Recfishwest Fishing Clinics
Southwest Tour March/April 2006

17 March to 6 April

Instructors: Melanie Tozer and Colin Tozer

Report by: Melanie Tozer

ESPERANCE
Clinics: 5............Total Participants: 125 .............Contacts: Approximately 300

Our arrival at Esperance was heralded in the press the week prior to our arrival.

Balmy weather for the fishing clinics made even more enjoyable knowing it was cold in Perth. On the advice of the locals the previous night we bought Kangaroo meat for bait which proved to be a hit with the fish and some of the kids who said they would have liked it on the BBQ.



A variety of fish was caught with one of the sessions producing at least 70 fish. Indeed it was a busy time taking photos before releasing the fish. Some notable catches were a 50 cm flathead and a 40 cm leather jacket. An added attraction was Sammy the seal who hung out by the fish cleaning station on the jetty fattened on the frames of mostly herring. We kept a few herring at one of the sessions to feed Sammy on the way back which enthralled the kids and of course Sammy who relished being fed whole herring. The consequence of this generosity was rewarded with Sammy putting an acrobatic show when he saw the kids approach the jetty, no doubt expecting a feed.


RAVENSTHORPE
Clinics: 2 .............Participants: 35 ......................Contacts: 100
This was a dry clinic held on the school oval. It was a cold and windy day but that did not dampen the enthusiasm of the younger ones especially. The clinics were a success in that the kids appeared to take on board the Sunsmart and personal safety message when fishing. Casting into buckets was very popular and indeed became quite competitive. As with the Broome dry clinic on the northern tour, we were inundated with kids during the morning recess. Although it was a dry clinic it was just as much fun as a wet one as far as the kids were concerned.





BREMER BAY
Clinics: 2 ...........Participants: 35 ................Contacts: 20
I organised the clinic with the year 6's and 7's at Bremer Bay District School. Whilst on tour I received a call from the principal Glynn Anderson requesting a second clinic so that the whole school, including the pre-primary kids, would have the opportunity to attend the Recfishwest clinics. I agreed on condition there would be a parent for every two kids at the second clinic when all the younger kids would be present.

The first clinic was extremely successful with the kids having a great time catching good size bream and a hoard of herring. The second clinic was well supported by parents. It was fantastic to see the excited looks on the children faces as they pulled in bream, herring, flathead and skippy. The fish catch was no doubt helped along by a trawler pulling alongside the jetty with their catch of pilchards which they from time to time berleyed the waters to create this fish feeding frenzy. The kids also got the freshest of pilchards to use as bait.



Graham Drew, who heads the Drew Foundation to promote fishing safety, happened to be present at one of the clinic. He listened to the safety message we were passing on and was most impressed. He requested that we include the message on not retrieving rigs caught on rocks below when fishing off rocks as this was when people put their lives at risk with the possibility of a wave sweeping the fisher off the rocks.



ALBANY
Clinics: 4 ...........Participants: 168 ................Contacts 30

We were blessed with perfect weather for our clinics at Albany. Of the 4 schools taking part, for Yakamia Primary it was a second time around. Yakamia Primary asked if numbers could be boosted to 36 as there was a high demand to attend the clinics due to the popularity of the clinic in September last year.

Once again some quality fish were caught, including a 45 cm King George whiting and a big octopus. Steve Faulkner, the facilitator for Lockyer Primary School was so impressed with the clinic format and the kids involvement, he declared it was the best ever excursion he had experienced in all his teaching years.



An added bonus was that Albany Primary was conducting a jetty excursion. This resulted in an impromptu clinic during the break between clinics. Without actually fishing we gave a talk on being Sunsmart. "fishing today for tomorrow" and safety.



The Albany Advertiser attended one of the clinics and ran an article in the Albany Advertiser's "Learning Curves" section. At that clinic, also we had the local a Constable in charge of the Community School Program attend.

DENMARK
Clinics: 3 ............Participants: 80

Our luck with the weather ran out in Denmark. Denmark high put out an expression of interest for the clinics and received 150 responses to attend the Recfishwest clinics. Consequently Geoff Bunn requested a further clinic. As it turned out Denmark Agriculture College cancelled due to a college curriculum change so a further clinic for Denmark High was agreed to.



There was a stiff breeze and the swell was perfect of surfing not fishing. The Denmark Primary took advantage of the Recfishwest fishing clinic timing and organised a sleep over at the surf club the night before and went surfing in the morning before attending the clinic. Despite the rain, and only a handful of fishing being caught, all agreed they had a great time.



WALPOLE

Clinics: 1 ..........Participants: 100

Walpole Primary requested we come and meet the kids at school before the clinic as the Town Jetty was about 500 meters from the school. It resulted in an assembly with the whole school attending. I addressed the assembly passing on the Recfishwest "fish today for tomorrow" message, safety and briefly touched on the "get hooked on fishing not drugs" message. It was another successful fishing day with herring, a few size bream and a 60 cm flathead being caught.







This page last updated on May 2006.