The 2013 North Coast Fishing Bonanza presented by Gamakatsu and Evinrude was held September 25th through to the 29th. The new format involving 4 days of fishing was a hit with over 250 competitors chasing a wide variety of inshore and offshore species. The weather was sublime allowing anglers plenty of time to chase that winning fish with some quality fish caught and photographed. At the show site on the banks of the Richmond River, daily talks attracted plenty of interest with some enthusiastic youngsters getting involved in the soft plastics demonstrations.
Over the four fishing days, some notable captures included a 93.5cm flathead to Mitch Bailey, a 54.5cm bass to Aiden Kane and a 124.3cm kingfish to Boyd Buschman who bumped off good mate Andrew Mclennan from first place. They were both fishing from Andrew’s boat, so we will see if Boyd gets an invitation back out with Andrew next time around.
In the cadet category a 75.6cm flathead took out first place for Clare Joblin and Rhys Riches managed the biggest whiting with a whopping 42.8cm model. In fact all the winning whiting were over 42.0cm across all categories which goes to show the health of the system this year.
Despite all the fish prizes, the cadet and adults boats plus the other lucky draw prizes were the reason most people entered and Lachlan Johnson will be glad he was upgraded from a junior to a cadet as he won the boat and motor package courtesy of Gamakatsu, TABs boats, Evinrude and Lowrance. He fished most of the comp on the wharf adjacent to the show area but we know where he’ll be next year. It’s always great to see a young local win such a massive prize and he was ‘stoked’ as they say and will no doubt have many new friends.
The adult boat went to Michael Muldoon, who only wet a line once to catch small bait fish and ended up dropping his I-Pad into the Livebait tank, but still managed the major lucky door prize. There were also a host of winners of everything from Samurai rods to Pen adult combos and Shimano Kids estuary packs, Mako sunglasses, Engel fridges and Eskies courtesy of Boat Box and even Sony Cameras.
Once again the event was a massive hit with organisers looking to add more categories, perhaps have a fun dress up day and go bigger next year. Make sure you put the dates in your diary. You don’t even need to fish but could still walk away with a host of prizes.
Main Random Prizes
Congratulations to Michael Muldoon of Lismore who is taking home a fantastic Tabs / Etec boat package worth over $25,000. The Cadets $10,000 Tabs / Etec boat package went to a very happy chap Lachlan Johnson of Lennox Head. Other prizes included the fantastic Hobie Mirage Outback.

Winner, Michael Muldoon, of the Adult Prize boat and the NCFB officials

Winner, Lachlan Johnson, of the Cadet Prize boat and the NCFB officials

Winner of the Hobie and the NCFB officials
On top of these there were heaps of draws just on the last day which contained items from Engel, Mako Eyewear, Samurai Reaction and The Ice Box Bloke. Everyone went home happy and has a good time with the event a success.
Champion Anglers / Team
Champion Angler this year was heavily competed with very close results.
| Name | From |
Champion Team |
