Local students hooked on fishing at The Glade
Grade 3 and 4 students from Inverloch/Kongwak Primary School enjoyed an informative and entertaining three-hour fishing clinic at The Glade to learn about sustainable fishing and marine conservation.
LOCAL youngsters swapped the classroom for the coastline this week as the Anderson Inlet Angling Club, in conjunction with Fishcare Victoria conducted an exciting new fishing education program at The Glade in Inverloch.
The three-hour pilot program brought sixty Grade 3 and 4 students from Inverloch/Kongwak Primary School together to learn about sustainable fishing and marine conservation.
Divided into three groups of 20, the students rotated through interactive, curriculum-aligned stations designed to build both skills and environmental stewardship. At the knot tying station, volunteers taught the children how to rig a rod and tie essential fishing knots.
The Glade was transformed into a vibrant plug casting lane with plastic fish of various colours laid out on the grass to allow the students to practice holding their rods and aim at the plastic fish with their plastic sinkers.
“Different coloured fish have different values,” explained Wayne Taylor from Fishcare Victoria. “Students have to cast for a fish. It can get quite competitive.”
Beyond the fun of the fishing games the program carried a deeper message. Lessons emphasised the importance of safety, teamwork, marine conservation, and sustainable catch-and-release ethics. Local size and bag limits were also explained to teach the next generation how to care for their local marine environments.
“Safety was strongly reinforced throughout the day,” said Frank Ven Pett, President of the Anderson Inlet Angling Club.
The grand finale saw the groups head to the beach in front of the South Gippsland Yacht Club. Equipped with rods, rigs, and bait the students put their new skills to the test in a practical fishing session on the water.
Following the success of the day, organisers are already looking ahead.
"We have two repeatable programs scheduled for primary and secondary schools," Mr Ven Pett confirmed, ensuring more local youth will soon hook into this valuable community initiative.
The Inverloch/Kongwak Primary School fishing education day at The Glade was a local outdoor school excursion designed to teach primary students basic angling skills such as safety around the water, casting techniques, knot tying, and how to responsibly handle and release fish.
The Anderson Inlet Angling Club (AIAC) was founded in Inverloch in 1959 and welcomes everyone interested in fishing. The club practices and promotes responsible recreational fishing, conducts fishing clinics and excursions and runs monthly fishing competitions.
Fishcare Victoria is a not for profit, volunteer run organisation that creates welcoming, hands-on responsible fishing experiences that help people learn to fish, connect with their communities and care for our waterways.
