Bryce's SCF Research Fishing Competition debrief

I had been waiting for the SCF Research Fishing Competition ever since I left the electrifying 2022 presentation. In the weeks leading up to the event, I strategised my plan, factoring in the tides and moon phases. Just a week before the competition, we encountered a last-minute hiccup when we had to replace the wheel bearings on our trailer and order a crucial part from Sydney. Unfortunately, the part didn't make it in time, leaving our boat stranded on jacks. Our carefully crafted game plan suddenly went out the window.

Thankfully, Joel came to our rescue with his 5.2-meter banana boat. After the briefing, Oska and I embarked on a late-night mission to collect bait, commencing our fishing expedition at the stroke of midnight. We caught some species, including Jew, Bream, Stingray, and other unnecessary species, that didn't count in the competition. Exhausted, we returned home at 4:15 am, caught a brief 30-minute nap, and then set out to sea in the banana boat at 5 am. Unfortunately, just five miles out, our bilge pump malfunctioned, forcing us to limp back to the river.

Given the rough conditions, we decided to abandon offshore plans for the day and focuse on fixing the bilge pump before tackling the rivers. Once the bilge was repaired, we hopped into the tinny and embarked on a successful quest to catch some river species , we managed to get Cod, Flathead, Mangrove Jack, Whiting, Trevally, and a few other non-competition species. Satisfied with our river haul, we returned home, reserving our energy for an all-out effort the next morning.

Day two brought even worse weather, with a relentless 25-knot southerly wind. Despite the challenging conditions, we managed to tick off five bags and 11 different species within five miles of the mouth.

Despite slow fishing and unforgiving weather, the comp was sick with heaps of awesome fun people and electrical vibes at the briefing and presentaition. I'm already counting down the days until next year's event!