A spokesman for the Sports Fishing for Youth Trust has confirmed the dates for children’s assisted fishing over the coming summer. The ponds will be totally closed from October 15 until December 20, apart from the booked, guided fishout days.
The dates for the children’s guided fishing opportunities are:
November 11, November 18, December 2 and December 9. The Trust has also decided to add an evening opportunity between 5.30pm and 7.30pm on Wednesday, November 28. “With more and more parents and caregivers working weekends, we felt a weekday evening opportunity would be appreciated by some parents,” says the Trust.
The Trust provides children with the equipment, and members of the public and the Nelson trout fishing club act as guides to show the children how to use it and, if they are lucky enough to catch a fish, how to fillet it.
The fish out days are limited to children between the ages of five and seventeen and children may only catch one fish during their 50minute fishing opportunity time. All children must be registered for a time slot to be able to fish. Registration can be made on the Trust website www.youthfishing.org.nz or at Fish and Game (phone 5446382). Fishers will be able to select a time slot for one of the fishing days, however available time slots are limited so early registration is recommended.
Nelson Marlborough Fish and Game also propose to stock the ponds for youth fishing over the summer once the fishout days have been complete. It is anticipated the ponds will be open for youth fishing with parent/caregiver supervision from December 20 until the end of March. Details of this activity are available on the Fish and Game website, the Trust’s website or the Trust’s Facebook page.
The ponds are maintained with assistance from Pub Charity and the Lion Foundation who have provided funds for weed control and paths to make the ponds more accessible for youth and the disabled. The fish are provided with assistance from Rata Foundation and Nelson Marlborough Fish and Game.