THE recent AFTA Dinner and Gala Awards Night celebrated the achievements of those in the industry.
The Best In Show product awards, listed below, were voted by the retailers who attended this year’s trade show.
This year the Best Stand awards were voted on by the Victorian Fisheries Authority; Women in Recreational Fishing and Boating (WIRFAB).
The Best Tackle Store award was voted on by AFTA member wholesalers prior to the show.
In addition to this year’s Best In Show winners, congratulations goes out to Bill Classon from AFN who was 2023’s Hall Of Fame Inductee.
| PRODUCT AWARDS | BRAND | MODEL | EXHIBITOR | % VOTE | ||
| GAME FISHING ROD | ||||||
| BEST IN SHOW | WINNER | Shimano | Speedmaster Game | Shimano | 48% | |
| BEST IN SHOW | RUNNER UP | Bone | OVJ563-6 | Wilson Fishing | 39% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | WINNER | Bone | OVJ563-6 | Wilson Fishing | 42% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | Shimano | SPEEDMASTER GAME | Shimano | 32% | |
| ROD | ||||||
| BEST IN SHOW | WINNER | Shimano | Zodias Travel | Shimano | 20% | |
| BEST IN SHOW | RUNNER UP | Atomic Arrowz | Newly Designed 2023 Series | Frogleys Offshore | 12% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | WINNER | Shimano | ZODIAS TRAVEL | Shimano | 18% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | Nomad Design | SEACORE SLOW JIGGING 6’6” PE 4 | Nomad Tackle | 13% | |
| COMBO | ||||||
| BEST IN SHOW | WINNER | Wilson | Electric Assist Wecom3 | Wilson Fishing | 37% | |
| BEST IN SHOW | RUNNER UP | Daiwa | 23 AIRITY 2000S-P/ 23 INFEET Z 712LFS | Daiwa Australia | 20% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | WINNER | Daiwa | 23 AIRITY 2000S-P/ 23 INFEET Z 712LFS | Daiwa Australia | 24% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | Wilson | Electric Assist WECOM3 | Wilson Fishing | 19% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | Okuma | Ceymar Baitcast Combo | Tackle Tactics | 19% | |
| FLY FISHING PRODUCT | ||||||
| BEST IN SHOW | WINNER | Gloomis | IMX V2 | Shimano | 33% | |
| BEST IN SHOW | RUNNER UP | Sage | Salt R8 Fly Rod | JM Gillies | 24% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | WINNER | Hardy | HARDY FORTUNA REGENT 6000 REEL | Pure Fishing Australia | 35% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | GLoomis | IMX V2 | Shimano | 30% | |
| SUNGLASSES | ||||||
| BEST IN SHOW | WINNER | Tonic Polarised Eyewear | Outback Lithium Blue Water Mirror | Tonic Polarised Eyewear | 32% | |
| BEST IN SHOW | RUNNER UP | Spotters | Graphite | Spotters Sunglasses | 24% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | WINNER | LXD | XG Caspian – Mirror Polar Matt Black | Liive Vision & LXD | 30% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | Spotters | Graphite | Spotters Sunglasses | 16% | |
| REEL | ||||||
| BEST IN SHOW | WINNER | Shimano | Stradic | Shimano | 48% | |
| BEST IN SHOW | RUNNER UP | Daiwa | 23 Saltiga 6000-XH | Daiwa Australia | 33% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | WINNER | Daiwa | 23 Saltiga 6000-XH | Daiwa Australia | 53% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | Shimano | Stradic | Shimano | 30% | |
| GAME FISHING LURE | ||||||
| BEST IN SHOW | WINNER | Oceans Legacy | Keeling Pop | Ocean’s Legacy | 37% | |
| BEST IN SHOW | RUNNER UP | Williamson | High Speed Tuna Catcher | Rapala Australia | 12% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | WINNER | Oceans Legacy | KEELING POP | Ocean’s Legacy | 18% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | WINNER | Bluewater | BULLET JET LURE | JM Gillies | 18% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | Black Magic Tackle | SLAMMER XT LURE | Black Magic Tackle | 10% | |
| SOFT LURE | ||||||
| BEST IN SHOW | WINNER | Rapala | Crush City Imposter | Rapala Australia | 37% | |
| BEST IN SHOW | RUNNER UP | Nomad Design | Squidtrex 220mm 600g | Nomad Tackle | 13% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | WINNER | Rapala | THE IMPOSTER | Rapala Australia | 28% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | Daiwa | BAIT JUNKIE 3″ PRAWN | Daiwa Australia | 16% | |
| HARD LURE | ||||||
| BEST IN SHOW | WINNER | Bassday | Sugapen Splash 75 | Frogleys Offshore | 9% | |
| BEST IN SHOW | RUNNER UP | Halco | TBarra 80 | Halco Taackle | 8% | |
| BEST IN SHOW | RUNNER UP | Jackall | Swing Mikey 72 | Jackall | 8% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | WINNER | Nomad Deisgn | DTX 180MM HEAVY DUTY | Nomad Tackle | 14% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | Barambah | DETON8OR 58 | Barambah Lures | 12% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | Jackall | SWING MIKEY 72 | Jackall | 12% | |
| TERMINAL TACKLE | ||||||
| BEST IN SHOW | WINNER | Barambah | Chin Nuts | Barambah Lures | 16% | |
| BEST IN SHOW | RUNNER UP | Berkley | Berkley Nitro Saltwater Pro Specialist Jig Heads | Pure Fishing Australia | 9% | |
| BEST IN SHOW | RUNNER UP | BKK | Heavy Duty Gang Hooks | Nomad Tackle | 9% | |
