GAMEX 2019 TOURNAMENT REPORT
The Exmouth Game Fishing Club’s GAMEX game fishing tournament is Western Australia’s most prestigious and popular fishing event, showcasing Exmouth’s extraordinarily diverse fishing options via 27 different prize categories across line class, tag and release and capture sections for 35 point scoring gamefish species.
Held in March each year, the 2019 edition of GAMEX looked set to be cancelled with Category 4 Tropical Cyclone Veronica forming to the north and threatening to impact Exmouth right around the scheduled start of the tournament. After a nervous few lead up days watching track maps though, GAMEX 2019 kicked off as scheduled on March 22, with 43 boats and 160 anglers entered – down on previous years but an admirable turnout given the cyclone threat.
As things panned out, the weather for most of the six days fishing was perfect, and the fishing was solid if unspectacular by Exmouth’s world beating standards. In the weeks prior to GAMEX 2019, Exmouth’s inshore grounds had been firing for small black marlin, so that’s where most of the crews chasing the billfish sections focused their attention, racking up point scores tagging small blacks and sailfish on light line classes.
Not all billfish encountered were at the smaller end of the scale through. Fishing the wider grounds beyond the continental shelf, Black Marlin tagged the largest marlin for the tournament; a blue estimated at 250kg. The same crew also tagged a striped marlin they estimated at 120kgs which is a big stripe for Exmouth waters, and fishing back inshore, The Wench tagged the best black marlin for the tournament with a fish they estimated at 110kg.
As per usual, the Champion Boat Tag & Release Marlin section was hotly contested, with Top Deck leading most of the week, only for Azura to come home strong with eight fish tagged on the final day to equal Top Deck’s 23 fish tagged for the tournament but snatch the win on points for the second year running. Also for the second year running, The Wench won Champion Boat under 7m Tag & Release Billfish with their 22 tags over Nail It with 21 tags.
Final billfish stats for GAMEX 2018 were 822 fish raised, 559 hooked and 317 tagged and released. This total catch was made up of 255 black marlin, 56 sailfish, 4 blue marlin and 2 striped marlin.
In the line class capture sections, 73 fish from 16 different species were brought to the weigh station across line classes from 1-37kg, with several state and national line class record claims lodged during the event. Overall winners were Small Fry Tayla Raines on Undefeated with captures on 1 line class across 2 species, Junior Jesse Sutton on Got Im On with captures on 11 different line classes across 6 species, Female Anna Passmore on Pullin Skirt with captures on 11 different line classes across 8 species and Matt Arscott on Awesum with captures on 11 different line classes across 10 species.
GAMEX 2019’s other major category, Champion Boat Overall Capture/Tag & Release was also a close run thing. The win went to In Deep with 15 species on 11 line classes, ahead of Awesum with 11 species on 11 line classes. Junior angler, Reece Clifton was awarded the Phil Tickle Memorial Trophy for the tournament’s Most Meritorious Capture (highest point score capture excluding billfish or shark) for his 7.35kg queenfish on 1kg line.
Dates for GAMEX 2020 are March 13 – 21. For further details, check out the GAMEX 2020 page or email: [email protected].
GAMEX 2019 was proudly supported by the WA State Government of Western Australia through Tourism WA’s Regional Events Program.
The Exmouth Game Fishing Club’s GAMEX game fishing tournament is Western Australia’s most prestigious and popular fishing event, showcasing Exmouth’s extraordinarily diverse fishing options via 27 different prize categories across line class, tag and release and capture sections for 35 point scoring gamefish species.
Held in March each year, the 2019 edition of GAMEX looked set to be cancelled with Category 4 Tropical Cyclone Veronica forming to the north and threatening to impact Exmouth right around the scheduled start of the tournament. After a nervous few lead up days watching track maps though, GAMEX 2019 kicked off as scheduled on March 22, with 43 boats and 160 anglers entered – down on previous years but an admirable turnout given the cyclone threat.
As things panned out, the weather for most of the six days fishing was perfect, and the fishing was solid if unspectacular by Exmouth’s world beating standards. In the weeks prior to GAMEX 2019, Exmouth’s inshore grounds had been firing for small black marlin, so that’s where most of the crews chasing the billfish sections focused their attention, racking up point scores tagging small blacks and sailfish on light line classes.
