The Tilligerry Peninsula’s waterways will be filled with keen fishermen and women next weekend when the Bob Royal Memorial Fishing Competition is staged for the fifth year.
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Run by the Lions Club of Tilligerry Peninsula, the fishing competition, founded and now held in memory of the late Lion and avid whiting fisherman Bob Royal, is aimed at getting families outside and exploring the Tilligerry’s waterways.
“The focus is on families and kids,” Lions club member Kevin Colman said. “Everyone, whether they’re locals or here on holidays, is most welcome to participate.
“The aim of the fishing competition is to have families together outside enjoying our beautiful waterways. It is a popular event each year.”
The competition will be held on Saturday, January 12 and Sunday, January 13.
Registration will take place at Henderson Park in Lemon Tree Passage from 8am to 9.30am each day.
The cost to register is $5 per junior (aged 15 and under), $10 per adult (16 and above) and $20 for families.
Participants can enter in one of three categories: under-15 boys, under-15 girls and adults.
There will be prizes for heaviest fish (whiting for juniors, flathead for adults) as well as mystery prizes.
“Local businesses have once again been really generous with prizes and sponsorship,” Colman said.
Weigh in will be held at Tilligerry RSL Sports Club on the Sunday at 3pm, with a free sausage sizzle on offer for all participants.
Fishing is restricted to the waters surrounding Tilligerry Peninsula from Salt Ash to Oyster Cove and Lemon Tree Passage.
Fishing can be done from boat or land.
All money raised from the competition will for a second year be donated to four junior sports clubs on the Tilligerry Peninsula.
The beneficiaries include Tilligerry Little Athletics Club, Mallabula Panthers Junior Rugby League Football Club, Tilligerry Football Club and Tilligerry Stingrays Swim Club.
Last year, $4000 was raised through the fishing competition which was donated to the junior sports clubs.
“We gave $1000 to each junior club,” Colman said. “We hope to do the same again this year.”
The idea of a fishing competition was first floated to the Tilligerry Lions Club in 2014 by Royal.
The aim of it was two-fold: get residents and visitors to the area, from the young to the old, out on the water with a rod and raise money to support the community and projects on the Tilligerry Peninsula.
The first competition was held in January 2015. Seven months later, in August, Royal died of a heart attack while playing golf.
The competition was rebadged in 2016 in honour of Royal, and has been run as the Bob Royal Memorial Fishing Competition since.
Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
