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| article: 2012 canberra yellowfin tuna tournament by charlie micallef |
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Dated: 25 May, 2012
 | | This year the lucky winner was Matt Xiberras from Jervis Bay who was fishing on his Dad’s boat Jake Two. This fantastic prize is only possible through the generous sponsorship of Haines Hunter and Honda for their help in supplying the boat and motor package and of GME Australia who generously donated electronics for the boat. |
2012 CANBERRA Yellowfin Tuna TOURNAMENT
The 31st Annual Canberra Yellowfin Tuna Tournament was held out of Bermagui from 19th to 21st May.
Hosted by the Canberra Game Fishing Club, the tournament attracted 107 boats and 375 anglers. They all enjoyed the good conditions at sea and the hospitality in the tournament marquee on shore.
The highlight of the onshore activities was the drawing of the lucky angler prize of a Haines Hunter 400 Prowler boat and Honda motor package at the tournament barbeque on Saturday evening. This year the lucky winner was Matt Xiberras from Jervis Bay who was fishing on his Dad’s boat Jake Two. This fantastic prize is only possible through the generous sponsorship of Haines Hunter and Honda for their help in supplying the boat and motor package and of GME Australia who generously donated electronics for the boat.
For the first time in a number of years the weather gods co-operated to provide three full days of fishing which saw 8 Yellowfin Tuna weighed along with 5 Southern Bluefin Tuna, 1 mako and 1 blue shark. In the tag and release categories there were 3 yellowfin and 12 Southern Bluefin Tuna tagged as well as 109 Albacore, 9 makos and 6 blue sharks. Junior and small fry anglers tagged 19 Striped Tuna.
The heaviest Yellowfin Tuna was captured by Tawonga dairy farmer, Roy Davies from the Canberra Game Fishing Club aboard Bill Dunkley’s Bill Collector. It tipped the scales at 63.2kg on the first day of the tournament and was not headed.
First time angler, Matt Duncan, captured the second heaviest yellowfin while fishing aboard Greg Barea’s El Bandito. Matt joined the Kiama Game Fishing Club on the Friday before the tournament so that he could fish with Greg and his mates. The crew had been cubing for several hours on Sunday with no luck so they decided to call it a day. Matt was winding in the pilchard in preparation for the trip home when the yellowfin struck and after a four hour battle on 15kg line they boated a nice fish that weighed in at 58.4kg. He must think this game fishing caper is pretty easy!
Heaviest Shark was a 150.2kg mako taken by Michael Muscat from the Bermagui Big Game Anglers Club fishing on Sarah Jane and the crew on Swoopa from the Victorian Game Fishing Club took out the heaviest other game fish category with a 59.6kg Southern Bluefin Tuna captured by Andy Fennessy.
10 year old Cooper Mills from the Victorian Game Fishing Club, fishing aboard his father’s boat Strait Out, captured a 23.8kg Southern Bluefin Tuna on 8kg tackle which is a pending NSW and Australian Record for a small fry. Congratulations Cooper on such a terrific effort.
The main tag and release category was for most yellowfin tagged and was taken out, on a countback, by Ian Gulson from Goulburn fishing on another Canberra boat, Aquaholic. Skippered by Greg Campbell, Aquaholic was also the boat tagging the most yellowfin, again on a countback.
The President and committee of the Canberra Game Fishing Club would like to pass on their thanks to all of our generous sponsors without whom this tournament cannot be the success that is has been.
Thanks also to all the anglers who made the trip to Bermagui for this our 31st tournament. It is the anglers who make any tournament and we urge you to put the 18th to 20th May, 2013 in your calendar for the 32nd Annual Canberra Yellowfin Tuna Tournament in Bermagui.
 | | 2012 CANBERRA YELLOWFIN TUNA TOURNAMENT |
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| Any enquires please don’t hesitate to email me at Savage_seas@hotmail.com.
Charlie Micallef |
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