Not all billfish encountered were at the smaller end of the scale through. Fishing the wider grounds beyond the continental shelf, Black Marlin tagged the largest marlin for the tournament; a blue estimated at 250kg. The same crew also tagged a striped marlin they estimated at 120kgs which is a big stripe for Exmouth waters, and fishing back inshore, The Wench tagged the best black marlin for the tournament with a fish they estimated at 110kg.
As per usual, the Champion Boat Tag & Release Marlin section was hotly contested, with Top Deck leading most of the week, only for Azura to come home strong with eight fish tagged on the final day to equal Top Deck’s 23 fish tagged for the tournament but snatch the win on points for the second year running. Also for the second year running, The Wench won Champion Boat under 7m Tag & Release Billfish with their 22 tags over Nail It with 21 tags.
Final billfish stats for GAMEX 2018 were 822 fish raised, 559 hooked and 317 tagged and released. This total catch was made up of 255 black marlin, 56 sailfish, 4 blue marlin and 2 striped marlin.
In the line class capture sections, 73 fish from 16 different species were brought to the weigh station across line classes from 1-37kg, with several state and national line class record claims lodged during the event. Overall winners were Small Fry Tayla Raines on Undefeated with captures on 1 line class across 2 species, Junior Jesse Sutton on Got Im On with captures on 11 different line classes across 6 species, Female Anna Passmore on Pullin Skirt with captures on 11 different line classes across 8 species and Matt Arscott on Awesum with captures on 11 different line classes across 10 species.
GAMEX 2019’s other major category, Champion Boat Overall Capture/Tag & Release was also a close run thing. The win went to In Deep with 15 species on 11 line classes, ahead of Awesum with 11 species on 11 line classes. Junior angler, Reece Clifton was awarded the Phil Tickle Memorial Trophy for the tournament’s Most Meritorious Capture (highest point score capture excluding billfish or shark) for his 7.35kg queenfish on 1kg line.
Dates for GAMEX 2020 are March 13 – 21. For further details, check out the GAMEX 2020 page or email: [email protected].
GAMEX 2019 was proudly supported by the WA State Government of Western Australia through Tourism WA’s Regional Events Program.
GAMEX 2019 SECTION RESULTS
SECTION 1
Highest Point Score Game Fish Other than Billfish or Shark Weighed in on 1kg Line
This section is sponsored by Exmouth IGA
RUNNER UP: Jake Fitzgerald 5.20kg Queenfish
WINNER: Reece Clifton 7.35kg Queenfish
SECTION 2
Highest Point Score Game Fish Other than Billfish or Shark Weighed in on 2kg Line
This section is sponsored by The Fresh Fish Shack
RUNNER UP: Anna Passmore 8.15kg Golden Trevally
WINNER: Matt Arscott 8.55kg Golden Trevally
SECTION 3
Highest Point Score Game Fish Other than Billfish or Shark Weighed in on 3kg Line
This section is sponsored by Exmouth Automotive & Boating Services
RUNNER UP: Jake Fitzgerald 7.70kg Mahi Mahi
WINNER: Mick Grasso 8.0kg NB Mackerel
SECTION 4
Highest Point Score Game Fish Other than Billfish or Shark Weighed in on 4kg Line
This section is sponsored by Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort
RUNNER UP: Mick Grasso 7.30kg Golden Trevally
WINNER: Matt Arscott 7.50kg Golden Trevally
SECTION 5
Highest Point Score Game Fish Other than Billfish or Shark Weighed in on 6kg Line
This section is sponsored by the Potshot Hotel Resort
RUNNER UP: Wade Clark 11.20kg NB Mackerel
WINNER: Wade Clark 15.30kg Barracuda
SECTION 6
Highest Point Score Game Fish Other than Billfish or Shark Weighed in on 8kg Line
This section is sponsored by Woodside
