In its 82nd year, the Merimbula Big Game and Lakes Angling Club’s gala weekend harks back to the humble beginnings of the club in 1936.
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To be held on the weekend of January 6-7, action once again centres on Spencer Park, concluding with the always-popular monster fresh fish auction on Sunday afternoon.
Organisers said the gala weekend is truly a heritage event for Merimbula, having taken a number of forms over the years. Some events have included rowing and raft races from town to Spencer Park as well as carnival sideshows, chocolate wheels, talent quests and even a billy cart race.
This year will feature a Talent Quest with a $200 cash prize for the best judged act. Entries are open to all and registration is from 12pm Sunday at the rotunda. First come best dressed!
Master of ceremonies will be Town Crier Alan Moyse. The Talent Quest will start at 12.30pm and be completed by 2pm. Bring your own music, the club has a PA system.
The gala weekend starts with the fishing competition on Saturday, January 6. Club members, locals and visitors are invited to fish both the ocean and estuary to provide fresh fish for the club's monster fresh fish auction. There will be 37 prizes across a number of categories to reward the anglers, thanks to the large number of businesses who donate and sponsor the event.
Briefing and entries for fishing will be held at the clubhouse in Spencer Park on Friday, January 5, from 6.30pm. Entry is essentially free with registration just $1 to cover the paperwork.
This year there is a bias to flathead which are very popular at the auction. In this regard McKays Oysters have sponsored a $500 Tackle World voucher for the heaviest bag of flathead – this cannot exceed 10 fish to meet DPI regulations. Seniors, ladies and juniors are all eligible for prizes for heaviest bags of flathead and mixed fish.
The fresh fish auction will be held at Spencer Park at 2.30pm on Sunday, January 7. This is a once a year opportunity for locals and visitors to bid for just caught fresh fish. The club donates all proceeds of the auction to charity.
Last year the proceeds of the fish auction allowed the club to donate $3200 to the Merimbula Rural Fire Brigade and this year the club hopes to significantly increase that amount.
The brigade pitches in on the day to run a great public barbecue which will open at 12pm. So don’t dawdle, come along early to Spencer Park for lunch, the coffee van, entertainment and to get a prime position for the monster fresh fish auction.
Keep your eyes peeled too for the ever popular “seafood in a wheelbarrow” which is also raffled. There will also have be fire engines on display to entertain the little ones and the not so little.
After the fish auction, and the huge kayak, paddle boards and wheelbarrow seafood raffle draws, club members will also host a cleaning and filleting station so you can get the perfect fillet for a small donation.
The club is looking for a huge roll up of anglers to support the monster fresh fish auction and looks forward to its 82nd gala.
Meanwhile, ocean flathead both sand and tiger are on the chew off Merimbula, Tura Beach and Tathra, try 22-24 fathoms.
Great luderick have been returned from Tura Headland. At the Tathra Wharf large kingfish are on the prowl and at the Merimbula Fishing Platform calamari squid are back and some large ones landed.
Snapper and morwong are in good form on our local reefs, try 20 fathoms. During the full moon now is the time to target gummy shark (flake).
Fish in the Merimbula Lake remain active. Dusky flathead, bream, trevally and whiting are available. Good tailor are prolific at Pambula Lake. The Bega River continues to fish well at Mogareeka and some magnificent whiting are reported.
The club house in Spencer Park will be open from 6.30pm on January 5. Visitors are very welcome. All inquiries to John McKay on 0427 639 585. Membership Application, Membership Renewal and everything you need to know about local fishing is on the Club’s Website www.mbglac.com.au.
Keep your rods bent!