Angling Competition 25th & 26th October 2025
Rhyll-Phillip Island Angling Club Celebrates a Big Weekend as Snapper Season Fires Up
The Rhyll-Phillip Island Angling Club (RPIAC) held its third weekend angling competition for the 2025/2026 season on the weekend of October 25–26, 2025. The weather was fine on Saturday and wet on Sunday, with little more than a gentle breeze over the two days — perfect conditions for some serious fishing. The 5-hour RPIAC Ladies fishing charter, with Island Offshore Charters, was also a great success thanks to Lea Bowen and all onboard.
An incredible 76 fish, 6 sharks, and 2 calamari were weighed in, with an abundance of snapper, King George whiting, trevally, tailor, flathead, leatherjacket, sharks, and cephalopods proving that the fish were well and truly on the bite — and that snapper season has definitely started!
In the Squidgies Mixed Bag Points Competition, the reigning Squidgie Club Champion Harley Griffin continued his impressive form, finishing first with 6 fish worth 105 points. Jude Brown took second place with 5 fish worth 85 points. The Junior Weight and Junior Points competitions were uncontested this weekend.
In the senior divisions, Debra Orr took out the Senior Female Points Competition with a King George whiting worth 1,288 points (460 grams), while Tyce Kleverkamp claimed victory in the Senior Male Points Competition with a tailor worth 2,825 points (1,130 grams). This outstanding catch also set a new RPIAC club record for tailor, surpassing the previous mark of 1,075 grams, held by the current RPIAC Club Champion, James Nicolaci.
Leah Valente won the Senior Female Heaviest Weight Competition with a 57 cm brag mat snapper of 2,290 grams, and Mark Griffin secured the Senior Male Heaviest Weight Competition with a snapper weighing 6,830 grams — currently the heaviest weekend-competition snapper of the season.
The Shark Competition was won by Theo Kastoras with a school shark weighing 13,400 grams, while Mark Griffin also took out the Squid/Cuttlefish Competition with a Southern calamari weighing 1,310 grams. The Secret Weight Prize went to Frank Kastoras, whose snapper weighing 4,455 grams came closest to the secret weight of 4,256 grams. The Game Fish Competition was uncontested.
After the presentations, anglers and supporters gathered at the clubrooms to enjoy another friendly post-competition celebration, reflecting on what has been the most successful competition of the season so far.
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 (1,000 grams), Snapper (10.0 kilograms), Gummy Shark (20.0 kilograms), Mulloway (25.0 kilograms), and Kingfish (25.0 kilograms).
The $500 Heaviest Snapper Competition, running over the October and November competition weekends, is still in play and will conclude on the Bill Wallis Trophy weekend competition, marking the fifth competition of the season. Mark Griffin is currently in first place with his 6830-gram snapper caught this weekend.
All junior anglers who participate receive complementary membership to RPIAC, allowing them to compete for prizes and club championships in the Squidgie (anglers aged 9 or younger) and Junior (anglers aged 10 to 16) categories. The RPIAC clubrooms are open on Friday nights from 5 pm and on competition weekends from 4 pm, providing a great opportunity for anglers to gather, weigh in fish, and share their fishing stories. The next competition will be held over the weekend of the 8th / 9th of November 2025. For more information about upcoming competitions or to join the club, visit www.rpiac.com
