Our Northern Territory Education team conducted a fishing day at Mandurah Jetty, teaching the program’s young people to fish - building their skills of focus, patience and teamwork while pushing themselves outside of their comfort zones.
The day started with a fabulous ferry ride and days’ briefing including safety and appropriate behaviour, and a group consensus on who should cut up the bait. Josh and Charlie, our TCW and Mentor were unanimously selected by the young people.
It didn’t take long for the first catch of the day – a small cod which got thrown back into the drink shortly followed by Josh bringing in a Giant Trevally which set the benchmark for the rest of the group and the games began!
Next one to land a catch was our House Coordinator Bridget who brought in a Moon Fish, and it seemed like we were having a lucky day until it started to rain.
Everyone braved the weather focussed on bringing in another Giant Trevally which were now gathering down at the bottom level of the jetty. The group huddled together to stay out of the rain while trying their luck with the lines, but to say the Trevally were taunting the young people would be an understatement.
Meanwhile, young person Daniel* was casting the net for live bait very successfully, giving the team and other fishermen at the Jetty a steady supply throughout the day.
Young person Elsa* was also meeting the challenges of landing “the big one” head on. With the help of her team mates she worked a metre long fish, just losing it at the last minute – an impressive show of skill considering she was using a hand reel. Not to be perturbed, Elsa quickly re-baited and soon had an elusive Giant Trevally on her hook - only for her line to snap!
With a few snapped lines and a lost hand reel the group called it for lunch and an afternoon of shared stories with CASPA Operations Manager Lance and local Elder Lorraine. Having thoroughly enjoyed their experience the young people decided to delay their return to Darwin for more fishing and searching the beach for mud muscles.
The Giant Travelly lived for another day.
*names changed for privacy
