Have you ever looked around and thought, “Where are the women like me in this sport?”
You’re not alone.
WRFL National President, Jo Starling (centre) with NSW Minister for Agriculture and for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty, MLC (left) and Dr Michael Holland, MP (Member for Bega) at the announcement of the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust Fund grants, 21 August, 2025.
While women make up more than half of the Australian population, only about a third of recreational fishers are female. That’s not because we’re not interested. It’s not because we’re not capable. It’s because the path hasn’t always been clear — or welcoming.
But that’s changing. And you can be part of the change.
This March, the WRFL is launching something truly transformational: the FiSHEr Leadership Forum—a two-day event built specifically for women who love fishing, want to grow their impact, and are ready to step up as leaders in their communities and across the fishing sector.
When you teach a woman to fish, you open up a whole new world of possibilities!
And here’s the best part:
We’re offering a limited number of bursaries to help make it possible for women from every corner of NSW to attend. That includes travel and accommodation support—because geography and finances shouldn’t be barriers to opportunity.
This isn’t just another workshop. This is your launchpad.
We’ll dive into the real skills and knowledge needed to lead confidently in fishing and beyond:
- Running tournaments and events
- Hosting clinics and mentoring new fishers
- Promoting sustainable practices and stewardship
- Growing your voice with personal branding
- Navigating mindset barriers
- Creating safe and inclusive communities
But more than anything, this Forum is about connection.
You’ll join a network of women who understand your passion, your challenges, and your potential. Women who want to lead with purpose. Women who will back each other every step of the way.
Coordinating a tournament that’s memorable for all the right reasons doesn’t require a PhD, but it does require due diligence and process.
Because fishing is one of the few truly gender-neutral sports on Earth.
There is no physical advantage, no rules stacked against us—just water, skill, and heart. And yet, women are still underrepresented at every level of our sport.
It’s time to flip the script.
If you’ve ever dreamed of being the change-maker — the woman who leads the way, who inspires others, who makes space for the next generation — this is your moment.
Bursary Applications are being accepted now.
Apply now. Shape the future.
Applications for bursaries are open until Friday 26 September, 2025.
Whether you’re a weekend fisher with a big heart, a young gun ready to lead, or someone who’s quietly been doing the work in the background for years — we want you in the room.
Because NSW needs your voice. Your vision. Your leadership.
Apply now at engine.womensrecfishingleague.org/fisher-leadership-bursary-application
Jo Starling
Author
Jo is the Founder and National President of the Women’s Recreational Fishing League. Her greatest passion is sharing the empowerment that invariably grows through the sport with any women who care to listen.
Although battling for over thirty years, Jo has only recently been diagnosed with PTSD. This diagnosis was an epiphany, explaining why she’d felt estranged from herself for so long.
Jo came late to fishing, but since being introduced to the sport by her loving sisters-in-law, life took a positive turn. With the clarity of her diagnosis, Jo is able to understand why fishing became such an imperative. Today, she is committed to ensuring everyone learns of its magic.
