Having a good attitude is an important factor if you’re to enjoy the tournament experience. For example, there are many occasions where I thought I’d done reasonably well, only to discover that night that several other boats had doubled my catch. Some might be disheartened by such a result, but instead I get very excited, because as good as I think I might be, it proves I still have some powerful new tricks to learn that could double my success in the future. Tournaments are always learning opportunities if you’re willing to look.
Most anglers will not want to devote the effort required to achieve an overall win, but thankfully, with the right attitude you don’t need to win a tournament to benefit from the experience. I’ve fished tournaments for more than 45 years — some I’ve won, and in others I’ve been left in the dust, but I’ve enjoyed every one of them.
However, anyone with a competitive streak likes to win. I am one of these people, so I’ll give you some strategies that have led me to the winner’s circle on many occasions. But before I do, there’s a little philosophy I’d like to share with you.
MONEY OR TROPHIES?
Many of the world’s most respected amateur tournaments, and almost certainly the ones with the longest history, are events that award trophies rather than cash or major prizes. Two examples in the gamefishing world include the Interclub Tournament in Port Stephens, Australia, and the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (HIBT) at Kona. Both events have been running for more than 60 years, and for many competitors are the highlight of the angling year.
The Port Stephens Interclub has been the largest gamefishing tournament in the Southern Hemisphere for many decades, in the past attracting up to 1200 anglers over two consecutive weekends. For most of its long history, the event offered winners nothing more than a simple trophy with their name on it. Likewise, Kona’s famous HIBT awarded winners a wooden bowl carved from local Koa wood. In both of these world-renowned events, competitors battled with unbridled determination simply for the honour of being the best, as proven and acknowledged by their peers.
The introduction of large monetary rewards is cancerous to the purity of angling competition. The potential to win a large prize can switch competitors’ focus from enjoying their angling to a more pressured money-making exercise, and it can provide a temptation for teams to bend the rules, overlook slight infringements, or worse. The running of a ‘Calcutta’ team auction before the tournament only exacerbates the gambling element of the event.
Unfortunately, there is now a widespread trend for tournaments to offer substantial prizes. In some cases, this evolved as entrepreneurs and cashhungry clubs saw opportunities to charge a high entry fee and keep some of it in their pocket. Other clubs then feel pressured to compete with these tournaments through large business sponsors, which in turn commercialises the tournament with sponsor obligations. Either way, in my opinion, the purity of our sport has suffered considerably as a result. The entry fee for a big prize tournament is usually way higher too, excluding a lot of potential entrants who cannot justify such an expense.
Facing opposition from another local tournament offering big money prizes, the Port Stephens Interclub has evolved in recent years and now offers substantial prizes of its own. However, the introduction of these ‘incentives’ has coincided with a decline in attendance, and I would suggest a decline in its appeal and prestige.
Fortunately, there are still tournaments that focus on fun, friendship and the satisfaction of competition, without resorting to gambling to attract competitors.
STRATEGIES TO WIN
Okay, enough of the philosophy — let’s look at a few strategies to get you onto the winner’s podium.
After deciding to enter a tournament, the first thing to do is study the rules and prize categories to devise a winning strategy.
For example, in game fishing tournaments where higher points are awarded to fish caught with lighter lines, you should determine the most competitive line-class according to the fish being sought and the points incentives for each line-class. Once you have determined the best line-class, all of your lines must be the same. Do not put out a selection of different line-class outfits as, sure enough, the fish will jump on the wrong one!
Top tournament boats — the ones that you will be competing against — will have a full set of 8kg outfits, or a full set of 24kg outfits, etc., to suit the situation. Often, top boats will have full sets of several different line-classes so that they can be flexible and judge what is best after determining what they are likely to find on the day.
You might need to vary tactics if fishing lighter line-classes. For instance, if fishing for marlin with 8kg you would certainly need light-gauge hooks in your lures to be able to effectively set them with only 2.5kg of drag. Better still might be to change techniques to live-baiting, or trolling with switchbaits, which ensures a much higher hook-up rate.
DO YOU RELY ON LUCK?
Luck can help you with a one-off catch, which may win you a sub-category prize, but there is no doubt that winning consistently — and to be able to expect to win — requires preparation, dedication, strategy, and skill. Consistent winners are the boats with an experienced and well-rehearsed crew, armed with reliable equipment and polished teamwork. As well as being able to find more fish, these are the teams that also lose the least, converting most of their opportunities into successful catches.
The reality is that no matter how big the tournament fleet, perhaps only 10 per cent ever have a realistic chance to win Champion Team. However, there are strategies with which even beginners can achieve a win, which I’ll outline shortly.
Any consistent winner knows that success occurs when preparation and opportunity coincide. I’ll discuss ways that you can increase your opportunities, but only if you are prepared are they likely to carry you to a win.
Checking the tackle is an obvious precursor to any tournament. Before a big event I usually change the line on my reels, or at least top-shot them, to prevent any mysterious break-offs. You should also check the integrity of your leaders, resharpen the hooks, check the drags on your reels, and ensure the roller guides on your rods are functioning well. And as many tournaments have officials checking that tackle conforms to regulations, you’d better ensure that your leaders, doubles, hook rigs, tag poles, gaffs and other equipment are the correct length.
