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TOURNAMENT
NEWSThe three-day Garmin Light Tackle Masters, run by the Gold Coast Game
Fishing Club from the Southport Yacht Club in early February, saw varied
sea conditions as they set out to chase the annual run of baby black marlin.
The 25 boats and 83 anglers found the action a little slow on the first day, with
only 13 tagged black marlin. The second day brought the worst of the weather and
a few early retirements, with only 10 tagged marlin, but the last day really fired
up and ended on a high with 26 tagged black marlin.
The last day saw results change from sked to sked with an outstanding effort
from the team onMufasa, tagging eight black marlin and two dolphinfish to take
out Champion Boat for Tag & Release. Five of their marlin were released by Rhys
Jackson, who took out Champion Male Angler. Champion Female was won for the
second year in a row by Pam Hart aboardViking II, who beat her previous effort
by tagging five black marlin and two dolphinfish.
The tournament attracted 13 junior anglers, who battled it out to win a 3m tinny
and outboard donated by Brisbane Marine. Blake Brown onAdios was the recipient,
winning with two tagged dolphinfish and his first ever black marlin. Hot in pursuit
were theSpecial Kjunior crew, but Sam Capel onNga Hua won Champion
Angler Other Species- Tagged, while Riley
Dunbar onJust Lookin
won the Heaviest Other
Species award with a
dolphinfish weighing
9.7kg. Champion
Female angler was
won by Kira Newton
who tagged a sailfish
aboardGrinner.
Over five days of fishing in late January,
the 12 teams fishing the Mauritius Billfish
Release Tournament tagged 27 marlin,
including blues to more than 300kg. The
winner was the Lithuanian team, which led
throughout the tournament.Mauritius
Billfish Release
International
Tournament
The fourth Mauritius Billfish
Release International Tournament
was held at the end of January
on the calm and sheltered, near-
shore grounds off Black River and
Le Morne.
Twelve teams took part, including four
teams and two boats that travelled up
from the neighbouring French territory
of Reunion Island. Visiting international
teams travelled from Africa, Lithuania,
France and as far as Russia. For next
year’s tournament, the organisers are
eager to encourage Australian and
New Zealand teams to participate.
With nearly 40 strikes recorded, each
day produced blue marlin action. Over
the five days of fishing, 27 marlin
were released, including fish estimated
at 225, 270 and 320kg. Many nice
dolphinfish, yellowfin tuna, wahoo and
spearfish were also caught.
Each team showed great fighting
spirit, enthusiasm and talent, but it was
Team Lithuania United that won after
staying just ahead of the second and
third-placed teams from start to finish.
Next year’s tournament will run
from 2nd to 6th of February 2019.
For more information, visit http://www.
MauritiusBillfishTournament.comRight: The Gold Coast Game
Fishing Club’s Light Tackle
Masters tournament in
February took advantage of
this year’s great run of baby
black marlin. It also produced
this sailfish for Kira Newton
aboard Grinner.Light Tackle Masters
- Gold Coast