Burdekin waterways showcased during Australian Fishing Championships

Burdekin waterways were seen around the country over the weekend, with the Australian Fishing Championships Barra Series Burdekin Round premiering on television on Saturday 11 May.

The Burdekin round of the elite competition was filmed in Bowling Green Bay last September and saw reigning AFC Barra Champions Craig Griffiths and Karim De Ridder go head-to-head with Team Firefly’s Jon Millard and Luke Katsaros.

Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin said the professional competition would help create greater exposure of the Burdekin region.

“The AFC will showcase to national and international audiences what Burdekin locals already know- that the Burdekin is unrivalled for its fantastic fishing opportunities,” she said.

“The AFC is considered the pinnacle of tournament fishing in Australia and is broadcast in 17 countries, with an approximate viewership of 38 million people.

“The exposure of the Burdekin from this series will help cement the region as a must-see destination on the Australian Tourism map, helping to drive tourism and ultimately benefiting our local economy.”

During the competition, professional anglers receive championship points for longest fish and for longest bag, which is the sum of their 5 longest fish.

This is the first year in the competitions history that the Burdekin has been included on the tour and the first time competitors have fished for saltwater barramundi.

Viewers can catch an encore episode on Channel Ten HD this Saturday 18 May at 6:00am. Episodes are also available for re-viewing on the TenPlay app and website.

The episode will be broadcasted to international audiences on channels including FOX Sports Asia and Star Sport from July this year.