Exmouth Heavy Tackle Tournament 2025 December 10-14
The Exmouth Heavy Tackle Tournament is a concept style tournament specifically designed to encourage participants to explore Exmouth’s still developing heavy tackle billfishery. Only 37kg and 60kg line classes can be used and boats must fish outside the 250m depth contour which runs as close as 12kms from the western shore of Exmouth’s North West Cape.
The tournament’s time slot sits in the height of Exmouth’s summer blue marlin season, and also takes advantage of a shorter run of jumbo yellowfin tuna. Blue, black and striped marlin are the only billfish species eligible to be tagged or weighed-in, although the point score attributes a higher value to blue marlin in order to discourage teams from targeting smaller billfish on heavy tackle.
Any marlin to be weighed must meet a minimum short length requirement (again to encourage the ‘big billfish only’ format of the tournament), and there are separate categories for Heaviest Tuna and Heaviest Other Pelagic Species weighed.
Entry fees are $250 per competitor, plus a 1.88% processing fee.
Your entry fee includes a tournament T-shirt plus briefing night and presentation night meals.
The tournament’s time slot sits in the height of Exmouth’s summer blue marlin season, and also takes advantage of a shorter run of jumbo yellowfin tuna. Blue, black and striped marlin are the only billfish species eligible to be tagged or weighed-in, although the point score attributes a higher value to blue marlin in order to discourage teams from targeting smaller billfish on heavy tackle.
Any marlin to be weighed must meet a minimum short length requirement (again to encourage the ‘big billfish only’ format of the tournament), and there are separate categories for Heaviest Tuna and Heaviest Other Pelagic Species weighed.
Entry fees are $250 per competitor, plus a 1.88% processing fee.
Your entry fee includes a tournament T-shirt plus briefing night and presentation night meals.
ENTRY TERMS & CONDITIONS
All competitors fishing in the Exmouth Game Fishing Club (EGFC) 2025 Heavy Tackle Tournament do so at their own risk.
The EGFC and its committee shall not be held responsible for any loss or damage sustained by any competitor to their person, personal effects or vessel.
All competitors must abide by all EGFC/GFAA rules and regulations whilst participating in this tournament.
All competitors must abide will abide by, all laws & legislation related to fishing (Fisheries WA), being on or in charge of a vessel/boat (Department of Transport WA) & any other Local/State/Commonwealth Laws where applicable.
All competitors fishing in the Exmouth Game Fishing Club (EGFC) 2025 Heavy Tackle Tournament do so at their own risk.
The EGFC and its committee shall not be held responsible for any loss or damage sustained by any competitor to their person, personal effects or vessel.
All competitors must abide by all EGFC/GFAA rules and regulations whilst participating in this tournament.
All competitors must abide will abide by, all laws & legislation related to fishing (Fisheries WA), being on or in charge of a vessel/boat (Department of Transport WA) & any other Local/State/Commonwealth Laws where applicable.
TOURNAMENT RULES
Click the button below to view or download the 2025 Heavy Tackle Tournament rules.
Click the button below to view or download the 2025 Heavy Tackle Tournament rules.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday, December 10 - Briefing night. From 6:00pm at the clubhouse. Dinner included for competitors.
Thursday, December 11 - Fishing begins. Lines in 8am. Lines out 5pm. Weigh station times 6pm-8pm.
Friday, December 12 - Fishing continues. Lines in 8am. Lines out 5pm. Weigh station times 6pm-8pm.
Saturday, December 13 - Fishing continues. Lines in 8am. Lines out 5pm. Weigh station times 6pm-8pm.
Sunday, December 14 - Last day of fishing. Lines in 8am. Lines out 3pm. Weigh station times 5pm-7pm. Presentation night begins from 6pm. Dinner included for competitors at 7pm.
Wednesday, December 10 - Briefing night. From 6:00pm at the clubhouse. Dinner included for competitors.
Thursday, December 11 - Fishing begins. Lines in 8am. Lines out 5pm. Weigh station times 6pm-8pm.
Friday, December 12 - Fishing continues. Lines in 8am. Lines out 5pm. Weigh station times 6pm-8pm.
Saturday, December 13 - Fishing continues. Lines in 8am. Lines out 5pm. Weigh station times 6pm-8pm.
Sunday, December 14 - Last day of fishing. Lines in 8am. Lines out 3pm. Weigh station times 5pm-7pm. Presentation night begins from 6pm. Dinner included for competitors at 7pm.
