Rui Kanamori and Linda Whitburn congratulate Trout-N-Off – Raine Hitch and Aaron Small – for claiming the overall team champion crown at this year’s Tackle World Weipa Barramundi Catch and Release Tournament. Photo: Supplied.
With more than 500 fish landed over two days and more than $27,000 in prizes given away to lucky anglers, the 2025 Tackle World Weipa Barramundi Catch and Release Tournament has been heralded an overwhelming success.
Twenty-six teams took to the water around Weipa on 16-17 April for the eight edition of the competition, and hooked 218 barramundi on the first day of action before eclipsing the figure with 302 caught and released on the second day of fishing.
When the rods and lures were put away, Scott Gorman from No Scopers took individual champion angler honours with 684 points, eking out the win from Trout-N-Off’s Raine Hitch on 677 points, with Izzi McCann from Concreatures bagging bronze with a 608-point effort.
Given the strength of the trio, it was little surprise they featured heavily in the champion team showdown as Trout-N-Off (1,248 points) claimed the silverware from No Scopers (1,204 points) and Concreatures (1,166 points).
Gorman and McCann took home the mystery barra length prizes on day one and two respectively with their 58-centimetre and 62cm catches.
Raine Hitch took home the China Graham Memorial Trophy for 2025 after landing this 103-centimetre specimen. Photo: Supplied.
Hitch and Gorman both landed metre-plus specimens of 103cm during the event, with the former pocketing $1,000 and the China Graham Memorial Trophy for the biggest fish of the tournament on countback.
Tackle World Weipa’s Nathan White said he believed the event was “the best barramundi tournament on the Cape” and thanked sponsors for their ongoing support of the catch and release extravaganza.
“As the years go on, this event just keeps getting better and better,” he said.
“The anglers involved fish harder, and the support we receive is overwhelming; we sort of cap it, otherwise we’d get 200 teams and it would be too big to run.
“I think all the boys are probably some of the best barra fishermen in Weipa – they love it.”
Results
Champion team: Trout-N-Off (1,248 points) 1, No Scopers (1,204 points) 2, Concreatures (1,166 points) 3
Champion angler: Scott Gorman (684 points) 1, Raine Hitch (677 points) 2, Izzi McCann (608 points)
Most overall scoring fish: Mark Birdsall (24)
Competitors and supporters line up for a group photo after the 2025 Tackle World Weipa Barramundi Catch and Release Tournament. Photo: Supplied.
