The 9th Annual Port Douglas Marlin Challenge, held 8th -11th November 2018 was deemed a great success. This year the tournament got off to a sensational start with a glassed out morning for the sailpast, which is always a spectacle as the boats head out to the fishing grounds in formation. It is filmed by Perrin Clarke each year with the GBR Helicopter Group.   On the first day boats spread from Spur Reef in the south to as far north as Ribbon Reef No 1. Long time combatants Gorilla hooked up first and tagged a 250lb model within the first hour of fishing. Then out of the blue the Wild Turkey vessel had a big afternoon finding a hot bite and completed three tags to throw a massive spanner in the works. To finish out the first day Gorilla and Reel Cross added one tag each late in the day. It was a two horse race at this stage with Wild Turkey and Gorilla leading the pack. The weather was just sensational.   Day two belonged entirely to the Reel Cross boat. In a huge effort they went three for three to overtake the lead in the blink of an eye. Other boats registered several lost fish throughout the day and could not add to their tally. Opal Ridge was the place to be  where Reel Cross did all their damage.   On day three the leader board didn’t change in order but tags were added by Black Magic up north on the Ribbons and Saltaire, Kyrenia, Duyfken and Gorilla added to their stocks.  It was going to be a close finish going into the last day with Reel Cross holding onto a slender lead with Wild Turkey and Gorilla clipping at their heels.   However, unfortunately the fishing literally shut down on the last day with not a single boat able to add a tag to their score. A couple of fish were lost but that’s fishing !!   The two main trophy’s awarded were the Brett Thomas Memorial won by Reel Cross for Champion Boat and the Leon Thomas Memorial for Champion Angler was won by Bob Reynolds on the Wild Turkey boat.   The club would...

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...

2018 TOURNAMENT OFFICIAL RESULTS In total there were 46 nominated anglers including 7 juniors, 13 ladies and 13 visiting anglers. I have to admit that in the days leading up to the tournament, I was worried sick as to whether any fish would be caught with the water quality looking like the worst we have seen here at this time of year, but the results are a testament to the resilience of our fishery with a total of 40 bites, 30 hookups and 20 fish tagged – 4 black marlin and 16 sailfish among 9 boats. Wheelie bin green was the official colour of the water facing the competition and it was great to hear of some boats still getting 4 or 5 shots a day in the conditions. Without delay, results are as follows: Champion Team – Freak Show 6300pts R/Up team – True Blue 4070pts 3rd team Last Cast 2300pts 4th team Wine Down 2170pts 5th team Striper 1000pts 6th team Get N Any 1000pts 7th team Shipfaced 1000 pts 8th team Justeasin’ 1000pts 9th team Halfway 900pts Champion Senior male – Rhys Moore 4300pts R/up Senior male – Ben Wilson 2170pts 3rd Senior male – Jack Moore 2000pts 4th Senior male – Riley Wilson 1900pts 5th Senior male – Gaven Roberts 1000pts 6th Senior male – Brendan Rolt 1000 pts 7th Senior male – Brett Young 1000pts 8th Senior male – Bruce Watkinson – 1000pts 9th Senior male – Kurt Lynch 900pts Champion Senior Female – Amy Jenner 2170pts R/Up Senior Female – Theona Down 1000pts Champion Junior Angler – Daniel Griffin – 1300pts Heaviest Other Gamefish – Vesa Hyytinen 4.91kg Spanish Mackerel Most Meritorious Capture – 13 y/o Daniel Griffin, successfully tagging his first black marlin of about 65kg on 10kg line after just over 2 hours, fishing aboard Last Cast. Hard Luck award – Team Small Fry who battled a marlin of around 60kg on a spin rod for over 2 hours only to have the handle break off the reel – Check out the photos attached to this post taken from Last...