TOURNAMENT SECTIONS & PRIZES
*PRIZE PACKAGES TO BE CONFIRMED. SOME MINOR TOURNAMENT SECTIONS MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Champion Boat Overall (Highest Point Score)
Runner-Up Champion Boat
Most Tagged Blue Marlin
Heaviest Weighed Marlin (over 500 pounds, or minimum 288cm short length)
Heaviest Yellowfin Tuna Weighed
Heaviest Other Pelagic Species Weighed (non-billfish, non-shark)
Heaviest Other Pelagic Species Weighed Day 1 (non-billfish, non-shark)
Heaviest Other Pelagic Species Weighed Day 2 (non-billfish, non-shark)
Heaviest Other Pelagic Species Weighed Day 3 (non-billfish, non-shark)
Heaviest Other Pelagic Species Weighed Day 4 (non-billfish, non-shark)
Highest Point Score Boat Day 1
Highest Point Score Boat Day 2
Highest Point Score Boat Day 3
Highest Point Score Boat Day 4
First Marlin Tagged Daily
Last Marlin Tagged Daily
Most Meritorious Capture
Best Dressed Team (Friday December 12)
*PRIZE PACKAGES TO BE CONFIRMED. SOME MINOR TOURNAMENT SECTIONS MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Champion Boat Overall (Highest Point Score)
Runner-Up Champion Boat
Most Tagged Blue Marlin
Heaviest Weighed Marlin (over 500 pounds, or minimum 288cm short length)
Heaviest Yellowfin Tuna Weighed
Heaviest Other Pelagic Species Weighed (non-billfish, non-shark)
Heaviest Other Pelagic Species Weighed Day 1 (non-billfish, non-shark)
Heaviest Other Pelagic Species Weighed Day 2 (non-billfish, non-shark)
Heaviest Other Pelagic Species Weighed Day 3 (non-billfish, non-shark)
Heaviest Other Pelagic Species Weighed Day 4 (non-billfish, non-shark)
Highest Point Score Boat Day 1
Highest Point Score Boat Day 2
Highest Point Score Boat Day 3
Highest Point Score Boat Day 4
First Marlin Tagged Daily
Last Marlin Tagged Daily
Most Meritorious Capture
Best Dressed Team (Friday December 12)
Results 2024 Heavy Tackle Tournament
TOURNAMENT STATS
38 billfish tagged
30 blue marlin
4 striped marlin
3 black marlin
7 yellowfin
2 wahoo
1 dolphinfish
38 billfish tagged
30 blue marlin
4 striped marlin
3 black marlin
7 yellowfin
2 wahoo
1 dolphinfish
SECTION |
WINNER |
First Marlin Tagged - Day 1 |
Ballz Deep |
Last Marlin Tagged - Day 1 |
Weapon |
First Marlin Tagged - Day 2 |
Carolina Reaper |
Last Marlin Tagged - Day 2 |
Carolina Reaper |
First Marlin Tagged - Day 3 |
N/A |
Last Marlin Tagged - Day 3 |
N/A |
Highest Point Score - Day 1 |
Ballz Deep - 1700 points |
Highest Point Score - Day 2 |
Our Time - 2100 points |
Highest Point Score - Day 3 |
N/A |
Heaviest Other Pelagic |
Billistic - 18.88kg Wahoo |
Most Meritorious Catch |
Dual Pleasure - Tagged an estimated 240kg Blue Marlin |
Most Tagged Blue Marlin |
Our Time - 3 marlin |
Heaviest Marlin Weighed In |
Vacant (jackpots in 2025) |
Heaviest Yellowfin Weighed In |
Low Blow - 46.28kg |
Runner-Up Champion Team |
Ballz Deep - 2400 points (2 blues, 2 stripes) |
Champion Team |
Our Time - 2600 points (3 blues, 1 black) |
Results 2023 Heavy Tackle Tournament
TOURNAMENT STATS
62 billfish tagged
52 blue marlin
7 striped marlin
3 black marlin
2 yellowfin
2 wahoo
2 dolphinfish
2 barracuda
62 billfish tagged
52 blue marlin
7 striped marlin
3 black marlin
2 yellowfin
2 wahoo
2 dolphinfish
2 barracuda
SECTION |
WINNER |
First Marlin Tagged - Day 1 |
Hayley Freestone - Black Marlin |
Last Marlin Tagged - Day 1 |
Jim Ireland - Our Time |
