by Stephen Dawanincura

After a full week of challenging game fishing action, the 45th National Game Fishing Titles drew to a close on Sunday with the traditional Billfish Shoot Out, the blue ribbon of the event – the day dedicated to capturing the heaviest ‘billy’.

The Skel Rice Billfish Shoot Out, sponsored by Goodman Fielder International, attracted 11-boats and fifty anglers who assembled off Kalibobo Point for the shot gun start and boat sprint.

On Saturday evening, the day prior to the event a calcutta was held to bid on boats and their anglers, drawing a huge incentive with ‘the winner takes all: purse closing out at K85, 000 when Lae Auctioneer, Michael Bierne dropped the hammer for the last time.

As the Blue-Ribbon event of all national titles, the pressure and excitement was on early, with team contending whether to hunt regular hotspots or to venture out into unexplored territory to land the biggest marlin or sailfish with a minimum weight of 100kg.

‘Cabolero’ with international Skipper, Damien Collette onboard kept true to form with his experience, and was among the first three teams to announce hook ups to the monitoring radio room under the control of Louise Franklin of Lae in the morning session.

The FleeTravker system installed by Lindsay Swanson of Global Technologies, ensured that all boats and teams were well monitored for the duration of the titles for safety reasons, while out at sea.

As reports flooded in ‘Manu Tai’ of Kimbe also threw their hat in to the ring with a solid capture, running wide off Bagabag Island.

Adriano Cragnolini’s Lucky Luciano and Marlen Brunskill aboard ‘Rage On were also hooking into the blue marlin as well.

By early afternoon, Collete and crew were homeward bound with three captured Marlin; confident, ready to weigh and stamp their claim to the prize purse.

Then at around 4.00pm, Luis Gomes, representing the New Britain Game Fishing Association landed a serious contender, a billfish of 108kg on 24kg line.

At 6.00pm, with no further threat, Portuguese born Gomes was unofficially declared the 2022 champion of the Billfish Shoot Out among all participating boats.

Later on, Weigh Master, Milen Stiliyenov confirmed the blue marlin at 108.80kg, handing the bragging right for this prestigious title to Luis Gomes and his team aboard Manu Tai.

Cabolero humbly accepted 2nd place just a solitary kilo behind the winner.

So the adrenaline rush and excitement of the 45th National Game Fishing Titles in Madang going right down to the wire on the final day of the event.

Here’s a full rundown of the top finishers in the heavy, medium, light, and ultra-light line classes (see attachment).