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Nick Sergi with his 54.8kg yellowfin at the
Kiama BlowholeBig Fish Classic in early April.The Newcastle Game Fishing Club’s East Coast Classic in early March saw 49 boats
and 215 anglers competing in what started as sloppy weather on Saturday morning,
but cleared to an almost glass-out on the Sunday.
Most boats fished off Port Stephens, particularly on the ‘Carpark’ grounds, and
overall there were 109 marlin tagged and released, comprising 65 blacks, 36 striped
and 8 blue marlin, as well as 27 sharks and one other gamefish. Two blue marlin and
one mako shark were also weighed-in.
The prize for the largest marlin weighed was won byOff Da Hookwith a 156.1kg
blue marlin, and the prize for Champion Boat Tag & Release was won by Sydney boat
Reel Diamond. Overall Champion Junior Angler for Tag & Release was won by Rhys
Jolly aboardSeababy IV, and the trophy for champion tag and release of sharks was
won byRiptide. Many teams won prizes in our giveaways throughout the tournament,
and the team aboardBloodbankwon a Simrad NSS9 sounder.- Scott Morris, Secretary NGFC
The Kiama Blowhole Big Fish Classic, held
in early April, was a huge success with
great weather combined with plenty of
marlin, dolphinfish and yellowfin tuna.
The 32 boats and 108 anglers chased
trophies in 18 categories in either the
Capture or Tag & Release divisions.
Sponsors also provided a $5000 cash
prize for the heaviest marlin, and a
‘Lucky Angler Draw’ prize that included a
Shimano Stella reel and Ocea rod.
Nineteen marlin were tagged and
released over the two days, including
blues, blacks and striped marlin, and
perhaps triple that number were hooked.
Several big blues and blacks were lost,
including the crew ofChasin Tail who
fought a large black marlin for five-and-
a-half hours on 15kg. In the end, the
Heaviest Marlin Capture award was won
by David Deans onFrantic, skippered by
Steve Banks, with a 141.5kg blue.
The heaviest yellowfin tuna of 54.8kg
on 24kg line was caught by Nick Sergi on
Her Choice, skippered by Lance Beevers.
The Heaviest Other Game Fish was a
12kg dolphinfish on 10kg line caught
by Tracey Vaartjes on In Deep. The
Heaviest Shark trophy was won by Mark
O’Donoghue onReckless, skippered by
Craig ‘Monty’ Tuohy, with a whaler of
251kg on 15kg tackle.
Kiama hosted the NSWGFA Junior team
for the Blowhole Tournament. Lead by
NSWGFA Treasurer, Grahame Williams,
and fishing aboardNemo, young Ryan
Kaczorowski won Champion Junior
Angler Tag & Release with a marlin andEast Coast Classic – Newcastle
The East Coast Classic
in early March saw 49
teams tag 109 marlin
on the grounds off Port
Stephens, NSW over the
two-day tournament.dolphinfish, and the team won the trophy
for Most Other Game Fish Tagged &
Released with 17 dolphinfish.- Mark Way, Tournament Director
Kiama
Blowhole
Big Fish Classic
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