Bush 'n Beach Fishing Magazine Location reports & tips for fishing, boating, camping, kayaking, 4WDing in Queensland and Northern NSW
THE numbers have been tallied from this year’s Pirtek Fishing Challenge and over 7300 anglers spent Sunday, March 20 on the water, vying for over $175,000 in cash and prizes.
The major prize, a $25,000 Stacer Outlaw boat with Evinrude E-TEC outboard motor and trailer was won by David Lindsay from Albion Park in NSW.
The event raises funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and Peter Duncan Neurosciences Research Unit at St Vincent’s Hospital. While the total raised in 2016 was still being calculated, heading into this year’s event, in excess of $700,000 had been raised for charity since the competition began.
Pirtek Fishing Challenge event director and host of Reel Action Michael Guest expressed his gratitude to the fishing community around Australia.
“The Pirtek Fishing Challenge has been cemented as one of the great social fishing days on the Australian calendar,” he said.
“There’s nothing greater than getting out on my Stacer boat on Pirtek Fishing Challenge day on Lake Macquarie.
“The lines are wet and the barbecues are sizzling from the shore.
“Everyone around the country has commented to us on how prominent the merchandise is and in some hot spots, they tell me there’s a bit of a contest to see who is wearing the oldest shirt and has been competing in the Pirtek Fishing Challenge for the longest.
“All in all, it makes for a great day, fishing sustainably and for a good cause.”
The challenge for Guest and his small team is to make it easier, more accessible and more fun to attract additional entries.
“This year, we introduced the Pirtek Fishing Challenge app, which allowed competitors to submit their photos from their phone direct to the website,” Michael said.
“It was a huge success and I can only see that growing in years to come.
“We also brought in some new regions, which gave us a chance to give out more prizes and allowed entrants to be more selective in where they chose to enter the competition.
“Those initiatives were well received by the entrants in this year’s Fishing Challenge and as always it is great to see such diversity between men, women and children entering the contest.”
A number of corporate partners provide funds or prizes to ensure the Pirtek Fishing Challenge grows year on year. None more so than major sponsor Pirtek Fluid Systems.
Pirtek has been supporting the Fishing Challenge since it was first launched by Michael nearly 10 years ago. The Pirtek Fishing Challenge is the Sydney-founded global hydraulic and industrial hose supplier’s biggest community event each year in Australia.
“Pirtek continues to be instrumental in the success of the Pirtek Fishing Challenge,” Michael said.
“They have supported the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia through franchise and corporate level activities and we were so pleased last year to add the Peter Duncan Neurosciences Unit to our charity partnership roster.
“The unit was dedicated to the founder of Pirtek, Peter Duncan, and Prof Bruce Brew and his team do so much amazing work into the research surrounding degenerative diseases.”
The good news for anglers is the Pirtek Fishing Challenge is back for 2017.
“We’re definitely back and those who enter year on year can get their pre-registration in already at www.pirtekfishingchallenge.com.au,” Michael said.
For further results from and information about the Challenge, visit the event website.