Need a Bigger Boat (Grahams) |
Brunswick Heads |
Champion Male |
Brett Lane |
Ballina |
Champion Female |
Joan Graham |
Brunswick Heads |
Champion Cadet / Junior |
Rhys Richies |
Lennox Head |
Overall Results:
Species | Snapper | King/Cobia | Pearl Perch | Tailor |
Adult Winner |
Wayne Hutchins - 89.5cm |
Boyd Buschman - 124.3cm |
Andrew Witchard - 57.1cm |
Peter Watts - 77.1cm |
Adult 2nd |
Neil Carriage - 89.0cm |
Andrew McLennan - 120.5cm |
Brett Lane - 55.2cm |
Henry Phillips - 76.4cm |
Adult 3rd |
Greg Barnes - 82.0cm |
Scott Jenkins - 104.0cm |
Simon Witchard - 54.6cm |
Lee Miller - 63.0cm |
Species |
Mulloway |
AJ/Sambo |
Bass |
|
Adult Winner |
Andrew Homan - 107.2cm |
Brett Lane - 87.5cm |
Aiden Kane - 54.5cm |
|
Adult 2nd |
Bill Steel - 92.1cm |
Andrew Witchard - 85.6cm |
Allan Joblin - 49.0cm |
|
Adult 3rd |
John Lollback - 90.5cm |
Simon Witchard - 85.0cm |
Nathan Corby - 47.5cm |
|
Species |
Whiting |
Bream |
Flathead |
Most Mem |
Adult Winner |
Karl De Groot - 44.2cm |
Karl De Groot - 40.9cm |
Mitchell Bailey - 93.4cm |
Aiden Kane 42.0cm EP |
Adult 2nd |
Robbie Graham - 43.2cm |
Robert Walkington - 39.7cm |
John Lollback - 85.5cm |
None |
Adult 3rd |
Jacob McCalman - 42.2cm |
Phillip Merrick - 37.5cm |
Colin Bridge - 76.0cm |
None |
Species |
Whiting |
Bream |
Flathead |
Most Mem |
Cadet Winner |
Rhys Riches - 42.8cm |
Rhys Riches - 41.9cm |
Clare Joblin - 75.6cm |
Bernard Richter- 74.8cm Jew |
Cadet Winner Live |
Alex Graham - 41.5cm |
Tasman De Groot - 35.4cm |
Rhys Riches - 45.2cm |
|
Junior Winner |
Hayden Menzies - 43.5cm |
Scott Axisa - 36.2cm |
Blake Kernaghan - 60.1cm |
|
Junior Winner Live |
Jack Blackman - 32.4cm |
Connor Simpson - 33.6cm |
Francis Rupnik - 45.4cm |
|
Day 1 Thursdays Results:
Species | Snapper | King/Cobia | Pearl Perch | Tailor |
Adult Winner |
Vincent Lo Coco - 41.3cm |
Andrew McLennan - 120.5cm |
None |
Henry Phillips - 76.4cm |
Species |
Mulloway |
AJ/Sambo |
Bass |
|
Adult Winner |
John Lollback - 90.5cm |
None |
Aiden Kane - 55cm |
|
Species |
Whiting |
Bream |
Flathead |
Most Mem |
Adult Winner |
Karl De Groot - 44.2cm |
Gildo Pagotto - 36cm |
Colin Bridge - 76cm |
Hans Jenson - 41cm EP |
Species |
Whiting |
Bream |
Flathead |
Most Mem |
Cadet Winner |
Dillon Graham - 40cm |
Tasman Degroot - 39cm |
Bernard Richter - 65.9cm |
Brody Walters - 50cm Jew |
Junior Winner |
Ryan Kernaghan - 27.4cm |
Jordan Walsh - 29.5cm |
Ryan Kernaghan - 57cm |
Blake Kernaghan - Oyster Lease |
Day 2 Fridays Results:
Species | Snapper | King/Cobia | Pearl Perch | Tailor |
Adult Winner |
Simon Witchard - 55.0cm |
None |
None |
Neil Carriage - 35.8cm |
Species |
Mulloway |
AJ/Sambo |
Bass |
|
Adult Winner |
Simon Witchard - 77.5cm |
None |
Gildo Pagotto - 44.8cm |
|
Species |
Whiting |
Bream |
Flathead |
Most Mem |
Adult Winner |
Jacon McCalman - 42.2cm |
Ben Frost - 36.0cm |
John Lollback - 85.5cm |
|
Species |
Whiting |
Bream |
Flathead |
Most Mem |
Cadet Winner |
Dillon Graham - 41.0cm |
Rhys Riches - 41.9cm |
Clare Joblin - 75.6cm |
|
Junior Winner |
Hayden Menzies - 43.5cm |
Mackenzie Soutar - 33.0cm |
Blake Kernaghan - 60.1cm |
|
Day 3 Saturdays Results:
Species | Snapper | King/Cobia | Pearl Perch | Tailor |
Adult Winner |
Wayne Hutchins - 89.5cm |
