‘We will shine a light on how fishing can improve mental health’

The benefits to mental health by going fishing will be the emphasised at this year’s Gone Fishing Day in Australia.

Organisers of the event, which takes place on Sunday, October 10th – International Mental Health Day – are also looking to build on last year’s success which reached 450,000 people on social media and took place at over 1,000 locations around Australia.

“Gone Fishing Day may be our nation’s biggest event on the fishing calendar and a celebration of our sport on a massive scale, but it also gives us an opportunity to showcase the many benefits angling brings,” Adam Martin, of the Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation, told the country’s premier magazine for the sport, Fishing World.

“That is why this year we will shine a light on how fishing can improve mental health – a message that is relevant to all Australians.”

Like many countries across the globe, recreational fishing emerged as one of the most popular activities in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic at a time when social, outdoor and sporting activities were restricted. Martin added that there has never been a better time to promote fishing to improve a person’s mental health and wellbeing by connecting with the natural environment. 

For further information on Gone Fishing Day visit its website here