First Marlin Tagged - Day 2 |
Travis Press - Trouble Maker |
Last Marlin Tagged - Day 2 |
Cam Dekker - Innkeeper |
First Marlin Tagged - Day 3 |
Hayley Freestone - Black Marlin |
Last Marlin Tagged - Day 3 |
Baylee Webb - Teraliza |
Highest Point Score - Day 1 |
Send 'n' Bend - 3300 points |
Highest Point Score - Day 2 |
Innkeeper - 2600 points |
Highest Point Score - Day 3 |
Black Marlin - 1400 points |
Heaviest Other Pelagic |
Thunderdog - 16.4kg Wahoo |
Most Meritorious Catch |
Cruel Mistress - Tagged an estimated 400kg Black Marlin |
Most Tagged Blue Marlin |
Black Marlin - 6 marlin |
Heaviest Marlin Weighed In |
Vacant (jackpots in 2024) |
Heaviest Yellowfin Weighed In |
Black Bear - 18.9kg |
Runner-Up Champion Team |
Carolina Reaper - 4500 points (5 blues, 2 stripes) |
Champion Team |
Send 'n' Bend - 4700 points (6 blues, 1 stripe) |
Results 2022 Heavy Tackle Tournament
TOURNAMENT STATS
52 billfish tagged
46 blue marlin
5 striped marlin
1 black marlin
2 yellowfin
7 wahoo
6 dolphinfish
52 billfish tagged
46 blue marlin
5 striped marlin
1 black marlin
2 yellowfin
7 wahoo
6 dolphinfish
SECTION |
WINNER |
First Marlin Tagged - Day 1 |
Tracey Newton - Reel Teaser |
Last Marlin Tagged - Day 1 |
Martin Cox - Polar |
First Marlin Tagged - Day 2 |
Josh Edwards - Boat Ed |
Last Marlin Tagged - Day 2 |
Matt Meyer - Polar |
First Marlin Tagged - Day 3 |
Jacqui Rushford - Reel Teaser |
Last Marlin Tagged - Day 3 |
Adam Durell - North Shot |
Highest Point Score - Day 1 |
Reel Teaser - 1400 points |
Highest Point Score - Day 2 |
Send & Bend - 1400 points |
Highest Point Score - Day 3 |
Reel Teaser - 2800 points |
Heaviest Other Pelagic |
Evolution - 23.4kg Wahoo |
Most Meritorious Capture (almost) |
Blue Jay - Lost a 800lb+ Blue Marlin |
Most Tagged Blue Marlin |
Reel Teaser - 7 marlin |
Heaviest Marlin Weighed In |
Vacant (jackpots in 2023) |
Heaviest Yellowfin Weighed In |
Fatal Attraction - 9.3kg |
Runner-Up Champion Team |
Trouble Maker - 3500 points |
Champion Team |
Reel Teaser - 4900 points |
Results 2021 Heavy Tackle Tournament
TOURNAMENT STATS
*Tournament reduced to 1 1/2 days fishing due to poor weather
95 raised, 59 hooked, 24 tagged
9 Blue marlin
14 black marlin
1 striped marlin
5 yellowfin
11 wahoo
1 dolphinfish
*Tournament reduced to 1 1/2 days fishing due to poor weather
95 raised, 59 hooked, 24 tagged
9 Blue marlin
14 black marlin
1 striped marlin
5 yellowfin
11 wahoo
1 dolphinfish
SECTION |
WINNER |
First Marlin Tagged - Day 1 |
Jake Munro - Swordfight |
Last Marlin Tagged - Day 1 |
Blake Benbow - Pandamonium |
First Marlin Tagged - Day 2 |
Jason Langford - Fatal Attraction |
Last Marlin Tagged - Day 2 |
Dave Cox - Outsider |
First Marlin Tagged - Day 3 |
N/A |
Last Marlin Tagged - Day 3 |
N/A |
Highest Point Score - Day 1 |
Geed up - 1700 points |
Highest Point Score - Day 2 |
Fatal Attraction - 1400 points |
Highest Point Score - Day 3 |
N/A |
Heaviest Other Pelagic |
Outsider - 15.92kg Wahoo |
Most Meritorious Capture |
Outsider - Estimated 220kg Black Marlin |
Most Tagged Blue Marlin |
Gee’d Up - 2 marlin |
Heaviest Marlin Weighed In |
Vacant (jackpots in 2022) |
Heaviest Yellowfin Weighed In |
Thunderdog - 58.56kg |
Runner-Up Champion Team |
Reel Nautical - 1400 points |
Champion Team |
Geed Up - 2400 points |
Results 2020 (December) Heavy Tackle Tournament
TOURNAMENT STATS
