WA’s game fishing spotlight to shine on Exmouth at annual GAMEX

Game fishers from across the State are readying their rods, reels and lures to chase billfish and pelagics during the latest edition of WA’s premier fishing competition — GAMEX.

Exmouth’s annual game and sportfishing event, held by the Exmouth Game Fishing Club (EGFC), will again see teams of fishers descend on the Gascoyne fishing mecca to take part from 12 March to 20 March.

WATCH: Some of the amazing action from 2020 GAMEX

For Recfishwest, the 53rd GAMEX will not only showcase the world-class recreational fishing Exmouth has to offer, but will also provide a chance to collect vital data and talk serious fishing with mad-keen fishers.

Catching fish, talking science and bagging data

Recfishwest Research and Development Officer James Florisson and Operations Officer Mike Minutillo are heading north to attend this year’s GAMEX.

Alongside Recfishwest intern John Dempsey, James and Mike will be at the weigh-in each night once fishing gets underway on Sunday, 14 March, to spearhead the Fishing for Science program.

The Recfishwest research team will be collecting a range of data including length, weight, sex and condition of each fish at the filleting table next to the weigh station at the end of each day’s fishing.

Tissue samples from each fishes’ belly for future research will also be taken.

What is Fishing for Science?

Fishing for Science is a tournament monitoring and community engagement program run by Recfishwest.

The data collected through Fishing for Science at major fishing tournaments, such as GAMEX, is used to educate the fishing community about sought-after species, Mike explained.

“Fishing tournaments are an opportunity for fish data collecting and sampling,” he said.

“The data and samples collected will go towards furthering research on local prized recreational fish, as well as giving fishers even more of a sense of custodianship of the resource.

“It also encourages fishers to be even better stewards of our marine resources, while building capacity in regional communities for future citizen science programs.

“Fishing for Science, alongside communicating its research outcomes, helps promote greater stewardship of our ocean and its resources.”

Regional fishing tournaments are a great chance for fish sampling and data collection.

Family fun fishing

While in Exmouth, the Recfishwest crew are keen to see the next generation of fishers in action at the GAMEX Family Fun Day on Sunday from 4pm to 6pm.

The kids’ fishing clinic will be held at the Exmouth Marina in front of the EGFC clubrooms, with Mike expecting hungry mangrove jack and small trevally to be among the fish caught.

“Be sure to register at the EGFC’s club rooms at 4pm – it’s going to be a great time for the youngsters who are no doubt going to be future GAMEX competitors,” Mike said.

Marlin will be sought-after at this year’s GAMEX. Picture: Marco Fraschetti

Continue Reading

June 01, 2023

Recfishwest calls for Government fishery rethink with 78 charter fishing businesses on the brink

Following Government fishery management changes, 78 charter operators are facing the prospect of losing their businesses in the coming months with fishers aboard their vessels no longer able to fish for demersal…

Read More

May 31, 2023

Families flock to Denham to celebrate fishing in the Gascoyne at Shark Bay Fiesta

The hundreds of visitors from across WA and Australia, who ventured to Denham for the week-long Shark Bay Fiesta to celebrate all things fishing swelled the population of the coastal town by half!   For around 850…

Read More

May 31, 2023

Marine park planning mess stokes fears of south coast social and economic fall-out

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attraction’s (DBCA’s) marine park on the south coast has been in the headlines recently for all the wrong reasons. From shire council presidents, to leading members…

Read More

May 31, 2023

Fremantle Sailing Club saving money and potential lives with Recfishwest’s Community Grant

Recfishwest is proud to see one of the 16 recipient organisations receiving a Community Grant in 2023 – the Fremantle Sailing Club (FSC) – is saving money and potential lives by using a Recfishwest Community Grant…

Read More

May 30, 2023

Spotting sharks on your sounder to help reduce bite-offs

“The taxman”, “the men in grey suits” or just plain old “bloody sharks.” Whatever you call them, sharks biting off your prized catch as you bring it into the boat can be the bane of many fishers’ fishing trips…

Read More

May 05, 2023

West coast demersal $10m support package – a golden opportunity to support better decisions that cannot be missed

As the dust settles on the new fishing rules for west coast demersals, Recfishwest says the Government has got to get right the way $10 million of public money is spent on supporting the fishery. The Government…

Read More