$200,000 PRIZE POOL UP FOR GRABS IN MORETON BAY FISHING CLASSIC
An estimated $200,000 in prizes including a Signature 540F boat, motor, trailer and towing vehicle package are up for grabs at the Moreton Bay Fishing Classic competition in August this year.
The tournament is now in its second year and is expected to attract a crowd of more than 1000 people. The prize pool is open to all competitors who abide by the rules of the competition, and participants needn’t belong to a fishing or boating club in order to win a major prize.
Most prizes in the Moreton Bay Fishing Classic will be decided by a program of lucky draws. Each evening, competitor entry numbers will be drawn at random from a barrel. Those selected will go into a draw of finalists on the last night of the tournament. Winners of the major prizes will then be drawn at random from those 40 finalists.
The 2010 competition will be hosted by the Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club located in the marina precinct of the Manly harbour. This is also the venue for free nightly entertainment and prize draws.
Competitors may fish offshore, inshore, and along the foreshore during the tournament. Fishing categories include, bream, cobia, flathead, jewfish, parrot, pearl perch, pelagic, snapper, swallowtail, sweetlip, tailor, tarwhine and whiting.
Prizes for the categories will be $1500 for first, and $500 for second with the Classic Catch Of The Tournament carrying a cash prize value of $2000.
The emphasis is on sustainable fishing practices, with the quality of fish caught determining category prizes rather than the quantity.
Competitors must agree to comply with prevailing legislation, policies and fishing restrictions including bag limits, minimum and maximum fishing sizes, protected fish species, and the no fishing areas declared under the Moreton Bay Marine Park. The event is spread over an area stretching around 150km to amortise the impact of the tournament over a massive area.
FAMILY FISHING
For youngsters wanting to get their first taste of fishing, there will be a family fishing fun day on Sunday, August 9. The day features a junior fishing clinic where youngsters, or even parents, can learn the basics of recreational fishing. The program runs free of charge by recognised experts and features prizes, demonstrations and give-aways.
According to event director, John Cardillo, the event will provide a high level of convenience for competitors.
“We are organising an off-shore weigh-in station at the Little Ship Club located at Dunwich on North Stradbroke Island, so competitors who want to fish the surf beaches, stay overnight offshore, or on the eastern side of Moreton Bay, can do so,” said Cardillo.
“They won’t have to return to Manly every night to weigh in a fish or to be eligible for the prize draws — we will have the necessary supporting infrastructure in place,” he said.
As mentioned, the major prize is a Signature 540F fibreglass fishing boat package powered by a Suzuki DF100 four-stroke valued at $49,292. It includes a Dunbier trailer and a Suzuki Grand Vitara three door four-wheel-drive, valued at $29,613.
Entry forms are now available from the Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club and good tackle retailers.
The 2010 Moreton Bay Fishing Classic is held between the tip of Bribie Island and the Tweed River from August 6 to August 11 this year. Visit www.mbtbc.com for more information.
PHOTO: The major prize is
a Signature 540F similar to the one pictured here.