‘Best season for striped marlins ever’: Excitement builds for Kiama game fishing competition
The Kiama Game Fishing Club is gearing up to host the 21st edition of the Kiama Blowhole Big Fish Classic this weekend. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT BELOW.
Illawarra Star
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THE best game fishers in the state will be descending onto Kiama shores this weekend for the 21st annual Kiama Blowhole Big Fish Classic.
The event, taking place on the January 7-8, invites game fishing teams to compete for a number of prizes throughout the weekend.
The bulk of competing teams are expected to come from the Illawarra region, including Wollongong, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven and Kiama, but the competition is open to entrants from anywhere.
Mark Way is the Kiama Game Fishing Club President, and is excited to see the results of the teams competing this weekend.
“I think this is the best season we’ve had for striped marlins ever,” Way said.
“I’d say it’ll be mainly striped marlins, black marlins might catch up as well … should be good sized kingfish as well.
Mark Way has been actively involved in the game fishing community in Kiama for decades, and has been the tournament director since its inception.
The event, now in its 21st edition, is the biggest game fishing event in the Illawarra calendar, but has struggled to get back underway since Covid.
Normally held in April, this is the first time the event has moved to January, bringing an exciting new edge to the illustrious tournament.
“We had a bad run with Covid, and when we finally got a tournament going the weather was atrocious,” Way said.
“What we’ve found with holding it in January though, is boats won’t have to go out as far to find good fish.
“Nobody has bothered going out past 80 or 90 fathoms.”
There are a healthy number of boats already registered to compete this weekend, with Way hopeful there’s yet more to come as the week goes on.
Boats currently registered range anywhere from three to 10 crew members on board, creating an interesting dynamic for the competition.
One popular entrant to the competition will be Sondal Bensan, an accomplished angler based who is no stranger to Kiama’s big fish, having had success in the event in previous years.
Bensan has travelled all over the Australian coast chasing big game and is well-known in the Australian fishing community.
Mark Way backs Bensan as one of the competitors to beat this weekend.
The heaviest marlin catch of the weekend will walk away with $2000 in cash, with other prizes on the line that go right through to the juniors.
Entries are still open for the weekend’s competition, with the full list of rules and requirements available on the Kiama Game Fishing Club website.
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