LUHRS Billfish shootout action snaps

Four competitors aboard Ba’Ja

hauled in a 236.1kg blue marlin during the 2012 Luhrs Billfish shootout, netting $10,000 from

Heaviest Catch prize sponsor of Isuzu Trucks.

Jamie Cook, Mark Henderickson, Darren Lumsden and Chad Kavanagh’s prize-winning catch was the heaviest of 10 qualifying during the event, which was hosted at Port Stephens last month.

In the Tag & Release competition, Gunrunner fought neck-and-neck with The Force on day one, leading on points after each competitor tagged and released 6 marlin by day’s end.

Gunrunner secured a strong hold on day two, however, tagging another 7 marlin to take out the other major prize on offer, a $10,000 cheque courtesy of Luhrs/BlueWater Power Yachts.

Calypso fought aggressively in the minor placings, earning another 4 tags on day two for a total of 9 but was unable to knock The Force from second place, with The Force matching Calypso tag-for-tag delivering a total count of 10.

One hundred and eighty nine marlin were tagged in 2 days, with prime conditions leading up to and during the event, light breezes and sunshine on the day, and the line-up of 96 boats ensuring a generous bounty.

As the Luhrs Billfish Shootout is a qualifying event, Gunrunner has earned the right to enter the prestigious IGFA Offshore World Championships in May 2013.

Gunrunner is a family amateur boat so winning the Luhrs Billfish Shootout against “gun” pro-skippers is a tremendous achievement.

Tag & Release prizes were paid back to 10th place with placegetters earning a combination of cash and prizes from Club Marine insurance, Zacatak Lures, Costa & Flying Fisherman Sunglasses, Mavericks on the Bay, and ABL lures.

Diversion was placed fourth with 8 tags, followed by Pelagic also with 8 tags, Anarchy earning 6, and Shakara, Born Free, and Tonlu 2 all tagging 5,

Amy McAndrew tagged 4 fishing and Champion Junior female Angler award; Ethan Henderson tagged 2 marlin winning the 2012 Luhrs Champion Junior Male Angler award;. and Viking 2 won the Peter Goadby Encouragement Award after missing out on a prize due to the count back system.

The Luhrs Billfish Shootout is the only known Billfish-only tournament, where no other species count for points.

Parties interested in competing in 2013 should register early as space is limited to 100.