WHO IS ANSA?

The Australian National Sportfishing Association (ANSA) formally started in 1967 when a group of dedicated sportfishers met at Yorkeys Knob in Cairns. Fourteen “barefooted yobbo’s” under the stewardship of Vic McCristal and George Bryden put into some order their ideas of fishing for sport and enjoyment. From that time on, they determined to promote sportfishing under the motto “sport, conservation, integrity”.

Today membership of the Association is approximately 200 clubs, containing over 5000 members. The Association is represented in all states and territories and maintains affiliation with the International Game Fishing Association.

ANSA is an association of clubs and individual members. Clubs are geographically organised into state or territory branches. Each branch has an elected executive responsible for the local activities in each state or territory.

At the national level ANSA is responsible for coordinating and printing “The Fishing Rules”, maintaining a comprehensive Record Chart and presenting the “Master Angler Awards”. It also selects the recipient of the “Meritorious Capture” award. Nominations for this award are submitted during the year.

Queensland Branch Inc. is also responsible for vetting and processing national and state “Master Angler” awards, national and state “Record” claims and maintaining a Queensland Branch Inc. Record Chart.

The Top Ten, Top Club, Bob Carruthers Memorial Trophy and Hamar Midgley Flyfishing Award run consecutively during the whole fishing year and the awards are presented at the Annual Conference. There is also a Length Based Competition which is run during the whole fishing year and competitors can compare their capture, and if long enough, can submitt their claims through the website www.ansaqld.com.au

ANSA Queensland runs a comprehensive fish tagging program, which is encompassed by the national tagging program Austag.

All clubs affiliated in Queensland must be incorporated under the Incorporations Act and ANSA Qld Inc. has undertaken to assist clubs in this endeavour. Part of incorporation is that a Public Liability Insurance policy be maintained. ANSA Qld. Inc. holds the policy on behalf of the membership of ANSA Qld. Inc.