None of us were terribly familiar with the Shoalhaven River and, despite finding the river teeming with baitfish, we struggled to locate any decent fish. So we returned to the boat ramp with only John’s 40 cm Flathead for our efforts. Time for dinner and an adult beverage (or two)!

 

The next morning, we made our way to our happy hunting grounds at St Georges Basin, with John and I launching at the Basin View boat ramp and the others from Sanctuary Point.

After an inconclusive session of targeting Bream on surface lures, we switched to soft plastics and targeted Flathead in 4 6 metres of water. It seemed everyone was bagging Flathead (except me) before the wind picked up around 11 am.

Once the wind reached 15 knots, it started getting uncomfortable for John and I in his small tinnie and for Zane and Fung in their kayaks.

The fish went off the bite and we were about to call it a day when we noticed a sheltered patch of water running parallel to Basin View Drive.

This was a productive drift and I finally landed my first Flathead for the weekend. Despite it measuring a whopping 40 cm, it didn't quite make the minimum 30 ANSA Points at the weigh-in tent.

The anglers from the other ANSA Clubs were fared better at the weigh-in tent. In particular, junior angler Riley Preston from Nowra Sportsfishing Club had just weighed in a 65 kg Marlin. Riley's efforts also landed him the Trophies for Highest Point Scoring Junior Angler and Most Meritorious Capture.

On the final day of the Convention, we fished the Shoalhaven River again, only this time, we found fish. John and I landed a few Flathead in the 37-39 cm range while Zane and Fung fished the pier on the Crookhaven River for Flathead and Flounder. Unfortunately, none of our fish put the Canberra Fisherman's Club in contention for the Champion Club. That honour went to the Happy Hooker

Congratulations to the Happy Hookers Sportsfishing Club, who won the Convention with 29 ANSA points, just beating Botany Bay Sportsfishing Club who scored 26 ANSA points. It was an impressive win by Happy Hookers on a David and Goliath scale. They fished the Convention with three anglers while Botany Bay fielded a team of 20 anglers.

Thank you to – B Tackle at Culburra Beach, Super Schneider Fishing Lines, J B Lures, Compleat Angler and Camping World, Kel Campbell Pty Ltd, ANSA NSW and Fishing World Magazine for supporting the ANSA Nowra Convention.

Finally, well done to Ron and Faye Hanson and the Nowra Sportsfishing Club for hosting a fantastic convention. We hope to see you all again next year.