Bass worth $5,000 in tagged fishing competition

News release | 06-Feb-2023

A Baffle Creek fisher is $5,000 richer after claiming third prize in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ Fish’n’SIP$ tagged fishing competition.

A Baffle Creek fisher is $5,000 richer after claiming third prize in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ Fish’n’SIP$ tagged fishing competition.

Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol Central Queensland District Officer Peter Dixon said Baffle Creek fisher Wayne Kemp caught the 45-centimetre Australian bass with the distinctive green tag while fishing on Cania Dam on Friday 20 January 2023.

“After the first two tagged fish in the competition were caught in Lake Tinaroo, it’s fantastic to see a Central Queensland angler land some cash in a local impoundment,” Mr Dixon said.

“Congratulations to Wayne who has shown a trip to Cania Dam can be rewarded with more than just a good day’s fishing and a nice catch.

“Thanks to the hard work of the Cania Dam Fish Stocking Association members, the dam is well stocked with Australian bass, golden perch, silver perch and saratoga any of which could have a winning tag in them.”

Mr Dixon said there was still time to share in the cash on offer in the competition being run by the Freshwater Fish Stocking Association of Queensland.

“Tagged fish worth a total of $15,000 can still be caught in the Lake Tinaroo, Lake Proserpine, Lake Kinchant, Lake Callide, and Lake Cania stocked impoundments,” Mr Dixon said.

“The next 12 fish caught on a line and accurately reported to InfoFish will win a prize and the sooner a tagged fish is caught, the larger the prize will be.

“Fishers need a Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme (SIPS) permit to fish those impoundments and recreational fishers without a SIPS permit should buy one before trying their luck for some New Year cash.”

SIPS permits are available for purchase online, through the QLD Fishing 2.0 smartphone app, at 585 Australia Post outlets throughout Queensland and northern New South Wales or by phoning 1300 575 359.

Revenue from SIPS permits supports volunteer groups to stock impoundments with native fish species including golden perch, Australian bass, and barramundi specifically for recreational fishing.

Visit qld.gov.au/recreation/activities/boating-fishing/rec-fishing/dams to find the nearest stocked waterway and buy a permit, or call 13 25 23 for more information.

Follow Fisheries Queensland on Facebook (@FisheriesQueensland), Instagram (@FisheriesQld) and Twitter (@DAFQld).

Media contact: DAF Media, media@daf.qld.gov.au