Fishing was cancelled today (Saturday January 5) because of the wind. It will start tomorrow (Sunday) at 7am.  As a result, the boats didn’t go out to sea past the breakwall.

The first boat to come through was the Marine Rescue Port Macquarie vessel, followed by 53 competing craft.  People lined Town Green and Lady Nelson Wharf at 7.45am to cheer and enjoy the sight.

Hosted by the Port Macquarie Game Fishing Club, the week-long event started on Friday, January 4 with a briefing and calcutta.

Volunteer Karen Gordon said conditions for Sunday were looking better.

“We have boats from up and down the coast, from Coffs Harbour to Sydney and we also have one from Melbourne this year, as well as local competitors.  Fingers crossed it will be a good week,” she said.

Fishing club president Janeck Kaczorowski said the event was 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,” he said.

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,” he added.

"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.

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 prize money 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 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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