Channon carp muster clears local waterways

A CARP muster hosted by The Channon Fishing Club has removed dozens of invasive fish from local creeks while educating the community about protecting fish habitats.

Carp, an introduced species in Australia, harm native waterways by damaging aquatic plants, muddying the water, and disrupting habitats for native animals.

The NSW DPI Recreational Fishing Trust supports carp musters across the state to help manage their impact.

Thirty participants registered for the club’s inaugural event, fishing across Terania and Tuntable creeks upstream of the village, as well as Rocky Creek downstream.

The competition ran for 40 hours, offering a $2 bounty per carp as an incentive.

Steven Robertson, who grew up fishing in the area, caught the longest carp at 74cm and hauled in the most fish overall, nabbing 15.

Jo Pitt from The Channon Fishing Club said the event had been a success.

“We held the muster to educate the community about environmental concerns around fish habitats, and to show that recreational fishing is a great way to get out and about,” Ms Pitt said.

She said the club hopes to make the muster an annual event and attract more participants next year.

The muster aligns with initiatives funded by the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust, which provides $5 million in grants for projects promoting recreational fishing and improving fish habitats.

A further $2 million in infrastructure grants supports the development of fishing platforms, access tracks, and other facilities.

The trust is funded by revenue from the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee, payable by recreational saltwater and freshwater fishers. Applications for the grant programs are open until December 18.