Bremer Bay angler Woodsy not joshing about in Salmon Slam’s fifth phase

After finishing third in each of the Salmon Slam’s opening three rounds, Great Southern fisher Josh Woods has finally claimed top honours in the three-month fishing comp’s latest phase.

Josh posted a score of 3,285mm, with his four longest salmon respectively measuring 85cm, 84cm, 80cm and 79.5cm, to beat fishers Andrew Scott (3,180mm) and Brock Keymer (3,070mm).

Bremer Bay fisher Josh Woods has taken out the Salmon Slam fifth phase’s open category!

“I was out in the boat off Fosters Beach fishing the bottom for demersals but we couldn’t get past the salmon – they were taking everything,” Josh, who is based at Bremer Bay, told Recfishwest.

“After a while we realised the salmon weren’t going away so we switched to the light gear and trolled for a bit of fun.

“There haven’t been too many schools in close lately, most have been sitting out deeper.”

It marks a great run of form for the Woods family, with Josh’s four-year-old son Lachlan winning the Slam’s ‘Best Photo’ in the first phase and his brother, Nathan, winning the first open category.

“We’ve enjoyed a bumper season down here this year,” Josh said.

“Nath and I have always been right into salmon fishing, ever since we were youngsters and used to drive a HiLux down the beach trying to find schools.”

Vance Kober, 7, is among youngsters to get among this year’s salmon run!

Slam’s sensational sponsors

For winning the fifth phase, Josh is now the proud owner of a new Shimano Saragosa 5000 reel, a Shimano Coltsniper 10ft rod and a $170 Down South Camping and Outdoors voucher.

He has also won a $50 Early Bird Bait voucher and a $100 voucher to Midland 4WD Centre for the win.

Recfishwest Operations Officer Aaron Moses thanked Shimano, Down South Camping and Outdoors, Midland 4WD Centre and Early Bird Bait for sponsoring the terrific prizes.

“All of the sponsors’ support is what helps make the Salmon Slam as successful as it is,” Aaron said.

Five-year-old Josh Mitchell was more than happy with his first salmon from Bunker Bay!

Best of the rest

The photo below of Taro Okamoto smiling with his salmon at Bunker Bay is exactly what salmon fishing is all about – fun!

The happy snap encapsulates the WA salmon fishery’s importance to the recreational sector and shows why recfishers spend $331 million annually chasing the iconic southern sportfish.

Taro has claimed the ‘Best Photo’ honours of the Salmon Slam’s fifth phase, with Taro set to receive a Western 4WDriver magazine pack and a Richter Lures lure pack.

The latest round’s random adult category – which includes a Halco Tackle pack, a $100 Anglers’ Fishing World apparel pack and a $50 Early Bird Bait voucher – was won by Pete Hastie.

It comes as the junior random category was won by Kasey Spaanderman.

Well done, Kasey, keep an eye out for a $150 Whitey’s Tackle and Camping tackle pack and a $100 Dunsborough Outdoor Sportz voucher in the post.

This photo of Taro Okamoto at Bunker Bay has claimed the latest phase’s ‘Best Photo’ honours.

Less than one month

With the Salmon Slam set to come to an end on 31 May, there’s still many great prizes up for grabs!

This is highlighted by the 3.5m Seajay aluminium dinghy, powered by a six horse-power, four-stroke Honda outboard and trailer, supplied by Rusty’s Marine in Albany, decided by a random draw.

That means all fishers need to do to be in the running to win the tinny-trailer-outboard package is simply download the Salmon Slam app, catch a salmon and enter it in the comp. Read more here!

Two Shimano Stella 5000SW, one donated by Compleat Angler Nedlands and the other from Compleat Angler Rockingham, are also up for grabs. One will be given away as part of a random draw, while the other is part of the prize pack for the competition’s overall longest four fish winner! If you want to potentially claim a Stella, be sure to enter the Salmon Slam!

While the La Niña weather event has led to warmer water temperatures and in turn impacted this year’s salmon run, there are mounting reports of schools near Mandurah and along Perth.

If you’re a metro-based fisher, be sure to join us on the run and enter any Perth salmon catches into the Salmon Slam’s sixth phase before it comes to an end on 21 May.

You could potentially win a Shimano Stella SW5000 for simply entering the Salmon Slam. Picture: Zach Relph / Recfishwest
  • Feature image credit: Chris Liaros / Drone Adventures Bunbury WA

Continue Reading

December 20, 2024

“Roboseeder” robot in trials to ramp up restoration of critical Cockburn Sound seagrass habitat

A cutting edge “roboseeder” underwater robot is being trialled in Cockburn Sound to sew seagrass seeds help restore depleted beds of the ecologically critical plant. Cockburn Sound has lost 80 per cent of its…

Read More

December 16, 2024

Clontarf kids enjoy the cracking fishing on offer in Exmouth

From great fish smashing baits to cricket balls being smashed on the beach – Recfishwest’s latest fishing clinic in Exmouth was a big hit for the northern Clontarf academies.   Run in collaboration with the…

Read More

December 11, 2024

Enjoy safe and successful abalone fishing this summer

Recfishwest is encouraging all abalone fishers to enjoy safe fishing this summer by being aware of the weather conditions and wearing all the right gear.   Thousands of abalone fishers are expected to flock to the…

Read More

November 29, 2024

Crabbing in Cockburn Sound – what you need to know ahead of December 1st

The hotly anticipated annual summer crabbing season on the lower west coast gets underway this Sunday, 1 December, and has some extra spice this year for crustacean connoisseurs with Cockburn Sound reopening for…

Read More

November 26, 2024

Recfishwest lands two new Board members

Recfishwest is pleased to welcome two new elected members to the Recfishwest Board following our 2024 Annual General Meeting in November. Terry Goodlich is a well-known figure in WA’s freshwater and trout fishing…

Read More

November 21, 2024

Making fishing better in the year past and the year ahead for the Cast of Thousands

We recently held our 2024 Annual General Meeting and had time to reflect on what Recfishwest and the fishing community achieved in FY 2023/2024 – and on the challenges we face ahead to protect our fishing and make…

Read More