GOFISH Nagambie is excited to have Paul Worsteling as an event ambassador. Paul is arguably one of the most recognisable faces in recreational fishing in Australia with an unmistakable laugh, passion and enthusiasm for the sport. His media work is impressive, he has reported live on 3AW, ABC, 2KY, countless other networks and co-hosted 3AW Melbourne’s popular Friday night fishing show for more than four years. He had a four-year stint as co-host on Rex hunt Fishing Adventures television show between 2000 – 2004 and started the popular IFISH program on the TEN network in January 2005. This year, the program is in its fourteenth season with almost 500 episodes going to air so far.
His angling accomplishments are far reaching. Paul holds two Australian Anglers Association National Records for mako and thresher sharks, a state record for zebra fish and several IGFA (International Game Fishing Association) World Records for species including giant trevally, golden trevally and Australian salmon. He has won countless fishing competitions and club championships, but would much prefer to fish for the love of the sport than for competition these days.
The GoFish team recently caught up with Paul where he explained why this was a competition with a difference. “GoFish Nagambie is far from a normal fishing competition. I mean, I’ve fished fishing competitions since I was 12 years old. I’ve been lucky enough to win a few and I’ve also been spanked but, to me, although it’s a competition, it’s not just about catching fish. It’s about learning from other people. I am excited about the GoFish Nagambie tournament, for the fact that it’s not just a fishing competition, it’s an event,” Paul said.
“I just like the idea that you can physically hang around with people who share the same passion as ourselves. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a painter or whether you’re a solicitor in the Supreme Court…once you go fishing, you’re all on an equal level and it’s just the greatest thing ever to talk about the things that happen on the water. The only thing better than catching a Murray Cod, is telling someone about it!” Paul explained.
The picturesque lakeside town of Nagambie is perfectly situated, just 90 minutes’ drive from the Melbourne CBD and is such a perfect destination to drive fishing tourism to the Goulburn region of Victoria.
“I’ve got to admit, I had never been to Nagambie and I’ve lived in Victoria for 45 years. I’d heard of it, but I hadn’t driven there, not to mention fish there. However, I was lucky enough to go there recently, and I was blown away by the town. I love the fact that it’s so close to Melbourne; it’s an easy weekend or drive for anyone. And when I got there, I just couldn’t believe the waterway. You look at Sydney Harbour – it’s a waterway and it draws people. If you’ve got water, you’ve got people,” said Paul.
The Nagambie Lakes region has plenty on offer, “It’s just so expansive – you’ve got the wineries, the new brewery and I’ve got to tell you, if you get to the bakery you have to try the steak and pepper pie, it’ll blow your mind!” Paul said.
Nagambie is already enjoying an increase in visitation drawing people from afar, “It has such a nice community feel to it that once you experience it first hand, you can’t help but love it. This little country town is going to absolutely explode in the next five to 10 years. And once people discover that there is fish to be caught, it’s going to put Nagambie on the map as I know it already has for me and my family,” said Paul.
This is a competition not to be missed, “I would hurry up and register for GoFish Nagambie very, very quickly because if you don’t, you’re going to hear from a friend or someone else just how epic the weekend was. So, get involved. This competition is going to go on for a long, long time. I’m hoping decades and decades and maybe one-day my son Jet might even take his son to GoFish Nagambie.“
Paul will be joined by his wife Cristy and son Jet who are both competing in GoFish Nagambie this weekend.
GoFish Nagambie Thursday April 25 to Sunday April 28.
Register at HERE.
