After posting a dominant total of 1,504.62 points, champion team The Wrong Spread shows off the perpetual trophy at the 2024 Clearwater Ladies Gamefish Day gala lunch and presentation on 3 November. Photo: Supplied.
A record 26 teams set sail in the waters off Weipa to bag billfish glory in the 2024 Clearwater Ladies Gamefish Day on 2 November.
The competition kicked off with a sail past on Saturday morning so the 77 anglers could show off the creativity put into decorating their vessels before the action on the water became frenetic.
In total, 15 sailfish and one black marlin were caught and released, with 28 mackerel, three longtail tuna and two cobia brought to the weigh station.
Event co-ordinator Fifi Down said this year’s event had exceeded expectations, with plenty of nominations and good fishing conditions.
“The fishing was not as concentrated as it was a month ago [during the Weipa Billfish Tournament], but there were still good numbers around,” she said.
“The good conditions allowed boats as small as a 4.85-metre barra boat to even catch a sailfish.”
At Sunday’s gala lunch and presentation, The Wrong Spread was crowned the champion team with 1,504.52 points, with Reel Knockers (1,005.84 points) taking the silver and Hakuna Ma Titties (1,000 points) the bronze on countback.
Shanni Strongman and Heni Bramley were named the senior champion and runner-up respectively, with Stacey Sorbello finishing third.
In the junior division, Ashton Villari topped runner-up Kelsie Jones and third-placed Layla Egan.
Ms Down said the feedback received from first-time competitors had been extremely positive, adding she believed it would help bring new people to the sport of game fishing on western Cape York.
“There were six juniors fishing, and several ladies got to catch their first ever billfish on Saturday,” she said.
“This event has in the past sparked an interest in game fishing, and the subsequent purchase of a new boat in some Weipa households.”
Teams put plenty of thought into decorating their vessels for the traditional sail past at the commencement of fishing on 2 November. Photo: Supplied.
