SHIMANO has swept the major awards at the 2016 AFTA Tackle Show on the Gold Coast taking out the hotly contested categories of best rod, best reel, best combo and best line. Other notables included River2Sea for best soft lure, Halco for best hard lure and Fishing and Outdoor World Darwin for best overall retail store.
Jarvis Walker and Wilson Australia received Industry Achievement awards for 70 years in business while former Fishing World Publisher and Editor Jim Harnwell received an Industry Contribution award for political journalism in relation to Australian fishing.
The full list of winners is below with runners up in brackets.
Best Rod: Shimano Zodias ZOD27OUL (Pflueger Lithium)
Best Reel: Shimano Stradic Ci4 (Penn Slammer III)
Best Combo: Shimano Nasci 2500/Raider RDR703B (Penn Slammer III/Ocean Assassin)
Best line: Shimano Kairiki (Daiwa J-Braid 4 ply)
Best soft lure: River2Sea Fish Candy Smash Crab (Halco Madeyes 7in Paddle Prawn)
Best hard lure: Halco Max 190 (Stumpjumper Mega and Westin Danny the Duck)
Best game lure: Richter Splash Medium (Williamson Soft Game Tremor)
Best terminal tackle: Nomad BKK Raptor Z (Black Magic DX Point and TT Buzzlock)
Best fly rod: Sage X (Hardy Demon Smuggler)
Best fly reel: Hardy Fortuna (Sage 6250)
Best fly line: Rio Big Nasty (Rio Single-handed Spey)
Best sunglasses: Spotters Rebel (Costa Motu 580G Blue Mirror)
Best clothing accessory: Shimano Ocea Gloves (Bouttime Sunny Savers)
Best tackle management: Plano 467330 (Urban Classic Sling Bag)
Best fishing or boating accessory: Rapala Custom Floating Aerator (Demop Original Mini-Chiller Fish Bag)
Best marine electronics: Lowrance Elite 7ti (Rapala Deeper Smart Sonar Pro)
Best outdoor or camping product: RPM 6000mAh Powerbank with 280 lumen LED and solar panel (Coleman head lamp)
John Dunphy Award for innovation: Rapala Deeper Smart Sonar Pro+ (Jarvis Walker Watersnake kayak bracket)
Best magazine: Fishlife (Freshwater Fishing)
Best industry representative: Joel Teggert, Shimano (Russell Scamp, Shimano)
Best small store: Compleat Angler Illawarra (Freedom Fishing Supplies, Maryborough)
Best medium store: Jones’ Tackle Chermside (Tackle World Mornington)
Best large store: Fishing and Outdoor World Darwin (Tackle World Cranbourne)
Best overall winner of the AFTA best retail store: Fishing and Outdoor World Darwin
Industry Contribution Awards: David Kramer, Steven Trelfall, Jim Harnwell
Industry Achievement Awards: Jarvis Walker & Wilson Fishing – 70years
AFTA Hall of Fame: James Allen OAM
