Queensland anglers have been out in big numbers since Saturday chasing big prizes as well as big fish.
To celebrate 25 years of the Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme (SIPS), the Freshwater Fishing and Stocking Association of Queensland, with the support of Infofish and Fisheries Queensland, is running a statewide fishing competition with more than $27,000 in prizes.
The SIPS 25 fishing competition will run throughout the school holidays to mark this milestone in the state’s most successful recreational fishing initiative, From September 20 to October 6, the competition is open to all anglers with a valid permit, and covers all 61 stocked dams and weirs across Queensland.
Anglers are competing for major prizes including the largest number of fish caught and longest fish, with categories for species including golden perch, silver perch, saratoga and sooty grunter.
Each SIPS location will also offer local prizes.
Since its launch in 2000 with just 25 dams, SIPS has expanded to become a key part of the state’s $2.5 billion recreational fishing industry, supporting regional economies, tourism and sustainable aquaculture.
Queensland Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett praised the scheme as a testament to the dedication of volunteer stocking groups.
“The work of volunteer stocking groups should not be understated – it creates opportunities for tourists and locals alike to enjoy fishing and camping at these facilities,” he said.
“In the last year alone, 3.2 million fingerlings have been released, including iconic species like barramundi, Australian bass and Murray cod.”
Register via the Infofish Australia SIPS 25 competition app – search for “SIPS 25” in the App store or Google Play.
To be valid for prizes, you must hold a valid SIPS permit at the time of capture (if 18 or older) or have permission from a parent or guardian if under 18.
Verified catches will be calculated over the two weeks of the competition, with each winner informed at the end of the competition period. Check your progress on the competition leaderboard in the Infofish app.
The funds from the sale of permits, covers the management of the scheme as well as stocking the impoundments and supporting regional aquaculture businesses that supply fingerlings.
