Stock up your tackle box and safety gear for fishing classic

TIME to stock up the tackle box and get ready for this year's Yeppoon Coast Guard Tight Lines Fishing Classic.

Friday night at the 2013 Yeppoon Coast Guard Tight Lines Fishing Classic

TIME to stock up the tackle box and get ready for this year's Yeppoon Coast Guard Tight Lines Fishing Classic.

Plans for the 2014 competition, to be held on August 29-31, are well-advanced.

The event is the major annual fishing competition on the Capricorn Coast, Southern Great Barrier Reef and will be held again at Keppel Bay Marina as in previous years.

In 2013 the event attracted 1042 entries and organisers are anticipating a higher number this year.

With fish catch prizes for Juniors and Seniors in 17 categories, including four live fish species, there will be enthusiastic competition for fishing from the beaches, creeks and out at sea. However, you don't have to catch a fish to win a prize!

Separate random draws each day will provide the opportunity for entrants who do not fish but who are on the site during the draw. In addition a raffle will be conducted, offering attractive prizes including valuable sapphire jewellery from Coolamon Mining.

Lions Club Yeppoon will provide catering over the three days, Lion Nathan XXXX will supply drinks and there will be stalls selling ice creams, soft drinks, tea and coffee. The Waterline Café nearby at the Marina will also provide meals (bookings recommended.) In addition there will be entertainment for the children.

A new feature in 2014 will be the fish tank which is 13m long x 3m wide with live fish from Reef Science to demonstrate catch and release with a variety of lures.

On the final day, the second last random draw prize will be a Quintrex Renegade fishing boat with 40hp Evinrude Etec outboard motor on a trailer, with bimini top, Humminbird sounder and safety package, provided by Cooee Bay Marine. This will be followed by the final random draw prize which is a VW Beetle sedan from Rockhampton Prestige, the major sponsor of the event.

Entries can be made online at www.tightlines.net.au or application forms can be collected from participating bait and tackle shops in Yeppoon and Rockhampton and at the Coast Guard centre at Rosslyn Bay. For the first time, a discount will be offered for online entries.

In addition, there are discounts and special prize draws for Early Bird entries submitted by July 27, and discounts for members of the Yeppoon Coast Guard Supporters' Club for which the application form is available at www.tightlines.net.au.

The Facebook page for the event which contains stunning photos of the Capricorn Coast, should attract entries from far and wide. 

Tight Lines Fishing Classic enquiries: [phone] or [e-mail]

To ensure the safety of the increasing number of recreational boat users on the Capricorn Coast, Yeppoon Coast Guard is adding to its fleet of rescue vessels and has placed an order for a new 10.5m rescue vessel for delivery later this year. Proceeds from the Fishing Classic will help QF11 to meet the cost of this new investment in the safety of people at sea..

Originally published as Stock up your tackle box and safety gear for fishing classic