Organisers of the annual Golden Lure are expecting record numbers of competitors for the 2019 event.
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Hosted by the Port Macquarie Game Fishing Club, the week-long event starts on Friday, January 4 with a briefing and calcutta.
Fishing club president Janeck Kaczorowski says 60 boats are likely to line up for the sail past and the blessing of the fleet on Saturday.
"This is the 35th year of the Golden Lure," Kaczorowski said.
"We are finalising the entry numbers on Wednesday but we are likely to see another record number of entries.
"The weather is looking okay, but the nor easters won't give up. We can still fish a nor' easter and it should be bearable," he said.
The club president said the event was nearing capacity.
"This event is absolutely putting Port Macquarie on the game fishing map.
"It is one of the first competitions of the season with boats coming from all over NSW and Queensland to compete.
"Last year's event featured 58 boats - and that was a record fleet - so we are hoping to knock on that door again this year."
Kaczorowski said the event was proving attractive to competitors for a number of reasons.
He says the Golden Lure features one of the top three or four prize pools for an event with somewhere around $50,000 to $60,000 on offer.
"Some of our major prizes feature $7500 in cash which is an attractive prize pool. The top three events in terms of prizemoney are, the champion boat tag and release, the tag and release (blue marlin only) boat and the champion boat heaviest marlin.
We also spread a lot of prizemoney around too and this encourages people to come back each year.
- Janeck Kaczorowski
"We also spread a lot of prizemoney around too and this encourages people to come back each year.
"Our event is also very family-oriented and very social.
"Because our event runs for a week, it gives families the chance to come to Port Macquarie for a holiday, enjoy the Golden Lure and its social and competitive format while bringing revenue to the city," he said.
Of the 60 boats, there is likely to be around 25 local competitors taking to the water, he said.
The event will be the first for a number of new club members while for some visiting fishers this is the only event they enter all season.
"We are really punching above our weight in this regard and this is a significant reason why this event continues to grow each year," he added.
Kaczorowski said he was particularly looking forward to the sail past on Saturday morning.
He said the full line up of competitors will be led out to sea by Marine Rescue Port Macquarie, with the best viewing areas along the Town Green and Lady Nelson Wharf at 7.45am.
"I would encourage people to come down and have a look. It is really spectacular to see the boats heading out to sea," he said.
I would encourage people to come down and have a look. It is really spectacular to see the boats heading out to sea.
- Janeck Kaczorowski
He also invited people down to the weigh-in station at the Port Macquarie Marine each afternoon.
"We don't see as many fish being weighed as in previous years (because of the minimum weight system) but it is still worthwhile coming down and having a look," he added.
The club president said fishers were regulated under department of primary industry rules which helped sustain the overall fishing industry.
"That's why our tag and release prizemoney heads the list for the event," he added.
While the full week-long program featured something for everyone, the club president said the ladies and juniors' Tammy and Richard Kirkby Memorial Charity Day on Tuesday January 8 was a highlight of the program.
"This event raises a considerable amount of money for the Mid North Coast Cancer Institute," he said.
"At last count we had raised over $20,000. This is our way of giving back to the community.
"Our participants put their hands in their pockets to assist in raising this donation."
The 35th Golden Lure Tournament starts on Friday January 4 and concludes with a presentation at Port Macquarie Panthers at 11.45am on Saturday January 12.
For more information email admin@pmgfc.com.au
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