UPCOMING EVENTS$200,000 prize pool up for grabs in Moreton Bay Fishing ClassicAn estimated $200,000 in prizes including a three door Suzuki Grand Vitara four-wheel-drive and a Signature 540F fishing boat powered by a Suzuki DF100 hp motor, are up for grabs in the Moreton Bay Fishing Classic. The tournament, now in its second year and expected to attract a crowd of more than 1,000 adults and children to share in the prize pool which must be given away, is open to everyone prepared to abide by the rules of the competition. And you don't even have to be a member of a fishing or boating club to enter the event and walk away with a major prize. Instead, most of the prizes will be decided by a program of lucky draws that will be run throughout the Moreton Bay Fishing Classic. Each evening, competitors' entry numbers will be drawn at random from a barrel with the people selected going into a draw of finalists on the last night of the tournament. Winners of the major prizes will be drawn at random from those 40 finalists. The 2010 event will be hosted by the Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club located in the marina precinct of the Manly harbour - it's also the venue of the free nightly entertainment and prize draws. Entrants will be able to fish offshore, inshore and along the foreshore during the tournament which will run from August 6 to August 11. Fishing categories for the event this year include:
Prizes for the categories will be $1,500 for first, and $500 for second with the Classic Catch Of The Tournament carrying a cash prize value of $2,000. The emphasis is on sustainable fishing practices with the quality of fish caught determining category prizes rather than the quantity of fish caught. Agreement from competitors to comply with prevailing legislation, policies and fishing restrictions including bag limits, minimum and maximum fishing sizes, protected fish species and the no fishing areas declared under the Moreton Bay Marine Park, is a condition of entering the tournament. Similarly, the event is spread over an area stretching around 150 km north to south and covering thousands of square kilometres, to amortise the impact of the tournament over a massive area. For youngsters wanting to get their first taste of fishing, there will be a family fishing fun day supported by Radio 4BC on Sunday August 9. The family fun day will feature a junior fishing clinic where youngsters, or even parents, can learn some of the basics of recreational fishing under the free –of-charge guidance from recognised experts. There also will be prizes, demonstrations and give-aways. The 2010 Moreton Bay Fishing Classic will provide an even higher level of convenience for competitors according to event director, Mr John Cardillo. "We are organising an off-shore weigh-in station at the Little Ship Club located at Dunwich on North Stradbroke Island, so competitors who want to stay overnight offshore, or on the eastern side of Moreton Bay, can do so." "They won't have to return to Manly every night to weigh in a fish or to be eligible for the prize draws - we will have the necessary supporting infrastructure in place," Mr Cardillo said. Entry forms are now available from the MBTBC and from leading tackle retailers. The winner of the Suzuki three door Grand Vitara four wheel drive provided by the Queensland distributor, Suzuki Auto Co. will drive away in the premier compact SUV on the Australian market.
Powered by a 2.4 litre engine with variable valve timing and safety features including an electronic stability program, the Suzuki Grand Vitara has a drive away price of $29,613. The Signature 540F prize boat has been designed specifically to cater for fishing applications with a live bait tank, four rod holders, a twin battery box, side boxes in the cockpit, deluxe deck hardware, a split bow rail, stainless steel side rails, bilge pump and hose, a 27 Meg marine radio and an underfloor fuel tank. The prize Signature boat package has a value of $49,292. SIGNATURE 540 F:
ALEX CAMPBELL
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