RUNNER UP: Phillip Conder 8.10kg NB Mackerel
WINNER: Daniel Shillingford 10.95kg NB Mackerel
SECTION 7
Highest Point Score Game Fish Other than Billfish or Shark Weighed in on 10kg Line
This section is sponsored by Exmouth Wholesalers
RUNNER UP: Dillion Picken 14.15kg NB Mackerel
WINNER: Ronald Conder 20.70kg NB Mackerel
SECTION 8
Highest Point Score Billfish Weighed in on 1-15kg Line
This section is sponsored by Exmouth Fuel Supplies
VACANT
SECTION 9
Highest Point Score Billfish Weighed in on 24-60kg Line
This section is sponsored by Ningaloo Car & Boat Hire and Autopro Exmouth
VACANT
SECTION 10
Champion Boat Tag & Release Shark
This section is sponsored by BHP
RUNNER UP: Muddy 17 Tags 3000 Points Average Line Class 13.94
WINNER: Wet Puss 25 Tags 5000 Points Average Line Class 14.48
SECTION 11
Champion Small Fry Angler (under 11yrs old)
This section is sponsored by the Shire of Exmouth
RUNNER UP: VACANT
WINNER: Tayla Raines 2 Species 1 Line Class
SECTION 12
Champion Junior Angler (under 16yrs old)
This section is sponsored by Exmouth Freight & Logistics
RUNNER UP: Reece Clifton 3 Species 6 Line Classes 3035.00 Points
WINNER: Jesse Sutton 6 Species 11 Line Classes 4338.75 Points
SECTION 13
Champion Female Angler
This section is sponsored by West Coast Suzuki Marine
RUNNER UP: Ayesha Salkild 6 Species 10 Line Classes 3621.67 Points
WINNER: Anna Passmore 8 Species 11 Line Classes 5301.67 Points
SECTION 14
Champion Male Angler
This section is sponsored by Shimano Australia
RUNNER UP: Jake Fitzgerald 11 Species 10 Line Classes 6498.33 Points
WINNER: Matt Arscott 10 Species 11 Line Classes 6725.50 Points
SECTION 15
Champion Small Fry Angler – Tag & Release Billfish
This section is sponsored by Evolution Fishing Charters
RUNNER UP: VACANT
WINNER: Tayla Raine 5 Tags 2400 Points
SECTION 16
Champion Junior Angler – Tag & Release Billfish
This section is sponsored by Exmouth Tackle & Camping
RUNNER UP: Trent Gregory 1 tag 200 Points
WINNER: William Roche 1 Tag 400 Points
SECTION 17
Champion Female Angler – Tag & Release Billfish
This section is sponsored by Exmouth Escape Resort
RUNNER UP: Janelle Hodgson 5 Tags 2500 Points
WINNER: Jo Ann Riley 8 Tags 3900 Points
SECTION 18
Champion Male Angler – Tag & Release Billfish
This section is sponsored by Home Hardware Exmouth
RUNNER UP: Lewis Nock 16 Tags 7700 Points
WINNER: Nathan Opolinski 25 Tags 11800 Points
SECTION 19
Champion Boat Tag & Release Sailfish
This section is sponsored by Furuno Electronics
RUNNER UP: Stormy 4 Tags 1600 Points (countback on time of tag from On Strike)
WINNER: Azura 7 Tags 2800 Points
SECTION 20
Champion Boat Tag & Release Swordfish
This section is sponsored by Reel Teaser Fishing Adventures
VACANT
SECTION 21
Champion Boat Tag & Release Billfish – Boats 7m & Under
This section is sponsored by Callex Telecommunications
RUNNER UP: Nail It 21 Tags 10200 Points
WINNER: The Wench 22 Tags 10700 Points
SECTION 22
Champion Boat Tag & Release Billfish – Boats Over 7m
This section is sponsored by Simrad Yachting
RUNNER UP: Top Deck 26 Tags 12300 Points
WINNER: Azura 30 Tags 14300 Points
SECTION 23
Champion Boat Tag & Release Marlin
This section is sponsored by Tackleworld Exmouth
RUNNER UP: Top Deck 23 Tags 11100 Points
WINNER: Azura 23 Tags 11500 Points
SECTION 24
Champion Boat Overall Capture/Tag & Release
This section is sponsored by The Reef Convenience & Takeaway
RUNNER UP: Awesum 11 L/C 11 Spc 7190.50 Points
WINNER: In Deep 11 L/C 15 Spc 8065.83 Points
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN GAME FISHING ASSOCIATON INTERCLUB
The interclub is a tournament within our tournament where all WAGFA affiliated clubs are invited to nominate two teams from their club to compete.
