Trailer Boat fishing tournament 2001

The 2001 Trailer Boat Fishing Tournament was conducted from magnificent Nelson Bay at Port Stephens, April 6-8. In its eighth consecutive year, the event attracted 960 anglers fishing from 365 boats. The huge trailerboat fleet was treated to sensational weather and some very good fishing.

With calm conditions offshore most boats headed out to fish around the nearby islands and reefs, with several boats heading further offshore to chase billfish.

Most of the boats were rewarded for their efforts with some very good bream, drummer and luderick taken around the washes. The inshore reefs produced some good snapper, morwong and teraglin. Those boats who persisted with livebaiting the islands and headlands got their arms well and truly stretched with some excellent cobia, yellowtail kingfish, mulloway and longtail tuna making it to the weighstation.

Even the boats chasing billfish saw their share of action with a total of five marlin tagged.

All three prize-winning bream weighed over 1kg, with the largest being a hefty 1.328kg model taken by Barbara Muras aboard Possessed. The heaviest flathead was won by Andrew Wilson on The Ghost with a 3.151kg crocodile. The tailor were around in numbers but not in size, however, John Clarke on Stinkin' Hot made it to the top of the table with a respectable 1.246kg specimen.

The heaviest flounder was an 0.954kg animal taken by Ross Wilson aboard Gudgeon. The heaviest luderick was taken by Michael Guest on Razorback with a 0.905kg fish.

No monster snapper were weighed, however a few respectable specimens made it to the weighstation. Grant Duncan's 3.473kg 'red' earned him the heaviest snapper prize.

George Green aboard True Blue took out the heaviest morwong with a 2.171kg fish. The heaviest teraglin was a 1.811kg fish taken by George Burrell on Sea Creature.

DRUMMER BOY
Nelson Bay local Graham Duffy, fishing aboard Uptha, obviously has a secret 'pig' spot catching the three largest drummer with each of them over 3kg (the largest going 3.806kg). Duffy also caught the second-largest bream and the second and third-largest snapper. This consistency saw Duffy eventually win the champion angler trophy, with Uptha taking out champion boat.

The heaviest mulloway was a 23.782kg monster caught by Shane Wise aboard Diamond Dog.

There were some very impressive pelagics caught. Bill Peeters on Flying Dutchman took out the heaviest cobia with a 27.949kg thumper. The heaviest kingfish was a healthy 19.006kg model taken by Andrew Stewart aboard Down Under. The team on Second Wind (which took the top three positions) obviously know how to catch longtail tuna - Alan Wright's 24.581kg fish being the heaviest.

The billfish section was sensibly tag and release only, with Lloyd Harrison aboard Success tagging two marlin to win the billfish title. One of these marlin was estimated at 130kg, which was a great capture on 15kg tackle.

The juniors were also in the thick of the action, with the heaviest bream going to James Brindle on Brindabella with a healthy 0.865kg fish.

Brandon Lebr aboard Keen As caught the heaviest flathead (1.780kg) and the heaviest flounder (0.401kg).

These two fish saw Lebr take out the champion junior title.

ACTION STATIONS!
The junior title was hotly contested, with Luke Walmsley on Playstation catching the heaviest snapper (2.381kg) and the heaviest tuna (9.215kg).

Tristan Goninan aboard Rosco also found himself on the scoreboard with the two heaviest tailor and the second-largest tuna.

The heaviest drummer was a 1.112kg fish taken by Ty Jaques on Oscar, and the heaviest teraglin weighed-in at 1.326kg and was taken by Laura Bulley on Brindabella.

As you can see there were some outstanding captures, with age or gender no barrier. Having the weighstation at d'Albora Marinas also enabled many fish to be weighed live and then released to fight another day.

With more than $40,000 in prizes up for grabs there were plenty of smiling faces on presentation day. It appeared nearly everyone won a prize with a seemingly endless supply of lucky draw prizes.

The support from the sponsors for this tournament is nothing short of incredible and a big, big thanks goes out to all the sponsors who help make the Trailer Boat Fishing Tournament such a success.

Tournament organiser Tony Poole, along with offsider Nicky Ronalds, did a fantastic job as did the host of volunteers from the Shoal Bay Fishing Club.

The Trailer Boat team, of course, was there in force with our new Mustang project boat and Ford Explorer tow vehicle. Yes, I know you can't see our names on the winner's list. (Perhaps we should get some tips from Graham Duffy.)

Port Stephens is a great location to hold a fishing tournament and Trailer Boat magazine is certainly proud to be associated with this one. If you want to spend a great weekend fishing with the family, with the added bonus of winning some excellent prizes, then note March 22-24 in your diary for next year's tournament.