‘Fishing guides’ working for Queensland tourism

Other ‘fishing’ regions around Oz may be interested in how Queensland is capitalising on THE most popular holiday activity.

In Wondai, in Central Queensland’s Wide Bay/Burnett region, a regional community forum came up with the idea of The Bass to Barra Trail and Guide in April 2005. This trail of eight lakes – now expanding – offers some great freshwater fishing.

The Bass to Barra project became a joint initiative of:

• private operators
• local councils
• Regional Tourism Organisations
• Tourism Queensland
• Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries.

As well as pulling together the trail the Bass to Barra Committee developed a free Guide, which has ‘walked off the shelves’ AND won a regional Tourism Product Marketing award in ’06.

What’s in the Guide?

Info on each lake to make planning a fishing trip that much easier:

• location
• facilities
• local highlights
• fishing environment
• yearly events
• fish stocks
• lake facts
• catch limits and seasons
• fish species
• accommodation.

For more info on the guide or to receive a free copy email gapdl@gladstoneregion.org.au or phone 07 4972 9000.

Further north – the Fish Inland Queensland Brochure & TV Campaign

Another inland fishing project, this time in Queensland’s Western Downs, Outback and Capricorn regions. This has been an initiative between three Regional Tourism Associations, Toowoomba & Golden West, Outback Tourism and Capricorn Tourism, with the assistance of Tourism Queensland.

The idea: To develop and market inland Australian fishing locations

TQ News says “mad keen fishermen have revealed some of their previously closely guarded secret spots” (!)

A $96,400 Federal Government Recreational Fishing grant from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and support from TQ has led to the production of three brochures – with all the important fishing info – and a TV campaign for the promotion of sustainable inland fishing.

‘Creek to Coast’ and ‘Queensland Weekender’ through TV commercials and print advertisements have been promoting the free fishing guides between March and June with some ‘strong indications the message is hitting the marketplace!’