The rods were ready and the bait on the hook last weekend as the Nyngan RSL Fishing Club hosted their first ever Pop-Up Carp Muster at Rotary Park in Nyngan.

"There were 179 people entered and 1878 carp caught on Saturday 25th of February," according to Club President Jake McClelland.

With a committee of around thirty keen members, it was a last minute decision by the Nyngan RSL Fishing Club to hold the event.

“We ran the carp muster as a free event this year to try and get as many people as we could,” said Club President Jake McClelland.

“We only decided to run the event about four weeks before purely because of the extreme number of carp in the river since it flowed again following the drought and recent flooding.”

“We run a meat raffle each Wednesday night at Nyngan RSL and on the last Wednesday of the month we raffle seafood trays. The money the Club makes goes into re-stocking the Bogan river with fingerlings of golden perch and Murray cod.”

“We are working hard to protect our local waterways and any way of getting rid of carp is a great place to start,” said Mr. McClelland.

Nyngan RSL Fishing Club Committee. Photo courtesy Nyngan RSL Fishing Club 

Starting at 7am, the fishing enthusiasts got to work with a deadline of 1pm that day to catch as many carp as possible to take out a prize.

With competitors lining the banks of the Bogan River in both top and bottom weirs it was only a matter of time before the big fish came out.

The Winner for the day was Roxy Robb of Nyngan who caught an 84 centimetre carp to score the top spot and $500 first prize donated by Big Boar Bonanza and handed over by President of Boar Bonanza Robert Pack.

With all NSW DPI rules and regulations adhered to, any native fish had to be released back to their natural habitat.

President of Boar Busters Robert Pack with winner Roxy Robb and Nyngan Fishing Club President Jake McClelland 

Calls for federal government intervention on carp 

The Carp Muster was a timely display of the importance local communities are putting on carp control.

Only this week the NSW government called for urgent action to control carp numbers, with Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW Dugald Saunders urging Federal Labor to urgently bring forward measures to deal with the explosion of carp numbers.

Mr. Saunders is asking Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt to set a date to release a herpes virus (Cyprinid herpesvirus 3) to help control populations that have skyrocketed since the record-breaking floods. 

“The footage of the sheer number of carp we have seen out west is unbelievable and confronting,” Mr. Saunders said. 

“The massive downpours in the past few years have created the perfect breeding ground for this pest, which poses a significant risk to our native fish, our water quality and our habitats. 

“Carp will have a devastating impact on our rivers for years to come, so we need to do something now to get these numbers back under control.” 

Distribution of carp in NSW by catchment. Department of Primary Industries

The NSW Government say they have supported the development of the carp virus by the Commonwealth since 2016 and welcomed the release of The National Carp Control Plan (NCCP) late last year. 

The NCCP identified the potential for the virus to be used as a biological control agent but recommended further research to be undertaken. 

“We want to see these final steps taken, as well as the development of an implementation plan so that the virus can be rolled out as soon as possible,” Mr. Saunders said. 

“The NSW Liberal and Nationals remain committed to exploring all opportunities to reduce carp numbers and improve conditions for our native species.”  

Roxy Robb with her winning catch. Photo courtesy Nyngan RSL Fishing Club

Keen anglers travelled from around the district including the Peters boys from Cobar.

"Rigby, Basil and their Dad Jamie ventured to Nyngan early Saturday morning to enter the carp muster," Seigrid Peters of Cobar told Western Plains App.

"They packed their own camping chairs and rods - and Dad packed the snacks. They had a brilliant day in the sun, even popping in for a swim in the shallows. They even walked away with the most carp caught prize for under 12's."

"They shared the prize, which was a new rod and a new net. Rigby's comment for the day was, 'it was the best day ever' and he wishes he had packed a swag to camp," laughed Mrs. Peters.

Rigby and Basil Peters from Cobar loving the Nyngan Carp Muster

Local Bogan Shire resident Deanne Walsh was also thrilled to see her three kids out and having fun on the river.

"It was the best family day. The weather was great, the kids had the best time, and we are looking forward to doing it all again next year," she said.

Sophie, Ruby and Tom Walsh busy carp hunting

It is not just local anglers who see the importance of keeping the Bogan River and other regional waterways healthy.

The event was financially supported by a number of local groups and businesses.

"Big thanks to our sponsors for the day Nyngan RSL, Robbs Butchery, Kayaks2fish Bathurst, Nyngan Riverside Caravan Park, Big Boar Bonanza, Aeris Resources and Sheather's mobile contracting," Mr McLelland said.