| BEST IN SHOW | RUNNER UP | Mustad | Jaw Lok | Wilson Fishing | 9% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | WINNER | BKK | Heavy Duty Gang hooks | Nomad Tackle | 18% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | Hayabusa | Paternosta Kingfish Rig | Viva Fishing Australia | 15% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | HOOK EZE – ORANGE LARGE | HE3249 | AFN Fishing & Outdoors | 15% | |
| GAME FISHING ACCESSORY | ||||||
| BEST IN SHOW | WINNER | Oceans Legacy | HD Offshore Pliers | Ocean’s Legacy | 27% | |
| BEST IN SHOW | WINNER | Toit | Aluminium Prussian Kit | Wilson Fishing | 27% | |
| BEST IN SHOW | RUNNER UP | Fatboy Lures | “Flying Tuna” Teaser Chain | United Tackle | 20% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | WINNER | Oceans Legacy | HD Offshore pliers | Ocean’s Legacy | 46% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | Toit | Aluminium Prussian Kit | Wilson Fishing | 11% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | AFN – KOOL BAG LARGE DELUXE | AC9058 | AFN Fishing & Outdoors | 11% | |
| LINE | ||||||
| BEST IN SHOW | WINNER | Daiwa | J-Braid 8 Expedition | Daiwa Australia | 27% | |
| BEST IN SHOW | RUNNER UP | XBraid | Upgrade Green/White | Blue Fish Imports | 19% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | WINNER | Daiwa | J-BRAID 8 EXPEDITION | Daiwa Australia | 42% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | XBraid | Upgrade Green/White | Blue Fish Imports | 16% | |
| TACKLE MANAGEMENT | ||||||
| BEST IN SHOW | WINNER | TT | Sling Bag | Tackle Tactics | 17% | |
| BEST IN SHOW | RUNNER UP | Plano | Plano Edge 3700 Hook Box | Pure Fishing Australia | 12% | |
| BEST IN SHOW | RUNNER UP | Berkley | Berkley Bucket Tool Belt | Pure Fishing Australia | 12% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | WINNER | Daiwa | D-BOX SSU | Daiwa Australia | 23% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | Shimano | Tackle Backpack | Shimano | 10% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | Chasebaits | Double Decker Tray | River2Sea Brands | 10% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | Versus Meiho | VS-7095N | Blue Fish Imports | 10% | |
| WATERSPORT / DIVING PRODUCT | ||||||
| BEST IN SHOW | WINNER | Huk | Rouge Wave Boots | JM Gillies | 19% | |
| BEST IN SHOW | RUNNER UP | AFN | Omni Bag AC9072 | AFN Fishing & Outdoors | 13% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | WINNER | AFN | Omni Bag AC9073 | AFN Fishing & Outdoors | 34% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | AFN | Dicapac DI4254 | AFN Fishing & Outdoors | 26% | |
| FISHING / BOATING ACCESSORY | ||||||
| BEST IN SHOW | WINNER | Minn Kota | Instinct | Humminbird / Minn Kota | 19% | |
| BEST IN SHOW | RUNNER UP | Wilson | Electric Assist Battery 10 Amp | Wilson Fishing | 13% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | WINNER | Minn Kota | Instinct | Humminbird / Minn Kota | 23% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | Bubba | Bubba Smart Fishing Scale | Powa Beam | 18% | |
| OUTDOOR / CAMPING PRODUCT | ||||||
| BEST IN SHOW | WINNER | Road Chef | Mico Dingker | RPM Innovations | 29% | |
| BEST IN SHOW | RUNNER UP | Camppro | Bright Rope 3 Meter AC9522 | AFN Fishing & Outdoors | 16% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | WINNER | Tango | Kingfish Bottle Opener AC4617 | AFN Fishing & Outdoors | 26% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | Road Chef | Mico Dingker | RPM Innovations | 18% | |
| CLOTHING ACCESSORY | ||||||
| BEST IN SHOW | WINNER | Daiwa | Goretex Rain Jacket | Daiwa Australia | 32% | |
| BEST IN SHOW | RUNNER UP | Shimano | Pro-Stretch Vented – Burnt Orange | Shimano | 19% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | WINNER | Daiwa | Goretex Rain Jacket | Daiwa Australia | 26% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | Rapala | Camo Hooded Jersey | Rapala Australia | 15% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | Samaki | Barra Tailing L/S Shirt | Blue Fish Imports | 15% | |
| JD AWARD FOR INNOVATION | ||||||
| BEST IN SHOW | WINNER | Daiwa | 23 Exist SF 1000s-P | Daiwa Australia | 17% | |
| BEST IN SHOW | RUNNER UP | Krab King | Krab Cuff | Krab King | 14% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | WINNER | Daiwa | 23 Exist SF 1000s-P | Daiwa Australia | 21% | |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE | RUNNER UP | Megabass | OROCHI X10 ROD | Viva Fishing Australia | 13% | |
| BEST STAND AWARDS | ||||||
| SMALL | WINNER | Barambah Lures | ||||
| MEDIUM | WINNER | Nomad Tackle | ||||
| LARGE | WINNER | Daiwa Australia | ||||
| OVERALL | WINNER | Pure Fishing Australia | ||||
| BEST TACKLE STORE | ||||||
| WINNER | Hot Tackle | |||||
| INDUSTRY RECOGNITION | ||||||
| WINNER | Tim Farnell | WARFFA | ||||
| WINNER | Brian Marshall | WARFFA | ||||
| WINNER | Ashley Ramm | WARFFA | ||||
| HALL OF FAME | ||||||
| INDUCTEE | Bill Classon | AFN | ||||
