May/June 2026: Lex lives up to his label and ‘Spanner’ surprises.
After the weeks of seemingly endless rain, and despite a weather forecast of changeable weather, the Club Foster Blue Bluewater Fishing Club Competition Outing for June was held over the weekend of 20th and 21st June.
The weekend saw 6 boats log on over the weekend, with 12 anglers contesting. Uncertain sea conditions forecast for the Saturday saw only 4 boats head out. Sunday with its better forecast saw an additional two boats hitting the water on the Sunday. Sea conditions were a little lumpy early on, but levelled out to perfect glassy seas as the day got older.
Fish catches were a little down with catch rates being lower than average and unevenly spread amongst boats. 60 fish were entered into the competition in total, but 2 boats contributed 36 of these. Thus, sparse pickings for the bulk of the fleet!
Without any question of a doubt, self-titled ‘Fisherman’ Lex Court lived up to his label wining the competition with 419.68 points from 21 fish, the best being a snapper of 583mm length. However, Martyn Barry pipped Lex for best snapper with a 586mm fish! Frank Harshman took out the longest flathead prize (563mm) and Matthew Judd the longest trag (611mm).
With the author being away for a few months, a report for the May competition was not posted. Readers did not miss much though as only 44 fish were recorded from 16 anglers in 8 boats. However it demands reporting that in a slow competition, Barry ‘Spanner’ Wrench, regular recipient of competition wooden spoons, shattered that reputation recording 11 fish, including a snapper of 561mm. However, the fishing deities were against him. They not only denied Barry a competition win, they added insult to injury by giving the win to Barry’s deckie Ray Morrision, who recorded 15 fish resulting in 270 points. Barry suffered the shame of being outfished on his own boat! Barry’s pain was not yet over though, as he was also runner up for best snapper. This prize was won by Lindsay Rathbone who recorded a cracking snapper of 740mm. Perhaps we will have to rename him ‘Bridesmaid’ Barry!
All fish that are caught/and or released are according to DPI regulations as per club By-laws. Fish are either eaten by our members that catch them or given away to their friends and family. There is also a bag limit as to how many fish of each species can be caught. The club competitions also incorporate the option to practice catch and release.
