Let’s Fish Lake Mac reeled in almost 1000 catches

More than 1000 anglers from across NSW converged on Lake Macquarie on the weekend for the inaugural Let’s Fish Lake Mac competition.

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Lake Macquarie Mayor Cr Kay Fraser said the event had been an outstanding success, buoyed by near-perfect conditions on the water.

“We had a total of 1155 entries, which is just incredible for our first ever Let’s Fish weekend,” Cr Fraser said.

“A lot of these people came from outside Lake Macquarie. The great weather and top fishing conditions really showcased our beautiful City and will boost our chances of welcoming these people back for a return visit.”

Hundreds of boats took to the water on Lake Macquarie across the event’s three days, with more trying their luck along the City’s beaches.

Event Coordinator and local fishing star Michael Guest said there were almost 1000 photos of the four target fish caught and released during the competition, which challenged participants to catch the longest specimens across four key species: bream, flathead, whiting and tailor.

The longest fish recorded for the weekend was an 86.4cm flathead caught and released in Lake Macquarie.

Prizes were also awarded across open and junior categories for mystery length fish, with Belmont North fisherman Dane Lambert among the prize pack winners.

Fish were photographed on a ‘brag mat’ showing their length, before being released back into the water. “We were blown away with the number of entries received,” Mr Guest said.

“It really reflects the health of Lake Macquarie, and the important role recreational fishing has when it comes to tourism.”

Winners will share in more than $20,000 in prizes.