GAMEX is held in Exmouth which is located on a large peninsula around half way up the west Australian coast. A competition that has run since 1969 and attracts up to 80 boats and a mixed group of keen anglers.
Hosted by Exmouth Game fishing club the competition runs for six days, caters for all types of anglers and attracts some fantastic sponsors -and some stiff competition.
Most anglers entering GAMEX are targeting Billfish, however that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider entering if you’re not set up to do so. There is 38 target species in the competition, 27 sections, a mystery prize and encouragement award and the best bit, a $50,000 random winner boat draw. To win the boat, all you have to do is capture x2 fish on different line classes.
We didn’t have a discussion about what we would target, we both knew we wanted to chase marlin and sailfish and with Cams local knowledge we fished the canyons out from the Western side of the Exmouth Cape for a number of Marlin and a single sailfish. Tagging our captures and logging them to E.G.F.C. via VHF radio as per competition rules. This makes for some good competition, as everyone can hear when a team has just tagged and released a fish. That being said, the vibe at the clubhouse and on the water is fun and friendly, with some occasional banter between teams of course.
I am a bill fish rookie and can honestly say I was surprised how encouraging the other competitors were when having a chat at the tag drop off every afternoon. I personally really enjoyed the launch and retrieve time, a hive of activity with Outriggers going up, people rigging baits and so many nice boats to admire!
There is everything from 5m trailer boats to 38ft Game fishing weapons. The weather on the first two days of the competition was less than ideal, with 3.5m seas and 20 knot winds, we got a little wet, but these were our best fishing days managing to tag a few marlin, and a sailfish. With the highlight being a double hookup on blacks. When I was hooked up to the first fish and putting the harness on, Cam was busy clearing the spread of lures we were running, a black appeared on our Queenfish teaser, it heard the commotion of Cam bringing in the long corner skirted lure, chucked an abrupt U turn off the teaser and belted the lure which led to a chaotic few minutes ducking and weaving each other as the marlins jumped back and forth coming rediculously close to a tangle.
Cams fish ended up jumping free and my fish went deep which resulted in a 20 minute battle which tested my fitness. Some handy boat driving from Cam and some short pump and winds got the fish up to the surface then Cam was able to leader the fish and get a tag shot before releasing the wily beast to fight another day. Along with the bill fish we had by-catch of wahoo, mahi mahi, and several tuna species daily.
55 boats managed to tag 663 Billfish over 6 days, which I was told was slow fishing compared to previous years which were in the 900s. What I found interesting was that there wasn’t a single recapture of a billfish over this 6 days which I think speaks volumes of how amazing and fish rich the area is. If you haven’t been, put it on the bucket list.
I was lucky enough to be able to catch up with a small handful of this years winners and entrants to get some insight and advice on the Gamex Comp.
Eddy Lawler – Peak Sportsfishing
Champion team: Most tagged Billfish
Q: How many years have you been fishing GAMEX?
A: 12 years
Q: Besides tackle and rigging, what’s the one thing you couldn’t go without ?
A: Rum! Nah it would be my crew, you’re only as good as your crew.
Q: Did you have a strategy for the comp or did you play it day by day ?
A: Ive always got spots I want to fish, but that changes day to day. If the bite is somewhere your not, get to it.
Q: What advice would you have for someone considering competing in the Gamex comp ?
A: Preparation, a few different styles, bait program or lure program. Be prepared to learn over a few years.
Tracy Tito – Just a girl
Runner up: Women’s most tagged bills
Q: Being from Adelaide, What made you decide to fish the GAMEX comp?
A: We decided to get out of our comfort zone, fish interstate and chase new species. Gamex had been a 10 year dream and was the first event written ion the calendar.
Q: Did you have a strategy or did you play it day by day ?
A: After 3 days we hadn’t even seen a fish – our plans changed from winning to catching one fish, this happened on day 4 and we ended up with 4 fish tagged.
Besides tackle and rigging, what’s the one thing you couldn’t go without ?
Three of us had never seen a billfish, but Deb – hooked on marlin (our secret weapon) had. She shared her knowledge, encouraged us and it happened, we caught one.
Q: What advice would you have for someone considering competing in the Gamex comp ?
A: Book decent accomodation, its hot and unforgiving, you’ll need good sleep. Fish at least 4 days pre comp. Dedicate one spot per day and fish the tides to find the fish.
Small Fry Winner – Jessie Hornhardt
Q: Being from Karratha, What made you decide to fish the GAMEX comp ?
A: I wanted to fish it as it was my last year as a junior, and my sister Chloe got to win it on her last year as a junior too.
Q: Did you have a strategy or did you play it day by day ?
A: Dad does the strategy but it was a bit day by day based on the weather conditions. My strategy is to catch as many species on all the different line classes I can.
Q: Besides tackle and rigging, what’s the one thing you couldn’t go without ?
A: Probably my dads experience, having fished Exmouth previously.
Q: What advice would you have for someone considering competing in the Gamex comp ?
A: Just have fun and do your best !
