Can't wait to catch a carp at Colac?
by Victorian Fisheries Authority 17 Feb 23:33 UTC
12 April 2026
Lake Colac Catch a Carp Festival © Victorian Fisheries Authority
The free Catch a Carp Festival is back again, co-hosted by the Victorian Fisheries Authority and local radio station MIXX FM/3CS, providing a great opportunity to have some fun outdoors and learn more about how to catch and cook this pest fish species.
Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) CEO Travis Dowling said the festival is being held at Lake Colac on Sunday 12 April and will include educational activities and kids fishing clinics, a carp fishing competition and cooking demonstrations.
The festival will be held on the Lake Colac foreshore featuring food and coffee onsite, market stalls, cooking demonstrations, kids activities, fishing and outdoor swap meet and a live broadcast by MIXX FM/3CS.
"We want festival goers to enjoy the lake and foreshore while learning about carp and the harm they do to our waterways," Mr Dowling said.
Carp are a noxious aquatic pest in Victoria and we support anglers catching them to help reduce their numbers.
There'll be commercial carp fishing throughout the day demonstrating first-hand how large numbers of carp can be caught and removed without harming native species.
It's a great chance to support the local community, with a range of market stalls and the Lions Club Colac offering train rides for families around the event.
Carp will be featured in fish biology sessions by VFA Scientist Dr Corey Green as well as carp cooking sessions so anglers can make use of their next carp catch.
The family 'Catch a Carp' competition has great prizes and giveaways.
For more information about the event or to register for the free kids fishing clinics visit www.vfa.vic.gov.au/colaccarpfestival