BACK TO NATURE - Australia’s next generation of anglers

Young anglers aged 3 to 17 from across Australia are being invited to take part in the Aussie Junior Fishing Classic (AJFC), a national fishing competition run by the multi award-winning team at 2 Bent Rods that encourages kids to get off screens and explore Australia’s waterways.

2 Bent Rods is an Australian fishing education and events business founded by Sam Beckmann, and the multi award-winning organisation works with families, schools, councils and community groups to make fishing accessible, fun and educational for people of all ages and abilities. 

Its programs encourage confidence, outdoor activity and respect for Australia’s waterways and marine environments.

The Aussie Junior Fishing Classic competition allows young anglers to fish anywhere in the country while competing for prizes and national recognition.

Originally launched as the Queensland Kids Fishing Classic, the event quickly gained popularity with families and junior anglers. The strong response has seen the competition expand nationally, allowing young fishers from across Australia to participate.

Founder of 2 Bent Rods, Sam Beckmann, said the competition aims to inspire the next generation of anglers and encourage young people to spend more time fishing and enjoying nature.

“Fishing teaches patience, resilience and respect for our waterways. The Aussie Junior Fishing Classic encourages kids to step outside, explore their local waters and discover just how rewarding fishing can be,” Beckmann said.

Young anglers who have taken part in previous competitions say the experience has helped build confidence and inspired them to spend more time fishing.

Nate Wilcox, 15, from Nundah, Queensland, said the competition had been a fantastic experience.

“I have entered the Fishing Classic every school holidays since 2024 and it has been a blast. I’ve learned new skills, caught new species, set new personal bests and even won some awesome prizes. Best of all it has motivated me to get off screens and spend more time outside fishing with family and friends,” Nate said.

Since sharing his experience, Nate has gone on to enter five more fishing competitions, highlighting the enthusiasm many young anglers have for the sport.

Alex Klein, 13, from Dalby, Queensland, said exploring new fishing locations had been one of the highlights.

“This was my second time participating in the competition and I really enjoyed it. My dad took me fishing in a couple of new spots further out west and I finally caught a cod at Cooby,” Alex said.

Alex’s mum Fiona said watching her son take part in the competition had been a great experience.

“I really enjoyed seeing Alex participate in the most recent competition. He gets so excited when he reels a fish in, especially one he hasn’t caught before and has been aiming for. He even made the banner photo for the Cooby Dam Fishing Facebook page with the cod he caught during the competition,” she said.

Participants simply download the 2 Bent Rods app, head out to their favourite fishing spots and submit photos of their catches through the app. The competition includes three age categories: 3–7 years, 8–12 years, and 13–17 years.

Young anglers can enter a range of common Australian species while learning about responsible fishing and caring for the environment.

Over the past two decades, more than 120,000 people have attended fishing lessons, competitions and education programs delivered by the team at 2 Bent Rods. The AJFC continues that mission by encouraging young people to develop a lifelong connection with fishing and the natural environment.

Registrations and full details are available at 2bentrods.com.au/ajfc.