213 raised, 176 hooked, 82 tagged
53 Blue marlin
16 striped marlin
9 black marlin
2 yellowfin
2 wahoo
3 dolphinfish
2 mako sharks (non-point scoring)
213 raised, 176 hooked, 82 tagged
53 Blue marlin
16 striped marlin
9 black marlin
2 yellowfin
2 wahoo
3 dolphinfish
2 mako sharks (non-point scoring)
SECTION |
WINNER |
First Marlin Tagged - Day 1 |
Hayley Dellar - Black Marlin |
First Marlin Tagged - Day 2 |
Riley Smith - Black Marlin |
First Marlin Tagged - Day 3 |
Jason Langford - Fatal Attraction |
Last Marlin Tagged - Day 1 |
Eddie Kovac - Mangrove Jack |
Last Marlin Tagged - Day 2 |
Nathan Wilson - Tin Time |
Last Marlin Tagged - Day 3 |
Hulk - Chris Maring |
Highest Point Score - Day 1 |
Black Marlin - 2600 |
Highest Point Score - Day 2 |
Billistic - 2100 |
Highest Point Score - Day 3 |
Reel Teaser - 2100 (countback from Pelagic Spirit & Hulk) |
Heaviest Other Pelagic |
14.05kg wahoo - Chris Maring (The Hulk) |
Most Meritorious Capture |
Rockall - 250kg blue marlin (tagged) |
Most Tagged Blue Marlin |
Pelagic Spirit - 7 |
Heaviest Marlin Weighed In |
Vacant (jackpots in 2021) |
Heaviest Yellowfin Weighed In |
Top Deck - 47.65kg |
Runner-Up Champion Team |
Pelagic Spirit - 7 blues - 4900 points |
Champion Team |
Black Marlin - 6 blues, 2 blacks - 5200 points |
Results 2020 (January) Heavy Tackle Tournament
TOURNAMENT STATS
40 billfish raised, 27 hooked, 11 tagged
7 blues, 3 blacks, 1 stripe
40 billfish raised, 27 hooked, 11 tagged
7 blues, 3 blacks, 1 stripe
SECTION |
WINNER |
First Marlin Tagged - Day 1 |
Thunderdog |
First Marlin Tagged - Day 2 |
Rogue Squid |
First Marlin Tagged - Day 3 |
Striptease |
Last Marlin Tagged - Day 1 |
Outsider |
Last Marlin Tagged - Day 2 |
Pandamonium |
Last Marlin Tagged - Day 3 |
Vacant |
Highest Point Score - Day 1 |
Outsider |
Highest Point Score - Day 2 |
Cruel Mistress |
Highest Point Score - Day 3 |
Striptease |
Heaviest Other Pelagic |
13.00kg wahoo - Cruel Mistress |
Most Meritorious Capture |
Adam Crowfoot – 250kg blue marlin |
Heaviest Marlin Weighed In |
Vacant |
Heaviest Yellowfin Weighed In |
Black Marlin – 14.70kg |
Runner-Up Champion Team |
Outsider |
Champion Team |
Cruel Mistress |
Results 2019 Heavy Tackle Tournament
HEAVY TACKLE 2018 RESULTS
Best Dressed Team on Australia Day
Team Hold On
Heaviest Pelagic Species Daily
Day 1: 11.3kg Wahoo Alex Vecka Rouge Banana
Day 2: 14.8kg Wahoo Dean Butler Black Marlin
Day 3: 49.6kg Yellow Fin Tuna Will Roche Ibis
First and Last Marlin Caught Daily
Day 1: First: Ken MacFarlane Thunderdog
Last: Dale Hamilton Black Marlin
Day 2: First: Jason Langford Rogue Banana
Last: Lewis Nock Cin Bin
Day 3: First & Last Riley Smith Black Marlin
Most Meritorious Capture
Tasmin Kyle from French Maid with her PB Blue Marlin at an estimated 200kgs
First Marlin Caught on a Bonze Lure
Black Marlin (Dale Hamilton)
Heaviest other Pelagic Species Overall
14.8kg Wahoo Dean Butler Black Marlin
Heaviest Yellow Fin Overall
87.1kg Alex Vecka Rogue Banana
Champion Boat Runner-up
Rogue Banana 3 tags 1500 Points (by time)
Champion Boat
Black Marlin 6 Tags 3000 Points
Thanks so much to all involved in making this such an exceptional Tournament, all the sponsors, staff, volunteers behind the scenes & anglers, but a huge commendation must go to Jason Browning (JB), Hayley Dellar and Leigh Freestone, fantastic effort you 3.
