Riviera Port Lincoln Tuna Classic

Patience certainly paid off for the crew on board Riviera 56 Enclosed Flybridge, The Battler, who won the 2014 Riviera Port Lincoln Tuna Classic, which was held from April 12 to 13.

Skippered by well-known fishing identity Bob Jones, the team on board The Battler was up against some of Adelaide’s finest and most experienced anglers. With more than 25 boats catching and releasing 248 southern bluefin tuna weighing between 10 and 15.5 kilograms over the two-day tournament, The Battler certainly had some fierce competition.

Jones said in his 30 years experience he had learned a lot about patience: "You never leave fish to find fish," he said.

"The only advantage I think we had over the local anglers was experience fishing by sounder. When I marked the spots I would stay on them. You might get a bite and then it would go quiet for a while and then they come back. I never moved more than two miles over the whole two days because I was told the area was a good spot to fish, I trusted my sounder and we just hung in there."

The team on board The Battler caught and released 48 tuna over the two days to win Champion Boat Overall. They also took out prizes for Champion Male Angler Overall (Tim Cooke), Runner-up Male Angler (Adrian Bothur), and Champion Boat Day One.

Event organiser Peter Teakle said the Riviera Port Lincoln Tuna Classic was now the largest offshore fishing tournament in Southern Australia.

"It is pleasing to see so many female and junior anglers participating in this event and this year we had a record 25 boats, including five trailer boats, compete in the tournament," Teakle said.

"My goal is to create a family friendly, professional and world-class game fishing tournament and I thank our sponsors for helping us achieve our goal of bringing the joy of game fishing to the whole family," he added.

At 7.30am on day one of the tournament, the historic tuna boat the Tacoma (circa 1948) led the fleet out of the Harbour with a spectacular sail past. When the classic tuna trawler, credited as being the founder of the Port Lincoln Tuna fishing industry, sounded her horn it marked the start of the race to Memory Cove where fishing began at 9.00am.

The Runner up trophy for the event was awarded to the team on board Majessnik, a 42 foot Riviera for catching and releasing 30 fish, Champion Trailer Boat was Liquid Asset for catching and releasing 16 fish, and runner up Trailer Boat went to Dark Star for catching and releasing eight fish.

Riviera’s director of brand and communications Stephen Milne said that Riviera was proud of its long association with the Tuna Classic.

"The Tuna Classic provides a very social and fun way for both serious sport fishing enthusiasts, as well as those new to the sport to come together to learn from each other and enjoy each other’s company. It is particularly gratifying to see a growing number of junior anglers in this tournament," he said.

Event organisers are already planning next year’s Riviera Port Lincoln Tuna Classic which will be held over April 11-12 and look forward to another successful event.

For more information go to www.rivieraaustralia.com