IT was a case of so near, yet so far for junior angler Ryan Kaczorowski at the weekend.
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With the 2017 Golden Lure commencing under blue skies, the 13-year-old fought a black marlin for four hours 20 nautical miles off Port Macquarie.
Unfortunately for him, when he reeled it in it had a large chunk taken out which made it ineligible for the tag and release section.
Tournament organiser and father, Janeck Kaczorowski, said his son had come the closest to reeling in the first marlin of the year.
“We haven’t had anything captured yet, but he was busted; he didn’t fish the next day,” he said.
“He’s only 50 kilograms and it was a 100-kilogram black marlin on a 24-kilogram line.”
While disappointed not to be able to reel the full fish in, Kaczorowski said his son understood “that’s fishing.”
“It went from elation to disappointment in a flash, but he knows the sport and that sort of thing can happen from time to time,” he said.
“It’s a deep blue sea out there, but it doesn’t happen too often.”
Attention now turns to the Onshore Junior Fishing Competition between 9am and 12.30pm on January 11.
“The junior competition is open to all visitors.
“You don’t need to be a member of the game fishing club to participate, just get a form from Ned Kelly Bait and Tackle or go to the marquee on the day.”
A record number of anglers have taken to the water, with 206 across 48 boats.
“Normally we get between 170 and 180.”