After a false start on the original dates due to terrible weather and iffy weather forecast for the first weekend of November, the changed dates, it was decided to scale down the 2018 Sunshine Coast Gamefishing Club Spring Shootout with major sponsor Ben Campbell Building Group into revised format one day event with half the entry fee (juniors could still enter free but had to be nominated), fixed Calcutta prices and the presentation straight after fishing on the Saturday night. This proved to be a great concept all things considered with the Sunday ending up with a strong wind warning issued by the Bureau of Meteorology. 10 boats from 3 clubs comprising 34 senior anglers and 5 juniors headed out to sea on the Saturday into a light NW wind which turned into a solid NEer around lunch time.

Catching the first fish of a tournament goes a long way to setting you up a lot of the time and so it proved this time for Tony Kempe and the crew of Take Time, his 45’ Bertram. Angler Scott Heaney’s blue marlin was tagged at 9:43am on the Saturday, 2minutes before Darryl Lund’s on Keneka. In total there were 16 strikes recorded by the fleet, 11 hookups and 5 tags comprising 3 blue marlin and one striped marlin and a non qualifying mahi mahi tagged by a junior angler.

Champion Team Overall – Glass Plaque and Shimano Tyrnos 20 for each crew member as well as a Garmin MFD for skipper and owner Tony Kempe.

Champion Angler Overall – Scott Heaney, Blue Marlin, 15,000 points, 9:43am, Take Time, Glass Plaque, sailfish mount from Solas/Wizard Tackle, Shimano Tyrnos 20 and Gary Howard Rod.

Champion Angler Runner Up Overall – Darryl Lund, Blue Marlin, 15,000 points, 9:45am, Keneka, Glass Plaque and Shimano Tyrnos 20.

Champion Male Angler Heavy Tackle – Scott Heaney, Blue Marlin, 15,000 points, 9:43am, Take Time, Glass Plaque and Shimano Tiagra 50W.

Champion Junior Angler – PJ Bennett tagged mahi mahi, Infinity, Glass Plaque and Daiwa spin reel and 3 x Pakula Uzi lures.

Champion Boat Over 7 Metres – Tony Kempe, Blue Marlin, 15,000 points, 9:43am, Take Time, Glass Plaque, Precision Tagpole and $500 Club Marine Insurance Voucher.

Champion Boat Over 7 Metres Runner Up – Tony Cross, Blue Marlin, 15,000 points, 9:45am, Keneka, Glass Plaque, Precision Tagpole and $500 Club Marine Insurance Voucher.

First Billfish Day 1 – Scott Heaney, Blue Marlin, 9:43am, Take Time, Glass Plaque and $100 Tackleworld Kawana Voucher.

Last Billfish Day 1 – AJ Wright, Striped Marlin, 9:43am, Take Time, Glass Plaque and $100 Tackleworld Kawana Voucher.

Lucky Anglers Sked Draw
Sked 1 – Gerhard Laubscher – Pakula Lure
Sked 2 – Justin Kempe – Pakula Lure
Sked 3 – Brett Southwell – Pakula Lure

Calcutta
70% 1st Place – Tony Kempe – Take Time
30% 2nd Place – Tony Cross – Keneka

Last Man Standing Major Winners
1st Chris Hilliar – Garmin MFD
2nd Zane Bennett – ARB Fridge and Accessories

Last Man Standing Juniors
Marlin Ryman – Inflatable tender and Mercury Outboard from Brisbane Marine