THE first outing of the Port Macquarie Blue Water Fishing Club for the new fishing year was held on Sunday 14 July and despite cold conditions early a fleet of six club boats went to sea with 13 fisherpersons on board.
Conditions were near perfect with a light westerly breeze and a slight southerly current of less than a knot. Boats went in every direction with some skippers going north to fish the wider grounds off Big Hill, some south to fish in close off Cathie and yet another headed wide of the lighthouse.
The club’s barbecue and weigh-in commenced at 12 noon and as usual was very well supported by members, families and friends. Fish that greeted the weighmaster included snapper, pearl perch, jewfish, tragalin, flathead and multitudes of very hungry leatherjackets.
The best boat on the day was ‘Easybeat’ skippered by Geoff Shelton with 29.08 points and a very close runner-up was ‘Gunna’ skippered by Jim Fischer with 28.28 points.
The John Donlan Smash Repair Trophy for the biggest fish was won by Chris King with a jewfish weighing in at 3.64kg. The Port Macquarie Subaru Snapper Trophy was won by Tony Jones with a fish weighing 1.30 kg and the Ned Kelly Bait and Tackle Flathead Trophy was won by Michelle Evans with an ocean sand flathead weighing .54kg.
The club would like to wish a warm welcome to its newest sponsor the Port Macquarie Private Hospital. They are generously sponsoring the Tragalin Trophy which this outing went to club president Geoff Shelton with a fish weighing 1.48kg.
The Barry Ingram Painting Junior Trophy was not contested. The Lighthouse Beach Butchery raffle was won by David Clark and the club’s marble draw was won by Jim Fischer.
The club’s next outing will be held on Sunday, 28 July, with the weigh-in and barbecue commencing at 12pm at the marina. Anyone wishing to join the club or attend the weigh-ins and barbecue are most welcome. For further information please contact president Geoff Shelton on 0421 324 773.
