EXCITEMENT is building for the Ultimate Fishing Expo and the World Recreational Fishing Conference, with three prominent fishing identities ready to share their tips, tricks and stories.
Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) CEO Travis Dowling said UK-based actor and TV fishing show host Robson Green had travelled Down Under to headline the five-day fishing festival, held at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre across 18 and 19 February (Expo) followed by the Conference from 20-22 February.
Green was today joined by Australian fishing personality and IFISH TV host Paul Worsteling and VFA Ambassador Bachar Houli at Williamstown to wet a line and preview the five-day fishing festival featuring some of the fishing world’s brightest minds.
“The Expo provides a great chance for families to hear from their fishing heroes, see the latest and greatest gear and participate in a range of activities for the whole family,” Dowling said.
“If all that wasn’t enough, it’s free and all in one location at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on the banks of the Yarra River.”
When he’s not starring as Geordie Keating in BBC series Grantchester, Green has travelled the world with various fishing TV shows including the popular Extreme Fishing with Robson Green.
“I’m thrilled to be here in Melbourne and can’t wait to share what I love about fishing with people at the Expo and World Recreational Fishing Conference. I’ve already been out fishing since I landed and have a couple more trips planned to enjoy the great fisheries Victorians get to experience every day,” Green said.
Worsteling and his son Jet will be among a lineup of presenters at the Expo, sharing their family’s love of fishing. The Worstelings have travelled the globe filming fishing adventures for the IFISH series and Paul’s Facebook and Instagram profiles have more than 650,000 followers.
“Anyone who knows our family knows we’d be out all day, every day if we could. It’s magic being able to spend time together on the water and there’s no better place to do that than here in Victoria, which has fishing opportunities to rival anywhere else in the world,” Worsteling said.
VFA ambassador Bachar Houli said fishing has always been a big part of his life and spending more time on the water is one of the upsides of retiring from the AFL in 2021 after 232 matches. He’ll be presenting at the Expo and by attending anglers can go into the draw to win a fishing trip alongside Houli on Port Phillip.
“There’s not much better than time out on the bay or offshore trying to catch big tuna, kingfish, snapper, calamari and enjoying the awesome fishing opportunities we’ve got on our doorstep here in Victoria,” Houli said.
For the Expo’s schedule on Saturday and Sunday, visit www.vfa.vic.gov.au/ultimatefishingexpo or www.wrfc10.com to learn more about the World Recreational Fishing Conference.
