IT was another huge year for the world’s biggest fishing competition! 11,711 anglers fished the Pirtek Fishing Challenge over the weekend of 23 and 24 April 2022 creating a new world record.
Fishing commenced at sunrise and concluded at sunset on both days of the competition. Anglers had until 7am on Monday 25 April to upload their fish photographs to the website for judging.
With over $280,000 in cash and prizes to be won there were thousands of keen anglers trying their luck in waterways across Australia and doing battle with the weather conditions in some areas.
With entrants from every Australian State and Territory, the Challenge is a major fundraising initiative assisting to raise funds and awareness for Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) and the Peter Duncan Neurosciences Research Unit, with over $1,400,000 being donated over the last fourteen years.
There were some impressive fish caught including several barramundi over the magic metre mark; cracking trout in Tasmania; huge flathead in New South Wales and some thumping big murray cod throughout the Murray Darling Basin.
Pirtek provides $88,000 cash which is divided between 22 mystery length target fish, providing all entrants with the opportunity to win big without necessarily catching the largest fish.
One of the highlights of the Challenge is the On The Water prize draw and this year’s major winner was Gary McIver who won the Stacer 469 Outlaw boat/motor/trailer package thanks to Stacer valued at over $39,000. Second place went to Rory Burton who will take home a Sea-Doo FishPro Scout valued at over $22,000; and third place to Ronald Sutton who won the Club Marine Territory Striker boat/motor/trailer package valued at over $14,000.
Tournament Director, Michael Guest, was delighted with the 2022 results.
“Not only was it a record-breaking year overall but we had the highest number of junior anglers ever. It’s wonderful to see so many young fishos and families supporting the event. I’m extremely proud of the funds and awareness our competitors have raised for our charity partners this year.”
Pirtek Australia’s Chief Executive Officer Stephen Dutton, said the success of the Pirtek Fishing Challenge was something all his company’s staff, suppliers and franchisees could be enormously proud of.
“It is hard to believe that the Pirtek Fishing Challenge has just completed its fourteenth year and we have again notched up record numbers,” said Dutton.
The 15th Pirtek Fishing Challenge will be held in April 2023.
