Angling Competition 28th February & 1st March 2026
RPIAC Tropical Weekend Produces Big Salmon and Quality Flathead
The Rhyll-Phillip Island Angling Club (RPIAC) held its tenth angling competition of the 2025/2026 season over the weekend of February 28th and March 1st, with fine and tropical conditions greeting anglers across both days. Barely a breeze stirred the water during daylight hours, while high humidity added to the summer feel, making for comfortable but steamy conditions on Western Port and surrounding waters.
The favourable weather translated into a strong showing at the scales, with a total of 63 fish, 3 sharks and 1 gamefish weighed in by weigh-in masters Martin Xuereb and Duncan Firth. Eligible species presented included King George whiting, flathead, snapper, mackerel, leatherjacket, pike and salmon, reflecting the healthy spread of fish currently available.
In the Squidgies Mixed Bag competition, Jude Brown claimed first place with three fish worth 55 points, while Harley Griffin and Byron Griffin tied in second place, each landing three fish worth 50 points. In the junior ranks, Denver Firth secured the Junior Points competition with a quality King George whiting worth 1442 points (515 grams), while Gus Fahnle won the Junior Weight competition with a salmon weighing 815 grams.
The Senior Weight competitions featured some standout catches. Daniel Salvotelli won the Senior Male Weight prize with a massive salmon weighing 2400 grams, while Tenille Preddice claimed the Senior Female Weight competition with a pike weighing 835 grams. In the Senior Points competitions, impressive flathead dominated proceedings. Vinco Anticevic took out the Senior Male Points prize with a huge flathead worth 3384 points (1880 grams), and Lea Bowen won the Senior Female Points competition with an outstanding flathead worth 1485 points (825 grams).
The Gamefish competition was won by James Nicolaci, who weighed in an upsized Kingfish of 10,100 grams, while the Shark competition was claimed by Sam Treacey, who presented the biggest gummy shark of the weekend, weighing 13,600 grams. The Squid/Cuttlefish competition was uncontested, and the Secret Weight prize went to Troy Carton, whose snapper weighing 450 grams came closest to the secret weight of 464 grams.
Despite the productive conditions and healthy catches, the RPIAC Extraordinary Catch Incentives remain unclaimed this season. All members-only, competition-weekend $1000 first-to-catch prizes are still banked, with eligible species required to meet or exceed the nominated weights of King George whiting (1000 grams), snapper (10.0 kilograms), gummy shark (20.0 kilograms), mulloway (25.0 kilograms) and kingfish (25.0 kilograms). With the season nearing its climax, anticipation continues to build that one of these remarkable benchmarks may soon be met.
Excitement is also building ahead of the highly anticipated RPIAC Westernport Whiting Classic, which will be held on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th of March. The open event welcomes anglers of all ages to compete in senior and junior divisions for prizes and trophies valued at more than $10,000. With online-only entry closing on the 11th of March, anglers have less than 2 weeks to sign up for what is shaping up to be a highlight of the Western Port fishing calendar.
The next RPIAC weekend competition will overlap with the Westernport Whiting Classic and will be held on March 14th and 15th, 2026, ensuring a big, long-weekend of fishing action. The RPIAC clubrooms, located adjacent to the Rhyll boat ramp, remain open to members and visitors on Friday evenings from 5 pm and during competition weekends for weigh-in. For further information about the club, events, competitions, and rules, please visit the website: www.rpiac.com