The boat and engine also need checking, since repairs that rob you of even a few hours can cost you the tournament.
FISH IN THE RIGHT SPOT
Do not waste time randomly searching for fish — do your research before leaving the dock and then go straight to where your main chance lies. Sure, fish can be caught anywhere, but most of the time they are concentrated around predictable hotspots, whether that’s reefs for bottom species, or current edges and upwellings for pelagic species. This is where you need to be.
There are several ways to research where the fish are likely to be. If you’re tournament fishing for bottom species, get an Admiralty chart of the area to look for steep contours and reef formations that might hold quantities of fish. Also find out the water temperature and clarity, as well as which way the current is running, as that will influence where the fish are holding and feeding. Do the same if you’re game fishing, but of even more importance will be a study of detailed satellite current charts showing the speed and direction of the current flow, as well as chlorophyll content which influences baitfish distribution, and the locality of any nearby upwellings (shown by altimetry). These are available at ripcharts.com.
You should also gather intelligence before the tournament by visiting local tackle stores and chatting with the staff to see what has been caught recently, where, and how. You can also learn a lot by sitting at the bar in the local club or watering hole. If the tournament has a briefing night, spending time chatting amongst the other teams will often pay dividends in valuable information.
Game fishing tournaments usually hold radio schedules throughout each day, in which the boats report their position and catch. A member of your team should spend each radio schedule making notes about where the action is occurring. If you find that your area is dead while another is firing well, it may be worth repositioning for the rest of the day.
EFFECTIVE TIME ON WATER
The more time you spend on the hotspot, the greater your chance of finding the winning catches. If the tournament fishing time starts at 7am then you need to be on the grounds at 7am — not just leaving the dock, or on the way there. There is no sleeping in during tournament time!
If you’ve done your research and know where the fish are most likely to be, run straight to these hotspots and be there before fishing starts, not cruising out there on the troll, which robs you of time where your main chance lies.
For example, if a game fishing tournament allows fishing between 7am and 4pm, you have nine hours available. The boat that trolls out and arrives at the hotspot by 10am, then trolls home from 3pm (so they can be at the bar for evening drinks) has spent only six hours in the hotspot. Another team that races straight to the grounds and fishes there from 7am to 4pm ends up spending the same nine hours with lines in the water but has fished 50 per cent more time over the grounds most likely to produce. Automatically, they have a significant advantage!
During the 1980s and ‘90s, I did a lot of tournament shark fishing which required berley to attract them. Our day started at 4am with a visit to the freezer storage where we loaded up to 200kg of fish mince or mullet into the vehicles and transported it to the boat. We then departed the dock in the twilight of dawn before travelling 30km or more to our preferred offshore drifting grounds. By the time we were able to start fishing we had already evaluated the water conditions and current, set up a controlled drift with sea-anchors, rechecked the reel drags, and rigged the baits. In the afternoon we remained on the prime grounds until the conclusion of fishing time. It was often dark by the time we got back to the marina and cleaned the boat, which made it a very long day — especially when you had to back up the following day and do it all again. But that’s what it took to win.
DON’T MISS THE BITE TIMES
If you’re diligently listening to the radio chatter, you’ll often notice that many boats hook-up at a similar time. There is obviously some form of trigger at work, which you’ll often find relates to a high or low tide change, or perhaps a solunar period, as listed in the John Alden Knight’s Solunar Tables.
If you are trolling between bait schools or over various hotspots throughout the day, or if you periodically need to move to restart a drift over productive grounds, it’s a good strategy to ensure that you are not between spots during these times. Make sure you are in the prime hotspot to take advantage of ‘the bite.’
If the tide change happens to be at 7am and your hotspot is 30km away, you’re going to have to get up early. That’s just how it is!
ALTERNATE WAYS TO WIN
Everyone would like to be the primary winner of the tournament — the champion boat or champion angler — but with limited skill and experience, you may realise that this is simply beyond your reach at this stage. No problem, there are other ways to win!
Besides the outright champion, tournaments also offer prizes for many sub-categories that are well within your grasp. You could well make a visit to the winner’s podium if you devote your efforts toward winning one of the other prizes.
Prior to the tournament, assess the categories and trophies being offered. Find an opportunity that fits with your desires and skills. This could be for the biggest of various species, or the heaviest caught on a particular line class, or it could be the Ladies division, or the Junior division. Once you’ve decided on a specific target, devise a strategy to achieve it.
JUST DO IT
Whether you fish from a trailerboat or a large cruiser, and whether you fish for reef and coastal species or bluewater gamefish, competing in a tournament will give your fishing a great boost of excitement. There are usually Junior and Ladies divisions and prizes, so get your whole family involved.
Search for a local fishing club and enquire about tournaments in your area. To find sportfishing tournaments run by the Australian National Sportfishing Association (ANSA), visit ansa.com.au. To find game fishing tournaments run by the Game Fishing Association of Australia (GFAA), visit gfaa.asn.au.
Winning might require a lot of dedicated effort, but just by being involved you’re going to have a lot of fun. I look forward to seeing you join me up on the winner’s podium. For a competitive angler, there is no better feeling. Good luck — you can come second!