‘No Coldplay antics here’: Anglers lured away for safe and fun weekend to find their catch
Fishing fanatics who want to be on line instead of online are getting the chance to find someone shrimply irresistible or new friends at a weekend away at Dundee Beach.
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Territorian fishing fanatics are being given the chance to find their human catch without putting down their rods.
For a Cast and Connect weekend at Dundee Beach in August, anglers aged between 45 and 60 years old will have the opportunity will be lured away for some dating ice breakers, fishing fun and campfire dinners.
And the host behind the event, Emma Cartwright, has promised to vet any red herrings.
Unlike Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
By now, anyone who holds any semblance of an online connection will have seen the so-called Coldplay scandal.
The moment where a couple caught canoodling drop to the floor on a roving camera at a Coldplay concert has unified the globe but Emma said they would ensure there would be no repeats of the incident at the weekend away.
“We will be actually vetting applications and making sure that they meet certain criterias,” she said.
“There’ll be none of the Coldplay antics happening.
“We need to know that we’re finding the right people that want to come for the right reasons.”
Helping provide chance to reel in a future partner
Whether people are keen to find a friend or their future lobster, Emma said it was a great chance for anglers to connect.
As the founder of the Territory’s first women’s fishing tournament 24 years ago and director of Anglers Choice Fishing Safaris charter, the experienced angler said she continually hears from “both sides of the fence” asking where the men and women who like fishing are.
“And I’m thinking, well there’s lots of them we just need to connect you with them,” she said.
“It’s becoming harder and harder for people in general and especially in that age bracket.
“They don’t want to be online, they want to be on line.
“These women and the men involved, they deserve to find each other.
”I’d encourage people to register, nominate or encourage people to participate because we all know someone that we say, ‘how can you possibly be single? You’re a great catch.’”
Emma said the net has been cast wide with some people planning to fly up from down south to attend.
The three-day getaway from 28 to 31 August will feature some time to meet and greet, sunset dinners on the beach and some casting and fishing competitions.
“We will have a little bit of competitive rivalry between the boys and the girls to see who really are the better anglers and who’s got the biggest fish,” she said.
“So we’ll certainly be figuring that one out to see if size really does matter.
“It’ll be a lot of fun.”
‘We don’t all do dating apps, we’d rather go fishing’
Angler Jules Gray, age 53, and her sister have decided to take the plunge and sign up for the weekend mainly due to the fishing and competitive side to the getaway.
Brought up by their dad, a keen fisher and “outdoorsy kind of fella”, the siblings were always out on the boat with their rods and remain hooked to this day.
Jules said she first met Emma after taking a group of girls for Emma’s Reel Women Barra Classic competition and said the getaway was a “brilliant idea”.
“I’m not necessarily looking for a relationship, but just the more the merrier,” she said.
“We have so much fun while we’re out there fishing with all us girls … so it’ll be nice to break that up with some blokes in there too.
“They add a different element to it.”
Cindy Meissner has been on the road as a full-time nomad for the last 10 years and goes fishing every chance she gets.
Not a fan of dating apps and often being time poor, the 52-year-old said the Cast and Connect weekend appealed as it brings like-minded people together in a fun environment.
Especially as unlike team sports, it can be difficult to meet people when out fishing.
“I’m not a fan of the app world,” she said. “It’s just not real enough for my liking so I’d rather spend my time out fishing.
“It’s hard to meet people like-minded people in the same age bracket.
“The weekend is a great way to meet people, whether it turns out to be a plus one that you end up with or just a companion and without all the pressure.”
It seems people are already waiting with bait-ed breath for the next weekend.
Emma said she has been contacted about doing other events for different age brackets.
“I think let’s lead the way by doing it with this group first, and then who knows what may happen,” she said.
“I’m really keen to … run this across different states and territories.”
The Cast and Connect Weekend is being held at Dundee Beach from 28 to 31 August.
For more information or to apply, please email fishing@anglerschoice.com.au
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