Townsville tween anglers spend weekend learning to love fishing

Keen tween Townsville fishos spent Saturday learning the art of hooking a prized catch on the beach at Rollingstone.

• How to catch big barra during the warmer weather
• Monster Queensland Grouper takes local fisherman Jeremy De Haan 15 minutes to reel in

KEEN tween Townsville fishos spent Saturday learning the art of hooking a prized catch on the beach at Rollingstone.

The 2021 Sharkies Shootout has become a ‘reel’ hit with local kids over the last three years with spots completely booking out this year.

Hosted by the Townsville Game Fishing Club, 60 boys and girls learnt how to tie knots, cast lines, identify species of fish and bag limits.

Jordyn Beetham, 8, said she felt a sense of accomplishment at the end of the workshop.

“I liked learning about cast netting because you can catch lots of bait when you can’t fish,” she said.

William Travers, Archie Aurisch and Jordyn Beetham attended the 2021 Sharkies Shootout at Rollingstone learning the fundamentals of fishing and cast netting.

“I feel proud of myself because of all my hard work.”

Nine-year-old William Travers said he has been fishing since before he can even remember and he loved the thrill of the catch the most.

“I like how it feels when the rod bends because it feels so exciting that you are catching a fish,” he said.

Townsville Game Fishing Club president Bernie Travers said the idea for the workshop was about “instilling good values in the kids”. “I have been fishing all my life and there is nothing better than watching someone catch their first fish for the excitement, the thrill and the achievement,” he said.

Jordyn Beetham and William Travers attended the 2021 Sharkies Shootout at Rollingstone learning the fundamentals of fishing and cast netting.

“It is the satisfaction you get from helping other people, especially the kids, and watching the expression on their faces.”

On Saturday the kids released 2000 barramundi fingerlings into the Barra dams at the resort to rejuvenate the stock lost in the 2019 flood event.

Eleven year old Jack Allom took out the 2021 Sharkies Shootout title catching four fish during the day.

Originally published as Townsville tween anglers spend weekend learning to love fishing