| 3 April 2012 |
Hundreds of enthusiastic anglers will invade the Whyalla marina on Friday for the start of the city’s annual three-day Easter snapper fishing championship.
Hundreds of enthusiastic anglers will invade the Whyalla marina on Friday for the start of the city’s annual three-day Easter snapper fishing championship.
A record 10 of the 20 previous winners fromAdelaide, Port Augusta and Whyalla have entered hoping to be the first champion to take out a second title.
Competitors, many with non-fishing family and friends will travel from metropolitanAdelaideand widespread regional areas of SA, followed byVictoria,NT, NSW, Qld and WA.
Competitors with the longest trip to be part of the nation’s famous snapper comp are coming fromPerthin WA, north of Toowoomba in Qld, andDarwinouter suburb Nightcliff in the NT.
SA will be represented from as far south asMountGambier, up to Andamooka and Roxby Downs, and down to Port Lincoln.
Not only will anglers be hoping to land a snapper of 12 to 15kg to stand a chance of taking out the 2012 champion’s title, but they have the additional opportunity of extra “bragging rights” in a reintroduced team section.
More than 110 prizes valued at an estimated $40,000 will be distributed by the time Sunday’s 7pm presentation ceremony is over. The champion’s prize package includes $5,000 cash, around $2,000 worth of fishing goods, and a magnificent trophy.
Competitors will have 57 hours continuous fishing time available between 7am Friday and 4pm Sunday.
Internet users will be able to keep in touch with the action at the marina boat ramp through a specially installed webcam, which can be accessed through Whyalla Council’s Whyalla.com website via “attractions.”
Also for the first time, both the public and competitors will be able to follow the event’s progress through regular updates, including photos, on its Facebook page.
Event co-ordinator Rebecca Lichtenberger urges anyone not already a “snapper championship Facebook friend” to join the growing numbers so that they can be part of the championship – if not in person, at least through the internet.
