Junction Inn Fishing Club (Raymond Terrace) will host its 14th annual Twin Rivers Fishing Classic this weekend, March 22-24.
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A record prize pool is on offer including a $2000 lucky draw for anyone who enters. You don't even have to catch a fish.
Other major lucky door type prizes include boat hires from Boab Hire, eskies, and a range of gear including rod and reel combo supplied by Tackle Power Mayfield West who have been big supporters of the tournament.
"The Twin Rivers Classic has a long tradition and reputation as a value for money tournament. It costs you $25 to enter and usually a good percentage of competitors walk away with a prize that recoups the price of entry.
Each year donate a good portion goes to good charities like Westpace Rescue Helicopter, Marine Rescue
Fishing kicks off Friday afternoon from 5pm and competitors fish through to Sunday.
Weigh-in is from 2pm onwards Sunday afternoon at the Junciton Inn Hotel where competitors can enjoy a free sausage sizzle courtesy of the team from Terrace Meats who have also contribute a $1000 for the major lucky door prize. The other $1000 comes courtesy of the Junction Inn Hotel.
"We've changed the format up a bit this year too in response to feedback," Peter said.
"There's no whiting and luderick categories this year, there's a prize for heaviest combined bream and flathead bag (maximum of five fish per species and only one flathead over 70cm) and we have a prize for largest mulloway.
"To increase engagement, the majority of the prizes have luck involved using mystery weights in various species and age categories."
"Fish are spread right throughout the river at the moment due to high salinity levels and lack of rain," Peter said. "It's quite a contrast to last year when the event was washed out.
"I've had reports of mulloway lurking as far up as Morpeth.
For more information about online registration, ring Peter Hughes on 0432488447, or email peter.hughes59@me.com.
Tailor made
Kai Axisa, from Fisherman's Warehouse at Marks Point, reports tailor on the bite in Lake Macquarie, with good size to boot.
"Just another sign that winter is on it's way," Kai said. "There's also a fair squid about too which may be getting them going.
"We're seeing good bream about, and flathead moving out of the shallows and into the deeper sections, so it's all going to plan as far as autumn into winter goes.
"There's also been reports of salmon on the move further south, but they're not too thick in the lake at the moment.
If you're chasing tailor, Kai recommends metals or try something like a Rapala Tail Dancer, which is a big minnow diver type lure.
"They really get the tailor going," Kai said.
"Lightly weighted plastics and/or unweighted baits floated in berley trails have been doing the job with the bream."
Whale treat
Fish of the Week winner Craig Wrightson reports there was some talk between he and wife Glenda as to whether his fish was a short-billed spearfish or in fact a juvenile blue marlin.
But thanks to a quick email to Dr Julian Pepperall confirmed it was the former.
"Dr Julian explained they are born with a longer bill to which the rest of the fish grows," Craig said.
"We also caught two mahi mahi as we trolled past some ambergris, which is sperm whale vomit made up of squid beaks that whales can't digest properly."
Mmm, sperm whale vomit.
Twin Rivers
After months of patient waiting the blue marlin turned up off Newcastle last week.
A number of Newcastle Game Fishing Club boats including White Dog tagged fish, the heaviest registering around 170kg, according to avid game fisho Garry Hoff.
"Mate I've been spending thousands waiting for this," Gary said.
"I heard White Dog got two, one about 130kg, the other about 150kg.
"Looks like the current has pulled up and the bait's about so I'm really keen to get out there."
Unfortunately, Tim Dean, game fishing guru and custodian of the mighty Calypso, reports it's still patchy.
"The blue fishing was really good last week but we've had a push of water from out wide on Wednesday which is a bit cooler and changed things around," he said.
"We're getting striped marlin today but there's no blues about.
"We came out with high expectations but the water is a decided green colour and everyone is now tracking around trying to find that warmer water again.
"Certainly worth getting out on the weekend though.
"Conditions will be great - warm, flat, dry - and there are marlin about."
Trailer entries
Don't forget entries for the 2019 Club Marine Trailer Boat Fishing Tournament being held April 5-7 at Port Stephens are open online at www.tbft.net.au.