The Crowhurst family on the Sunshine Coast were rapt to win the main prize at the Weipa Fishing Classic.
MEGAN Crowhurst has never been to a Weipa Fishing Classic before, but somehow managed to pull off a coup by winning the main prize on Sunday night.
From her home on the Sunshine Coast, Megan and her family tuned into the live stream on Facebook as they knew they had a live keyring in the Top 30.
Her brother Wayne Paxton was the proxy on stage, having offered to buy keyrings on their behalf.
“I’m still pretty shocked, to be honest,” Megan told Cape York Weekly on Monday morning.
“My dad and husband usually fly up for the competition every year but they couldn’t go this time.
“It’s a big boys’ trip, usually.”
Megan said she wasn’t sure how the new boat would make it down to the Sunshine Coast, but said it would be well used if it did.
“We’re a massive fishing family. I have two boys who are 11 and 13 and we have a small tinny,” she said.
“We go out a lot but the fishing is nothing like Weipa’s.”
She thanked her brother for both buying the keyrings and for standing in as a proxy.
“He’s always wanted to be up there on the stage, but for himself, not for me,” she said with a laugh.
Weipa Fishing Classic president Aaron Schleich speaks with Megan Crowhurst on the phone after she was announced as the winner. Holding the phone is her brother Wayne Paxton.
But karma won through and just after the boat winner was announced, Wayne’s number was called out as the winner of the Yowie raffle.
“He won more than $2000 worth of stuff, so he’s done OK,” Megan said.
Despite the Top 30 being full of locals, another non-local took out the second prize.
Kerry Hay won the Can-Am buggy and trailer, while the third prize went to long-time local Elissa Nash, who was rapt to walk away with a new tinny.
MASSIVE CROWDS
ORGANISERS were blown away by the turnout across three nights as Andoom Oval’s events area filled up in record numbers.
“I can’t remember seeing so many people here for every single night,” said president Aaron Schleich, who also praised the crowd’s behaviour.
“We were really lucky to have Royston come along and sing on two nights, which was very popular, and the weather was excellent for fishing, which also helped.”
Darryl French has been recording fish entries at the Weipa Fishing Classic for years and said he couldn’t remember a busier Saturday at the weigh-in area.
“It was a massive line and they just kept on piling through. It was great to see,” he said.
Royston was a huge hit on Saturday and Sunday night.
Typically guaranteed to pick up a prize in the billfishing section, “Frenchy” opted for skipper duties on Sunday.
His first-timer Jon Hofmeister not only tagged five sailfish on Sunday, but picked up the billfish prize.
Damien Parr was named the overall champion angler after judges reverted to a countback, while Chastyn Lyon was named the junior champion angler.
He was awarded the Michael Bowden Memorial perpetual trophy for his achievements.
One of the fishing highlights was a massive barra caught by Casey Lyon, which measured in at 105cm from a “secret spot”.
The cobia numbers were also plentiful, with Wylee Cook adding another rod and reel to his collection after a stellar catch.
In a first for the Weipa Fishing Classic, prizes were also awarded to the best mullets.
But they weren’t the type to come from the sea.
Instead, it was a “sea of bogans” who stepped up on the stage to be judged on their hairstyles.
Harlen Nester won the junior section, while Corey Clarke was judged top adult.
Champion junior angler Chastyn Lyon with Aaron Schleich and the Bowden family.
SENIOR RESULTS
Barramundi
1st: Casey Lyon (105.6cm)
2nd: William Collins (90.2cm)
Grunter
1st: Ben Shemlowski (2.12kg)
2nd: Jodie Morgan (1.97kg)
King salmon
1st: Clancy Gordon (5.44kg)
2nd: Kai Harriman (4.81kg)
Queenfish
1st: Malahkai Adams (92cm)
2nd: Samuel Whittle (90cm)
Nannygai
1st: Damien Parr (4.77kg)
2nd: Zach Stewart (4.1kg)
Fingermark
1st: Chloe Sjoberg (4.77kg)
2nd: Ben Marinelli (4.32kg)
Trevally
1st: Chris Markham (96cm)
2nd: Greg Parr (88.2cm)
Red emperor
1st: Damien Parr (3.66kg)
2nd: Tom Henley (3.17kg)
Tusk fish
1st: Brett Anderson (4.49kg)
2nd: Glenn Egan (4.49kg)
Coral trout
1st: Jonathon Hoy (1.28kg)
2nd: Courtney Mazlin (1.11kg)
Mackerel
1st: Clint Riches (10.36kg)
2nd: Peter Crow (9.95kg)
Cobia
1st: Wylee Cook (9.78kg)
2nd: David Rose (8.04kg)
Billfish
1st: Jon Hofmeister (1.89m)
2nd: Tom Hockey (1.87m)
Senior champion
Damien Parr
Champion senior angler Damien Parr with Darryl French.
JUNIOR RESULTS
Barramundi
1st: Karissa Payne (79.5cm)
2nd: Layla Egan (76.5cm)
Grunter
1st: Zedaki Agale (1.31kg)
2nd: Victor Agale (1.18kg)
King salmon
1st: Tommy Tindall (3.4kg)
2nd: Chastyn Lyon (3.08kg)
Queenfish
1st: Jahral Adams (89.7cm)
2nd: Chastyn Lyon (68.2cm)
Blue salmon
1st: Levi Payne (3.84kg)
2nd: Ollie Stallan (3.47kg)
Bream
1st: Chastyn Lyon (0.87kg)
2nd: Victor Agale (0.81kg)
Junior champion
Chastyn Lyon
NOVELTY EVENTS
Lure casting
Senior winner: Jake McDonnell
Runner-up: Steven Wust
Junior winner: Lang Haines
Runner-up: Sonny Brooks
Cast net
Senior winner: Nick Brooks
Runner-up: Matt Anderson
Junior winner: Ryan Polderman
Runner-up: Kaiden Teece
Best mullet
Senior winner: Corey Clarke
Junior winner: Harlen Nester
The junior mullet podium.
