The hunt was on for red critters – Saturday for just ‘One to Open’ and Sunday to fill the creel.

How we toiled to reap the spoils of the biggest combined weekend of fishing you will ever see. Some fish fought and won, some just ran away. Young blokes hooking barra where they should have been catching jacks, other blokes trying to go overland into the Veimauri, other old blokes nursing week-long hang overs and not really knowing what was going on!!

We had Andy from Aussie, up from BrisVegas, who boated his first jack ever, on his first estuary fishing trip ever, the first time he touched a baitcaster ever, the long white cloud contingent turned out in force, a couple of nice wahines’ eh! and the Burrows brigade made a welcome return to the river – well done Jake & Leanne. Every one was there!!

The kai and the liquid refreshments flowed Saturday night and into Sunday morning and into Sunday night and Monday was deadly… 27 bodies overnighted at the Doa Estate haus, Bloke had the hot plate revved up, and the ladies produced a spread that could not be beat – talk about eat.

Conditions where somewhat crowded with such a large mob but certainly there is room for all to spread out, Rob is hot on the trail of some fans of the movable type, even as we speak. It does, however, look like the sound proof booth with the air-con cranked up is going to be the popular spot. Maybe we could get Rob on the job with a little tasteful décor to really set the mood.

The fishing, well it went like this -

One Electrical ‘Jacks to Open’ Comp
Saturday saw the aces win it with Gary Tomkinson in top spot, Albert Tan slipped into second and the sponsor grabbed third, well done Bill Sherlock.

MoaPis staggered on to the water around the gentlemanly hour of 8am and ducked around the corner up the top, no secrets here boys, and bumped into Frank and Kerry. Andrew scored his fish along the left hand bank. Missed the tide by that much…

Justine pulled her fish a little later, so two were on the board. No amount of cups of coffee was going to help the skipper.

Early interest certainly centred on the top of Bakers with Bill Sherlock, seen at 4 ways talking about Pitt Street and taxi ranks, time for a U turn and a less crowded venue. Marlin and Cath went Vanapa live-baiting with some luck, Albert selected another of his secret spots, right in front of everybody – cheers mate!

As for the rest, more secret spots than Saddam baby!

Conditions generally showed that is still some rain about with showers in the foot hills during the day and at Doa in the late afternoon. Sunday was to prove that with Vanapa running brown and cold on the run-out tide. Moapis had a 5 degree change in water temp between the green and brown water.

Imprint Copy Centre Mangrove Jack Comp
That girl again, Rose Sweetapple, this year grabbing both top spots with Heaviest Jack, 1.5kg, and HPS Mangrove Jack, 119 points. Rose scored two more pigs to add to the collection and the Perpetual Pig for the third year straight!

Jake Burrows continued his winning form from the National Titles with runner-up in the Heaviest fish section with a jack of 1.25kg. Paul Dean was at his most excitable best as runner-up in the points for released fish scoring his first pig after years of trying. From Bernie’s report Paul fished hard, he had his eye on the pig from minute one.

It proved tough to back-up after the previous evenings light entertainment, getting the head off the pillow without any footpath pizza after effects took a while!!

To be honest I do not recall a great deal, we bumped into Paul and Bernie at one stage had a troll and did not get a hit, drove off to theoretically better climes only to have Bernie pipe up at the presentation that we should have stayed!!! Ah Paul, nothing to say about much at all eh bloke.

Then there was the presentation to get through. Big crowd, lots of new faces, welcome to you all, Bloke jamming it to the BBQ yet again. He must be getting tired of this after two years. Plenty of kol wans and a swag of trophies and the inevitable NAFA.

The NAFA - was it Albert trying to convert his boat into a D9 cat, Mike getting that sinking feeling, Rose deciding that catch and release means you throw everything back into the water, must remember to open the jaws on the Boga grip next time, Jimmy doing the Doggie on Frank, a tradition handed down from departed member Gav, or Connie, all thumbs and still no sinker on the bottom rig - oh the shame!!

All in all a top couple of days/nights/whatever. You will all note it has taken me this long to get the report out.
Steve

UPCOMING
Papuan Black Bass Comp – June 7th & 8th - briefing to be on Thursday 5th at the Club.

Details to come this week.