The Interclub is held on the third day of GAMEX (Tuesday) and includes tag & release billfish only.
This year the competing clubs were
The Broome Game Fishing Club (Muddy & Reel Teaser)
The Perth Game Fishing Club (Vanquish & All the Gear No Idea)
The Exmouth Game Fishing Club (Azura & Goldstrike II)
WINNER: Exmouth Game Fishing Club
SECTION 25
Steve Pitman Memorial Trophy – Most Skilled Angler (most species on most line classes)
This section is sponsored by Whitey’s Tackle & Camping, Australind
WINNER: Jake Fitzgerald 10 line Classes 11 Species
SECTION 26
George King Memorial Trophy – Top Tagging Captain (most tags)
This section is sponsored by Mahi Mahi Charters, Coral Bay
WINNER: Eddy Lawler 30 Tags
SECTION 27
Phil Tickle Memorial Trophy – Most Meritorious Capture (Highest point score capture excluding billfish or shark)
This section is sponsored by Siesta Park Holiday Resort, Busselton
WINNER: Reece Clifton 7.35kg Queenfish on 1kg Line Class 735 Points
SECTION 1
Highest Point Score Game Fish Other than Billfish or Shark Weighed in on 1kg Line
This section is sponsored by Exmouth IGA
RUNNER UP: Jake Fitzgerald 5.20kg Queenfish
WINNER: Reece Clifton 7.35kg Queenfish
SECTION 2
Highest Point Score Game Fish Other than Billfish or Shark Weighed in on 2kg Line
This section is sponsored by The Fresh Fish Shack
RUNNER UP: Anna Passmore 8.15kg Golden Trevally
WINNER: Matt Arscott 8.55kg Golden Trevally
SECTION 3
Highest Point Score Game Fish Other than Billfish or Shark Weighed in on 3kg Line
This section is sponsored by Exmouth Automotive & Boating Services
RUNNER UP: Jake Fitzgerald 7.70kg Mahi Mahi
WINNER: Mick Grasso 8.0kg NB Mackerel
SECTION 4
Highest Point Score Game Fish Other than Billfish or Shark Weighed in on 4kg Line
This section is sponsored by Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort
RUNNER UP: Mick Grasso 7.30kg Golden Trevally
WINNER: Matt Arscott 7.50kg Golden Trevally
SECTION 5
Highest Point Score Game Fish Other than Billfish or Shark Weighed in on 6kg Line
This section is sponsored by the Potshot Hotel Resort
RUNNER UP: Wade Clark 11.20kg NB Mackerel
WINNER: Wade Clark 15.30kg Barracuda
SECTION 6
Highest Point Score Game Fish Other than Billfish or Shark Weighed in on 8kg Line
This section is sponsored by Woodside
RUNNER UP: Phillip Conder 8.10kg NB Mackerel
WINNER: Daniel Shillingford 10.95kg NB Mackerel
SECTION 7
Highest Point Score Game Fish Other than Billfish or Shark Weighed in on 10kg Line
This section is sponsored by Exmouth Wholesalers
RUNNER UP: Dillion Picken 14.15kg NB Mackerel
WINNER: Ronald Conder 20.70kg NB Mackerel
SECTION 8
Highest Point Score Billfish Weighed in on 1-15kg Line
This section is sponsored by Exmouth Fuel Supplies
VACANT
SECTION 9
Highest Point Score Billfish Weighed in on 24-60kg Line
This section is sponsored by Ningaloo Car & Boat Hire and Autopro Exmouth
VACANT
SECTION 10
Champion Boat Tag & Release Shark
This section is sponsored by BHP
RUNNER UP: Muddy 17 Tags 3000 Points Average Line Class 13.94
WINNER: Wet Puss 25 Tags 5000 Points Average Line Class 14.48
SECTION 11
Champion Small Fry Angler (under 11yrs old)
This section is sponsored by the Shire of Exmouth
RUNNER UP: VACANT
WINNER: Tayla Raines 2 Species 1 Line Class
SECTION 12
Champion Junior Angler (under 16yrs old)
This section is sponsored by Exmouth Freight & Logistics
RUNNER UP: Reece Clifton 3 Species 6 Line Classes 3035.00 Points
WINNER: Jesse Sutton 6 Species 11 Line Classes 4338.75 Points
