Everyone must gather at the Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club on Saturday 6th May 2023 at 3:00pm to collect their entry bags, confirm participant registration and attend the briefing. There will be some entertainment, as well as product displays and demonstrations by various businesses in the industry and competition partners. To be eligible for a lucky door prize you must attend briefing. Briefing will finish at 7pm.

Fishing will commence at midnight on Saturday 6th May. There are 7 offshore, 7 estuary and 6 freshwater species on the target list. When a competitor lands a fish, they take a photo of it on the competition brag mat, with measuring device shown clearly and upload it to the WFC Research & Events app. The website will incorporate LIVE scoreboards that update in real time and display the current leader for each category, as well as the size of their catch.

The junior live scoreboard will display the total amount of fish each competitor has caught and total amount of species.

Thanks to Infofish Australia, there will be a live scoreboard displaying the top ten most fish tagged throughout the event. All types of officially recognised tagging groups such as SCF, Suntag and ANSA etc.

Fishing stops at 12pm on Friday 2nd June 2023, which means you must get your ‘lines out of the water’.

The presentation will be held at Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club on Saturday 3rd June 2023, and commence at 5pm. Where the winners will be awarded their prizes, followed by a celebration with everyone involved. All competitors must be present to be eligible for the major prize draw.

Presentation includes performance by MattLach Duo band. Presentations will finish at midnight.

For the 2 Biggest fish per species there will be 17 separate cash prizes of $500 each.

These will be awarded to the 2 biggest for each species on the scoreboard. The combined length of your 2 biggest fish for each species will be your ‘bag’ length. Our software will automatically update your bag lengths as you enter all the fish you catch into the App.

Estuary Target Species

· Bream
· Flathead
· Whiting
· Mangrove Jack
· Cod
· Mulloway
· Trevally

Offshore Target Species

· Kingfish
· Amberjack
· Grassy Sweetlip
· Spanish Mackerel
· Mahi Mahi
· Snapper

Freshwater Target Species

· Australian Bass
· Saratoga
· Golden Perch
· Tilapia

There will be weekly prizes for the following categories (Gift Voucher valued at $250)

· Most estuary fish
· Most freshwater fish
· Most offshore fish
· Junior of the Week – most species of fish logged for that week.

NOTES ON QUALIFYING SPECIES

Bream– All variants of Bream (including Tarwhine) qualify in the Estuary Bream class. Seabream (such as Blubberlips) do not qualify. The largest 2 count towards the bag.

Flathead – All variants of Flathead qualify in the Flathead class. The largest 2 count towards the bag.

Whiting – All variants of Whiting qualify in the Whiting class. The largest 2 count towards the bag.

Cod – All variants of Cod qualify for the Cod class. The largest 2 count towards the bag.

Mulloway – All variants of Mulloway qualify in the Mulloway class. The largest 2 count towards the bag.

YOU MUST BE AT FINAL AWARDS PRESENTATION TO WIN A PRIZE.

Most species will win a gift voucher valued at $650 from Lake Awoonga Barra Charters be awarded to the angler who catches the most different species’ overall. This includes non target species.

Most fish entered will win a products valued at $500 from Cast and be awarded to the person who catches the most fish during the event.

WFC Junior champion awards will be presented to the top 5 competitors who catch the most full bags of target species. Estuary, Offshore and freshwater species. This will be for kids aged 4-15 years. Kids are also eligible for the biggest fish awards, and major lucky draw prizes.
2nd & 3rd Prize sponsored by Lyn Heater, 4th Prize by WFC, 5th by Delish Fish & Seafood.

WFC Offshore Champion angler for the most full bags of 4 of the offshore scoreboard species list and the biggest. Once someone has won 4 of 6 of these categories, they are not eligible for the other 2.

WFC Inshore champion angler for the most full bags of 4 of the scoreboard inshore species list and the biggest. Once someone has won 4 of 7 of these categories, they are not eligible for the other 3.

WFC Freshwater champion angler for the most full bags of 3 of the scoreboard freshwater species list and the biggest. Once someone has won 3 of 4 of these categories, they are not eligible for the other 1.

Selina Hooper Award – to the angler who gives the event a good crack, has fun, enjoys the whole experience and embraces other female anglers. Cash and prizes.

YOU MUST BE AT FINAL AWARDS PRESENTATION TO WIN A PRIZE.

The champion angler will win by their best 4 species bags in length, in their best 4 species bag. If they place 1st in any of the best 2 fish species awards they will win that too.

FIRST EXAMPLE:

Tracy catches the following:
– 1st place : Spanish mackeral : 2000 : 2 fish
– 2nd place : amberjack : 1000 : 2 fish
– 3rd place : mahi mahi : 800 : 2 fish
– 1st place : kingfish : 2000 : 2 fish
– 1st place : grassy sweetlip : 750 : 2 fish
– 1st place : snapper : 400 : 2 fish

You must catch full bags to go into the chance to win the champion angler award

Tracy’s best 4 bags in length are:
– 1st place : Spanish mackeral : 2000 : 2 fish
– 2nd place : amberjack : 1000 : 2 fish
– 3rd place : mahi mahi : 800 : 2 fish
– 1st place : kingfish : 2000 : 2 fish

Tracy wins the overall champion angler and she also wins Spanish mackeral species award & kingfish species award.

Tracy is not eligible to win the grassy sweetlip species award or the snapper species award as this isn’t in her overall bag of 4.

SECOND EXAMPLE:

FRESHWATER CHAMPION ANGLER

Tracy catches the following bag:
– 1st place : bass : 600 : 2 fish
– 1st place : saratoga : 450 : 1 fish
– 3rd place : golden perch : 2 fish : 600
– 1st place : tilapia 2 fish : 400

Tracy’s freshwater water top 3 fullest bags are the bass, the golden perch and the tilapia as they are her full bags.

