Last year’s Weipa Fishing Classic saw a modern twist amid the pandemic, with the event streamed live with viewers as far away as Singapore tuning in. Due to Covid, the all-time schedule of the Weipa Fishing Classic happening over the June long weekend saw a massive pushback in the timeframe to November 2020.
With the delayed schedule in 2020, the 2021 Weipa Fishing Classic has also been pushed back from the usual June happenings to Father’s Day weekend in September, which has now been officially declared a long weekend. 2021 marks the 16 year anniversary of the Weipa Fishing Classic, with competitions and prizes coming in strong giving participants a chance to win big, attractive prizes including a brand new boat.
The Weipa Fishing Classic is Capel York’s biggest highlight when it comes to fishing competitions. It’s a full, fun family event that goes far beyond the fishing – although the fishing certainly is good. With a record prize pool over $150,000, the engagement is exciting with anglers coming from all over the country – and world – to show off their skills and bag a prize home.
Win a prize
As mentioned, there are plenty of great prizes up for grabs – and the best part is, everyone including those not fishing can win them. With values as high as thousands of dollars, previous years have seen prizes like quad bikes, precious jewellery, velocity boats, and so much more.
To stand a chance, you simply have to pay the nomination fee to enter the draw. Participants will already be included in the draw as they are required to pay nomination to fish.
With past years’ tickets selling like hotcakes, you definitely won’t want to miss out on the fun for being slow in taking action. This year’s prize pool is set to be $150,000, promising a thrilling event for every winner.
Family fun activities
When it comes to fun for all ages, the Weipa Fishing Classic is the game setter for fishing competitions that incorporate a strong sense of family and community.
With a full family adventure waiting for you, the Weipa Fishing Classic comprises family fun activities including bouncy castles, shooting galleries, fish casting competitions, stilts and balloons, show bags, dance groups, exhibits, community displays, mascots, fishing simulators, and a game of tug of war to wrap things up nicely.
To add on to the many activities, don’t forget to bring some cash on you, as there are plenty of food and market stalls to browse and indulge in local creations. Some popular exhibition stalls include a trinity Kawasaki, Cairns Honda, Pacific Toyota, ARB 4×4 Accessories, and more. There’s a licensed bar for those who want to knock back a few cold ones, with an awesome range of foods including classic fish and chips, seafood baskets, sausage sizzles, Asian food and gourmet sandwiches.
All the while there’s live music entertainment happening on stage throughout the day. Talk about a wholesome experience!
The Weipa Fishing Classic
Although the 2021 Fishing Classic rules have yet to be published, the general theme of previous years tends to stand true year-on-year.
The Weipa Fishing Classic categories include Open, Women’s and Junior’s, with the rule that fish have to be caught on a rod or hand line and reeled in the waters of Albatross Bay and Port Musgrave.
Starting this Friday 3 September 2021, the event is set to run over a course of 3 days.
The Open category has 11 eligible species including barramundi, coral trout, mackerel, jew fish, trevally, grunter, king fish and queenfish, as well as reef fish such as nannygai and red emperor. The Juniors category has 6 eligible species including barramundi, king salmon, blue salmon, bream, grunter and queenfish.
There is a minimum size for all species to qualify, which includes measuring and weighing.
Don’t miss out on a true Weipa experience
The 2021 Weipa Fishing Classic is hands down one of the pinnacle events of the town, which stands to say that you shouldn’t miss it.
From the food to the local crowd and vibe, it is an experience that will leave your hearts filled with belonging and heartwarming satisfaction.
And since you’re in Weipa, there’s nothing more complete than finishing a magnificent Weipa Fishing Classic with a dining experience at the Albatross Bay Resort. Featuring fresh seafood that has been the talk of the past 3 days, it’s time to let yourself indulge in some of the best cooked fish such as a beautiful prawn linguine with garlic, chilli, fresh herbs and olive oil, some locally caught barramundi baked with nori salt, or some spiced locally caught Spanish mackerel served with a caramelised pineapple and salad.
The Albatross Bay Resort partnered with the Weipa Fishing Classic last year to stream live feeds of the event. This year will be no different, with highlights shown throughout, ensuring you won’t miss a thing.
Not to mention, the fresh beer on tap certainly does add icing to the cake, especially when you’ve been out in the hot sun all day.
Don’t miss out and make a booking by calling (07) 4090 6666.