SECTION 13
Champion Female Angler
This section is sponsored by West Coast Suzuki Marine
RUNNER UP: Ayesha Salkild 6 Species 10 Line Classes 3621.67 Points
WINNER: Anna Passmore 8 Species 11 Line Classes 5301.67 Points
SECTION 14
Champion Male Angler
This section is sponsored by Shimano Australia
RUNNER UP: Jake Fitzgerald 11 Species 10 Line Classes 6498.33 Points
WINNER: Matt Arscott 10 Species 11 Line Classes 6725.50 Points
SECTION 15
Champion Small Fry Angler – Tag & Release Billfish
This section is sponsored by Evolution Fishing Charters
RUNNER UP: VACANT
WINNER: Tayla Raine 5 Tags 2400 Points
SECTION 16
Champion Junior Angler – Tag & Release Billfish
This section is sponsored by Exmouth Tackle & Camping
RUNNER UP: Trent Gregory 1 tag 200 Points
WINNER: William Roche 1 Tag 400 Points
SECTION 17
Champion Female Angler – Tag & Release Billfish
This section is sponsored by Exmouth Escape Resort
RUNNER UP: Janelle Hodgson 5 Tags 2500 Points
WINNER: Jo Ann Riley 8 Tags 3900 Points
SECTION 18
Champion Male Angler – Tag & Release Billfish
This section is sponsored by Home Hardware Exmouth
RUNNER UP: Lewis Nock 16 Tags 7700 Points
WINNER: Nathan Opolinski 25 Tags 11800 Points
SECTION 19
Champion Boat Tag & Release Sailfish
This section is sponsored by Furuno Electronics
RUNNER UP: Stormy 4 Tags 1600 Points (countback on time of tag from On Strike)
WINNER: Azura 7 Tags 2800 Points
SECTION 20
Champion Boat Tag & Release Swordfish
This section is sponsored by Reel Teaser Fishing Adventures
VACANT
SECTION 21
Champion Boat Tag & Release Billfish – Boats 7m & Under
This section is sponsored by Callex Telecommunications
RUNNER UP: Nail It 21 Tags 10200 Points
WINNER: The Wench 22 Tags 10700 Points
SECTION 22
Champion Boat Tag & Release Billfish – Boats Over 7m
This section is sponsored by Simrad Yachting
RUNNER UP: Top Deck 26 Tags 12300 Points
WINNER: Azura 30 Tags 14300 Points
SECTION 23
Champion Boat Tag & Release Marlin
This section is sponsored by Tackleworld Exmouth
RUNNER UP: Top Deck 23 Tags 11100 Points
WINNER: Azura 23 Tags 11500 Points
SECTION 24
Champion Boat Overall Capture/Tag & Release
This section is sponsored by The Reef Convenience & Takeaway
RUNNER UP: Awesum 11 L/C 11 Spc 7190.50 Points
WINNER: In Deep 11 L/C 15 Spc 8065.83 Points
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN GAME FISHING ASSOCIATON INTERCLUB
The interclub is a tournament within our tournament where all WAGFA affiliated clubs are invited to nominate two teams from their club to compete.
The Interclub is held on the third day of GAMEX (Tuesday) and includes tag & release billfish only.
This year the competing clubs were
The Broome Game Fishing Club (Muddy & Reel Teaser)
The Perth Game Fishing Club (Vanquish & All the Gear No Idea)
The Exmouth Game Fishing Club (Azura & Goldstrike II)
WINNER: Exmouth Game Fishing Club
SECTION 25
Steve Pitman Memorial Trophy – Most Skilled Angler (most species on most line classes)
This section is sponsored by Whitey’s Tackle & Camping, Australind
WINNER: Jake Fitzgerald 10 line Classes 11 Species
SECTION 26
George King Memorial Trophy – Top Tagging Captain (most tags)
This section is sponsored by Mahi Mahi Charters, Coral Bay
WINNER: Eddy Lawler 30 Tags
SECTION 27
Phil Tickle Memorial Trophy – Most Meritorious Capture (Highest point score capture excluding billfish or shark)
This section is sponsored by Siesta Park Holiday Resort, Busselton
WINNER: Reece Clifton 7.35kg Queenfish on 1kg Line Class 735 Points
