
The Bathurst RSL Fishing Club’s BCF Carp Blitz on the Macquarie River is on again in November.
Last year, the event attracted 550 fishers who grassed one tonne -- yes one tonne -- of European Carp in six and a half hours of fishing.
The fishers included 15 school teams of three kids any age, boys or girls or mixed, contesting the Central West Catchment Authority Carp Catching Champs' Trophy, with the winners Kelso Public School who will defend their title on Sunday, November 4.
The Bathurst Blitz starts at 7.30am and runs to 2.00pm November 4, with fishing on the Macquarie River around Bathurst, up and downstream. There is another Sofala Carp Blitz conducted by the Sofala Acclimatisation Society on Sunday, November 25, from 7.00am to 4.00pm on the Turon River.
While Bathurst’s biggest Carp last year was just under seven kilograms, the biggest at Sofala was almost 10 kilograms and landed on a fly! Bathurst gold coin donations resulted in 7500 Murray Cod released into Chifley Dam, while Sofala’s entry donations saw trout released into the Turon and tributaries.
The club is also promoting -- “If you can’t beat 'em -- eat 'em” -- using the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority's cook book containing 30 recipes put together by celebrity chefs Iain Hewitson, Keith Bell of K&C Fisheries, and Richard Morgan head chef of Lot 31 Restaurant, Cowra. See video tips and recipe below.
A massive catch of carp is expected on the Macquarie with reports of 10kg monsters that have so far eluded the best fishos, busting them off in the five BCF Carp Blitzes conducted since 2007.