Port Stephens fishing feature

Among the most popular tournaments in Australia, the 16th Club Marine Trailer Boat Fishing Tournament will be held at Port Stephens, NSW, from April 3 to 5. The tournament is held each year the weekend before Easter at d'Albora Marinas Nelson Bay and Club Marine will again have a major presence.

For more than 50 per cent of competitors each year, the Club Marine Trailer Boat Fishing Tournament is their first ever fishing competition.

Whether dreaming of tagging their first marlin, embracing the opportunity to visit Port Stephens as part of an organised group or just to enjoy a family weekend away, it’s a grand adventure for anglers of all ages and skill levels.

This tournament provides people with a sense of belonging and an opportunity of meeting likeminded people in a friendly atmosphere. For regular competitors, it is an opportunity to reacquaint themselves with friends from years past and enjoy the many lucky prize draws. For a competitive few, it is time to be tested against the best.

THE RULES
Only the top three fish in each species category are eligible for points, so there are not many fish weighed in. For example, once word gets out that a 2.3kg flathead is in third place, unless their fish is bigger, most competitors release them straight away.

With a lot of anglers bringing in their catch alive for weighing, the Shimano Big Tank soon fills with a collection of good sized fish of many species.

Even though the rules are kept deliberately simple, to win this tournament you need to be among the very best of anglers.

TO BE A CHAMPION
The five, three, one points allocation for one, two, and three in a species means you need to be on the board with a number of fish of different species at the end of the three days of competition to have a chance of becoming the Champion Angler.

The Champion Angler Club is an elite one and in 2008, Brett Parkinson, earned his entry by accumulating 15 points with third drummer, first, second, and third flathead, and first morwong. He nudged out Barry Peters with first bream and first kingfish for 10 points.

The competition in the junior section is just as fast and furious. Champion Junior for 2008, Felicity Thomas, won with 10 points (third tailor, first, second, third teraglin) on count-back from Zac Mason (third bream, second drummer, third luderick, and first tailor). There’s many a junior fish weighed that any senior angler would be proud to claim as their own.

The organisers recognised many years ago that 10 per cent of anglers catch 90 per cent of the fish, so in addition to the 14 eligible species of fish there are a multitude of lucky draw prizes available from the briefing on Thursday night, Saturday’s Competitor BBQ or at Sunday's major prize giving.

For further information including sponsor & prize details, accommodation and entry forms, phone (02) 9029 6554 or visit www.tbft.com.au (entries close March 27, 2009.)