Female anglers do the business

It was female fishing mayhem on Corroboree Billabong last weekend.

Gary Wyman with a big Spanish mackerel from a great session down near the Peron Islands

It was female fishing mayhem on Corroboree Billabong last weekend.

By all accounts, the annual Secret Women’s Business Barra Challenge, hosted by the Palmerston Game Fishing Club, was a great success, even if the fishing was tough for most who competed.

Rocky Edwards was one of the competitors, and emailed me the following report: “SWB Barra Challenge co-ordinators had more than their fair share of work cut out for themselves this year with 41 teams competing in last weekend’s tournament held on the spectacular and picturesque Corroboree Billabong.

“This event attracts ladies from around the country and the Territory and it just keeps getting better each year.

Gary (below) with a big spanish mackerel from a great session down near the Peron Islands.

“For two days, these hard-core angling women forget about their families and their jobs and just have a lot of fun going fishing.

“It proved to be hard work over the two-day event with only 34 of the 148 ladies landing fish that scored.

“Saratoga were the primary catch on day one, with only eight small barra captured from the 22 fish landed.

“It didn’t deter the ladies though who, after plenty of celebration, headed out early for another shot on the second day, with some converting hours of trolling into some good scoring fish.

Amanda Hales from Team NAFA Barra Slayers with her 64cm barra.

“On what was trending to be a hard two days of competition, three barra in the 70s were landed by teams Scoop It and Reel R n R.

“Amanda Hales from the NAFA Barra Slayers also trolled up a 64cm barra ensuring a respectable ranking for her team in the top 10.

“Team Scoop It, consisting of Champion Angler, Jemma Brieffies, Jess Ley and Amanda Pernachele, were awarded top spot with the help of their two 70cm-plus barra.

“Jemma also took out the Reidy’s biggest barra award with her 75cm barra landed on day two.

Team Scoop It’s Jess Ley cradles her beaut 70cm-plus barra while teammate, Amanda Pernachele, shows her delight.

“No strangers to the winner’s podium or this course, the Barra Babes put in a consistently good effort to take out second place, while Skirts Ditchin Work also worked hard to take out third place.

“Overall, 55 fish were landed, including 22 barra.

“It was an extraordinary effort by organisers Kris Noble and Chrissie Hurren of the Palmerston Game Fishing Club which has made this event the premier women’s fishing tournament in the country.”

While secret women’s business was taking place at Corroboree Billabong, it was action aplenty down around the Peron Islands.

Peter Dienhoff fished with Gary Wyman and Wayne Francis, and told me the Spanish mackerel were thick as thieves and all of a good size.

“Triple hook-ups were not uncommon,” Peter said.

“We also enjoyed some excellent bottom fishing and landed a good sailfish at Sail City which took a skipping queenfish rigged with a 10/0 circle hook.

“We raised three sails but it was frustrating because our rigged swimming and skipping baits were continually getting smashed by mackerel.”