Back Issues:

• Jun 19, 2006     • Apr 24, 2006     • Dec 05, 2005     • Sep 25, 2005     • Aug 25, 2005     • Jan 25, 2005     • Nov 21, 2004     • Jul 25, 2004     • May 16, 2004     • Jan 28, 2004     • Sep 29, 2003     • Jun 14, 2003     • Mar 14, 2003     • Jan 12, 2003     • Dec 15, 2002     • Oct 15, 2002     • Aug 25, 2002     • Jul 07, 2002     • Apr 27, 2002     • Mar 26, 2002     • Feb 6, 2002     • Nov 29 2001     • Oct 16 2001     • Oct 8 2001     • Sep 8 2001     • Jul 9 2001     • May 11 2001     • Apr 23 2001     • Mar 10 2001     • Jan 29 2001     • Dec 17 2000     • Nov 18 2000     • Nov 05 2000     • Sep 25 2000     • Aug 26 2000     • Jul 10 2000     • May 29 2000     • Apr 31 2000     • Mar 21 2000     • Feb 21 2000     • Jan 14 2000     • Dec 19 1999     • Dec 1 1999     • Nov 1999     • Oct 7 1999     • Sep 17 1999     • Aug 29 1999     • Aug 14 1999     • Aug 01 1999     • Jul 25 1999     • Jul 06 1999     • Jun 1999     • May 1999     • Mar 1999     • Feb 1999 Tune in to ABC Radio's Garry Smith at his FishTalk web site for more local fishing news.

October 25, 2006

20th Riviera Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic

The 20th Riviera Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic, held over 7 days of fishing 15 -21 October 2006, attracted 47 boats, with 140 Anglers representing every State in Australia and overseas Teams from New Zealand, South Africa, United States, Finland, UK and Japan. Russia had entered a team for the third year in a row, but sudden illness of the Team Captain caused a late withdrawal. They will be back next year.

Following a spectacular sailpast of the entered vessel along the beachfront of the Resort's lagoon on Sunday 15th October, fishing was called on at 1100hrs for Day 1 and stop fishing called at 1730hrs. These were to be the fishing times for the ensuing 7 days, except on the last day, when the 20th Riviera Lizard Island Black Marlin Tournament concluded at 1630hrs.

The Battlewagons of our Gamefishing Fleet had to contend with 25 knot South East winds on day one, with a welcome relief later in the week, with winds down to a comfortable 10 - 15 knots some days. Worse than the prevailing winds was the fact that the current was running at about 2.5 to 3 knots from the South throughout the week and the resultant unseasonably cold water accounted for the smaller number of strikes, hook-ups and tags compared with last year. However, the stats show a run of very big fish tagged, some after many hours on the line, others beating the angler after over 8 hours of fighting.

Altogether there were 258 strikes, 226 hook-ups and 113 tags, plus another 6 tagged but self disqualified for technical breaches of the rules. Once again, we are proud of the honesty and professionalism of this fleet in the manner in which they honour the rules of our sport in this Lizard Island event, like no other in the World.

The size range in pounds of the 113 Black Marlin (Makaira Indica) tagged and released in good health was: 100 - 300 = 58; 300 - 500 = 26; 500 - 700 = 7; 700 - 900 = 6; 900 - 1100 = 14 and 1100 plus = 2.

There are many applications pending to join the prestigious Lizard Island Game Fish Club Thousand Pound Club. When the entry forms are completed and signed by anglers, Captains and crews concerned and the judges have examined the photographs or videos of the tagged fish in the water, then it is expected we will have a few more join the four who qualified last year. The honour is not easily attained.

The Champion Team, for the second year in a row, consisted of Team Captain, Kim McKendrick, James Cameron, James Morphy and Tom Cameron and all came from Victoria. They fished on "Tenacious", a 56 foot Precision skippered by Chris ("Sharky") Miles, last year's Champion Boat and Skipper. They had 8 tags.

Runner-up Champion Team with 7 tags all came from the Gold Coast and was Captained by Danny Simons with Lee Holtsbaum and Kevin Cook. They fished on "Diamond Girl", a 48 foot Riviera skippered by Kim Anderson, a previous winning Skipper.

• Champion Male Angler was Jim Warpole, from Port Douglas, with 6 tags, fishing on "Allure" with Captain Darren ("Biggles") Haydon.
• Runner-up Male Angler was Kevin Cook with 5 tags fishing on "Diamond Girl" with Captain Kim Anderson.
• Champion Female Angler was Trudy Myburgh, from South Africa, with 2 tags, fishing on "Marlin Blue" with Captain Ken Bryant.
• Runner-up Female Angler was Janelle Heany, from Mooloolaba, with 1 tag, fishing on "Viking 56" with Captain Scott Heaney.
• Champion Boat was "Tenacious" with 8 tags skippered by Chris ("Sharky") Miles.
• Runner-up Boat was "Diamond Girl" with 7 tags skippered by Captain Kim Anderson.
• Third place "Allure" with 6 tags, Fourth "Don't Ask Me" with 5 tags, Fifth "Kanahoee" with 5 tags,
• Sixth "Billfish" with 4 tags, Seventh "Adrenaline" with 4 tags, Eighth "Iona" with 4 tags,
• Ninth "Marlin Blue" with 4 tags and Tenth "Shaka" with 4 tags.

Then came "Sea Baby IV" 4; "Bite Me" 4; and all the following on 3 each: Joe Joe, Whirlpool, Calypso, Top Shot, Castille, Hellraiser, Balek, Kajeki, Kamari, Mistress.

On 2 tags each: Bill Collector, Fascination, Moana, Fascination 11, Hard to Swallow, Cabochon, Viking 56 and Ultimate Lady which motored across from New Zealand.

On 1 tag each: Andiamo, Jag, Miss Behavin, Viking 11, New Moon, The Joker and Inkwazi.

Daily Awards for the Team Tagging & Releasing the most marlin were won by the following Teams:

• Day 1 "Billfish" 4 tags Anglers Robert Lang and John Bennett, Skipper Ric Eustace;
• Day 2 "Kanahoee" 3 tags Anglers Ralph Czabayski Jr and Grantly Goldner, Skipper Dave Pemberton;
• Day 3 "Diamond Girl" 2 tags Anglers Danny Simon, Keviv Cook and Lee Holtsbeaum, Skipper Kim Anderson;
• Day 4 "Sea Baby IV" 2 tags Anglers Tomonori Oni and Naoto Aoyagi, Skipper Ross Finlayson;
• Day 5 "Cabochon" with 1 tag Anglers John George, John Wagner and Don Fletcher, Skipper Paul Shepard;
• Day 6 "Tenacious" 2 tags Anglers Kim Mckendrick, Tom Cameron, James Cameron and James Morphy, Skipper Chris Miles;
• Day 7 "Mistress" 2 tags Anglers Ferdi Pistorius, Braam Duvenhage and Dries Duvenhage, Skipper Alan Geale.

Click here for Tournament Statistics since the inaugural tournament in 1987.

The 21st Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic will be held from 13th to 20th October 2007.

Bob Lowe
President Lizard Island Game Fish Club Inc.
E: boblowe@optusnet.com.au
W: www.lizardislandgfc.asn.au