Celebrating 47 Years Of Game Fishing History In The Whitsundays

The Whitsunday Game Fish was born after a meeting, over coffee, between two local businessmen, Gerry Hell and Trevor Jones back in 1979.

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Their aim, among others, was to form a club, introduce Whitsunday Anglers to the rules and ethics of Game Fishing and promote the region as a Game Fishing Destination.

After all the formalities were completed and the Club became affiliated with national and international bodies, it was soon up and running with an energetic committee and sponsors eager to get on board.

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With fingers crossed, the 1st Whitsunday Game Fish Tournament was organised for December 1980. This date was decided to coincide with a fleet of Game Boats returning south from the Heavy Tackle Marlin Season in Cairns, who joined afleet of eager locals.  

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The inaugural five-day tournament was an outstanding success with competitors from interstate and New Zealand vowing to return for the great fishing and fantastic Whitsunday hospitality. 

“The first night's Weigh-in at The Whitsunday Village Resort, now Magnums, next to the Airlie Creek, attracted a huge crowd of onlookers that blocked off the main street resulting in police arriving to let traffic flow through,” shared a club spokesperson.

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“What a sight!”

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The Club hasn't looked back since those early days, eventually acquiring its own Building to call home in partnership with the then Volunteer Marine Rescue Whitsundays. This represented a watershed moment in the history of WGFC and VMRand today the building is known as the Whitsunday Marine Club.

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There were many successful years and tournaments to follow with good membership numbers, together with many dedicated committee members.  

There were many outstanding catches, well attended rallies and events, lifelong friendships formed and memories made that will last forever.

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The Whitsunday Game Fish Club has evolved to become one of the biggest and friendliest Game Fish Clubs in Queensland. It also conducts arguably the best Annual Light Tackle Tournament of its kind on the coast, which is held every October.

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The Tournament this year is on the 22-25 October.

The latest initiative of the committee is the Junior "REEFIES " educational Program designed for girls and boys to organise and conduct their own events.

Workshops are run to teach the skills needed for successful and ethical fishing practices, respect for the sea and its inhabitants, boating rules and safety and more, along with fun outings and good camaraderie, under a little adult supervision of course!

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Among the Club’s many yearly events, the Sweeties and Squire's Rally is for Lady and Junior Anglers only and is a very relaxed, fun weekend. Any legal fish counts in this comp, and dads and partners can only act as crew, drive the boat, bait hooks, serve refreshments etc.

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“The Youth of today is the future of most things, and with the our group of enthusiastic kids, the future of the Whitsunday Game Fish Club and Game Fishing in general is in good hands,” expressed the spokesperson.

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“The Committee has some big plans for the Club moving forward and new members are always welcome to join us in the exciting Sport of Light Tackle Game Fishing in this magnificent part of the world.”

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Find out more at www. whitsundaygfc.com.au. or email club Secretary at Whitsundaygamefishclub@gmail.com.

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