The Burrum Heads Amateur Fishing Club started the Easter Fishing Classic in 1991 with only a handful of families participating. Over the 20 year history, the quiet costal community of Burrum Heads located just north of Hervey Bay swells when the Easter holidays come around. At this time of year there is a significant increase in population due to the popularity of the Burrum Heads Easter Fishing Classic.

Local holiday businesses take bookings for all accommodation sources 12 months in advance so angling families can be assured to enjoy line ripping and rod bending fishing action while relaxing in a pristine environment.

The Burrum Heads Easter Fishing Classic is an important community event proving a vital source of economic revenue and casual employment in the small community. With the entire community behind this event there are 3 reasons for the success of the Easter Fishing Classic.

Firstly, the success of the Easter Classic is due to the family nature of the event. Burrum Heads has welcomed many wonderful families to the region over the years from all over Australia and internationally to enjoy the village atmosphere, wetting a line and relaxing in a beautiful environment over the Easter weekend.

Secondly this event is the one major activity the Burrum heads Amateur Fishing Clubs engages in and therefore is able to focus efforts and resources on ensuring a memorable time is had by locals and especially our visiting families.

Thirdly, the organizing committee over 20 years has, through a combination of a set budget generated from the previous year’s Easter Classic and the generosity of sponsors, has been able to ensure an affordable event for the family.

Through the enormous generosity of sponsors (all 120 from around Australia) the Easter Fishing Classic gives away approximately $45,000 of prizes to participants of all ages and experience. Eric & Rosemary Davy coordinates the donations from sponsors and ensures all prizes are given away, they are constantly amazed at the generosity of sponsors and they get great satisfaction in handing out all the prizes.

The Burrum Heads Amateur Fishing Club has 80 members, club President Ron Henderson organises club members to volunteer their time months in advance and across the 3 days Easter Fishing Classic to ensure all family members have a safe and enjoyable time fishing, relaxing, and winning prizes.

The 2010 Easter Fishing Classic saw a strong attendance from anglers of all levels of experience with 1531 entrants. The Easter Classic weekend of family fishing fun had some 10,000 people attend the event for one of the most popular attractions, the esky raffle which sees some 60 eskies raffled over two days. One lady told me she travels in from out west just to try and win an esky, she had been attempting for 8 years and finally won an esky at the 2010 Easter Fishing Classic.

Not forgetting the fishing there were many wonderful specimens caught in by live and dead weigh-in categories.

With live and dead weigh-ins across the 3 days and a broad range of targeted species, Captain/Weigh Master Paul Di’Cesare believes competition for heaviest species will be red hot in 2011 and is looking forward to anglers of all ages brining in their prize catch.

The 2011 Easter Fishing Classic looks forward to all the family visiting this year, see you all in April! – BHEFC