KALBARRI SPORTS FISHING CLASSIC REPORT
4th
, 5th
& 6th
March 2016
30th YEAR Kalbarri saw another very successful Classic this year with 43 boats competing along with 32 river anglers for
the 40 prize categories on offer. We had 147 anglers registered in the river Section, Boat Section and our
inaugural Open water Kayak Section. Of those 15 of them were juniors, probably the most juniors we have had
to date. A big worry regarding the weather forecast for the first day kept a few boats away, but the following 2
days were a lot more moderate. Despite the poor weather on the first day, good fish kept rolling up to the
weigh station.
Champion Angler River was won by Robbie Leck who had a very good first day landing
a 12.2kgs mulloway, bream and winning the Heaviest River Cod as well.
Champion Junior River was well fished by Phet Rakcheep who had good fish on all 3 days
and had the coveted Heaviest Black Bream.
Heaviest Whiting (I know he is holding a bream) went to James Dooley who was also
Runner-up Junior River.
Top Gun River, was awarded to Karen Hartig for her big mangrove jack and big estuary cod.
Top Gun Day Two was won by Simon Dummett having the highest score on the bottom and
Top Gun Day Three was Conan Brewer for most game points that day.
Runner-up Champion River was Craig Wise.
Brian Mosley had a burster of a comp landing mulloway, snapper and red emperor to win the Champion
Angler Bottom fishing from “Red Raider” skippered by Brian Beales with father Phil and son Thomas aboard.
Champion Junior Bottom was skillfully won by Thomas Beales who had very good fish on all three days.
Champion Junior Game was easily won by a big margin by Luke Dooley, fishing aboard “Free Spirit”. They
put the time in landing very good fish with Luke bagging out on two of the days. “Free Spirit” skippered by
Stan Sutherland with daughter Anna Sutherland, Garth Sutherland and Luke Dooley also won Champion Boat
Game Over 7m.
Runner-up Champion Junior Game was won by Dieter Ludewig aboard “Waynes World” Skippered by
Wayne Ludewig and Maralise Ludewig who also won Champion Boat Game under 6m.
Champion Angler Game went to Laurie Malton aboard his boat “Bamba Zonke” helped out
by his crew Sue Malton and John Hoye.
Team member aboard “Bamba Zonke”, Sue Malton did very well on the first day landing a cobia on 4kg line
to win Meritorious Game
and then on the 3
rd day landing a 3.8kg snapper on 2kg line to
claim the Highest Point Scoring Snapper.
Junior angler Clancy Norrish had the catch of a lifetime bagging the Heaviest Dhufish of 11.3kgs aboard
“Captain Fathom” skippered by Terry Ash and crewed by junior Dylan Stevenson, Bodee Stevenson and Paul
Norrish.
Paul Norrish, back right, won the new category “The Big Four” which is the heaviest weight of the 4 top
species, red emperor, dhufish, coral trout and snapper.
Dylan Stevenson, back left, won Heaviest Groper, a 4.12kg specimen.
Junior, Harry Waite fishing with dad Davo spent long fishless hours out in the ocean aboard “Brocky”
eventually striking gold landing a 8.23kg mackerel on 3kg line to win the Highest Point Scoring Mackerel as
well as the Highest Point Scoring Gamefish.
Highest Point Scoring Tuna went to Conan Brewer (far left) aboard “Knot A Fishing Clue”
who all did well in the end after a slow start, but ended up second place in the 6-7m Boat Game Section.
Champion Boat Game 6-7m was skilfully won by “Getaway Bentley, skippered by Glen DiCarlo and crewed
by Jarrad Elliott and Steven Brown fishing for the first time with light line. Glen was ecstatic, winning after
being bridesmaid for the last 5 years!
Heaviest Samsonfish of 18.35kgs went Nik Bramwell who also won Runner-up Champion Angler Bottom,
aboard his boat “The Savage” with Donelle Andrews crewing for him. Donelle also won Ladies Meritorious,
and together won the Champion Boat Bottom under 6m.
Heaviest Ocean Cod of 9.13kgs was landed by Heather Pennington aboard “Rumrunner” with skipper Mark
Pennington.
Men’s Meritorious went to Michael Lofts for big cobia from his boat “Dads Army” with John Marsden and
Terry Pinfold aboard.
The inaugural Open Water Kayak Section was an interesting one where they all launched from Red Bluff
Beach into a low swell each morning. Bottom fishing and trolling around Red Bluff and south along the cliffs.
Dean Thompson came up tight to a snapper as did Ray Latham, both snapper much the same size but Dean’s
Was slightly heavier and was enough to take out the Champion Kayak Bottom. Ray Latham dropped a line
class snapper at the side of his kayak so the Champion Kayak Game prize was left begging.
Meritorious River Junior was Ryan Leck while Kate Ralph won Meritorious River Adult.
The Rod Mitchell Meritorious goes to an exceptional meritorious effort/catch over the three days and was
awarded to Seth Kanara who fished hard all weekend and through the night. That’s dedication for you!
Catch and Release River went to James Dooley and Catch & Release Game Fish Award went to Laurie
Malton who released a 4.kg tuna on 3kg line just before Sue Malton released her 3.5kg spotted mackerel on
3kg line.
Safest Boat Award was “Knot a Fishing Clue” skippered by Ross Vermaak.
Our major sponsors
The Blind Mullet Award
This off beat award goes to the person who did the most stupid thing or worst stuff up over the three days.
It is an occasion for a lot of laughs and there were many contenders but Chris Pinfold, skipper of “Grab It”
won hands down for his antics over the weekend.
