Outstanding results at Port Lincoln

Record game fishing results have been achieved at the 2013 Riviera Port Lincoln Tuna Classic, which was held on April 6 and 7.
 
Event organiser Peter Teakle said 897 tuna were caught and released at this year’s tournament, which he believed was a provisional new world record.
 
"We have sent the results off to the International Game Fishing Association in Florida because I believe we have set a new world record," Mr Teakle said.
 
"We also had a record 20 boats compete in this year’s Classic and 155 people attended the presentation dinner making the Riviera Port Lincoln Tuna Classic one of the largest offshore game fishing tournaments in Australia."
 
Fishing is over two days from 9am until 6pm on Saturday and 8am until 3pm on Sunday and takes place within a stipulated fishing zone to ensure a level and affordable playing field. Each team consists of four anglers who may interchange with a skipper or deckhand.
 
The Tuna Classic begins with a spectacular sail past and dramatic start as the lead boat, the historic Tacoma, the classic 60 year old Tuna trawler credited as being the founder of the Port Lincoln Tuna fishing industry sounds her horns, which indicates the commencement of the race to Memory Cove and the preparations to start fishing at 9am.
 
Mr Teakle said his goal was to create a family friendly and world-class game fishing tournament.
 
“Riviera has a philosophy of getting the whole family involved with boating as much as they have a philosophy of all Riviera boat owners being part of one big global family. So when we were asked to take over this tournament three years ago, we decided to make this a true family event. I thank our sponsors
 
The trophy for Champion Boat was awarded to the team on board Bryan Stokes’ Riviera 70 Enclosed Flybridge C’World for catching and releasing 125 tuna over 780mm in length.
 
Tournament qualifying Southern Bluefin Tuna must be 780mm from the hook of the tail to the nose of the fish, which equates to about 10 kilograms or line matching fish. Aluminium rods are made to this length for ease of quick measurement and were supplied to each competing boat along with their tournament bag.
 
Mr Stokes has competed in the Riviera Port Lincoln Tuna Classic since its inception eight years ago.
 
The Runner up trophy was awarded to the team on board Majessnik, a 42 foot Riviera for catching and releasing 107 fish. Champion male angler went to Elio Auciello on Majessnik for catching and releasing 43 fish. Runner up male angler went to Rick Tidswell on Riviera 42 Jazz2 for catching and releasing 37 fish. 

Champion female angler was awarded to Meghan Tapley on board Riviera 4000 Noble One for catching and releasing 29 fish. Runner up female angler went to Susan Tarbotton on board Riviera 56 Tari for catching and releasing 22 fish. 

Champion junior angler was awarded to Pamela Platt on board Noble One for catching and releasing 19 fish and runner up went to Bailey Godwin on board Tari Two for catching and releasing nine fish.
 
Event organisers are already planning next year’s Riviera Port Lincoln Tuna Classic which will be held on May 3-4, 2014 and look forward to another successful event.
 
For more information, rules, guidelines and entry forms, contact Peter Teakle on peterteakle@bigpond.com or +61 4 28 922 224.
 
For more information, go to www.rivieraaustralia.com