Representing Rig Recycle at Australia's Biggest Fishing Comp
Rig Recycle Youth Ambassador
GUY LAMBERT
Last weekend, Dad and I travelled to the Gladstone area to represent Rig Recycle in the biggest fishing competition in Australia, the Boyne Tannum Hook Up.
It was great catching up with and working with Tangaroa Blue Coordinator Ian Anderson, who kindly accommodated us for the weekend.
With approximately 30,000 people attending the Hook Up, it was a great chance to meet and connect with the locals to promote clean fishing.
Diving in to rec fishing, rubbish and Rig Recycle
Ian and I caught up with many of the entrants and visitors, talking about the effect litter and fishing-related waste has on the environment, the importance of cleaning-up, and the easy things they can do to assist.
We took our tinnie, equipped front and back with onboard Tackle Backs, making it easy to keep used fishing gear for recycling.
We loved getting out in our boat to see the wonderful Gladstone region. As a bonus, we landed a few good fish (and lost some even better ones) for the competition.
It was interesting to learn that the Hook Up uses the event to assist the Department of Fisheries with monitoring fish stocks in the region. It does this by requiring entrants to bring caught fish in live. The fish are then measured, weighed, tagged, and released.
Exploring Gladstone and keeping our fishing spots clean
We visited a few tackle shops in Gladstone, and it was great to meet Greg at Tackle World and Liam at Compleat Angler, who both host Rig Recycle stations at their shops.
On the way out of Gladstone, we stopped for a quick fish and clean-up at a popular spot, the hot water outlet near the Power Station, filling a bucket with fishing line and other plastics. Leave it better than you found it!
Tight lines.
Guy Lambert
Rig Recycle Youth Ambassador
