Anglers got to sample Exmouth Gulf’s crowning glory as part of Exmouth Game Fishing Club’s (EGFC’s) ‘King of the Reef ‘competition, which saw a total of 20 different species caught at King Reef artificial reef!
More than 280 fish were entered in the four-month long competition, putting a bend in rods and a smile on the dial of almost 80 entrants.
EGFC ran the competition with the support of Recfishwest and Woodside Energy, enabling fishers to wet a line around King Reef and Exmouth’s surrounds, while contributing to science by entering their catches via the Track My Fish App.
Recfishwest’s Artificial Reefs Approvals Officer Eligh Quigley said, “The catch data from the fishing community is helping us not only better understand the species diversity around King Reef, but is also strengthening fishers’ sense of stewardship of the environment.
“With these great outcomes, the case for deploying more artificial reefs around WA in the future is further strengthened – it’s a win-win-win. So a big thanks to EGFC, Woodside Energy and all those who entered the competition.”
With a swag of impressive prizes up for grabs, almost four fish on average were entered per fisher into the Track My Fish app. Twenty-four fishers from outside of Exmouth entered – further showcasing the attractive intrastate and interstate appeal of the fishing on offer at the reef.
Ben Gryta is the proud new owner of a $2,000 Surge Orion kayak after catching the most species – 10 no less – at King Reef!
Just some of the vibrant species landed at King Reef were blackspotted tuskfish, cobia, flounder, Moses perch, coral trout, pink-banded grubfish, and several different varieties of emperor, mackerel, snapper and cod – to name a few!
EGFC Events Manager Ben Knaggs was not surprised at the sheer variety of fish species making reels sizzle, based on the artificial reef’s rapid growth he’s witnessed over the past six years.
“This is the fastest growing artificial reef in Australia, and it has certainly flexed its species diversity muscle over the past four months,” said Ben. “The variety in the competitors was just as mixed as the captures too and we had 60 seniors, 18 juniors and two fishers from New South Wales getting in on the action.
“Given it’s only 6.4km North-East of the Exmouth Marina boat ramp, it’s become a go-to spot for fishers in smaller boats providing just as much action and that ‘lucky dip’ species variety excitement like what you would find further offshore. And the best part is the reef will only keep on naturally growing in size and numbers of fish.”
King of the Reef capture snapshot
Most species on King Reef – Ben Gryta (10)
Red emperor – 10 caught in total, largest fish: Ben Gryta (73.5cms)
Spangled emperor – 58 caught in total, largest fish: Richard Papa (60.5cms)
Coral trout – Eight caught in total, largest fish: John Morley (76cms)
Blue-lined emperor – 38 caught in total, largest fish: Brock Keymer (49cms)
Spanish mackerel – 12 caught in total, largest fish: Quade Kitson (138.5cms)
Trevally – 25 caught in total, largest fish: Ben Knaggs (108.5cms)
Charlie court cod – 115 caught in total, largest fish: Lola Gryta (38cms)
A big Recfishwest congratulations and thank you to all competitors who contributed to science by logging your catches into the Track My Fish app!
The King of the Reef Competition will be back again in 2025 with an even better list of prizes up for grabs, so keep an eye out for it early in the new year!
Find out more about our wide network of artificial reefs in WA here.
