The local event – which will be one of a number held across NSW as part of the day – will be held at Rankens Bridge Park at Eglinton by the Sofala Branch of the Central Acclimatisation Society.

Sofala Branch of the CAS secretary Colin Gordon said the day will start at 7am for early registrations and finish at 3pm.

“There will be kids’ fishing clinics, learn to fly-fish lessons, habitat tree planting, and a fishing competition with prizes,” he said.

“People can fish anywhere. It does not have to be in the Macquarie River.

“People can go to local dams - Ben Chifley, Oberon, Wyangala - as long as they are back before the cut-off time.”

Mr Gordon said there will be a weigh-in for carp and redfin and catch, photo (on a brag mat, which has measurements) and release for golden and silver perch and trout.

A raffle will have a main prize of an Engel fridge-freezer.

Everyone who registers by making a $5 donation will go into the draw for around 150 prizes.

“The event will be to raise money for a native fish restocking program around Bathurst in the Macquarie River and fish habitat rehabilitation program in the river,” Mr Gordon said. 

Eglinton Public School will hold a barbecue to raise money for its students to go into Schools Spectacular, which shows off the talent in NSW public schools.

”The $5 donation [made as part of the registration] will enable the purchase of either 13 Murray cod or 22 golden perch via the dollar-for-dollar native fish restocking program,” Mr Gordon said.

Member for Bathurst Paul Toole announced last month that the Sofala Branch of the CAS would receive $2000 to help run its Gone Fishing Day event.

“We know there are around 850,000 people who love wetting a line each year in NSW, and we hope our local community fishing activities as part of the National Gone Fishing Day will further increase participation across the state,” he said.

Forty fishing clubs across the state received funding to run Gone Fishing Day activities.