THE Mid North Coast Amateur Fishing Clubs Association recently held their Estuary Titles, which were hosted locally by the Bulahdelah Fishing Club.
The weekend contest attracted 80 anglers who represented clubs from throughout the region, including Bulahdelah and Port Macquarie, and everywhere in between.
Despite wet conditions, a break in the weather on the Saturday, provided near perfect conditions for the friendly fish off.
Association Vice-President Brett Shultz, said the competition area was open, with the only restriction being that fishing had to take place within an estuary.
“We had two men from Port Macquarie fishing from a boat, who went down to Lake Macquarie, then back to Port Macquarie and then to Forster, they hadn’t slept all night,” Brett told News Of The Area.
After a weekend of serious fishing, all clubs converged on Bulahdelah Bowling Club for the weigh in.
Lake Cathie club members proved hard to beat, claiming the overall win by taking out the Ladies, Ladies Veteran, Junior and Sub-Junior individual categories.
Lake Cathie also dominated the team categories, out fishing the competition to take the Men’s, Ladies Veteran, Junior and Sub-Junior titles.
But it wasn’t all about Lake Cathie, with other clubs also recording good catches.
Port Macquarie claimed the Men’s and Open Individual titles and Harrington took out the Individual Veterans Championship.
Bulahdelah Fishing Club were named runners-up in the Men’s team event.
The biggest fish caught during the competition was a 5.96-kilogram mulloway reeled in by Laurieton’s Col Trenamen.
Other standout catches were Jayden Skellern’s impressive 3.4-kilogram flathead, and Daniel Manwarring’s 4.6-kilogram kingfish, both representing Port Macquarie.
Host Club President Darren Carrall said the weekend event was successful with many surprise catches.
“You never know what’s coming up, the kingfish caught was the standout, as it is so unusual,” he said.
The next outing for the Association will be the ‘Rock and Reef’ contest hosted by the Laurieton Club, commencing on 20 May.
By John SAHYOUN