Day 3 did not turn on the best weather and so was cut short, in the short time out there though the Stats were 3-2-1, and Black Marlin managed to haul one in, in very trying conditions.
Wishing all the teams that travelled and very safe journey home.
Till 2019
Best Dressed Team on Australia Day
Team Hold On
Heaviest Pelagic Species Daily
Day 1: 11.3kg Wahoo Alex Vecka Rouge Banana
Day 2: 14.8kg Wahoo Dean Butler Black Marlin
Day 3: 49.6kg Yellow Fin Tuna Will Roche Ibis
First and Last Marlin Caught Daily
Day 1: First: Ken MacFarlane Thunderdog
Last: Dale Hamilton Black Marlin
Day 2: First: Jason Langford Rogue Banana
Last: Lewis Nock Cin Bin
Day 3: First & Last Riley Smith Black Marlin
Most Meritorious Capture
Tasmin Kyle from French Maid with her PB Blue Marlin at an estimated 200kgs
First Marlin Caught on a Bonze Lure
Black Marlin (Dale Hamilton)
Heaviest other Pelagic Species Overall
14.8kg Wahoo Dean Butler Black Marlin
Heaviest Yellow Fin Overall
87.1kg Alex Vecka Rogue Banana
Champion Boat Runner-up
Rogue Banana 3 tags 1500 Points (by time)
Champion Boat
Black Marlin 6 Tags 3000 Points
Thanks so much to all involved in making this such an exceptional Tournament, all the sponsors, staff, volunteers behind the scenes & anglers, but a huge commendation must go to Jason Browning (JB), Hayley Dellar and Leigh Freestone, fantastic effort you 3.
Day 3 did not turn on the best weather and so was cut short, in the short time out there though the Stats were 3-2-1, and Black Marlin managed to haul one in, in very trying conditions.
Wishing all the teams that travelled and very safe journey home.
Till 2019
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Results for the EGFC Heavy Tackle Tournament 2016
Report 1
There were 22 boats fishing the event that raised 190 billfish, hooked 139 and tagged 67.
The majority of fish were blue marlin.
Team Waverider managed a grand slam on the third day and took out the top prize.
Champion boat overall - Waverider
Champion boat runner up - Pelagic Hooker
Heaviest Yellowfin - Hold On with a 92kg yellowfin tuna
Heaviest other pelagic - In Deep with a 14kg wahoo
Most tags day one - Pelagic Hooker with 7 tags
Most tags day two - Waverider with 6 tags
Most tags day three - Outsider with 3 tags
We also had a few other horse yellowfin at 70kg, 61kg and a great effort by the 13 year old Darcy Bryce with a 60.3kg model. Darcy also tagged 3 blue marlin for the comp. Great effort Darcy.
Sadly on day one team Game On didn't make it to the grounds after a fire started on their vessel. Several teams raced to their aid, however the 50ft Keywest was tragically engulfed and destroyed in a matter of minutes. Luckily the quick thinking of the crew aboard had them all safe in a life raft. The crew would like to remind everyone of the importance of having a grab bag and life jackets easily accessible, for this fire was unbelievably uncontrollable and there was very little time to rummage through hatches to find safety gear. The remnants are now sitting on the ocean floor and owner Graeme Heel has named the (now) FAD location as Game Over.
To see the GWN7 News coverage of the boat fire click here
To see the GWN7 News coverage of the tournament click here
Report 2
The Exmouth Game Fishing Club’s Heavy Tackle Tournament is a concept style tournament specifically designed to encourage participants to explore Exmouth’s still developing heavy tackle billfishery. Only 37kg and 60kg line classes can be used and boats must fish outside the 250m depth contour which runs as close as 12kms from the western shore of Exmouth’s North West Cape.
