Anglers from across Queensland will descend on Burketown for an Easter weekend (April 14-16) fishing tournament.
The Burketown Barramundi Fishing Competition has been operating in excess of 40 years, but will celebrate the 38th competition this year.
Club president, Garry Jeffries, said the event was a fun family weekend, for both parents and children to get involved and enjoy some time out on the water fishing.
“We attract about 350 competitors each year and fish Barramundi but also six other species including, Brim, Jew, Grunter, Salmon, Queen Fish and Fingermark,” Mr Jeffries said.
“The barra is the signature fish of the area and it attracts the big fishers up here.
“We have had fishers come up from Sydney and Melbourne, while also attracting local people and beyond like Mount Isa, Cairns and Townsville.”
Mr Jeffries said the rules of the competition require competitors to fish on the three main rivers in the Burke Shire, including; Nicholson, Albert and Leichhardt.
“The amount and size of fish caught really depends on the season,” he said.
“We have had some good barra caught in the area recently but we didn’t have a big wet season. While we have had flooding, the rivers didn’t reach levels of a great season. So it could vary.
“Sometimes the winning fish wont be real big, but it will be the largest for the weekend.”
Nominations open on Thursday and close lunch time Saturday.
The weigh-in station will be located out the front of the Burketown pub and fishing will conclude at 1pm on Sunday.
A presentation will be held at 6pm with $3800 for the heaviest barramundi, second prize $1000 and third place $500.
A lucky nomination prize will also be given away with an adult prize valued at $5000 and junior prize of $500.
Easter in the Gulf will showcase the Barramundi Fishing Competition and Normanton Fishing Competition on the same weekend. The week before (April 7-9) will see the Karumba Community Anglers Classic.