As expected, Dampier’s STARDECK Mackerel 5000 has shone, producing a healthy number of Spanish mackerel samples being donated to science by local fishers.
The 2025 STARDECK Mackerel 5000 held in Dampier, organised by the Nickol Bay Sportsfishing Club, showcased the Pilbara as a powerhouse for this pelagic predator, with 56 Spanish mackerel – including the winning fish – sampled at the table.
Supported by Woodside Energy, the Recfishwest Fishing for Science team joined forces with DPIRD researcher Paul Lewis for the event, collecting important data for ongoing research to help inform the future Pilbara’s Spanish mackerel stock assessment.
The idea of Fishing for Science is simple but powerful – anglers donate their catches at the weigh station, and our team records vital data and takes samples. This allows fishers to become better stewards of the fishery, aiming to give participants a better scientific understanding of important recreational species and how they can help improve their sustainability.
Backed by STARDECK, this year’s competition saw 50 participating boats and over 150 anglers happy to donate fish. The data collected included biological information (length, weight, sex, and gonad stage) and otoliths (ear bones) which are used by Fisheries to determine the age of a fish by examining the annual growth rings (bands) under a microscope.
Since 2020, more than 500 pelagic fish have been sampled from recreational fishers participating in Pilbara recfishing events, directly contributing to monitoring the large pelagic resource in the North Coast Bioregion. Find out more here.
“The Mackerel 5000 always produces a lot of mackies each year and they are usually very healthy fish, so the competitors kindly making these contributions to science is always greatly appreciated,” said Recfishwest’s Senior Operations Officer Sam Russell.
“Along with collecting samples we’re here to have a good yarn with the locals, the Nickol Bay Sportfishing Club, King Bay Game Fishing Club on how we can improve fishing in the Pilbara and they always make us feel welcome.”
Big prizes for big macks
As always, the Mackerel 5000 lived up to its reputation for producing some of the biggest Spanish mackerel catches out of any WA-based competition.
The top honors for biggest mackie went to Art Skotniczny, who almost cracked the magical 30kg mark with a monster 29.60kg mackerel, earning him the grand prize of $5,000 sponsored by the Stardeck Group.
Even the youngsters got in on some prizes that would make any avid fisher jealous, with Michael Clauson (pictured below) taking out the Junior Overall category with a 15.06 kg mackerel, winning a Shimano Stella 5000 HG on a Grappler from NBSFC!
The STARDECK Mackerel 5000 competition continues to strengthen its roots and a special thanks to all competitors who did their part for science by donating samples to our crew, we’ll see you in 2026!
