Game fishers are taking it on a day-by-day basis as heading into Interclub this weekend at Port Stephens.
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Big swells courtesy of Cyclone Oma off South East Queensland, plus a southerly pushing up the coast bringing rain and wind are likely to impact on Hunter Waters over the next couple of days.
That's increased the chance of disruption to the time-honoured NSW State Game Fishing Tournament, or interclub as it is better known, scheduled to run Friday through to Sunday following the Lyndy Grieves Memorial Ladies Day event on Thursday.
"Competitors will be waiting on a call each day from the executive committee as to whether conditions are fishable," NSW Game Fishing Associaiton president Gary Chenoworth said yesterday.
"Safety will be the paramount factor in all our decisions.
"And with regard to that, I'm announcing that we won't be running the sail past on Friday morning as previously publicised due to concerns about the wind and low tide forecast for that time."
Tim Dean, who fishes for Newcastle and Port Stephens Game Fishing Club aboard Calypso, believes the weather will certainly make Interclub "sporty" if boats get on the water.
"Interclub will be trying what with a cyclone to the north, big swell, big southerly and what not," he said.
"We'll wait and see how it goes day by day from the executive."
Inshore warming
In terms of fishing, Tim reports marlin have been pretty scarce in close over the last couple of weeks but that conditions have been warming up in close and getting better each day
"The marlin are a bit overdue, but it's not unheard of being this late," he said.
"There's been fish above and below Hunter waters over the last couple of weeks, so hopefully something breaks for us soon.
"The big southerly and big current may push the water out wide closer into the coast this weekend, or the next week or so, and that would be great.
"Blue marlin fishing on edge has been good.
"The guys on Doghouse got three from four blue just outside last week.
"And in the absence of anything in close, that's where Interclub competitors will head if boats get on the water this weekend, if they are able."
Going Billistic
Brent Harding's boat Billistic, took out champion boat tag and release at the Garmin Billfish Shootout hosted by Newcastle Port Stephens Game Fishing Club last weekend.
Billistic also pocketed the prize for champion boat under eight metres tag and release.
Fishing was slow with two marlin proving enough to take out the event.
Phil McCloy, fishing on Zanzibar, weighed the heaviest marlin, a 214kg blue but it was not enough to take out the $100,000 on offer for heaviest Pacific blue over 236kg.
Still competitors walked away with a healthy range of cash and prizes.
A total of 166 boats and 759 anglers competed in the two day tournament.
"Fishing was slow by comparison to other years," tournament director Peter Simpson said.
"But socially it was the biggest ever, particularly the presentation night at Wests with over 750 people catered for - lots of happy faces."
Soldiers hook in
A record turnout, a few marlin and a spectacular RAAF flyover did justice for the Soldier On fishing tournament held out of Port Stephens last Wednesday.
A total of 65 participants - ex service personnel, their families and mates - and 20 boats took part as part of an initiative to show respect for service men and women and give them a bit of a day out.
"Participants have expressed that they feel great benefit from meeting other, veterans and their families," Soldier On spokesperson Darren McGown said.
"They experience positive feelings and reassurance from others that they are not alone with their struggles and, of course, the natural therapeutic value that simply comes from being out on the ocean."
Event organiser Tim Dean, who has been running the Soldier On Day since its inception in 2015, said people had come from all over to be involved.
"It's the biggest roll-up we've had with participants and local vessel owners who devote their time and resources," he said.
"Everyone you asked lent a hand, so it was great.
"A highlight was D'Albora marina donating the food and a function room the night before and NSW Game Fishing Association and NPSGFA putting on a barby after the event.
"Another highlight came courtesy of Scotty Thorington, who boated a 70kg black.
"And the biggest highlight would have to have been the RAAF squadron at Williamtown who took the time during afternoon exercises to give us a flyover [see inset pic above]. It was unreal.
"They made a lot of noise and came in so low I reckon I could nearly have touched them from my bridge."