Edward Kolety Fishing Challenge co-ordinator Andrew Jefferies (centre) with Maverick and his father Paul Jeams.
Another 30,000 golden perch (yellowbelly) fingerlings are now swimming free in the Edward River system thanks to theEdward River Kolety Fishing Challenge.
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Proceeds from the 2024 event’s major raffle were used to purchase the fingerlings from the Tara Fish Farm Hatchery, with the government’s dollar for dollar program doubling the number of fingerlings provided.
With only days to arrange the release, organisers took to social media on Sunday to drum up help for a Monday morning release.
Locals anglers, event sponsors and visitors all heeded the call yesterday, with 50 people helping to introduce bucket and esky loads of the yellowbelly to the river across two release points in Deniliquin.
“We started at Four Post Camp, and then released more at Willoughby’s Beach in Deniliquin” challenge co-ordinator Andrew Jefferies said.
“We had supporters and sponsors come down, and quite a number of the campers at Willoughby’s came over for a sticky beak, so we let the kids release a bucket load each too.
“It was also a great opportunity to talk to the kids about the fish and our rivers, and to their parents about the challenge.”
Among those participating in the release were the Jeams family from Melbourne.
Annual visitors to Deniliquin, and past entrants of the fishing challenge, they said it was the perfect opportunity to teach their son Maverick that being a keen fisherman is more than just dropping a line in.
Mr Jefferies said every one of the fingerlings released yesterday has been recorded on a DNA register, which is part of a national database and helps with native fish research.
“We can take a small fin sample from any of the fish caught in the system and send it off for testing.
“If their DNA comes up on the register, the details are recorded to help us learn more about fish health and movements.
“If they are not on the register, we can assume they have been bred naturally.
“Knowing where the fish are breeding well helps us target these releases in the future.
“As early as two years ago, we had to kill a fish to get this sort of data, so the constant improvements in technology are really making a difference for us.”
Mr Jefferies said it is events like the Edward Kolety Fishing Challenge which support such research, and improvements in native fish and waterway health.
All proceeds from the Deniliquin-based event are donated to river projects, or to local community groups.
One of the beneficiaries of the 2025 event will be Navorina Nursing Home.
The Challenge will be held February 7-8, with activities centred at Deniliquin’s Memorial Park.
As well as fishing, there will be family-friendly events open to the entire community, as well as raffles and charity auctions.
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