The 1998 Noosa Family Fishing Classic.

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Present..

THE 1998 'FAMILY FISHING CLASSIC' ROUNDUP

Absolutely ideal would be how to describe the Queen's Birthday long weekend in Noosa. The winds, N.W/S.W 5-15knots, were perfect for estuary and coastal beach fishing and with not a cloud in the sky, the mood amongst the 800 odd entrants at the 'Fishing Classic' was buoyant to say the least. The live weigh-in tank set up on the river was well patronised with a good percentage of the weekend catch returned to the water, but the real hit of the weekend was the new 'Marine Bio-System' at Davo's which provided an almost endless supply of live Prawns, Yabbies, Blood and Beach Worms. The junior entrant pictured on the right didn't win a major prize but sure won a lot of hearts as we sorted through the photos. There's a twenty dollar gift voucher waiting for her at Davo's just for that smile. Because the winners aren't announced until the evening of the 8th, the 'Roundup' will replace our normal weekly report as far as photos go, but here's the general report before anything else.

OFFSHORE: Perfect conditions continued on from last week with light variable winds the norm. Quality Snapper came from North Reef and the Barwon Banks had Pearlies, Dolphin Fish, Parrot and Snapper. Sunshine Reef produced plenty of Coral Trout, Sweetlip, quality Snapper, Squire and large Spaniards. Laguna Bay was the place for Spotted and Spanish Mackerel plus Tuna with Squire and Pearlies coming from Hall's Reef.

ONSHORE: The estuary recovered very quickly after the 'Classic' with good reports coming from the lower system. Flathead were predominant from Noosaville through to and including Lake Cooroibah with the first of the run-out tide still best. Whiting slowed but Andre Beck reported Queenfish and Tarpon in the Woods Bays and Trevally were responding well there to surface poppers, Rio's Prawns and live baits. Tailor were coming from Teewah and Sunshine Beaches and good quality Dart from Marcus, Castaways and the North Shore.

The Southern beaches and the Noosa National Park accounted for most of the winning species this year as Jason Degn, from Indooroopilly, will happily testify. This is the fifth year that Jason has entered the 'Classic', always enjoying it, and not the first time he's picked up a major prize, winning the Tailor category two years ago with a fish of 2.75kg. His brother took out the top weight Trevally three years ago so it's pretty much all in the family. Jason's $2500.00 3.9kg Trevally was landed out around Hell's Gates on Sunday night just on the top of the tide. He was armed with an Angler surf rod and the ever faithful Alvey 7" reel loaded with 20lb Schneider line. He was casting and retrieving a Yellowtail Pike on 4x8/0 ganged hooks when this fella made it's move. The 60lb trace ensured that the tail razors didn't end the fight before it started.

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( Photos by Ron Lockings, 'Just Photography' )

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