Angling Competition 5th & 6th October
Rhyll-Phillip Island Angling Club Tames Wild Weather for Exciting Competition
The Rhyll-Phillip Island Angling Club (RPIAC) held its second thrilling weekend-long competition of the 2024/2025 season, showcasing the talents of its members from Saturday, October 5th, through Sunday, October 6th. The weather forecast predicted strong winds and rain, but luckily, there were brief periods where conditions calmed down, allowing anglers to make the most of the competition.
Over the weekend, a total of 42 fish were weighed in, including snapper, King George whiting, tailor, flathead, salmon, grass whiting, and trevally. In the Squidgies Mixed Bag Points Competition for anglers aged 9 and under, Saige Nicolaci won first prize with three fish worth a total of 55 points. Brothers Harley and Byron Griffin, reigning RPIAC Squidgie Club Champions, tied for second place, each catching one fish worth 20 points. The Junior Points and Junior Weight competitions were both won by reigning RPIAC Junior Club Champion, Denver Firth. Denver weighed in a technicolor grass whiting worth 700 points (175 grams) and a chunky 1415-gram salmon, respectively.
In the Senior Female Points Competition, Kim Muscat emerged victorious with a tailor worth 1350 points (540 grams). Trevor Gleeson won the Senior Male Points Competition with a King George whiting worth 1554 points (555 grams). Tenille Preddice claimed the Senior Female Heaviest Weight Competition with a snapper weighing 4450 grams. Kevin Reid won the Senior Male Heaviest Weight Competition with an impressive snapper weighing 6200 grams. Kevin is currently in the top position for the RPIAC October-November Heaviest Snapper competition, which runs during the four weekend competitions in October and November. Angling members still have three weekend competitions to weigh in their heaviest snapper to win the $500 prize, donated by Trevor Thompson.
Using the new brag mat/catch and release system, angling members who prefer to release their snapper can “weigh-in” with photographs of their catch, where the weight of snapper will be determined by overall length.
The Shark Competition, Game Fish Competition, and Squid/Cuttlefish Competition were uncontested this time around. The Secret Weight Prize was awarded to Brendan Garlepp for his snapper, which weighed 2515 grams, just shy of the secret weight of 2543 grams.
After the presentations, anglers and supporters were treated to a roast chicken dinner. Special thanks to Lorraine and Nicky for their outstanding efforts in food preparation and kitchen excellence, and to Bakers Delight Cowes for their continued support.
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 (1000 grams), Snapper (10.0 kilograms), Gummy Shark (20.0 kilograms), Mulloway (25.0 kilograms), and Kingfish (25.0 kilograms).
With the weather set to improve, there are 10 weekend competitions remaining this season, and members can compete for weekend prizes and the club championships. All junior anglers who participate receive complementary membership to RPIAC, allowing them to compete for prizes and the 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, providing a great opportunity for anglers to get hooked-up and share their fishing stories. For more information about RPIAC and events, visit www.rpiac.com.