There will be action aplenty on the water this weekend as teams go head to head for bragging rights in the 2024 Weipa Billfish Tournament. Photo: Supplied.
The tackle has been prepared and teams are ready to put their sport fishing credentials on the line when they contest the 2024 Weipa Billfish Tournament over three days from Saturday.
The annual event has attracted several new line-ups this year and Weipa Billfish Club president Ben Bright said although it was unlikely, competitors would be aiming to emulate the record result of the 2023 showdown.
“Last year’s tournament saw record numbers of billfish tagged, so it’s a little unreasonable to expect the same this year,” he said.
“Latest reports, however, are of fish much close to home, which will be very welcome to all.”
For anglers who have never experienced chasing billfish, Mr Bright said the thrill was something that had to be lived to be fully understood.
“Billfishing is often seen as the pinnacle of sport fishing and since so much preparation goes into catching a single fish, there’s a high sense of achievement when teams catch their first one, be it large or small,” he explained.
The action will commence with a shotgun start adjacent to Gongbung Point at 7am on 5 October.
The club president said his favourite part of the event was witnessing the “raw emotion” of teams as they reflected on the competition and social events that make the tournament an annual must-do for many teams.
“My favourite part of the event is seeing the raw emotion from the competitors as they relive their weekend through a slideshow of pictures taken by everyone throughout the tournament weekend,” he said.
Winners will be grinners when tournament prizes are handed out at a presentation dinner at the Weipa Bowls Club on 8 October.
A record number of billfish were caught during the 2023 event, a feat Weipa Billfish Club president Ben Bright says will be tough to emulate. Photo: Supplied.
