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’