The Cairns Hardware Cardwell Barra Bonanza is done and dusted for 2014, boasting an astonishing 153 competitors and some fantastic catches.

In typical North Queensland weather, the sun shone with a beautiful breeze and kept everyone cool and the mosquitoes at bay.

With some great salmon, mangrove jack and grunter brought in, anglers were very proud to show off their catches at the weigh-in and have a well-earned cold drink.

Although the barra were a little off the bite, were still a total of 65 caught and released, to live and tell the tale.

Saturday night was a fantastic pig on the spit with all the trimmings, followed by our presentation with congratulations to all our winners.

Townsville anglers dominated the comp with ‘Team Barralundi’ consisting of Nathan Mathieson, Morgan Macory and Daniel Mathieson, claiming the Champion Team award.

Rebecca Price claimed the prize for the Champion Female angler, while Champion Male award went to Nathan Mathieson with Billie Price taking out Champion Junior.

Tully's Wade Jodvalkus took out the major prize, for the longest barramundi of the tournament, with a 71cm beauty.

Flying the flag for Cardwell Sportfishing Club were the Junior Champions of the event, ‘The Little Nippers’, consisting of Brianna-Dee Ash, Phoebe Jamieson and Brett Jacobs.

Local Baden Candow caught the biggest salmon, at 2.1kg, the biggest Javelin award went to Edmonton angler Grant Berrill with 2.43kg fish and the biggest mangrove jack, at 1.5kg, was caught by Adam Royle from Allingham. Congratulations to all!

It was then time to let your hair down and party to the sounds of Townsville-based band Say What, who kept everyone dancing the night away.

We would like to thank all our competitors who came from far and wide as well as the many volunteers who put in a lot of hours and effort into planning and organising the event.

To our Sponsors, Cairns Hardware, BCF Townsville, Tully Tackle World, CUB, Freddys Outdoor and Sports Townsville, Daiwa, Surecast Castnets, Cardwell Traders True Value Hardware, Reelax and many more, a huge thank you as you made this event possible.

We look forward to seeing you all in 2015 for another fantastic event, so watch this space for the dates.

Until then, tight lines! - Cardwell Sportfishing Club