The Whitsunday Game Fish Club’s 2011 light tackle tournament was once again a huge success with 28 boats and more than 90 anglers taking part.
“It was a fantastic weekend and we’re going to start planning for the next one straight away,” said club president Bob Spees.
The three-day competition ran from Friday to Sunday (inclusive) last week, with weather conditions proving reasonably favorable for the event. Species caught included sailfish, black marlin, Spanish and shark mackerel, longtail and mac tuna, barracuda, cobia, wahoo and shark.
“There were three billfish caught and probably 30 raised, but they were very shy on the bite,” Mr Spees said.
Skipper Ashley Matthews from the overall winning team on “Reel Work” described the competition’s shotgun start on Friday morning as “quite spectacular”.
“Boats blasting off to the horizon in search of big fish, the adrenalin pumping and of course bragging rights of winning the shotgun start are always discussed back at the club on the Friday night!” Mr Matthews said.
Fellow competitor Bryan Harries, who came fourth overall, agreed the weekend was as much about a spirit of fun as catching fish.
“It’s not just about the fishing – it’s about everyone at the club getting together and having a good time,” he said.
Mr Harrie’s son Ben won the prize for champion junior angler, scoring 200 points to win this category.
“The kids had a good time – they loved it,” Mr Harries said.
For Scott Grigg and the crew of Bonejara the competition was a win-win event, with the boys taking out the prizes for champion team (under 7 metres) and largest tuna (caught by Jason Bourke), as well as coming third in the Calcutta and winning the “Renegade” raffle prize worth $2,750.
“We didn’t expect to win that much but we knew we had a chance. We put a lot of work in. We worked out a plan before the competition and stuck to it and it paid off,” Scott said.
Mr Spees said organisers took great satisfaction in the tournament’s success.
“Everyone wants to come back next year and that’s a big thrill,” he said.
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