Scott Jenkins - 104.0cm |
Brett Lane - 55.2cm |
Henry Phillips - 68.8cm |
Species |
Mulloway |
AJ/Sambo |
Bass |
|
Adult Winner |
Andrew Homan - 107.2cm |
Brett Lane - 87.5cm |
Aaron Swanson- 44.4cm |
|
Species |
Whiting |
Bream |
Flathead |
Most Mem |
Adult Winner |
Jean Graham - 40.0cm |
Karl De Groot - 40.9 |
Mitchell Bailey - 93.4cm |
|
Species |
Whiting |
Bream |
Flathead |
Most Mem |
Cadet Winner |
Rhys Riches - 42.8cm |
Bernard Richter - 35.6cm |
Sam Osborne - 54.0cm |
|
Cadet Winner Live |
Dillon Graham - 41.5cm |
Tasman De Groot - 35.4cm |
None |
|
Junior Winner |
Fox Moss - 29.5cm |
Mackenzie Souter - 35.6cm |
Noah McMaster - 48.6cm |
|
Junior Winner Live |
None |
Connor Simpson - 33.6cm |
Lachlan Johnson - 42.0cm |
|
Day 4 Sunday Daily Results:
Species | Snapper | King/Cobia | Pearl Perch | Tailor |
Adult Winner |
Neil Carriage - 89.0cm |
Boyd Buschman - 124.3cm |
Andrew Witchard - 57.1cm |
Peter Watts - 77.1cm |
Species |
Mulloway |
AJ/Sambo |
Bass |
|
Adult Winner |
Bill Steel - 92.1cm |
Simon Witchard - 85.0cm |
Allan Joblin - 49.0cm |
|
Species |
Whiting |
Bream |
Flathead |
Most Mem |
Adult Winner |
Robbie Graham - 43.2cm |
Luke Tinson - 37.2cm |
Tom Laurence - 56.9cm |
|
Species |
Whiting |
Bream |
Flathead |
Most Mem |
Cadet Winner |
Jasper Graham - 40.0cm |
Tasman De Groot - 35.7cm |
Harry Fettel - 48.5cm |
|
Cadet Winner Live |
Alex Graham - 38.6cm |
James Joblin - 31.5cm |
Rhys Riches - 45.2cm |
|
Junior Winner |
Ryder Moss - 28.5cm |
Scott Axisa - 36.2cm |
Scott Axisa - 48.4cm |
|
Junior Winner Live |
Jack Blackman - 32.4cm |
Lachlan Johnson - 32.5cm |
Francis Rupnik - 45.4 |
|
Team Scores (Top 10):
TEAM | GRAND TOTAL |
Need A Bigger Boat |
140 |
Boonsa |
105 |
Rhys Riches |
101 |
Schoolie Slayers |
94 |
Psycho Soft Plastic |
83 |
Mach1 |
63 |
Joblin |
57 |
Getting Jiggy |
53 |
Skeeter |
44 |
Fire Stop |
38 |
Adult Scores (Top 10):
Entrant ID | Entrant Name | Entry Type | Thu. Score | Fri. Score | Sat. Score | Sun. Score | GRAND TOTAL |
1246 |
Brett Lane |
Adult |
|
|
27 |
31 |
58 |
1007 |
Simon witchard |
Adult |
|
22 |
8 |
20 |
50 |
1080 |
Neil Carriage |
Adult |
2 |
15 |
8 |
24 |
49 |
1006 |
andrew witchard |
Adult |
|
|
7 |
42 |
49 |
1047 |
Aidan kane |
Adult |
16 |
1 |
8 |
23 |
47 |
1104 |
Karl degroot |
Adult |
11 |
|
14 |
20 |
46 |
1307 |
Andrew Homann |
Adult |
|
|
17 |
21 |
38 |
1099 |
John Lollback |
Adult |
12 |
11 |
|
10 |
33 |
1079 |
Scott Carriage |
Adult |
4 |
4 |
21 |
4 |
33 |
1025 |
Boyd Buschmann |
Adult |
|
|
|
32 |
32 |
Cadet Scores (Top 10):
Entrant ID | Entrant Name | Entry Type | Thu. Score | Fri. Score | Sat. Score | Sun. Score | GRAND TOTAL |
1046 |
Rhys Riches |
Cadet |
|
17 |
12 |
72 |
101 |
1190 |
Dillon Graham |
Cadet |
15 |
13 |
12 |
21 |
61 |
1105 |
Tasman deGroot |
Cadet |
12 |
4 |
12 |
31 |
59 |
1273 |
Lachlan Johnson |
Junior |
|
|
11 |
30 |
41 |
1289 |
scott axisa |
Junior |
|
|
|
40 |
40 |
1098 |
Blake Kernaghan |
Junior |
|
12 |
4 |
21 |
37 |
1016 |
clare joblin |
Cadet |
2 |
11 |
3 |
20 |
36 |
1266 |
Connor Simpson |
Junior |
|
1 |
12 |
20 |
33 |
1301 |
Hayden Menzies |
Junior |
|
11 |
|
20 |
31 |
1331 |
Jack Blackhan |
Junior |
|
|
|
30 |
30 |
Note: Overall bonus points are allocated to Sundays score.