Angling Competition 29th & 30th March 2025
The Grand Finale: Rhyll-Phillip Island Angling Club’s 12th Weekend-Long Competition
The final weekend-long angling competition of the 2024/2025 season, held by the Rhyll-Phillip Island Angling Club (RPIAC), marked a thrilling conclusion to a year of intense and exciting fishing activities. This 12th and final event of the season brought together seasoned anglers and enthusiastic young fishers, all vying for the coveted titles and prizes.
Commencing at the stroke of midnight and starting on Saturday the 29th of March, the weather prior to daylight was mild with a gentle northerly breeze, eerily calm and conducive to fishing. As a cloudy daylight emerged the wind turned to a southerly, gradually picking up momentum throughout the weekend, and peaking at the competition close on Sunday at 5 pm.
Hopes for claiming one of the RPIAC Extraordinary Catch Incentives faded, and the members-only, competition weekend, $1000 first-to-catch prizes, for senior competitors, have dried-up until next season. The incentives up for grabs were for eligible species that equal or exceed the nominated weight and included: King George Whiting (1000 grams), Snapper (10.0 kilograms), Gummy Shark (20.0 kilograms), Mulloway (25.0 kilograms) and Kingfish (25.0 kilograms).
The official weigh-in sessions were held at the RPIAC premises between 4pm and 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday. The event officially closed at 5pm on Sunday, followed by the announcement of the weekend’s prize winners, and the Squidgies and Junior Club Champions. A total of 24 eligible species and one gamefish were weighed in, showcasing a diverse range of eligible species including snapper, King George whiting, tailor and kingfish.
The weekend’s Squidgie Mixed Bag competition witnessed fierce competition among the young anglers. Brothers Byron Griffin and Harley Griffin finished tied for second place, each weighing in one fish worth 15 points. However, it was Sage Nicolaci who emerged victorious, weighing in two fish with a total of 30 points. The competition was nail-bitingly close, with each catch contributing crucial points to the club championship.
In the Junior Weight competition, Denver Firth shone brightly by weighing in a 325-gram tailor, securing him the prize. Meanwhile, the Junior Points competition was dominated by Gus Fahnle, who weighed in a garfish worth 943 points (145 grams). These achievements highlighted the skill and dedication of the young anglers, setting a high standard for future competitions.
The Senior Weight and Senior Points competitions witnessed a remarkable clean sweep by Brendan Garlepp and Carrianne Peatey. In the Weight competition, Brendan and Carrianne each caught impressive snapper weighing 1420 grams and 520 grams, respectively. Their success continued in the Points competition, where they each weighed in a King George whiting. Brendan’s catch was worth 1456 points (520 grams), while Carrianne’s was worth 1148 points (410 grams). Their consistent performance and exceptional catches earned them well-deserved accolades.
The shark competition and the squid/cuttlefish competition were uncontested, but the Gamefish competition saw a familiar victor. James “Kingfish whisperer” Nicolaci once again claimed victory with a Kingfish weighing a clean 11000 grams. His prowess in the gamefish category continues to impress and set benchmarks for others to aspire to.
The final secret weight prize was a delightful surprise, awarded to Len Bates for a King George whiting weighing 230 grams, which was closest to the secret weight of 235 grams. This added an element of excitement and unpredictability to the competition, keeping everyone on their toes until the very end.
This weekend was also a special occasion for the Squidgies (anglers aged 9 and under) and Juniors (anglers aged 10 to 16) as the season’s participation awards and club champions were announced. The season-long Squidgie Mixed Bag Points competition was intense, and the runner-up, Byron Griffin, amassed a total of 385 points. The Squidgie Club Champion title was awarded to Harley Griffin, who edged out the competition with a total of 395 points, a margin of just one fish.
The season-long Junior competition also saw remarkable performances. The runner-up, Thomas Grogan, earned an impressive 4774 units. However, the Junior Club Champion title was claimed by reigning title-holder Denver Firth, who accumulated a commanding total of 8255 units.
It was a great opportunity for members to catch up, enjoy a meal, and to thank all volunteers and the competition sponsors, including Clip’n’Climb Cowes, Bakers Delight Cowes, Jim’s Bait and Tackle, and Phillip Island Marine, ensuring the event was an enormous success.
The RPIAC Senior Club Champions will be announced at the RPIAC Senior Presentation Night function on the 12th of April 2025. RPIAC encourages the sharing of interests and enthusiasm for angling to create lasting bonds and memories. They promote responsible and sustainable practices and welcome participants in the next competition season, scheduled to commence in Spring 2025. RPIAC’s 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. For further information about the club, events, competitions, and rules, please visit the website: www.rpiac.com
