Fine weather for a big catch

Mitch Waideman announces Sheryl Waideman’s winning gummy shark. Photos: ELBFC

PAT McCARTHY

The 2024 ELBFC Classic over the weekend of 5/6 October was a huge success. Record entry numbers boosted the prize pools to very ear-catching totals.
Whilst the wind and skies allowed a great weekend for fishing and camping, the tides and moon proved the fishing relatively quiet. Even seasoned and knowledgeable anglers found the going tough. All categories had fish weighed in with some clear highlights.

Our outgoing ELBFC President didn’t get shot through the ear which was a concern going into Sunday afternoon. Mitch Waideman finished his legacy in style by winning the flathead division and breaking his mum’s club record. This was only a minor thorn in the side of Sheryl as she took the blue ribbon prize of heaviest fish, heaviest gummy shark (13.45kg) and heaviest skippy (2.939kg). Just to rub salt into everyone else’s wounds, she won the second jackpot species worth an extra $780. If you see her at Lucky Roe Snack bar hit her up for some chips. 

Josh Rose won the shark with the only bronze whaler weighed in (7.9kg)  as well as first jackpot species, to go home quite a bit richer than he was Saturday morning. 

Other big fish winners were Wazza Davies for the Mulloway (4.2kg), Sam Gilchrist with a 4.55kg Salmon and Paul Van Reekan for the tailor (1.781kg)
Freshwater maestro, Oli Stevenson, claimed the bream prize with a 1.236kg specimen. Father and son fishing team of Tyson and Tom Tate were up to their usual tricks with Tom taking the king George whiting (0.442kg) and placing in other categories. Isaac Daniels won the biggest sand whiting and Pat McCarthy the biggest squid (0.496kg)
Incoming president Jesse Smithson drove all the way back from his Midwest holiday just in time to make the classic and win biggest herring, which was actually pretty small at 0.253kg. 
Novelty prizes included a Mulloway from Fish On Fish Skins for Harry Perks, the door prize from Ag and Trade went to Justine McDonald, and Matt Upton won the $100 board.

Thank you to all the local businesses who sponsored the event and made it all possible. I know it was a fun-filled weekend for all involved that promotes healthy lifestyles and exploring our beautiful coastline. Do see the following for any needs in their fields:
Swans Vets, Walker and Scoble Accountants, Lucky Bay Brewery, FLG, Farm and General, Florrison’s Home Furnishing, Drake Brockman Building, Southern Sports and Tackle, Esperance Camping Galore, 33 Degrees Bar, Leading Edge knife sharpening, Kent’s Water Boring, Southern 4 x4, Smithson Wool Buyers, Condungul Machinery Wreckers, Wells Building Design, Key Pest and Weed Control, Harris Dental and Ausdrill. 
Pat McCarthy is Esperance Land Based Fishing Club’s publicity