A beautiful South East Queensland winter morning greeted anglers as they set off to fish Round 1 Bream Southern Qualifier of the Austackle King of Moreton Bay Team Series event.

Bream were the target species for the day with points awarded according to length (25cm min), measured to the fork of the fish and not the tail. This rule created quite a hurdle for all teams; fish were plentiful but most only between 22-24cm. Nevertheless, all teams managed to get some legal fish on the ruler and avoided the dreaded doughnut.

With a morning run-in tide, most teams headed out to popular spots near the Jumpinpin Bar but found conditions difficult due to a much higher than forecast wind. A lot of the higher scoring teams found sheltered spots in places like the Coomera River, which prove to be the winning strategy.

After 10 hours of fishing, teams went back to the Pimpama Church hall to hand in their scoresheets and photographs and get stuck into the hot food supplied by the ladies from Sundowners Fishing Club. After two separate steward’s enquiries relating to photographic evidence, the winners were announced and over $4000 of prizes handed out courtesy of Austackle and Suzuki Marine.

The Northern anglers also set out in beautiful conditions only to be faced with a strong wind later in the morning. Early morning catches were good, with rates only slowing down with the start of the run-out tide and deteriorating weather conditions. Like their Southern counterparts, the higher scoring teams found sheltered spots in amongst the Bay islands and the Brisbane River.

After 10 hours of fishing, Teams went back to the Redlands Multi Sports Club at Birkdale to hand in their scoresheets and photographs, and the hot food.

A slight delay occurred during the processing due to two teams being very close together in points; all photos and scoresheets were checked and double checked. In the end just one fish separated the teams. After what must have seemed like an eternity for them, the winners were announced and over $4000 of prizes handed out courtesy of Austackle and Suzuki Marine.

Although this is a Team Series culminating in a Grand Final, teams are allowed to fish in just one or two events. There is no requirement to fish in all of the rounds. For more information about this great new competition and to download entry forms, please go to: www.kingofmoretonbay.com.au. Entry Forms are also available at tackle shops in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

The Committee has received feedback (the vast majority of which was very positive) over the past couple of weeks from Round 1 competitors and also from anglers who did not to compete for various reasons. As a result of this feedback, the Committee has decided to make some changes for the remaining flathead and whiting rounds as follows:

• The next two Northern and Southern qualifying rounds will be amalgamated into one flathead round and one whiting round.

• The flathead round will be fished on Sunday 25 September from 6am to 3pm.

• The Whiting round will be fished on Sunday 23 October from 6am to 3pm.

• Check in and official briefing will be from 5.30pm to 7pm on the Saturday Night prior.

• This competition was originally a catch and release only tournament. This restriction has now been removed. In its place, a statement will be inserted into the Tournament Booklet as follows:

“This Tournament aims to promote the concept of ‘Catch and Release’ fishing. Please limit your take home catch and release the rest of the fish carefully back into the water.”

• Headquarters for all remaining rounds, including the Grand Final, will now be the Redlands Multi Sports Complex, Cnr Bailey and Randall Road, Birkdale. We apologise for any inconvenience but this decision has been made in the best interests of all competitors.

We look forward to seeing all existing competitors again and also to welcome many new ones, on 25 September for the flathead round of this great new event. – Mike Cole