By Trevor Jackson
THE Kingston SE Lions Club annual surf fishing competition was completed on the weekend, with anglers coming from various regions to chase the top honours.
That included a boat and trailer package to the value of $15,00, which went to Mount Gambier’s James Brooks by the barest of margins.
Brooks weighed in the heaviest mulloway at 14.9kg, while runner-up, Robes Brad Roach landed one at 14.8kg.
Third place went to Happy Valley angler Zac Rowsell with a 10.5kg mulloway.
While mulloway are the top fish targeted in the competition, there was no shortage of other species landed.
The shark section was also closely contested, with Kingston’s Robert Summers lading the heaviest at 56kg.
Mount Gambier’s Mark Walker beached a 55.5kg example, while third place went to Telopea Downs’ angler Jason Saunderson with a 55kg fish.
Plenty of salmon were on the menu, with Mount Gambier’s Ryan Kobes landing a 2.445kg specimen.
In the junior section Warracknabeal’ Kiara Cooksley hooked an 11.8kg mulloway, an impressive effort.
Beachport’s Ozzie Smith landed a 1.46kg salmon and Mount Gambier’s Jayde Crouch a .4kg flathead.
Mullet were popular in the junior category, with Kingston’s Tom Wright landing a .215kg fish.
An almost record field competed, with 1143 anglers gracing the beach – 990 adults and 153 juniors.
In previous years the highest number of registrations has nudged the 1300 mark, making this year a bumper event.
For the seniors eight mulloway were landed, 24 scale fish, 71 sharks and a further eight junior fish.
Fishing began at 2pm on Saturday and wound up at 9am Sunday morning, just in time to beat the heat of the day.
Anglers then set up in the Lions park to wait the results, again with a good turnout despite the soaring temperatures.
Fishing chairman Lyle Griffin said he was pleased with the attendance, with good numbers of anglers and fish landed.
“I was stoked,” he said.
“The entries were great and the number of fish was around the mark.
“The weather was fantastic, it was a good weekend and a good crowd.
“We couldn’t ask for anything more really.”
