Angling Competition 23rd & 24th November
Rhyll-Phillip Island Angling Club’s Fifth Competition of the 2024/2025 Season Reels in Winners
The Rhyll-Phillip Island Angling Club (RPIAC) hosted its fifth angling competition of the 2024/2025 season over the weekend of November 23rd and 24th. Anglers were also competing for the prestigious Bill Wallis Trophy, which is awarded for the highest aggregate of Bill Wallis units for up to two eligible species.
Despite the hot and humid weather with periods of strong winds on Saturday and showers on Sunday morning, the event saw a solid turnout of anglers eager to participate. A total of 50 fish, 2 sharks, and 1 calamari were weighed in over the weekend. Eligible species caught over the weekend included snapper, King George whiting, gummy shark, flathead, and trevally.
RPIAC continues to offer complimentary memberships to children aged 16 and under, fostering a future generation passionate about sustainable and responsible angling. In the Squidgies Mixed Bag Points Competition, for anglers aged up to 9, Byron and Harley Griffin each caught 1 fish worth 20 points, earning them runner-up spots. Saige Nicolaci won the competition by catching 4 fish worth a total of 65 points. The Junior Points and Junior Weight competitions, for anglers aged 10 to 16, were won by Jack Wright, who caught a King George whiting worth 770 points (275 grams) and a snapper weighing 915 grams.
The Senior Points competitions were won by Kate Jinnette, who caught a flathead worth 1,584 points (880 grams), and Sam Linklater, with a chunky King George whiting worth 1,820 points (650 grams). In the Senior Weight competitions, Debra Orr and Martin Xuereb were winners with impressive snappers tipping the scales at 3,040 grams and 6,790 grams, respectively.
The Shark competition was won by Sam Orr, whose clean gummy shark weighed 4,910 grams. James Nicolaci won the Squid/Cuttlefish competition with a southern calamari weighing 1,470 grams. Chris Leonardos took the Secret Weight prize with a snapper weighing 3,685 grams, closest to the secret weight of 3,614 grams.
The Bill Wallis Trophy was awarded to Martin Xuereb, who had the highest aggregate of 6,790 Bill Wallis units. Martin’s name will be etched onto the trophy, leaving a lasting impression for future generations of RPIAC anglers.
This competition also marked the close of the Heaviest Snapper Competition, kindly sponsored by Trevor Thompson, which ran during the RPIAC angling competitions in October and November. At the close of the angling competition on Sunday at 5 pm, the heaviest snapper, weighing 6,865 grams, was caught by James Nicolaci, who claimed the $500 prize.
Only 4 first to catch, members only, competition weekend incentives for extraordinary catches remain for members in this angling competition season. The nominated species for a first-to-catch $1,000 prize, for fish equal to or exceeding the nominated weight, are: Snapper (10.0 kilograms), Gummy Shark (20.0 kilograms), Mulloway (25.0 kilograms) and Kingfish (25.0 kilograms).
RPIAC anglers eagerly await the next competition on the weekend of December 7th and 8th, 2024. For further details on upcoming events and club activities, visit the RPIAC website at: www.rpiac.com
