Angling Competition 14th & 15th March 2026
RPIAC Westernport Whiting Classic and Weekend Competition Deliver Big Turnout
The Rhyll-Phillip Island Angling Club (RPIAC) enjoyed a huge weekend of fishing activity with the 2026 RPIAC Westernport Whiting Classic held on March 13th and 14th, overlapping with the club’s 11th angling competition of the season over March 14th and 15th.
Weather conditions across the three days ensured anglers had every opportunity to wet a line, with Saturday providing the best fishing conditions of the weekend.
The Westernport Whiting Classic proved another successful event for the club, with 99 King George whiting weighed in across the two-day open competition. The Heaviest Fish on Friday prize, sponsored by GIO Insurance, was won by Theo Kastoras with a 543-gram King George whiting. The Westernport Whiting Classic trophies were proudly sponsored by Haymes Paints, recognising the achievements of anglers across the various competition categories.
Junior competitors were well supported through prizes sponsored by Jim’s Bait and Tackle and Endeavour Fuels. The Junior Runner-up prizes were awarded to Riley Kraulis and Jay Woolley, who weighed in King George whiting of 590 grams and 202 grams respectively. The Junior Heaviest Weight prizes were won by Jarvis Rinaldi and Lenny Kell, whose King George whiting weighed 595 grams and 203 grams.
The Senior Female category, sponsored by Phillip Island Marine, saw Kelly Stevens take the runner-up position with a 636-gram King George whiting, while Kate Jinnette secured the Senior Female Heaviest Weight prize with a 641-gram fish.
In the Senior Male category, sponsored by Bendigo Bank, Andrew Holden finished runner-up with a 663-gram King George whiting, while Tas Roussos claimed the Senior Male Heaviest Weight prize with a cracking 751-gram whiting.
Two popular random draw prizes also added excitement to the event. The major random draw prize, a Viper Winch sponsored by IMEM Services, was drawn from anglers who weighed in a King George whiting and was won by Mitchell Kell. A second draw prize, a four-round golf package sponsored by the Phillip Island Golf Club, was won by Lauren Wright.
A special prize for the heaviest King George whiting over 1 kilogram, sponsored by Norglass Marine Paints, remained unclaimed, highlighting just how challenging it can be to land a truly exceptional whiting in Westernport Bay.
The Westernport Whiting Classic presentation on Saturday evening coincided with live entertainment from local band Split Shot, while anglers and supporters enjoyed a roast pork dinner sponsored by the Cowes Corner Store and Bakers Delight Cowes, helping create a lively and memorable atmosphere at the RPIAC clubrooms.
The fishing momentum continued into the RPIAC’s 11th weekend competition, which was also well attended. By the close of weigh-in, 73 fish, 2 sharks and 1 cuttlefish had been recorded by weigh-in masters Martin Xuereb and Duncan Firth. Eligible species caught during the weekend included King George whiting, flathead, snapper, tailor, mackerel, leatherjacket, pike and salmon.
In the Squidgies Mixed Bag competition, Harley Griffin and Byron Griffin tied for first place, each catching six fish worth 105 points, while Jude Brown finished second with three fish worth 55 points.
The junior competitions once again showcased the club’s emerging anglers. Jack Wright won the Junior Points competition with a King George whiting worth 1428 points (510 grams), while Kolby Carton claimed the Junior Weight prize with a pike weighing 855 grams.
In the senior weight categories, Theo Kastoras won the Senior Male Weight competition with a snapper weighing 1105 grams, while Carrianne Peatey secured the Senior Female Weight prize with a snapper weighing 990 grams.
The Senior Male Points competition produced one of the highlights of the weekend, with Trevor Thompson setting a new RPIAC club record after weighing in a huge tailor worth 3150 points (1260 grams). The Senior Female Points competition was won by Leah Valente, whose King George whiting worth 924 points (330 grams) secured the prize.
The Gamefish competition was uncontested this weekend, however the Shark competition was won by Vinco Anticevic, who presented the largest gummy shark of the weekend weighing 4715 grams. The Squid/Cuttlefish competition was won by Troy Carton with a cuttlefish weighing 1295 grams, while the Secret Weight prize went to Martin Xuereb, whose 525-gram snapper came closest to the secret weight of 522 grams.
With only one competition remaining in the season, the club’s Extraordinary Catch Incentives remain unclaimed for the year, meaning all remaining eligible species prizes are still banked. Anglers will have one final opportunity to secure one of the coveted $1000 first-to-catch prizes if a fish exceeding the nominated benchmark weights is landed during the final round.
The final RPIAC angling competition for the 2025/2026 season will be held on the weekend of March 28th and 29th, 2026, when the club’s Squidgie and Junior champions for the season will also be announced.
The RPIAC clubrooms are located adjacent to the Rhyll boat ramp and are open to members and visitors on Fridays from 5pm, as well as on competition weekends coinciding with weigh-in. For more information, visit the club’s official Facebook page or www.rpiac.com