First up on the way up to Kalbarri he discoverer to his horror that he was being overtaken by one of his trailer
wheels! That fixed he arrived and found his EPIRB out of date at the boat check. He went fishing on the first
day and hit the sandbar in the river on the way out. Eventually arriving at his best spot dropped anchor, only to
find it was not tied to his boat, losing it overboard. Dropped his sunnies over the side as well as losing a rod out
of a rod holder. The following day he was pulled up by fisheries at the ramp for catching a tree in the caravan
park with his rod in the rod holder and 200 metres of line stretched behind his boat to the caravan park and
then ran out of fuel in the river on the way back!
The presentation dinner at the Kalbarri Sport & Rec was an excellent sit down dinner prepared by the Black
Rock Cafe, and staff. The prize giving was well presented by Cheryl Eley and a great video presentation by
Loni Bickford rounded off the evening nicely. This year a great door prize donated by Peter & Jane Dooley
was a Primus fridge/freezer valued at over $1000.00 was won by junior angler Beau Ralph. Everyone who
entered the Classic was in the draw to win a Marlin Charter for 4 persons from Seasport Charters Kalbarri. The
winner was Peter Burley. Overall it was a very successful competition, only possible with the support of all our
generous sponsors. We would like to thank them most sincerely. Please show them your appreciation by using
them whenever you can.
All the photos and more are on our Face Book page. Go and have a look, “Like” us and post your own
pics.
https://www.facebook.com/KalbarriOffshoreAnglingClub
Final results and runners up:
Champion Angler Game: 1
st Laurie Malton 773.75 points
Runner up: Stan Sutherland 716.00
3rd
Anna Sutherland 696.67
4th
Luke Dooley(J) 683.42
5th
Sue Malton 573.50
Champion Angler Bottom: 1
st Brian Mosley 225.48 points
Runner up: Nik Bramwell 224.44
3rd
Paul Norrish 186.24
4th
Thomas Beales (J) 181.68
5th
Terry Ash 160.32
Champion Junior Game: 1
st Luke Dooley 683.42 points
Runner up: Dieter Ludewig 410.25
3rd
Harry Waite 274.33
Champion Junior Bottom: 1
st Thomas Beales 181.68 points
Runner up: Clancy Norrish 143.76
3rd
Bodee Stevenson 114.36
4th
Dylan Stevenson 104.64
Champion River Adult: 1
st Robbie Leck 121.84 points
Runner up: Craig Wise 59.28
3rd
Kate Ralph 40.84
4th
Kane De Grauw 36.00
5th
Frank Rystenberg 35.36
Champion River Junior 1
st Phet Rakcheep 43.56 points
Runner up: James Dooley 32.16
3rd
Cooper Mitchell 24.80
4th
Ryan Leck 23.92
5th
Seth Kanara 20.92
Champion Boat Game over 7m: 1
st Free Spirit 2258.58 points.
Runner up: Bamba Zonke 1485.50
Champion Boat Game 6-7m: 1
st Getaway Bentley 1026.00 points
Runner up: Knot a Fishin’ Clue 710.67
3rd
2 Eye Deer 319.67
4th
No Eye Deer 111.33
Champion Boat Game under 6m: 1
st Wayne’s World 410.25 points
Runner up Savage 283.75
3rd
Brocky 274.33
Champion Kayak Game No winner
Champion Kayak Bottom 1
st Dean Thompson 22.04 points
2nd
Ray Latham 21.96
3rd
Brendon Chambers 21.32
The Big Four 1
st Paul Norrish 20.80kgs
2nd
Donelle Andrews 19.85
3rd
Clancy Norrish 15.71
4th
Terry Ash 13.67
5th
Simon Dummett 13.50
Champion Boat Bottom over 7m:
1st Captain Fathom 141.86 points
Runner up Mandurah Outcast 106.4
3rd
Reel Addiction 79.68
4th
Rumrunner 20.76
5th
Jenway 6.45
Champion Boat Bottom 6-7m:
1st Red Raider 158.67
Runner up: Weapon Of Choice 62.40
3rd
: Getaway Bentley 27.33
4th
David Birchenough 17.92
5th
Two Tees 14.18
Champion Boat Bottom under 6m:
1st Savage 163.08 points
Runner up Efishinsea 81.53
3rd
: Rockhopper 36.52
4th
Dad’s Army 33.79
5th
Brocky 12.92
Ladies Meritorious: Donelle Andrews
Men’s Meritorious: Michael Lofts
Meritorious Game: Sue Malton
Meritorious Bottom: Paul Norrish
Meritorious River: Kate Ralph
Meritorious River Junior: Ryan Leck
Rod Mitchell Meritorious: Seth Kanara
Highest Point Scoring Game Fish: Harry Waite 274.33 pts (8.23kg mackerel on 3kg line)
Highest Point Scoring Mackerel: Harry Waite 274.33 pts. (8.23kg mackerel on 3kg line)
Highest Point Scoring Tuna: Conan Brewer 190.00 pts (11.4kg tuna on 6kg line)
Highest Point Scoring Snapper: Sue Malton 146.00pts (3.7kg on 2kg line)
Heaviest Not Game Snapper: Conner Graham 4.97kgs
Heaviest Dhufish: Clancy Norrish (J) 11.31kgs
Heaviest Groper: Dylan Stevenson (J) 4.12kgs
Heaviest Cod Ocean: Heather Pennington 9.13kgs
Heaviest Samson Fish: Nik Bramwell 18.35kgs
Heaviest Whiting: James Dooley 130 grams
Heaviest Bream: Phet Rakcheep (J) 650grams
Heaviest Cod River: Robbie Leck 3.11kgs
Murchison Boat Hire Top Gun day one: River: Karen Hartig
Murchison Boat Hire Top Gun day two: Bottom: Simon Dummett
Murchison Boat Hire Top Gun day three: Game: Conan Brewer