Exmouth Game Fishing Club

Records were the theme for Gamex 2010 with over 12 pending State, Australian and World records achieved for the event. It was also a record for the amount of billfish tagged with 446 billfish tagged for the 6-day tournament. This astounding result will be ringing in the ears of anglers around the globe as the Exmouth Game Fishing Club prepare to host the Australian International Billfish tournament in March 2011 and 2012. There were 65 boats that entered this year and 237 anglers. Unfortunately two boats broke down and were unable to compete.

The Exmouth community spirit was well received by the visiting anglers, particularly those whose boats were incapacitated, as locals offered the use of private vessels and mechanics assisted at all hours of the day. One team broke down, changed boats three times and had a bad streak of luck, before winning the biggest prizes in the boat auction. The crew have donated $500 to Exmouth Volunteer Sea Rescue and $500 to the RFDS, while the rest of the winnings have been put in to a kitty for the big events next year.

Interestingly two thirds of the teams were chasing the tag and release billfish sections of the tournament. On one particular day a blue and black marlin were brought in to the weigh station. This was a great opportunity for the EGFC to show anglers and visitors the differences between the two species that often get confused. The juniors and adults were able to get up close and personal to the fish and feel the texture of the skin, see the differences in pectoral fins and touch the raspy section of the bill, while learning about these great ocean creatures. Both fish were fully filleted on the spot and the fish was shared throughout the crowd. Some boats chasing billfish were raising 20 fish in one day at the stern, while others were breaking their own boat records for numbers of tagged fish in one day.

Each evening at the gantry, spectators were greeted by a spectacular view at the Exmouth Gulf and Marina at the new clubhouse, while the MC continuously gave information on the daily captures, how the event runs and tag information for the day.

The Minister for Tourism attended the weigh-in one night and was very impressed with the venue of the new clubhouse and the tournament participation. The Minister for fisheries attended and opened the presentation night and was extremely pleased to note that so many fish had been tagged and released, while nearly $1M is generated from this prestigious event.

A full list of the winners of each section is in the tournament section of www.egfc.com.au

Photos – Winners of Champion Boat Overall, Team AWESUM. Junior female angler Tayla Clatworthy with one of the pending records of a 16.7kg Spanish mackerel caught on 4kg line class. A shot of a sailfish about to be tagged. Team MAHI MAHI 2, winners of the Tag and Release Marlin section.