Grandma takes the Title!

Well ladies and gentlemen, the 2004 Air Niugini Black Bass Invitational has been run and won and certainly won with a dash of style.

Team Taiaroa – Rebecca, Bill and guest gun angler Marilyn Roser – nailed Heaviest Black Bass Trophy with a fantastic bass of 17.4kg on 10kg line. The fish came from the Vanapa and on the troll to boot.

It would be an understatement to say Rebecca was gob smacked when the fish popped near the boat – net not big enough, no gaff, Bill & Marilyn equally amazed – Frank DeGraaf to the rescue lending the team a gaff to finally boat the fish.

Rebecca’s hot on the trail of a pending IGFA world record for 10kg line and the ladies all tackle record.

Not bad for her first bass. Only up to go from here! And I note the ladies are leading the charge with two potential records on the go. Better get your fingers out boys!

Good roll up for the comp with 47 anglers fishing from 18 boats over the two days. We had visitors from all over the place with anglers from the Solomons, Brisbane, Cairns and even Raymond Terrace north of Sydney. And, of course, Stiffy’s Dad Ned was in town for his first visit to PNG. For a bloke who is not a big traveller he reckons he’s booked to come back already.

Friday and Saturday night at the Doa haus were fairly quiet with Paddy being absent or missing in action. Chopper provided light entertainment chasing Rob Doyle away with some very heavy duty eyes shut chainsaw action.

Young Jake Doyle decimated the cane toad population, in concert with the other Jake, Angus, Theo and Shaun. The poor praying mantis got a bit of a touch up as well.

Saturday nights weigh at the house saw a few fish hit the scales or a few scales hit the fish depending on how many SP you had had. Andrew Buchanan weighed his bass at 7.1kg. Andrew is another new angler and this was his first black bass. Thanks Jason.

But as the levels of the eskys dropped and folks settled in at the house drama was unfolding on the water. John Beattie, fishing with Uwe and James Fock experienced a sudden loss of power, planti revs but nogat in front. John had been coerced into testing out a 50hp Honda courtesy of Albert. Appears the engine is of very dubious parentage as it decided to shed several vital components whilst a long way from home. Big paddle and a tow from Darryl Haste saw the boys lob at the house at about 8.00pm.

Ace aircraft engineer Gary T was on the job and with his trusty flash light and bundy coke, declaring the crack was pre-existing. Another bird strike mate?

Further action, unconfirmed, saw Damon and Christian Seeto arrive back at the ramp at 1.00am apparently seizing their motor a very long way from home.

Radio chat, yes it does work as a start up call from Pacom base in POM showed the system does get good reach, on Saturday covered Bakers, Veimaru and Vanapa Hand held VHF radios or even fixed units operated on Channel 85 are the go. Sure there are some dead spots but it has to beat paddling and the prospect of a night in the bush.

The 2004 Air Niugini Black Bass Invitational has been run and won. The Club would like to thank sponsors Air Niugini – thanks Nori & Eva – Peter Williams at Gold Coast Custom Rods and Austral Asia Line for the support.

See you all again next year.