Don’t miss Australia’s biggest family fishing classic at Bowen’s Front Beach along Santa Barbara Parade.

Join in the fishing and the fun in paradise with the famous Bowen Family Fishing Classic and Wet Weekend – to be held this year on 18-19 September.

The Fishing Classic is not just fishing and the whole family will enjoy the top class free entertainment that’s programmed over the entire weekend. Also as part of the line up for the very first time, the Bowen Family Fishing Classic and Wet Weekend presents: the Classic Tribute Show.

Enjoy the incredible talents of Dean Vegas, voted the world’s No.1 Elvis tribute show; ABBALIVE; Ladies and Mercedes, featuring Luella Widt performing the top hits from Janis Joplin and Tina Turner; and the Barbary Coasters Parrothead Party Show featuring the music of Jimmy Buffet.

Even the children will be entertained with the professional magic talents of Dave Lord the Magician, who will be performing on site all weekend.

Over the weekend there will be two weigh-ins. The fish donated to the weigh-in team filleted, packaged, and delivered to Meals on Wheels, with anglers knowing this wonderful organization benefits year after year. Proceeds from the classic assist local and regional charities, with a significant donation each year allocated for fish restocking in our region’s waterways.

There will be heaps of rides for the young at heart, as well as games, displays, entertainment, food and the very popular beachfront bars. Try a helicopter ride for a birds eye view; enjoy the beach cricket; bush and beach craft; the beach volleyball competition; brekkie on the beach with the stars; fireworks, a pie eating contest; sandcastle competition; kids crab races; casting competition; and of course, the tens of thousands of dollars of prizes and giveaways.

The Senior Prize boat package is an Ally Craft 4.85 Crew Mate, powered by the Honda 60hp engine and fitted out in style with a Humminbird 728 Fishing System and a top class canopy. Set up on a Sea-Link (Special) Trailer, the total package is worth $31,000.

The Junior Prize boat package is an Ally Craft 3.55m Arrow Car Topper, fitted with a Honda 2hp engine, worth $4500. Both boating packages are lucky nomination draws and simply by purchasing a Senior Fishing Classic nomination ticket for $25 or a Junior ticket for $12, you are in with a chance. You never know – have a go!

The event has 16 categories for fishing, including crabs, with a heaviest fish prize as well as a secret weight for all senior and junior anglers.

The ladies are catered for with a top prize for the heaviest fish weighed in by a female angler.

This year our lucky weigh-in prize is a TCL 106cm 1080p Full HD LCD TV worth $1599. Also, don’t forget to dress as a Parrothead on the Sunday for a chance to win seven nights accommodation for four adults at Montes Reef Resort plus $500 in spending money, which is a total value $2000.

Also up for grabs is the Great Grocery and Liquor Giveaway, valued at $1000. You must be there at the draw from 3pm Sunday to claim this prize and lucky nomination 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 attracts thousands of visitors to the local region each year, so make sure you mark your calendar, book your accommodation early, tell your friends and bring the family.

Come to beautiful Bowen’s beachfront paradise 18-19 September and take part in Australia’s Biggest Family Fishing Classic, at the top of the Whitsundays. – BFFCWW