This year's Port Douglas marlin challenge hailed as 'best ever'
SUCCESS
Contributor Article
The 14th Annual Port Douglas Marlin Challenge has been deemed a tremendous success by all involved.
Nine of the country's best marlin fishing boats competed for the coveted Leon Thomas & Brett Thomas Memorial Trophies for tagging the most black marlin over four days from November 15-18.
"With a combination of sensational weather and with the billfish on the bite it surpassed all previous tournaments," club president Lynton Heffer told Newsport.
"This year 35 black marlin were tagged and released eclipsing the previous best of 26 tags. It put Port Douglas well and truly on the world map as the best marlin fishery in the world once again."
Tournament highlights were a plenty but the stand out moments included the Iluka game boat tagging a 900lb black marlin, Gorilla game boat with a double hook-up resulting in a 750lb black marlin and the Weapon vessel catching a 700lb black marlin on 80lb stand up gear which took three hours to complete the tag.
"We had competitors from Switzerland, Germany, and from all over Australia, with our furthest vessel coming from Sydney," Heff noted.
"We also had a strong contingency of local vessels and crew from the Port Douglas and Cairns region. This is the absolute Formula 1 of fishing, basically the Grand Prix of angling in the world and we produced it in spades.
"We are so proud of those who competed and the conduct in which the tournament unfolded."
Heff also thanked the small hard working local committee behind the event and key sponsors which accumulated over $20,000 in prizes.
Around 85 participants gathered at Lure Restaurant after the event to share some stories and re-live the highs of the event.
Tournament Results
Champion team, Iluka 8 tags, Gorilla 7 tags, Weapon 5 tags, Miss Nic 5 tags, Shaka 3 tags, Freedom Shores 2 tags, Wild Turkey 2 tags, Aspro 2 tags, Saltaire 1 tag. Champion angler - Ben Atkins 5 tags - Weapon
*This article was kindly submitted by Lynton 'Heff' Heffer from Fishing Port Douglas