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Travelling out into the Tasman Sea to catch fish was the experience of a lifetime for five refugee students.
The teens, from Malawi, Syria and Afghanistan, have been in Australia for between six and 12 months and are studying at the Warrawong Intensive English Centre at Warrawong High School.
On December 4 they joined Aquilla Fishing Charters with five other students from Warrawong High's Project Neptune fishing program, heading two to three kilometres off Belmore Basin.
The group, accompanied by teachers Steig Nordstrom and Josette Dus, caught a whopping 88 fish.
The annual deep sea charter is the highlight of Project Neptune and this was the 14th trip.
Despite never having fished in their homelands, the refugee students overcame seasickness to catch 46 fish.
"They were amazed - there were so many firsts," said Ms Dus, the fishing co-ordinator.
None of the students had been deep-sea fishing, few had caught legal-size fish before, few had experienced being seasick or eaten fresh fish. Catch and release was also new to them.
"All the students were excited about going on the charter and couldn't wait to catch a legal size fish ... all went home with fresh fish for dinner."
Syrian Sami Ibrahim caught the biggest bag on the day - 19 fish, including 15 bream, while brother and sister pair Shukurani and Sauda Birindwa from Malawi caught 17. Shukurani's haul was the best mixed bag - 11 fish from seven different species.
Ms Dus said the program taught responsible and sustainable fishing practices.
"It's an opportunity to learn one of Australia's great outdoor pastimes."