Blue, black and striped marlin are the only billfish species eligible to be tagged or weighed-in, and there are separate minor categories for Heaviest Tuna and Heaviest Other Pelagic Species. Any marlin to be weighed must meet the minimum requirement of 280cm short length; again to encourage the ‘big billfish only’ format of the tournament.
The 2016 Heavy Tackle Tournament was held over the weekend of December 16-18 with 23 boats and 80 anglers competing. Along with many local boats, teams from Victoria, the Northern Territory, Broome, Tom Price, Karratha, Geraldton and Perth also made the long journey to Exmouth to get in on the fun.
With light winds forecast, a strong running current and some fantastic blue marlin fishing in the weeks leading up to the tournament, the event was shaping up to be a good one, and that was certainly how things panned out on day one. An eddying current formation had pushed the majority of fish further south than what might be considered Exmouth’s ‘normal’ heavy tackle grounds, and a few boats clued into this right from the outset to enjoy some awesome action.
While most crews saw fish throughout the day, by far the standout performer was Pelagic Hooker with Captain Eddy Lawler at the helm who found a great pocket of fish almost all to themselves and went 11-8-7 on blue marlin - a personal best on blues for this very experienced crew. By day’s end, the fleet had tagged 21 blue marlin, 2 striped marlin and 1 black marlin.
Day two dawned with even better conditions and more black marlin appearing in the spreads – the first major run of them off Exmouth for the 2016/17 season. Captain Murray Pattison and the team aboard Waverider had the hot hand on day two with 6 fish for the day to peg back Pelagic Hooker’s huge early lead, and All Bard Up and Hammer Time also had good days to stay in touch with the leaders. Final billfish stats for the day were 17 blue marlin, 9 black marlin and 1 striped marlin tagged, but the highlight of the day’s fishing was a 60.3kg yellowfin tuna for junior angler D’Arcy Bryce aboard Reckless.
A stiffening south-westerly wind and increasing swell made things harder for the smaller boats on day three, but despite this the fleet still tagged 9 blue marlin, 4 black marlin and 3 striped marlin. Diversity had the gaffs out and ready when they were on a big blue for an hour and a half but unfortunately lost it close to the boat when the 700lb leader wore through.
In a grandstand finish, Waverider tagged one blue, one black and one striped marlin for a grand slam that ultimately won them the tournament by two fish over Pelagic Hooker who were only able to tag one black marlin for the day. Another three big yellowfin were caught on this final day of fishing, topped off by a 92.9kg keg for Aaron Bailey aboard Hold On which won the Heaviest Tuna section and is a pending WA record.
Total stats for the tournament were 190 marlin raised, 139 hooked and 67 tagged, which was comprised of 47 blue marlin, 14 black marlin and 6 striped marlin. This is amongst the highest number of blue marlin ever tagged in an Australian game fishing tournament which gives some indication of the quality of Exmouth’s summer blue marlin fishery.
The Exmouth Game Fishing Club would like to thank the tournament’s major sponsors Network Power Solutions, Shimano, Bonze Lures and Tackle World Exmouth, as well as all teams who competed in what was a very successful and enjoyable event. The Exmouth Game Fishing Club Heavy Tackle Tournament will be on again in 2017/18 with a new Australia Day long weekend timeslot. For more information on the 2017/18 event, visit: www.egfc.com.au or: www.facebook.com/heavytackle2016.
Report 1
There were 22 boats fishing the event that raised 190 billfish, hooked 139 and tagged 67.
The majority of fish were blue marlin.
Team Waverider managed a grand slam on the third day and took out the top prize.
Champion boat overall - Waverider
Champion boat runner up - Pelagic Hooker
Heaviest Yellowfin - Hold On with a 92kg yellowfin tuna
Heaviest other pelagic - In Deep with a 14kg wahoo
Most tags day one - Pelagic Hooker with 7 tags
Most tags day two - Waverider with 6 tags
Most tags day three - Outsider with 3 tags
We also had a few other horse yellowfin at 70kg, 61kg and a great effort by the 13 year old Darcy Bryce with a 60.3kg model. Darcy also tagged 3 blue marlin for the comp. Great effort Darcy.
