Angling Competition 15th & 16th February 2025
Rhyll-Phillip Island Angling Club Celebrates Valentine’s Weekend with Fishing Competition
This past weekend, the Rhyll Phillip Island Angling Club (RPIAC) hosted its eagerly anticipated 9th angling competition, marking another interesting chapter in the 2024/2025 season. The event, held on the 15th and 16th of February, saw anglers of all ages shaken but not stirred, under conditions that could only be described as challenging for the sport.
As the competition kicked off at the stroke of midnight on Friday, just after Valentine’s Day finished, participants were greeted with difficult weather conditions, featuring strong winds, rain, and hail. The clubrooms buzzed with activity during the 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm weigh-ins on Saturday and Sunday where anglers presented their prized catches as supporters were bemused.
With a total of 21 fish and 1 shark entered in the competition, there were stories of both disappointment and success. Eligible species, encountered over the weekend, included King George whiting, snapper, flathead, pike, and gummy shark. The RPIAC Extraordinary Catch Incentives for eligible species, caught by members on competition weekends, stay banked with 3 more competitions remaining. With only 1 of the $1000 first-to-catch prizes claimed this season, anglers remain optimistic about catching a remaining eligible species that equals or exceeds the nominated weight: Snapper (10.0 kilograms), Gummy Shark (20.0 kilograms), Mulloway (25.0 kilograms) and Kingfish (25.0 kilograms).
RPIAC welcomes young anglers, offering complementary membership to children aged 16 and under, encouraging them to develop their skills and awareness of sustainable and responsible angling. The post-competition presentation awards celebrated the outstanding efforts of all angling members. Anglers aged 9 and under, in the Squidgie Mixed Bag competition, excelled to catch fish and outdo their peers. Saige Nicolaci, Harley Griffin and Byron Griffin continued with their angling excellence and were thrilled with a three-way tie for first place in the Squidgies’ competition, each catching 1 fish worth 20 points. The Junior Weight and Junior Points competitions, for anglers aged 10 to 16, also showcased the upcoming talent within the club, with Denver Firth taking home the heaviest weight prize for his impressive 570-gram pike. Gus Fahnle triumphed in the junior points category with a King George whiting, amassing 1,204 points for a 430-gram fish, demonstrating skill in tough conditions.
The Senior Heaviest Weight competitions were no less competitive. Brendan Garlepp claimed the male category’s Senior Heaviest Weight prize with a 1275-gram snapper. Carrianne Peatey won the female Senior Heaviest Weight prize after she caught a snapper weighing 1115 grams. The Senior Points competitions were won by Duncan Firth and Tenille Preddice, each catching King George whiting, worth 1736 points (620 grams), and 1596 points (570 grams), respectively. Despite an abundance of mini-gummies in Westernport, 1 gummy met the RPIAC criteria of a partial length greater than 60 cm. The best of the weekend, with a clean weight of 3415 grams, was caught by Nigel Firth to win the shark prize. The Squid/Cuttlefish and Gamefish competitions were uncontested. The Secret Weight Competition saw Mark Griffin closest to the mark with a King George Whiting that weighed in at 285 grams (secret weight 252 grams).
The event concluded on a high note on Sunday, with the club providing a delightful meal of roast chicken and salad for its members, celebrating the community spirit and the shared passion for angling. With thanks to all volunteers, including Matt, Chris, and Nikky, no one left hungry or dehydrated, and the weekend’s supporters certainly made this another successful competition. The RPIAC clubroom is located adjacent to the Rhyll boat ramp and is open to members and visitors on Fridays (from 5 pm) and competition weekends coinciding with weigh in. The next angling competition is scheduled for the weekend of the 1st and 2nd of March 2025. There are still many opportunities to participate in the scheduled angling competitions and compete for comp-weekend prizes and enter the club championships. For further information about the club, events, competitions, and rules, please visit the website: www.rpiac.com
