Latest News from the Committee

The Australian Steel Traders Cairns Bluewater Heavy Tackle Shootout 2023

The conditions were perfect for our Heavy Tackle Marlin Shootout with the reef on fire and many marlin tagged. With 11 boats competing all in the GOLD level and $8,800 up for grabs, the competition was fierce. 5 boats tagged marlin on the day with Bounty Hunter on 4 marlin, The Sheriff on 3 marlin, Askari on 3 marlin, Akira on 2 marlin and Dreamin On tagging 1 marlin. Congrats to Bounty Hunter and thank you to all boats for entering the Shootout!

The Australian Steel Traders Cairns Bluewater Billfish Tournament Winners 2023

Congratulations to the winners from our Cairns Bluewater Billfish Tournament which was held in August 2023.

Daily Winners

First Billfish Day 1 - Anthony Dunlea, Credo
Last Billfish Day 1 - Ben Fox, Keep'r
First Billfish Day 2 - Frances Atherton, Black Magic
Last Billfish Day 2 - Grant Buckingham, Ghost
First Billfish Day 3 - Trent Butcher, Southern Comfort
Last Billfish Day 3 - Grant Buckingham, Ghost
Heaviest Gamefish Day 1 - Lily Sims, Bounty Hunter
Heaviest Gamefish Day 2 - Caprice Webb (Shippey), Big Splash
Heaviest Gamefish Day 3 - Hugh Mulligan, Snap Dragon

Individual Anglers

Champion Senior Male - Arnold Berbers, Keep'r
Runner Up Senior Male - Ben Fox, Keep'r on a countback Grant Buckingham, Ghost
Champion Senior Female - Rebecca Harrison, Aspro
Runner Up Senior Female - Kirsten Sandy, Akira on a countback Gina Cleaver, Simrad Ofishal
Champion Junior - Kai Ziebell, Reel Affair
Runner Up Junior - Not applicable
Champion Teams under 7.5m
Champion Team 1st place - Reel Affair
Champion Runner up - Simrad Ofishal

Champion Teams over 7.5m Non-Professional

Champion Team 1st place - Keep'r
Champion Runner up - Credo

Champion Teams over 7.5m Professional

Champion Team 1st place - Aspro
Champion Runner up - Ghost

Other Categories

Friday Shoot out - Black Magic
Overall Boat Winner - Keep'r
Out of Town Angler - Arnold Berbers, Keep'r
Boat Owner Draw - Lay Low
Unluckiest Male - Manuel, Wild Turkey
Unluckiest Female - Cappy Webb and Kaitlyn Schofield
Best Dressed Male - Steven Leptig, The Edge
Best Dressed Female - Christine
Best Dressed Junior - Kai Ziebell, Reel Affair
Photo Competition - Akira
Junior Encouragement Award - Henry Blank, Valhallart

2023 Junior School Holidays Tournament

48 Junior Anglers participated in the Cairns Bluewater Game Fishing Club's inaugural Junior School Holidays Tournament in June/July 2023. We kicked off a 2 week tournament where kids could finish anywhere in FNQ in anyway. Photos were submitted on brag mats with winners in 3 categories, Biggest Fish Caught, Most Fish Caught and Encouragement Awards. Over 200 fish were caught and measured over the Tournament.
We hoped kids would learn a valuable life skill, realise a sense of wonder and adventure again, spend quality time with parents/carers, be confident and work in a team.
Winners were: Biggest Fish Caught (Small Fry) - Felix Watson; Biggest Fish Caught (Junior) - Dominic Wilson; Most Fish Caught (Junior) - Oscar Watson; Biggest Fish Caught (Mid) - Levi Buongiorno; Most Fish Caught (Mid) - Kai Ziebell & Fisher Richards with a draw; Encouragement Award (Mid) - Jack Watego-Morgan, Max Burgess & Finn Bartlett with a draw; Special mentions (Mid) to Alex Damon & Zac Westernhagen; Biggest Fish Caught (Teen) - Levi Lowe; Most Fish Caught (Teen) - Tyler Twaddle; Encouragement Award (Teen) - Matthew Thompson; Special Mention (Teen) - Taylan Perry and Jacob Tait on draw.
We couldn't do this without our generous sponsors, huge shoutout to our 2023 major sponsor Australian Steel Traders, as well as Tackle World Cairns, SHIMANO Australia Fishing, Simrad Yachting and thanks to GFAA Kids Fish 2 for their generous bags. Special thanks to Ports North for kindly allowing us to use the Viewing Deck at Marlin Marina. We hope to hold another Junior Tournament again but for now, it's time to focus on Queensland Game Fishing Association AGM in Cairns (4-6 August) and our Light Tackle Billfish Tournament at Fitzroy Island (16-19th August).

