The 2009 Sylvania Marina Caribbean Broken Bay Invitational Tournament was hosted by Broken Bay Game Fishing Club out of the Royal Motor Yacht Club at Newport on 14 & 15 March. A total of 79 boats and 319 anglers entered.
The weather was unkind to competitors on Saturday with the fleet subjected to 25 knot northerly winds and 2-3m seas for most of the day. Sunday was a vast improvement with the wind abating to provide near perfect conditions. Fishing was tough on both days with boats that found a patch of 26.5 C water in 100 fathoms out off Long Reef rewarded with both blue and striped marlin.
Sharks were scarce with only five tagged or captured. Heaviest shark was a 140kg blue shark to Obsession from Botany Bay GFC. Champion Boat (Capture) was Bravo from Broken Bay GFC with a pending Australian and NSW Women’s record blue marlin of 202kg captured on 15kg line. In a Meeting from Broken Bay GFC won the tag and release category with three tagged marlin including an estimated 250kg blue.
The tournament was a great success and has built a reputation as one of the best on the east coast.
For information on next year’s tournament, log on to the Broken Bay Game Fishing Club website at: www.bbgfc.org
