THIS long weekend fishing holiday ended early prematurely for Stella Laws, 2, and her brother Clayton, 6, when about $1500 of their family's fishing equipment was stolen from their aunt's boat on Tuesday night.

Stella's aunty, Samantha Lubke-Wood invited her Narrabri-based family including her young niece and nephew to Grafton for a fishing trip.

But the holidaying family woke Wednesday morning to find their fishing gear missing.

The equipment was sitting in their boat just outside the home's front window when the thieves hit during the night.

Samantha didn't even hear a sound, "not even the dog barked, which was strange" she said.

Among the items stolen were two tackle boxes and Ugly Stik fishing rods.

"They even took the kids' rods," Samantha said.

After contacting the police, Samantha and her family door knocked every house on the street, then contacted local and district pawn shops to no avail.

"Very disappointing that they could ruin a long weekend"

Samantha said the theft has left her family feeling violated.

"Who would have thought it, we live in such a quiet neighbourhood," she said.

The children who love to fish were looking forward to the trip. Having only a small river back home, they were excited to go out on the bigger boat.

Young Stella and Clayton have since returned to Narrabri empty handed and disappointed.

They left a sign in Aunt Samantha's front yard - a plea for the items' return.