The R and A Marine Services Cairns Bluewater Heavy Tackle Shootout 2022

The conditions were perfect for our Heavy Tackle Marlin Shootout however only 1 marlin was tagged for the day during fishing hours! With 13 boats competing, 6 boats in GOLD category and 7 boats in SILVER category, we had great prize money up for grabs - $4800 for gold and $1400 silver. Tournament base was covered by our President Terri and Weighmaster Steve with Michelle and Miranda assisting on shore (with a lot of FOMO and excitement) - big thanks guys! The 13 boats were covering a lot of water from the top of the ribbons down to Jenny Louise Shoals.

The 11.05am and 2.05pm skeds were quiet with the exception of Therapy getting 2 strikes but unfortunately no hook up and no tag. Unlucky guys!
As expected, the last sked brought a little excitement as that's when we find the fish decide to show up, with Credo 1-1-0 - strike, hook up but no tag! We can't wait to hear their story! The Sheriff showed us how it was done with a marlin tagged 1-1-1 and taking the win in the GOLD category! With cease fishing called at 5.30pm, some of the boats continued to try their luck during the golden hour and fortunately, Megisti Spirit (in SILVER category) hooked up at 5:38pm and tagged a marlin! Well done to the crew and unlucky it was out of time. With no marlin tagged in the SILVER category, the Committee decided to draw a SILVER boat out of a hat and raffle it off in a live Facebook stream - congrats to Black Rat.

Whilst the bite was slow, reports were that it was a glorious day out on the water despite not turning a reel for most. Congratulations to the Sheriff and Blsck Rat! Thanks everyone for supporting our club on and off the water!

The R and A Marine Services Cairns Bluewater Billfish Tournament 2022

Daily Winners
• First Billfish Day 1 - Sponsored by Advanced Automotive - Stuart Wright, Miss Nic
• Last Billfish Day 2 - Sponsored by Coastal Coverings - Stuart Wright, Miss Nic
• First Billfish Day 2 - Sponsored by Advanced Automotive - Robert Mead, Reel Work
• Last Billfish Day 2 - Sponsored by Coastal Coverings - Tim Graham, Black Magic

Individual Anglers
• Champion Senior Male - Sponsored by R and A Marine Services - Ross Fenn Southern Comfort
• Runner Up Senior Male - Sponsored by Cairns Tackle World - Stuart Wright on a countback, Miss Nic
• Champion Senior Female - Sponsored by R and A Marine Services - Terri Morgan, The Edge
• Runner Up Senior Female - Sponsored by Atlantic Princess - Gina Cleaver, Shimano Ofishal
• Champion Junior and Champion Runner Up - Sponsored by Cairns Sim Trans - N/A

Champion Teams under 7.5m
• Champion Team 1st place - Sponsored by Triple M - The Edge
• Champion Runner up - Sponsored by Yorkeys Knob Boating Club - Shimano Ofishal
• Champion 3rd Place - Sponsored by Great Northern - White Knight

Champion Teams over 7.5m Non-Professional
• Champion Team 1st place - Sponsored by Shimano - Southern Comfort
• Champion Runner up - Sponsored by Atlantic Princess - Black Magic
• Champion 3rd Place - Sponsored by Plumbing Plus Gas - Keep'r

Champion Teams over 7.5m Professional
• Champion Team 1st place - Sponsored by R and A Marine Services - Miss Nic
• Champion Runner up - Sponsored by Optus Business Centre - Reel Work
• Champion 3rd Place - Sponsored by Fitzroy Island - Bounty Hunter

Other Categories
• Friday Shoot out - Southern Comfort
• Overall Boat Winner - Sponsored by CY Marine - Southern Comfort
• Out of Town Angler - Sponsored by Cairns Tackle World - Tim Graham, Black Magic.
• Boat Owner Draw - Sponsored by Shimano - Megisti Spirit
• Unluckiest Male - Sponsored by Bigfish Gear - Robert Mead, Reel Work
• Unluckiest Female - Sponsored by Bigfish Gear - Lily Sims, Bounty Hunter
• Best Dressed Males - Sponsored by Optus Business Centre - The Black Magic Team
• Best Dressed Female - Sponsored by Fitzroy Island - Kerry Hipgrave from CY Marine
• Photo Competition - Sponsored by R and A Marine Services - Peter Sweegers, White Knight.
• Juniors - Provided by Cairns Bluewater Game Fishing Club - all juniors attending Presentation night but not in Tournament received a Shimano Tackle bag.

We are looking forward to our Light Tackle Tournament - have you registered?

Latest news from the QGFA website include next tournamount dates for Queensland

The IGFA Offshore Championship events information available from the IGFA website