Celebrating a nation of fishers

Celebrating a nation of fishers

The Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation (ARFF) is calling on the nation’s recreational fishers to be involved with Australia’s biggest celebration of recreational fishing, National Gone Fishing Day, on Sunday October 18.

ARRF spokesperson John Burgess said, “We have carefully designed Gone Fishing Day 2020 so that anyone can safely get involved on the day via an innovative Gone Fishing Day App and be in the running for prizes being drawn every 5 minutes. Through the Gone Fishing Day app, fishers can upload photos and videos of their favourite fishing locations, captures and stories of their memorable fishing moments.

Fishing is central to the Australian way of life with an estimated 3.5 million participants annually wetting a line from the shore or boat or donning a wetsuit in pursuit of diverse fishing experiences. For some it is a sport or a leisure activity, for others it’s a social activity spent with family and friends. Whether you are young or old, recreational fishing is a lifelong activity that everyone can enjoy while connecting with Australia’s unique marine and aquatic environments.

With the help of OzFish Unlimited, Gone Fishing Day 2020 will also ask fishers to focus on those amazing waterways and fish habitats that provide Australians with incredible fishing opportunities and experiences.

With droughts, bushfires and now Covid-19 throwing a dampener on so many outdoor sporting and social activities, the importance of recreational fishing as an avenue for health and well-being cannot be overstated. The significance of recreational fishing upon our mental health is something we want to highlight in this year’s event celebrations and to serve as a reminder that we should never take this for granted.”

The Gone Fishing Day app will be available for download from both the Apple and Google Play stores from mid-September.

Download the Gone Fishing Day App today!