Gone Fishing Day is a nationwide event, introduced this year, and Anna Bay Tavern Fishing Club was the only Port Stephens-based organisation to land the rights to host it. No licence is required.

Club secretary Jacqui Ashby said the emphasis was squarely on fun.

“It’s a sport that the family can take part in, that includes women and children,” she said.

“What we’ve got is a day where if someone doesn’t know how to fish, or even wants a little help, they can come along and try.”

The day starts at 10am with registration before a range of family friendly activities get underway that will include workshops on fishing fundamentals.

For the adventurous, and in the name of friendly competition, there will be a casting competition. Participants will take turns casting a rigged line in the foreshore park.

A sausage sizzle will run throughout the day.

After lunch familes will be encouraged to bait a line to take part in an hour long, land-based fishing competition – this means no boats.

Organisers expect there will be a few whiting and flathead lying in wait. A weigh-in and prize ceremony is scheduled for 2.30pm before the day wraps up at 3pm.

There will also be a guessing competition with a distinctly fishing flavour – the prize, a jar of sinkers.

“It’s better than a jar of jelly beans,” Ashby said.

Elsewhere in Port Stephens, Newcastle Neptunes Spearfishing Safety and Sustainability will host events at Nelson Bay and Fingal Bay.

They’re two of 38 club-run events statewide. The state government has provided $65,000 to those grounds to fund these activities.

The Department of Primary Industries will also host six major events with a range of free family friendly fishing activities, the closest of these in Newcastle.

“Recreational fishing isn’t just a great way for local families to spend time; it’s also a great drawcard for our region,” Scot MacDonald, the Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter said.

“I encourage all our local fishers, and especially non-fishers who would like to give it a try to get involved and experience how much fun fishing can be for the whole family.”