It’s fair to say Mapoon Barra Bash major prize winner Khyle Horsfall was more than a bit happy with his new boat as he celebrates with Port Douglas Marine managing director Chris Wierzbowski on 6 October. Photo: Supplied.
Lauren Barton is the undisputed queen of the Mapoon Barra Bash after holding off nearly 300 anglers to claim the target species prize on 6 October.
A strong contingent of locals and visiting fishers battled for prizes over the two-day annual event, with perfect weather allowing competitors to land some impressive specimens for judges.
Barton topped the barra category with an 83-centimetre, 5.625-kilogram effort, while Sunny Brook secure bragging rights in the junior barra category with a 75cm, 5.010kg catch.
Junior angler Khyle Horsfall had one of the best catches of the weekend when he won the raffle for the major prize of a boat-and-trailer combination.
A Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council spokesperson said the event had been a success and thanked competitors and sponsors for their ongoing support of the fishing showdown.
“It was a great weekend,” the spokesperson said.
“There was good fishing all-round and boy was young Khyle and his family happy winners.”
Barra category winner Lauren Barton receives her prize from Mayor Ronaldo Guivarra after the 2024 Mapoon Barra Bash on 5-6 October. Photo: Supplied.
2024 Mapoon Barra Bash results
Barra: Lauren Barton – 83cm, 5.625kg; grunter: Tariq Ase – 47.1cm, 2.14kg; mangrove jack: Tara Sunai – 57cm, 2.36kg; fingermark: Liah Atkin – 42cm, 1.71kg; queenfish: Beau Schleich – 91cm, 3.895kg; blue bone: Mick Crichlow – 46cm, 1.79kg; coral trout: Rhonda Sunai – 58cm, 2.24kg; salmon: Ruth Sandon – 95cm, 9.23kg; trevally: Keyra Adidi-Nixon – 79cm, 4.790kg; adult mystery: Jake McDonnell; junior barra: Sunny Brook – 77.5cm, 5.01kg; junior bream: Shirly-Anne Barkley – 31cm, 0.84kg; junior mangrove jack: Samara Pitt – 40cm, 0.765kg; junior salmon: Reuben Doolah – 84cm, 4.87km; junior fingermark: Beau Schleich – 73cm, 3.96kg; junior mystery: Yeslam Kris
