Sharks & tuna bite for White Sands

26 November 2012

THE 2012 Jervis Bay GFC Okuma White Sands Tournament and Friday Cash Shoot Out was run and won over the last weekend in November on the NSW South Coast.

The fishing and weather was nothing short of spectacular as a total of 54 boats and 200 anglers converged on the small seaside town of Huskisson. Friday saw the Lake Macquarie GFC Boat Bad Habits angler Scott Kuharic land a 168kg mako shark which secured them the $2,250 cash prize for the Heaviest Fish in the Cash Shoot Out.

The Batemans Bay GFC boat Frigate took the $2,250 cash prize in the tag & release section with 14,600 points for their six tagged sharks. The standout capture for the day, however, was Maria Carnevale’s 180.2kg blue marlin on 15kg Line on the Jervis Bay GFC boat Marlin Feeder. Unluckily for them though, they did not enter the cash shoot out, which would have blitzed the field, but did win most meritorious fish and heaviest marlin.

Late in the day, a number of yellowfin tuna and albacore were tagged which set the scene for the rest of the weekend.

Saturday dawned with a total glass out and the fish were ready to play! A total of 130 albacore and yellowfin tuna were called in, with countless others kept for the table. Best result for the day had to go to Opportunatee with 27 tagged fish! This mixed in with a couple of lost marlin and plenty of sharks set it up for a showdown for the final day’s fishing!

Another glass out on Sunday, and it didn’t take long for all boats to get amongst the tuna again, with a further 50 odd reported for the day. Bad Habits landed their second blue shark weighing 131kg on 6kg, which leapfrogged them over Marlin Feeder to take out Champion Boat Capture. Opportunatee extended their lead in tag and release to secure the Champion Boat tag and release. Amazingly, mother and daughter combo Kim and Zoe accounted for most of the fish, securing them Champion Lady and Junior anglers.

The Shoalhaven boat Dads Boat had their mark on the yellowfin over the weekend, taking out most tag and release yellowfin with six in total, closely followed by JB GFC boat Angie II with five. Shellharbour GFC boat Mc1 fared well on the sharks with seven in total, taking out Most Sharks and Champion Senior Angler to Michael Johnston.

With such a large number of small albacore about, Anthony Greed aboard Outsider II pulled out the 8kg outfit and landed a 10kg albacore, giving him the Heaviest Other Gamefish.

Over $40,000 worth of cash and prizes were handed out, with the “Golden Child” Josh Hay winning the Suzuki Outboard. Be sure to be there next year where it sure to be even bigger and better!