She will take out the champion freshwater angler as she has the overall longest 3 bags.

She will take out the species award of tilapia as well as this is included in her full bags but she is not eligible to take out saratoga species award as this was not in her bags for champion angler.

MAJOR PRIZE DRAW:

• WYNNUM MARINE Boat package valued at $18,000 incl boat, motor, sounder, etc

• KICKASS PRODUCTS Package including Lithium Battery Box ($1999), 75L Dual Zone Fridge ($1049), Shower Tent with Roof and Base ($378), Glass Door Travel Oven ($299), 45L KickAss Esky ($119), Portable Vac Sealer ($199), 12v Jaffle Maker ($69), Torch pack ($69), Lithium Portable Shower ($59). TOTAL VALUE $4240

• Global Adventure Fishing – 2 nights stay at an AirBnB in Cardwell for 4 people valued at $1000 + 1 day charter for 4 people valued at $2000

• MAKO Polarised Eyewear, MAKO caps, MAKO straps. Valued at $340.

• more to come!

This major lucky draw prize will be drawn at random in front of everyone at the final awards presentation. Every person who enters the competition goes into the draw to win.

YOU MUST BE AT FINAL AWARDS PRESENTATION TO WIN A PRIZE.

The photo requirements are very simple:

· The photo must be of the entire fish on brag mat / measuring device that shows the correct total length, with fish mouth closed and to the tip. (head to tail) With entry tag displayed clearly in bottom left hand corner.

· The photo must have been taken on a smartphone, with the correct time stamp uploaded to the app.

· You must use the original images.

· You must fill in all the basic requirements when submitting. E.g., size & species.

· You must share your location on the WFc smartphone app while competing so we can determine if you’re fishing estuary, offshore or freshwater. (Your Location information will only be accessible by InfoFish Australia. We respect everyone’s privacy and ensure that your fishing locations will NEVER be viewed by WFC staff/anyone else and will only ever be displayed in a heat mat format)

· All fish must be entered into the App. Entering undersized fish is important for identifying recruitment areas etc.

· All photos must be entered by midnight each Friday , so weekly winners can be announced each Monday. Of course, final winners will be announced at the presentation.

All fish need to be placed on the brag mat in their natural position for photos. No tail squishing or stretching allowed.

(mouth closed and to tip)

Permits can be purchased:

· Online
· Over the counter at Qld Post Office
· Via phone 1300 575 359

Permits cost

· $12.30 per week
· $54.43 per year
· $42.03 per year if you are entitled to a discount

A SIPS permit covers access to all 63 impoundments and allows you to fish with recreational fishing line only.

All recreational fishing methods, excluding nets are allowed

· Rods and reels (all line classes)

· Bait and artificial lures (including live bait and trolling)

· Spearfishing

· No bait jigs (only can be used to catch bait. Fish are not be submitted)

Fishing Lines (Bait rods) from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

Freshwater

· No more than six fishing lines should be used alone or combined.

· A set fishing line must not be used.

· A set fishing line must not be used as a cross-line.

· Only one hook, artificial fly, bait jig or lure can be attached to a line.

· You can’t be more than 50m away from any of your fishing lines.

Tidal water

· Up to three fishing lines are permitted consisting of a total of six hooks.

· N.B When using bait, only one line can be in the water at any given time.

· An artificial fly, lure, bait jig or gang hook is considered equal to one hook.

· A cross line, drum line, free-floating line or set line is not included as a fishing line.

· You must be present with the line at all times.

Additional Note: Different rule applies in State and Commonwealth Marine Park, may have additional restrictions. Please read up on these, if fishing in these areas.

All fishing vessel classes are accepted:

· Land Based

· Non powered vessels (kayaks, paddleboards etc)

· Powered vessels (if you don’t have your boat licence you are able to have your husband, partner etc take you, but please under “NO CIRCUMSTANCES”! enter any of their fish.

· Jet skis (as above if you don’t have PWC licence)

It is possible that fishers may encounter highly dangerous species such as Stonefish. All competitors should:

· Wear solid soled shoes such as wet boots if fishing in water

· Cut the line – do not attempt to land

The Queensland Fisheries website lists species that are protected in Queensland waters such as Queensland Groper.

FRESHWATER
The Australian Lungfish species is protected from fishing under the Queensland Fisheries Act 1994. Under the Queensland Act, a permit is required to collect this species for eligible purposes such as educational display, aquaculture, and research. The Australian Lungfish is also listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and strict conditions apply to its export under the EPBC Act.

· Mary River Cod

TIDAL WATER

NO TAKE:

· Sharks and stingrays are not permitted in the competition.
· Squid, Octopus and cuttlefish as they are actually not fish.
· Crabs.

Those anglers targeting Tilapia and Carp during the event, please follow Dept of Agriculture and fisheries rules and regulations.

If caught, you MUST NOT return any pest fish back into the water. Pest fish species must be humanely destroyed immediately and must be disposed of as soon as practicable, by burying it a suitable distance away from the waterway where it was caught or placing it in a nearby rubbish bin.

You must not keep, feed, give away, sell, or release these fish into the environment. By law, you have a general biosecurity obligation (GBO) to take reasonable and practical steps to minimise the risks associated with restricted noxious fish under your control.

Banned as bait

You can’t use noxious fish as bait. Don’t return these fish to the water, dead or alive. To achieve your general biosecurity obligation, don’t use any invasive fish as bait.

Bli Bli Barra Park

Any dispute or breach of the competition rules will be determined and adjudicated by Track My Fish representatives whose decision will be final. A proven breach may result in loss of competition points or disqualification.

Please read our Terms & Conditions here.