The Tuna Club of Tasmania competition season runs from Nov to June every year and caters for everyone from Exprerienced old sea dogs to Jnr's and small fry's
Events Calender 2013/2014
Saturday 16th November 2013: Family Fun Fish Day. (fishing 7:00am to 4:00pm)
Saturday 28th December 2013: SHGFC Shark Comp (TGFA Sanctioned Event)
Saturday 04th January 2014: GFCNT Early Bird Shark Comp Devonport
.
Saturday 11th January 2014: Combination/Shark Rally Day
Saturday 25th January 2014 :TCT Albacore Challenge
Saturday 1st February 2014: GFCNT , George Town Shark Comp
Saturday 8th February 2014: Rally No 1
Saturday 15th February 2014: SHGFC , Hillcrest Caravan Park & Friends Comp
Saturday 22nd February 2014: TCT Light Line Contest (TGFA Sanctioned Event)
Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th March 2014 SHGFC St Helens Classic (TGFA Sanctioned Event)
Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd March 2014: SGC Coles Bay Classic (TGFA Sanctioned Event)
Saturday 05th April 2014: Rally No 2
GFCNT , Easter Comp : Saturday 19th April 2014 (TGFA Sanctioned Event).
Fri 25th & Sat 26th April 2014: 25th Australian Bluefin Tuna Championships (TGFA Sanctioned Event)
To be Advised SGC , Far South Classic (TGFA Sanctioned Event).
Saturday 17th May 2014: Rally No 3
Saturday 31st May 2014: Rally No 4
Saturday 14th June 2014: Rally No 5 ( winter rally 7:00am to 3:00pm )
Saturday 28th June 2014: Rally No 6 ( winter rally 7:00am to 3:00pm )
Tuna Club of Tasmania inc History
The Tuna Club was born as a result of a meeting held in Hobart on the 17th September 1960 , by a group of persons interested in forming a Game Fishing Club .
At that meeting a Sub – Committee was formed , charged with the task of drafting a Constitution , which could be tabled at a later meeting .
The Sub – Committee met on the 24th September 1960 and drew up a recommended form of Constitution .
On the 6th October 1960 , at Wrest Point Hotel , the Inaugural Meeting was held attended by about 35 persons . Mr H . H . Smart chaired the meeting , and the Constitution was adopted by those assembled .
Elections were held immediately , with Mr J . E . Stanton being elected the Clubs first President .
Mr T . Chopping as the Vice President , Mr C . W . Reardon as the first Secretary and Mr L . A . Phillips as the first Treasurer .
At that meeting the President stated that “ The Tuna Club of Tasmania would soon become one of the most successful and best Game Fishing Clubs in the Southern Hemisphere “ . The Club grew slowly , establishing a firm membership base , and a growing reputation around the State , and elsewhere , as a Club of fine anglers . Two World Records were granted within the first two years , to women anglers . One of those Records , by Mrs Vanda Chopping for 70.76 kg Southern Bluefin Tuna on 37 kg line on the 6th May 1963 , still stands as an Australian Record . The Club established many Weigh Stations around the State , to cater for the growing interest in Game Fishing . From the very beginning , the Club has had a large core group of members based in the Derwent Valley . The Club was accepted as an affiliate of the Game Fishing Association of Australia’s Tasmanian body (The Tasmanian Game Fishing Association) in 1963 , thus allowing Tuna Club members to claim Australian and World Records for Game Fish species . Members of the Club claim more Records than any other Club in Tasmania , showing the keen interest in fishing for bigger fish on lighter line classes .
The Club established a permanent Weigh Station at Pirates Bay , which is still used today , largely due to the efforts of Mr Tom Jenkins , who it is reported single handily built the premises . In 1985 the Club purchased a boat shed located alongside the original boat ramp as a Club Room for members to gather in relative comfort from the winter rains and cold . In 1992 the Committee began work to draw plans for a new building incorporating the existing Weigh Station into a Club Room . With approval from all bodies and the permission of Mrs Denise Willey , whose existing boat shed sat on the site required for the new building , work began to move Mrs Willey’s boat shed to a new site and preparations were made for the foundations of the new building . The new building was opened by the Minister of Fisheries , the Hon John Cleary , during the Australian Bluefin Tuna Contest in April 1994 .
In recent years , improvements to the Rooms have been made , and a new dual width boat ramp was laid . The first recorded Tagging of fish was arranged through CSIRO in 1969 , when a CSIRO Officer showed a party of anglers on a charter boat how to tag a fish . Tagging is slowly gaining more acceptance as a means of preserving the species for future generations .The Club conducts the longest running Competition held in Australia , the first Australian Bluefin Tuna Contest was held in 1966 , and has been held every two years since . The Contest originally fitted in with all Australian Game Fishing Contest , held in Sydney every years odd numbered . The Contest has attracted interest from far and wide , with two American journalists writing an article for a famed American journal , and also in the Tasmanian magazine 40 degrees south predecessor Leatherwood . The Contest regularly attracts entries from all over Tasmania and from Victoria , in the early years anglers from South Australia – Mr Tom Bell , Mr Ernie Palmer and Mr Clive Whitrow fished regularly , as did Mr & Mrs Bob & Dolly Dyer , Dolly still holds a few Club and Australian Records from those heady days .The Club has a long and proud history as Tasmania’s Premier Game Fishing Club . The Club’s strength lies in its strong membership base , their loyalty to the Club and their faith in the Club’s administration . The Club is there for its members , so enjoy it to the fullest .
- Category:
- Club