Angling Competition 11th & 12th October 2025
Rhyll-Phillip Island Angling Club Rides Out Wild Weather for Second Competition of the Season
The Rhyll-Phillip Island Angling Club (RPIAC) held its second weekend-long competition of the 2025/2026 season on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th of October. Despite wet and windy conditions throughout the weekend, dedicated anglers once again took to the water and managed to record some impressive catches.
Over the two days, from 4 pm to 5pm, a total of 25 fish and two sharks were weighed in, proving that even in tough weather, RPIAC members are up for the challenge. Special recognition goes to Weigh-in Masters Duncan Firth and Martin Xuereb for their excellent work managing the weigh-ins and recording results on both days.
In the Squidgies Mixed Bag Points Competition, Byron Griffin took first place with three fish worth 55 points, while the reigning Squidgie Club Champion, Harley Griffin, finished second with one fish worth 20 points.
Reigning Junior Club Champion Denver Firth continued his strong form, winning both the Junior Weight and Junior Points competitions. He claimed the Junior Weight competition with a snapper weighing 490 grams, and the Junior Points competition with a King George whiting worth 1330 points (475 grams).
In the senior divisions, Anne-Marie Richards had a standout weekend, taking home two prizes — winning the Senior Female Points Competition with a trevally worth 1176 points (840 grams) and the Senior Female Weight Competition with a leatherjacket weighing 560 grams.
The reigning Senior Male Club Champion, James Nicolaci, secured the Senior Male Weight Competition with a snapper weighing 5025 grams. Frank Kastoras also performed strongly, winning the Senior Male Points Competition with a King George whiting worth 1624 points (580 grams) and taking out the Shark Competition with a gummy shark weighing 6320 grams.
The Secret Weight Prize was awarded to Stephen Degering for his King George whiting weighing 320 grams, which came closest to the secret weight of 315 grams. The Game Fish and Squid/Cuttlefish competitions were uncontested this time around.
After the presentations, anglers and supporters gathered at the clubrooms to enjoy a relaxed and social atmosphere, celebrating the weekend’s results and sharing stories from the blustery conditions. A hearty post-presentation dinner, generously sponsored by Bakers Delight Cowes, was enjoyed by all. The club extends its sincere thanks to all the volunteers who helped out over the weekend, ensuring the competition ran smoothly.
None of the RPIAC Extraordinary Catch Incentives were claimed, and the members-only, competition weekend, $1000 first-to-catch prizes for senior competitors remain in the bank. The incentives up for grabs are for eligible species that equal or exceed the nominated weight and include King George Whiting (1000 grams), Snapper (10.0 kilograms), Gummy Shark (20.0 kilograms), Mulloway (25.0 kilograms), and Kingfish (25.0 kilograms). All junior anglers who participate receive complementary membership to RPIAC, allowing them to compete for prizes and the club championships in the Squidgie (anglers aged 9 or younger) and Junior (anglers aged 10 to 16) categories. The next fishing competition is scheduled for the 25th and 26th of October. The RPIAC clubrooms are open on Friday nights from 5 pm, providing a great opportunity for members and visitors to socialise, and share their fishing stories. For more information about RPIAC and upcoming events, visit www.rpiac.com
