Man vs fish at big game club
By BRENDAN CRABB
Sept. 11, 2015, 12:30 a.m.
Caption: The Kiama Game Fishing Club committee. IMG_0309.JPG
President of the The Kiama Fishing Club Mark Way is preparing for the AGM this
week. Picture: GEORGIA MATTSmark way-1-2.jpg
THE challenge of catching the "biggest, hardest-fighting fish on the lightest line" is
one of the key functions of the long-running Kiama Gamefishing Club.
The club was founded in 2001, its slogan now being "fishing from Stanwell Park to
St. George Head".
The club's AGM took place at Kiama Leagues Club on Friday night.
Returning president Mark Way founded the club. Previously, he had been a member
of a game fishing club in Wollongong.
"We had a large membership (in Wollongong), and part of that membership was
down here," he said while overlooking Kiama Harbour.
"This is the ideal fishing location.
"We were all fishing out of here and then having to travel up there ... This is really the
gateway to Kiama Canyons, you can go south to the banks, there's 30 and 60
fathom reefs straight off here, some fabulous fishing."
Way said the club's membership was usually a little more than a hundred people.
Their main competition typically begins in September.
"Usually the highlight is mako sharks; in my view probably the second hardest fish to
land," Way said.
"The blue marlin is number one in my view.
"We also have yellowfin tuna, and sometimes a southern bluefin (tuna).
"As the water starts to warm up, the game fish come in and we get striped black
marlin, tiger sharks and those kinds of things later in the season around Christmas
and after Christmas."
The club's key events include the annual Blowhole Big Fish Classic, which will be on
April 2-3 next year.
"April is a great month for big blue marlin," Way said.
"We may even get a thousand-pounder one day, out here, which will attract people
from all over the world."
The club also hosts their Children's Charity Competition in Kiama Harbour, which will
take place on Saturday, January 16.
"We've got an ideal location here, and Kiama council's been very good in that they've
provided more facilities.
"We've got some more trailer parking going in up here, extra wash bays, the ramp
and wharves.
"All these things are a great attraction for fishermen."
Way said one of the sport's main appeals was the challenge of catching the "biggest,
hardest-fighting fish on the lightest line".
"So the fish has an equal opportunity to get away, although these days, probably in
the past several years, most fish and sharks are released.
"We tag them and let them go.
"You get the fun and the excitement of the outdoor aspect, and you get a philosophy
that is environmentally-friendly, as well as challenging for fishing people."
Also appointed at the AGM were Alex McAdam (vice-president), Sylvia Kondrackas
(secretary), Gai Delevere (treasurer), John Kondrackas (recorder), Peter Hodgkins
(weigh master), Matthew Cameron (webmaster), and general committee members
Nick Hodgkins and Anthony Mifsud (assistant weigh master).
For more information, visit the kiamagfc.com.au website.