PORT LINCOLN, SOUTH AUSTRALIA – Fishing enthusiasts across South Australia and beyond are excitedly preparing their boats for the annual Riviera Tuna Classic tournament off the coast of Port Lincoln in South Australia in March.
This year the tournament will be held over the weekend of March 17 and 18 with a briefing on the evening of Friday, March 16.
Last year the competition attracted 24 boats to compete over two days in the tuna-rich waters off Port Lincoln, Australia’s tuna capital. A total of 404 fish were caught.
Tournament organiser Peter Teakle said the level of interest and applications already received suggest this year’s event is going to be bigger and better than ever.
The Tuna Classic is a catch-and-release tournament for southern bluefin tuna only. The only exception to release is the competition for “heaviest fish” that are weighed at tournament headquarters in the Port Lincoln marina.
The 2018 event will begin with a welcome function and briefing on the evening of Friday, March 16 at the new The Line & Label restaurant set in the Peter Teakle Wines vineyard. The venue will also be utilised for the presentation dinner on the Sunday evening.
The competition begins on Saturday morning with all competitor and spectator boats leaving the marina entrance just before 8am, followed shortly after by a thrilling shotgun start and quick run to each crew’s selected fishing location.
Competition on Saturday continues until 6pm, with two radio updates throughout the day during which anglers/skippers provide their catch-and-release numbers and heaviest fish weights.
The Sunday competition begins at 8am with lines out of the water at 3pm.
Last year the Riviera Tuna Classic awarded its first Small Fry prize won by six-year-old Harry Czabyski.
Peter Teakle commented at the time: “The future of fishing competitions such as ours is in safe hands with a six-year-old winning an award and catching an 87cm southern bluefin tuna!”
Prize categories this year include Champion Overall Angler, Champion Male, Champion Female, Champion Junior Angler, Champion Small Fry Angler, Champion Boat Overall, Champion Trailer Boat, Champion Heaviest Fish, daily prizes, runners up and an Overall Contribution Award.
For details and entry forms, visit www.rivieratunaclassic.com or call 08 8682 6635.
