1999 Gove Billfish Tournament
The 1999 Walkabout Lodge Billfish Bonanza extended over three days with special opportunity thoughtfully provided for shift-workers: six days in total were nominated with the proviso that teams could try their luck on either the first three or the last three.
Point scoring related
only to billfish, so other hook-ups were sidelined as entertainment or practise. Prizes included $2000 cash , and 600 litres of fuel.
50 anglers and 16 boats nominated for the challenge.
With conditions rough
by tropical standards, 20 billfish were raised, six hooked-up and three tagged
and released.
Early leader was
Bruce Arkcoll in the 14foot tinnie 2UP with a 20kg sail caught Friday morning.
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That night a
particular boat ran into a bit of trouble and found itself in a pan-pan
situation. Roger Gentle aboard
SOLITAIRE ventured out and rescued the team that had nearly sunk at sea.
The next day was sure to be a winner as the weather had calmed to be
perfect. Hard to believe there
could have been so much drama the previous night. |
Off Cape Wilberforce
SOLITAIRE’s Peter Cardilini got strapped in for a black marlin.
The contest raged for more than 2 hours of spectacular action, with Peter
and his 24kg outfit pitted against a 350lb beauty.
Congratulations, Peter, the fish was successfully tagged and released.
Jeni fished aboard Roger Gentle’s boat SOLITAIRE and on the last day she noticed smoke coming from the engine on the way out to the grounds. Consequently the 4.2m tender to SOLITAIRE was launched for a late start. The other crews sympathised with the team in such a small craft so far out to sea until a stroke of good luck came their way. Trolling off Bonner Rocks, SOLITAIRE raised a 40kg sailfish, Jeni hooked-up and after 20 minutes it also was successfully tagged and released.
Despite the drama of
assisting in a rescue, or maybe because of the good karma created by unselfish
seamanship, the SOLITAIRE team consisting of Roger Gentle, Steve Betney, Peter
Cardilini and Jeni Lerch shared first prize of $1100.
Runners-up were 2UP and because no boat actually won third prize the
sponsors put the would-a-been third prize money across the bar in true Top End
tradition.
