coast and boasts significant prizes.

“The generosity from our suppliers allows us to buy gear at a discounted rate because of the amount we spend with them throughout the year,” Morgan said.

“The reason we do it is to promote fishing and get families out on the water.”

The competition also has a strong educational focus, teaching participants about conservation and respect for aquatic environments.

Local fishing advocate David Moss runs lessons and charters around Ballina and donated a large tank for the kids to display their catches with a presentation inside the RSL Club.

“A big thank you to our sponsors Hooked on Brewing, Bait & BBQ, Shimano & Frogley’s Offshore,” a Ballina RSL representative said.

“Numbers were a little down this year, but that was mainly due to the heat,”

“Thank you to the Mark & the Ballina RSL Fishing Club for running the day and making sure everything went smoothly.”