HAINES GROUP FISHING CLASSIC OPENS THIS FRIDAY

The Haines Group Fishing Classic — billed by the organisers as “Brisbane’s longest running team gamefishing competition” — commences this Friday from The Little Ships Club, One Mile, Stradbroke Island.

With this year said to be Queensland’s best marlin season in two decades, as many as 40 teams are expected to contest the tag and release points-based event, which is open to trailerable boats as well as gameboats.

The competition will reward the best individual angler for accruing the highest number of points on marlin and tuna (with fish weight being irrelevant), with the boat collecting the most points judged to be the champion team. Competitors will vie for the major prize of a Walker Bay 270 PVC folding transom deluxe boat with Suzuki DF6 motor valued at $5400. Runner up prizes include fuel, tackle, Shimano rods and reels and Garmin electronics.

The Haines Group Fishing Classic runs from 8am to 4pm on Friday, February 22, and from 7am to 4pm on Saturday, February 23. Both nights will be followed by activities, including the Little Ships Club “Raft Up” which sees up to 40 boats tied together off the pontoon.

The Haines Group Game Fishing Classic began in the early ’70s after Haines Group founder John Haines Senior decided he’d demonstrate how the boats he built for Moreton Bay could land gamefish.

Haines Group, CEO, John Haines Jnr, said he expects the trailerboat teams to lead the charge as they can get to the outer Stradbroke Island waters faster than larger traditional gameboats.

He said it is a fishing misconception that a 5m fiberglass trailerboat can’t catch black marlin. “We have customers who do it every week, as the boats are strong and purpose-built for fishing. And they save a lot on fuel to reach the outer waters and can make the trip in record time,” he said.

As an added bonus to this year’s event, The Haines Group will pay the competition entry and fuel costs for the first five teams that register with a Haines Signature boat and Suzuki Marine motor.

The Haines Group added that a new addition to this year’s Classic is the Signature Test Drive Challenge. The company said anyone can test drive a Haines Signature fishing boat for free and if they decide to purchase one, they will receive a Signature Gift Card up to the value of $3000.

Entry to the competition is $175 per adult and $75 for juniors (under 16) with teams constituting a minimum of two and a maximum of six.

To register, email Ian Bladin at srdfsh@powerup.com.au or call 0428 458 039. To register for a Signature Test Drive Challenge contact a crew member from The Haines Group on (07) 3271 4400.