What a weekend! With an outstanding attendance of 437 people at this weekends Gold Coast Tilapia Busters Competition it was one of the most successful days in the events history. The event is aimed at helping reduce the biomass of the invasive fish species Tilapia from local Gold Coast Waterways.

This year the event was hosted late in the season when Tilapia start to slow down on the bite. Despite this a total of 450 kilograms of this evasive species were caught and culled.

This year there was a overwhelming amount of native Australian Bass caught. One family on the day were frustrated they could only catch bass! The system of Clear Island Waters and the surrounding Robina Lakes system is a well known Australian Bass fishery very popular with local anglers. The Tilapia Busters Tournament not only helps reduce the biomass of the Tilapia but also helps raise community awareness of this species potential to out breed and decimate native species. It was fantastic to see a large amount of native species being caught on the day which gave everyone hope that an impact was being made.

Division

Adults

Men’s 1st Place – Malcolm Nicholson 14.9 KG

Men’s 2nd Place – Shannon Green 12.11KG

Women’s 1 st Place – Della Hapeta 14.92KG

Women’s 2nd Place – Tamara Lawton 3.31KG

Young Adults

Men’s 1st Place – Ely Raxon 10.35KG

Men’s 2nd Place – Flynn Wasson 8.99KG

Womens 1st Place – Bella Newton 4.49KG

Women’s 2nd Place – Eva Birt 1.23KG

Juniors

Boys 1st Place – Ruku Banhick 21.88KG

Boys 2nd Place – Wulka Duroux 6.92KG

Girls 1st Place – Carolina Caldow Quirama 2.51KG

Girls 2nd Place – Anneka Callary 0.1KG