2018/19 SEQ Game Fishing Club Challenge For the Albert and Pauline Threadingham Trophy                          A challenge  to bring clubs across South East QLD together and promote camaraderie, sportsmanship, conservation as well as the future of game fishing to QGFA members. Rules Any SEQ Club affiliated with QGFA can enter, it is not exclusive to club hosting events. No cost involved to enter. (apart from tournament entry fees to host club) Two boats from your Club must enter each of the nominated tournaments below. Clubs must participate in each of the 4 rounds to be eligible. Points will be awarded based on the finishing position of the boats in each tournament and 100 points will be awards to every boat fishing a visiting clubs tournament. All rules of the individual tournament and host club must be followed. GFAA rules apply. Clubs who don’t have a round also will accrue points based on above rules. Tournament Qualification List – Sept 28th –Oct 1st  – Sunshine Coast GFC Spring Shootout November 23th – 25th – Mooloolaba GFC Garmin Billfish Bash March 3rd – 5th – Brisbane Marine Tag & Brag Marlin Extravaganza April (Dates TBA) – Gold Coast GFC Blue Marlin Classic For entry information please contact one of the clubs listed below Gold Coast GFC –  www.gcgfc.com.au  Ash Haigh – satsfactionpools@gmail.com Mooloolaba GFC – www.mgfc.com.au Steve Dahl – stevegonefishing@outlook.com Newport GFC – www.facebook.com/newportgamefishclub/  David Trask – newportgamefish@gmail.com Sunshine Coast GFC – www.scgfc.com.au Tony Cross –...

We have had a number of people asking about line backing, below will help when gearing up for the upcoming season. (a) Line   1. Monofilament, multifilament and lead core multifilament lines may be used. For line classes, see Australian Record Requirements. 2. Wire lines are prohibited.   (b) Line & Backing 1. The use of backing is permissible. 2. The catch shall be classified under the breaking strength of the first five meters of the line directly preceding the double, leader & hook. This section must be comprised of a single homogenous piece of line. (c) Double line The use of a double line is not required. If one is used, it must meet the following specifications: 1. A double line must consist of the actual line used to catch the fish.   2. Double lines are measured from the start of the knot, braid, roll or splice making the double to the furthermost end of the knot, splice, snap, swivel or other device used for securing the trace, leader, lure or hook to the double line. Saltwater species: In all line classes up to and including 10kg (20lb) the double line shall be limited to 4.57m (15ft). The combined length of the double line and leader shall not exceed 6.1m (20ft). The double line on all classes of tackle over 10kg (20lb) shall be limited to 9.14m (30ft). The combined length of the double line and leader shall not exceed 12.19m (40ft). Freshwater species: The double line on all classes of tackle shall not exceed 1.82m (6ft). The combined length of the double line and the leader shall not exceed 3.04m (10ft). (d) Leader The use of a leader is not required. If one is used, it must meet the following specifications: 1. The length of the leader is the overall length, including any lure, hook arrangement or other device, and is measured to the bend of the last hook.. The leader must be connected to the line with a snap, knot, splice, swivel or other device. Holding devices are prohibited. There are no regulations regarding the material or strength of the leader. Saltwater species: In all line classes up to and including 10kg (20lb) the leader shall be limited to...

Just wrapped up the TGFC Billfish Challenge.  Fishing was slow but everything else made that easily forgettable, and the weather was glamorous. This year’s change to be run out of HorseshoeBay was a major and during and after the event, every single boat had nothing but positives to say. There were only 11 fish tagged from 30+ seen. After Day 1 there was only 1 Sailfish tagged by ‘The Chapel’. Day 2 saw a hot bite period (compared to what had already been seen) between 12-3pm and 5 quick tags were recorded including another 1 from ‘The Chapel’ keeping them clear of the pack on 2, with 4 other boats on 1. A shortened Day 3 meant every single boat was in the hunt still and it was anyone’s to take away! But when ‘The Chapel’ called in a successful tagging of a double header of Sailfish just before lunch they just about had it all sewn up with the fishing still relatively quiet. 3 new boats hit the scoreboard on Day 3 with 1 tag each.  A hugely successful event has made nearly certain that everyone will be back again next year,      a light tackle Billfish tournament based out of the ‘Marlin Bar’ in Horseshoe Bay, Magnetic Island was a big hit and the atmosphere throughout the whole event was electric. Full winners list – Champion Team – ‘The Chapel’ Champion Skipper – Ray Chappell Champion Male Angler – Jarrad Agst (The Chapel) Runner Up Male Angler – Tom Massurit (The Chapel) Champion Female Anger – Maryanne Sheens (Contagious) Runner Up Team – ‘Nautical Blue’ Champion Boat Under 7.5m – ‘Rod Rage’   Attached is photos of the winning boat and team. Sailfish tagged during the event by eventual winners ‘The Chapel’ – phot credit Jarrad Agst And a Marlin tagged and released on Day 2 by Josh Kraut on ‘Nautical Blue’...