Paul Bakker and son Jake with Ben Pearce and his father Steve. Photos: Marion Williams.
Every January hundreds of people descend on Bermagui bound by a passion for big game fishing.
Year after year many of the same faces can be seen at Bermagui Harbour for the Blue Water Classic fishing tournament. It marked its 90th anniversary this year.
Thanks to great support from sponsors, a mix of local businesses and big brand names in the fishing sector, the tournament offers more than $100,000 in prizes, including $30,000 for the heaviest marlin weighing in at more than 190 kg.
The Blue Water Classic is open to youngsters, with kids under the age of 11 eligible for the Small Fry category. The Junior category is for those aged 11 to 16. At the other end of the spectrum, people in their 80s remain hooked. This year the youngest entrant was aged four.
Anglers came from as far afield as Tasmania and Exmouth in Western Australia.
Brian Higginbotham was 24 when he first entered the tournament in 1976. Over those 50 years he has only missed two tournaments. That was due to surgery.
He, and his fishing buddies Bill Milonas and Lawrence Lesic travel from Melbourne for the tournament.
“We just love fishing and silly enough to want to catch fish,” Mr Higginbotham said. “It is the camaraderie and the town with its friendly people. Bermagui is a great place.”
He loves the town so much that he built a house in Bermagui 35 years ago.
He enjoys the fight and the performance of the marlin and in his 61 years of fishing has killed just one fish.
Melbourne fishers Bill Milonas, Brian Higginbotham and Lawrence Lesic.
“You get together with your mates and that’s what it’s all about, the camaraderie,” Mr Higginbotham said. “If you catch a fish that is a bonus. And if you get a prize that is another bonus.”
One of his favourite memories is the year when he came equal second.
Melburnian Steve Pearce has been coming to the tournament since around 1997. It was through the tournament that he met Paul Bakker and they have been fishing together in Bermagui for more than 20 years. At one point Paul was fishing with Steve’s father-in-law who had lived in Bermagui for 15 years.
Now they are joined by Steve’s 19-year-old son Ben and Paul’s 15-year-old son Jake. The four of them go out on the 24-foot boat that Steve skippers.
“We are on the water for 12 hours per day,” Ben said. “We wake up at 5 and are on the water by 5:30.”
The overwhelming number of fish caught were tagged and released. All but eight were marlin.
Each tag has a NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) number. The tags are submitted to DPI Fisheries at the end of each day and are used for research. When the fish are subsequently caught by other fishers, DPI Fisheries compiles data about how far and fast the fish have travelled, how much and how quickly they have grown, and migration habits, among other things.
“We work together for the future so our kids’ kids can enjoy it,” Paul said.
Second-generation commercial fisher Jason Moyce, aka Trapman Australia, has been sponsoring the tournament for two years.
There’s no doubt the tournament, boasting 73 boats and 310 anglers this year along with their families, is a huge boost to Bermagui’s economy.
“Each of them has to be fed and watered and buy fuel for their boats, so it attracts a lot of money to the town,” Paul said.
“The pub and club are always chockers,” Ben added.
Maris Dumburs, president of Bermagui Big Game Anglers Club, said more than 300 fish were tagged during the three-day tournament over the long weekend.
“That is the most fish ever tagged out of Bermagui in three days,” Mr Higginbotham said. “That shows the fishermen want to protect the fish so they don’t capture them.”
Mr Dumburs said for a town of less than 2000 people the tournament got great sponsors who really came to the party year after year.
Bermagui Bait and Tackle has sponsored the tournament for 20 years.
Bermagui Bait and Tackle owner Scott Bradley said the event created great camaraderie and lots of people returned each year.
“We have seen children grow up to become fishers on their dads’ boats which is really heartwarming,” Mr Bradley said. “It has become an iconic tournament on the east coast and people don’t want to miss out.”
The tournament is hosted by Bermagui Big Game Anglers Club. Formed in 1936, it is one of Australia’s oldest fishing clubs.
