After months of planning and selling tickets, the much-anticipated 2024 Weipa Fishing Classic is only three days away, with hundreds of visiting anglers set to converge on the western Cape York township from 7-9 June. Photo: Lyndon Keane.
Almost $260,000 in prizes will be at the forefront of anglers’ minds when the 2024 Weipa Fishing Classic (WFC) starts on Friday.
After countless hours of planning, preparation and ticket selling, committee members are preparing to raise the curtain on their best event yet, with WFC president Lisa Lui saying everything was on track for a bumper weekend.
“The committee has been working nonstop behind the scenes to make sure we are ready to go,” she told Cape York Weekly as the final touches were added ahead of the competition, which will bring hundreds of visiting anglers to Weipa from 7-9 June.
Ms Lui said three boats were in the 2024 prize pool, in addition to a diamond, fishing gear, camping equipment, four-wheel drive gear and much, much more.
“We’ve got a record number of local sponsors this year, which is enabling us to put on a bigger event,” she said.
“Our sponsors are stepping up and suggesting new competitions to add to the event, one of which is the Junction Engineering Bream for a Bike Comp.
“It’s aimed at the juniors, and specifically at those that don’t have much of an opportunity to get out on a boat.
“The prize is a mountain bike with a custom built, fully loaded fishing trailer.”
Prizes will be awarded for the heaviest fish in all categories, with junior competitors aged 12 years and under targeting queenfish, barramundi, king salmon, blue salmon, bream and grunter.
In the open competition, anglers will be chasing queenfish, barramundi, trevally, king salmon, fingermark, mackerel, grunter, cobia, nannygai, red emperor, tusker and coral trout.
All queenfish, barramundi, trevally and billfish must be treated as catch as release only.
While she and her committee will not have any time to sit back and smell the roses this weekend, Ms Lui said she could not wait to see the reactions of prize winners, as well as what are expected to be some extremely questionable haircuts.
“I’m looking forward to all of it,” she said.
“Watching the fishermen bringing in the catch to be weighed each day, seeing the excitement on everyone’s faces when they announce the number draws, when they announce the winners for the different fish categories, the kids especially when the go up to accept their prizes.
“The Mossman Homes Mullet Competition last year was a hit, so I’m definitely looking forward to seeing the guys and gals showing off the mullet hairstyles again this year.”
The main boat prize for the 2024 Weipa Fishing Classic has been wrapped in the event’s colours and is ready to be taken home by one lucky angler. Photo: Supplied.
