After some intense fishing competition, the winners of the opening round of the 2022 Salmon Slam are set to collect some awesome fishing prizes, after the first phase came to an end yesterday.
Salmon Slam 2022 is now in its second phase, which will end on 30 April, with prize winners to be announced on 1 May.
What’re you waiting for? Download the Salmon Slam app from the Apple Store or Google Play store, upload a pic with your catch and the #SS2022 code written in the sand or on the brag mat and get stuck into the salmon action for your chance to win!
Phase one winners
Geoff Watts scooped the overall phase one winner title for which he will receive a Shimano monthly prize pack valued at more than $650, including a Stradic FL 5000 XG and Maikuro ll 9ft spinning rod, with his four longest salmon posting a total of 3,230mm! That’s well over 3m of rod-bending, arm-aching West Aussie salmon! Well played, Geoff!
South West resident, Geoff managed to book time off work with one goal in mind… win the Salmon Slam comp this year! Last year, Geoff was an active competitor reaching ninth place for the best four overall.
“This year I set myself up to do really well and plan to win the final prize,” Geoff said.
Geoff’s love of fishing has been fueled working on multiple fishing boats around Albany and he was part of the last tuna fleet, poling fish from the side of the boat. He’s battled plenty of big fish on the south coast and the mighty West Aussie salmon will always have a place in his heart.
“It’s definitely a challenge, I’ve been a fisherman for a long time, I think they’re pound-for-pound up there as a sportfish. I enjoy meeting new people while chasing salmon, you get to meet people, it’s a good community. Seeing everybody chase the fish along the beach… it’s just a great spectacle,” said Geoff.
When he’s out there chasing salmon from iconic beaches around Cheynes, Bremer Bay and the South west such as Boranup, he often enjoys the gaps between catching the salmon and finding the school with his four-wheel drive on the beach.
Geoff understands how important salmon fishing is to local families as his most recent grandson is about to turn one!
“Once he’s grown up I’d love to take him salmon fishing with his pop!” said Geoff.
A big shout out to our Salmon Slam partners Shimano for providing this epic prize pack and all our sponsors for getting behind this year’s Slam.
He’d never won anything, but he has now!
Salmon School Tracker 2022 Facebook page admin and salmon fishing enthusiast Mark Natale is the lucky winner of this phase’s adult’s random prize pack featuring a $200 Anglers Fishing World voucher and $100 Compleat Angler Nedlands voucher.
Mark Natale has been fishing the South-west for salmon for almost 15 years! “I love the surrounds and nature of the South-west, the beaches are iconic and catching salmon in a place like this is awesome,” Mark said.
With his wealth of knowledge around chasing salmon, he spends some of his time acting as one the admins for the Salmon School Tracker Facebook page.
“I’ve been admin for the page for a while now and it’s been great helping people who need advice on where the salmon are biting, what outfit to run and which lures to use. It’s super-fulfilling helping people catch these iconic fish.”
A picture’s worth a thousand words and a $100 Halco tackle pack!
James Charteris went on to claim the best photo prize category landing himself a $100 Halco tackle pack!
James Charteris, relatively new to the fishing scene, got into fishing last year when his mate asked him to come on a overnighter mission.
“I went fishing with him a couple times last season and absolutely loved it so got my some gear for this season and learnt enough from him on our first trip this year to able to go by myself and start teaching my partner and housemate.”
Like most fishers and especially salmon fishers, James’ main enjoyment comes from the chase, setting up camp, hitting the outdoors and enjoying what life has to offer on our coastlines.
“I think the reason I love salmon fishing so much is that I love camping, I love four-wheel driving and I have come to love hanging out on the beach waiting for a bite and then the awesome fight to bring the salmon in.”
The opening phase’s junior random category was taken out Hudson Hussie, who wins a $200 Compleat Angler Nedlands voucher and a $100 Halco Tackle pack!
