It is on again! Australia’s biggest family fishing Classic is on again at the beautiful Bowen front beach along Santa Barbara Parade. Join in the fishing and the fun in paradise - the famous Bowen Family Fishing Classic and Wet Weekend is held on the 22/23 September.

The fishing Classic is not just fishing but something the whole family will enjoy. There will be huge top class FREE entertainment over the entire weekend including The Angels, The Beatnix – The Beatles Show, Col Elliott, The Pigs, The Slapdaddies, Jeff Wilson, Jon Griffin, The Mango Timmy 5 and the Bush Poets – Muz and Marco. Even the Children are entertained with their own professional variety shows, Ranger Tim (CH10 Totally Wild) and The Pooki-Doos Show - Waterwise.

The products of two fish weigh-ins over the weekend will be filleted, packaged and delivered to Meals-on-Wheels. Proceeds from the Classic will assist local and regional charities including a significant donation allocated for fish restocking in the region’s waterways.

We have heaps of rides for the young at heart, including for the first time the Mobile Rock Climbing Wall and Mobile Slot Car Racing - as well as games, displays, entertainment, food and of course the very popular beachfront bars. Try a helicopter ride - what a VIEW!

Enjoy the beachwear and bikini parade, novelty events, bush and beach craft, beach volleyball competition, bush poet’s breakfast, fireworks, children’s games, sandcastle competition and the $10,000 of prizes and giveaways.

Our main Senior Prize boat package and the Junior Prize boat package will be drawn from a lucky draw – you don’t even have to wet a line to win. Just purchase a Senior Fishing Classic ticket at $25 or a Junior ticket at $10 to have a chance to win. You never know – so have a go!

We have 16 fishing categories, including crabs, with a highest-weight and a secret-weight prize for all senior and junior anglers. The ladies are catered for with a top prize for the heaviest fish weighed in by a female and this year we have two lucky weigh-in prizes, including a special 2007 lucky weigh-in prize.

The tagged fish prize this year is a Honda CRF 250X 07 Motorcycle – valued at $11,290. We also have a special ‘Gold Beer for a Year’ draw but you must be there at the draw from 3pm Sunday to claim this prize. All lucky entrant tickets will be drawn throughout the afternoon until the prize is claimed. We have great trophies and prizes for the champion senior and junior angler over the weekend. The champion senior trophy is the Phil Winnen Perpetual Memorial Trophy.

Our Classic has grown into part of Bowen’s tradition. The locals have a strong sense of ownership with our Famous Fishing Classic, and encourage the thousands of visitors to our region for this event.

Make sure you mark your calendar, book your accommodation early and tell your friends and family. Come to beautiful Bowen’s beachfront paradise on 22/23 September and take part in Australia’s biggest family fishing Classic.

Bowen is situated at the top of the Whitsundays – only 45 minutes from Whitsunday Coast airport, or an easy 2hr drive from Townsville or Mackay.