With South West Rocks and Trial Bay’s north facing aspect the nor-easters are right in your face. After blowing consistently for the past two to three weeks there was an abatement on Sunday and a couple of boats put to sea although, by all reports, conditions were not that flash, and fish were hard to find. The results sheet for the outside section says it all – Snapper, 660gms caught by Grant Rowe, Teraglin, 830gms caught by Grant Rowe, Flathead, 295gms also caught by Grant Rowe. Not surprisingly Angler of the Month Outside, Grant Rowe with three species. There was nothing else, from outside, weighed in.

On paper, with only 23kg of fish weighed-in and not much in the way of size among them the competition may appear to be somewhat of a dismal affair. In reality this was not the case and although most people only had one or two fish to weigh in, there was quite a line up at the weigh-in table and interest in the results was intense. It being a case of the biggest little fish. By the end of the weigh-in most sections of the beach, rock and estuary (inside) results sheet had been accounted for.

The Gordon family made their presence felt with father, Wayne and sons Riley and Darcy featuring well in the prize winners circle. Wayne collected senior Angler of the Month Inside with three species while Riley and Darcy dominated in their age divisions. Riley, as a junior, claimed largest Bream at 415gms, Dusky Flathead at 365gms and Whiting at 230gms. While “tenunda” Darcy claimed largest Bream at 385gms, Dusky Flathead at 660gms.

Other results were:

Bream – senior – Gary Hughes, 620gms; lady – Ethel Rowsell, 640gms.

Dusky Flathead – senior – Bub Lyttle, 1.175kg; lady – Cheryl Barber, 725gms.

Whiting – senior – Bob Wright, 380gms; lady – Wendy Halverson, 380gms.

Largest other – Tarwhine – John Smyth, 430gms.

There will another monthly competition on February 2 and 3 but prior to that, on the weekend of January 19 and 20 is our once a year Huge Fishing Competition. In its nineteenth year this competition continues to grow, and the reason is quite simple, there are a couple of $500 fish swimming around out there and all you have to do is go out and catch them!

The Huge Fishing Competition is all about the $500 Bream and the $500 Snapper for seniors and a $150 Bream and a $150 Snapper for a junior. The major prizes are supported by the Seabreeze Beach Hotel and Tyrepower SWR. Rocks Marine Bait and Tackle and C.P. Ball Butchery are also supporting the competition. This is a community generated affair which is open to everybody. As well as the major prizes there are many other prizes on offer for both seniors and juniors. This is a competition for anyone and everyone. Fishing Being what it is, full of variables. Over the years the winning fish have ranged from just legal to substantial specimens, the only constant is… you must have a line in the water to have a chance to win.

Full details and entry forms are available at the Hotel bottle shop and Rocks Marine Bait and Tackle.

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