Sadly on day one team Game On didn't make it to the grounds after a fire started on their vessel. Several teams raced to their aid, however the 50ft Keywest was tragically engulfed and destroyed in a matter of minutes. Luckily the quick thinking of the crew aboard had them all safe in a life raft. The crew would like to remind everyone of the importance of having a grab bag and life jackets easily accessible, for this fire was unbelievably uncontrollable and there was very little time to rummage through hatches to find safety gear. The remnants are now sitting on the ocean floor and owner Graeme Heel has named the (now) FAD location as Game Over.
To see the GWN7 News coverage of the boat fire click here
To see the GWN7 News coverage of the tournament click here
Report 2
The Exmouth Game Fishing Club’s Heavy Tackle Tournament is a concept style tournament specifically designed to encourage participants to explore Exmouth’s still developing heavy tackle billfishery. Only 37kg and 60kg line classes can be used and boats must fish outside the 250m depth contour which runs as close as 12kms from the western shore of Exmouth’s North West Cape.
Blue, black and striped marlin are the only billfish species eligible to be tagged or weighed-in, and there are separate minor categories for Heaviest Tuna and Heaviest Other Pelagic Species. Any marlin to be weighed must meet the minimum requirement of 280cm short length; again to encourage the ‘big billfish only’ format of the tournament.
The 2016 Heavy Tackle Tournament was held over the weekend of December 16-18 with 23 boats and 80 anglers competing. Along with many local boats, teams from Victoria, the Northern Territory, Broome, Tom Price, Karratha, Geraldton and Perth also made the long journey to Exmouth to get in on the fun.
With light winds forecast, a strong running current and some fantastic blue marlin fishing in the weeks leading up to the tournament, the event was shaping up to be a good one, and that was certainly how things panned out on day one. An eddying current formation had pushed the majority of fish further south than what might be considered Exmouth’s ‘normal’ heavy tackle grounds, and a few boats clued into this right from the outset to enjoy some awesome action.
While most crews saw fish throughout the day, by far the standout performer was Pelagic Hooker with Captain Eddy Lawler at the helm who found a great pocket of fish almost all to themselves and went 11-8-7 on blue marlin - a personal best on blues for this very experienced crew. By day’s end, the fleet had tagged 21 blue marlin, 2 striped marlin and 1 black marlin.
Day two dawned with even better conditions and more black marlin appearing in the spreads – the first major run of them off Exmouth for the 2016/17 season. Captain Murray Pattison and the team aboard Waverider had the hot hand on day two with 6 fish for the day to peg back Pelagic Hooker’s huge early lead, and All Bard Up and Hammer Time also had good days to stay in touch with the leaders. Final billfish stats for the day were 17 blue marlin, 9 black marlin and 1 striped marlin tagged, but the highlight of the day’s fishing was a 60.3kg yellowfin tuna for junior angler D’Arcy Bryce aboard Reckless.
A stiffening south-westerly wind and increasing swell made things harder for the smaller boats on day three, but despite this the fleet still tagged 9 blue marlin, 4 black marlin and 3 striped marlin. Diversity had the gaffs out and ready when they were on a big blue for an hour and a half but unfortunately lost it close to the boat when the 700lb leader wore through.
In a grandstand finish, Waverider tagged one blue, one black and one striped marlin for a grand slam that ultimately won them the tournament by two fish over Pelagic Hooker who were only able to tag one black marlin for the day. Another three big yellowfin were caught on this final day of fishing, topped off by a 92.9kg keg for Aaron Bailey aboard Hold On which won the Heaviest Tuna section and is a pending WA record.
Total stats for the tournament were 190 marlin raised, 139 hooked and 67 tagged, which was comprised of 47 blue marlin, 14 black marlin and 6 striped marlin. This is amongst the highest number of blue marlin ever tagged in an Australian game fishing tournament which gives some indication of the quality of Exmouth’s summer blue marlin fishery.
The Exmouth Game Fishing Club would like to thank the tournament’s major sponsors Network Power Solutions, Shimano, Bonze Lures and Tackle World Exmouth, as well as all teams who competed in what was a very successful and enjoyable event. The Exmouth Game Fishing Club Heavy Tackle Tournament will be on again in 2017/18 with a new Australia Day long weekend timeslot. For more information on the 2017/18 event, visit: www.egfc.com.au or: www.facebook.com/heavytackle2016.
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A blue marlin caught in the Heavy Tackle Tournament aboard In Deep
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