The new Edward Kolety Fishing Challenge in Deniliquin can now lay claim to being a record breaking event.
A third fish release into local waterways has just been completed since the inaugural event in February last year.
Committee members were joined by entrants, event sponsors and supporters on Sunday to release 30,000 golden perch fingerlings into the Edward system.
It was the largest single fingerling order received for this area by the NSW Government run Narrandera Fisheries Centre.
Edward Kolety Fishing Challenge coordinator Andrew Jefferies said boosting release numbers was the NSW Government’s contribution of $2 for every dollar expended by the group.
“We released $30,000 worth of fish, with our share including equal amounts of funding from the 2023 Edward Kolety Fishing Challenge and the Edward River Camping and Fishing Group,” Mr Jefferies said.
“That group supports our fishing event, but also runs weekly raffles at the Coach House Hotel in Deniliquin.
“The fish were delivered to us on New Year’s Eve, and we released 10,000 at Willoughby’s Beach, 10,000 at Benarca Bend and 10,000 at Four Post Camp.
“We do that to avoid speed boats and to enable them to spread through the system a bit more, but research shows us that these fingerlings will travel up to 20km within a week of being released.
“This release is the result of the 2023 competition, which has also allowed for $8000 worth of eel tailed catfish and $4000 in mature Murray cod to be released into the system since February last year.
“We want to continue with similar releases for at least the next five or six years, or even longer.”
Mr Jefferies said the fishing challenge was established with that very goal in mind - improving the health of local waterways, and therefore local fishing opportunities.
“Once again the Edward Kolety Fishing Challenge is breaking records and making history.
“We’ve reintroduced endangered species (Eel tailed catfish) when they said it couldn’t be done, and our release on Sunday was the largest quantity of fish to be released in the local waters in one year, let alone one day.
“If you were a sponsor, a competitor or simply purchased raffle tickets, you all own these fish; we couldn’t have done this without you.
“Now let’s see what we can achieve in 2024.”
The Edward Kolety Fishing Challenge is presented by the Deniliquin Kolety Landcare Group.
This year is being hosted February 16-18, with activities centred at Deniliquin Memorial Park adjacent the Edward River.
This year the challenge boasts more than $30,000 in prizes, which includes two boat packages - one as a fishing prize and one as a raffle prize.
Entrant numbers are capped at 300, plus sponsor representatives.
Mr Jefferies said entry tickets are selling fast, with the majority coming from outside the local area so far.
Tickets are $155 per adult, which includes the opportunity to fish, win some great prizes, entry in the Sunday morning Dash for Cash and most of your meals for the weekend.
Junior tickets are also available for $110.
But you don’t have to be an angler to support the overall aim of the fishing challenge.
Every ticket sold in the Deniliquin Yamaha sponsored major raffle represents another two fingerlings released into local waterways.
First prize is an AnglaPro 354 boat with Yamaha 15Hp electric start motor on trailer with safety pack, valued at almost $14,000.
Second is a $3,950 Yamaha YFZ50 49cc kids’ automatic quad bike and third is a $1,300 STIHL garden care package.
Challenge entry, raffle tickets and event merchandise can be purchased online at www.trybooking.com/1096957.
Raffle tickets can also be purchased at Deniliquin Party Hire, Premix King Deniliquin, Deniliquin Outdoors and Camping/Deniliquin Betta Home Living, and Deniliquin Yamaha.