The Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic has joined the long list of events that have been cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Organised by the Mount Isa Fish Stocking Group since 1999 as a re-stocking fundraiser and celebrating its 21st birthday in 2019, the event normally takes place on the fourth weekend in October.
The Classic is looked forward to by locals not only for the fishing and related events such as the dragon boat racing but also for the fact it is the only time of year camping is permitted at Lake Moondarra.
But biting or not, the barra will get a leave pass this year.
Mount Isa Fish Stocking Group secretary Steve Farnsworth said the event takes 12 months to organise and even if they could be certain now things would be back to normal in October, there was simply not enough time to get ready.
"And businesses will be short of funds to get sponsorships so early on we said we're just going to have a year off," Mr Farnsworth said.
"Our hatchery is closed, we released all the fish out of there and we're just going to wait until everything sorts itself out."
Mr Farnsworth said it was a sensible decision to cancel amid the uncertainty.
"For a few volunteers it's a difficult thing to get organised," he said.
"We'll have our AGM as soon as we can and we should be back bright and early next year."
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