Strong results in challenging weather
The Rhyll-Phillip Island Angling Club (RPIAC) hosted its fifth angling competition of the 2025/2026 season over the weekend of November 22 and 23, where anglers also competed for the prestigious Bill Wallis Memorial Trophy.
Saturday provided excellent weather for the start of the weekend, and the Rhyll boat ramp carpark reached capacity by 6am.
Conditions deteriorated significantly on Sunday, with 10mm of rain recorded by 9am, followed by increasing winds and gusts reaching 50 km/h by the close of weigh-in at 5pm.
Despite the challenging conditions, anglers weighed in a total of 64 fish, along with six sharks and two calamari.
Results
In the Squidgies Mixed Bag Points competition, Harley Griffin achieved first place with five fish worth 90 points, while Jude Brown finished second with three fish worth 55 points.
The Junior Weight and Junior Points competitions were both won by Gus Fahnle, who weighed in a 1675-gram snapper and a King George whiting worth 1484 points (530 grams), respectively.
In the senior divisions, Carrianne Peatey won the Senior Female Points competition with a trevally worth 1358 points (970 grams), while Mark Griffin topped the Senior Male Points competition with a stranger/grass whiting worth 1560 points (390 grams).
The Senior Female Heaviest Weight competition was won by Lauren Wright with a snapper weighing 4280 grams, and the Senior Male Heaviest Weight prize went to Tony Luongo for a snapper weighing 6215 grams.
The Shark competition was won by Clem Mifsud with an impressive seven-gill shark weighing 26,300 grams, while the Squid/Cuttlefish Competition was taken out by Mark Griffin with a Southern calamari weighing 1300 grams.
The Secret Weight Prize went to Theo Kastoras, whose snapper weighed 5745 grams, closest to the secret weight of 5432 grams.
The Gamefish competition was uncontested.
This competition also marked the conclusion of the $500 Heaviest Snapper competition, and the prize was awarded to Mark Griffin, whose 6830-gram snapper caught earlier in the season remained unbeaten at the final weigh-in.
A major highlight of the weekend was the awarding of the Bill Wallis Memorial Trophy, which was won by Chris Leonardos with a total of 7175 Bill Wallis Units.
Chris achieved this excellent result through the combination of a King George whiting worth 1190 points (425 grams) and a snapper weighing 5985 grams, securing the highest aggregate score for up to two eligible species.
His name will now be engraved onto the historic trophy for a third time.
Club incentives
Anglers and supporters also enjoyed the outstanding efforts of Jill, Matt, Lea and Di, who helped in the club room and ensured everyone enjoyed the post-presentation chicken dinner.
None of the RPIAC Extraordinary Catch Incentives were claimed this weekend, leaving all $1000 first-to-catch competition weekend prizes still available for senior member competitors.
The incentives up for grabs are for eligible species that equal or exceed the nominated weight and include King George whiting (1000 grams), snapper (10kg), Gummy shark (20kg), mulloway (25kg), and kingfish (25kg).
RPIAC continues to offer complimentary membership to junior anglers aged 16 and under, encouraging participation in responsible and sustainable fishing.
The clubrooms are open on Friday nights from 5pm and on competition weekends from 4pm and with the Official Rhyll-Phillip Island Angling Club Facebook page now boasting over 1000 followers, the club’s community presence and engagement continue to grow stronger each season.
The next RPIAC fishing competition weekend will be held on December 6 and 7.For more information visit www.rpiac.com.
