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Big boats and even bigger fish will be the focus this weekend as the annual Jess Sams Game Fishing Tournament is staged.
And with the region enjoying terrific fishing conditions across the Ulladulla oceans at the moment, the tournament is expected to result in some big catches.
Run by the Ulladulla Game Fishing Club, the competition will be held across three days from Friday, January 30, to Sunday, February 1.
A big crowd of boats is expected to head out from the Ulladulla Harbour to take part in the event, and challenge for cash and prizes valued at more than $85,000.
They include $15,000 for the highest point scoring tag and released boat, $7,000 for the highest scoring tag and release boat under 7.5 metres, and $5,000 for the heaviest marlin on any line class.
There are also prizes valued at more than $17,000 on offer in the tournament raffle.
While the big fish are out there waiting to be reeled in, 90 per cent of the fish caught in the Jess Sams Tournament will be tagged and released to help maintain fish populations.
Each boat will record each catch before releasing the fish and radioing in results.
A results board at Ulladulla Harbour will be updated every two hours throughout the days of the competition, with locals encouraged to head to the harbour to check out what is being caught or visit the weigh station after 3pm to see any fish weighed in.
Locals are also welcome to head along to the presentation on Sunday afternoon at 5pm to find out the winners with boats to stop fishing at 2.30pm on Sunday before heading back to the harbour.
To take part in the Jess Sams, each angler needs to be a member of an Australian game fishing club, like the Ulladulla Game Fishing Club.
The anglers taking part will not only enjoy the chance to land a record catch, but will take the time to socialise with other fishermen and pick up a few pointers.
A number of events are planned for competitors, starting with a briefing dinner at the Ulladulla ExServos Club on Thursday night.
The ExServos Club is also putting on a pizza night for anglers on Friday.
Saturday will be the official celebration of the event with the tournament dinner to be held at the Ulladulla Civic Centre, while Sunday will be a last hurrah with the presentation at the civic centre from 5pm.
Breakfast will also be served each morning on the south ramp from 5.30am to 7am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, raising money for Ulladulla Marine Rescue.
The annual Jess Sams Game Fishing Tournament is held to mark 77th anniversary of the late Jess Sam's 1938 Australian record striped Marlin catch of 330lbs, a record still current today.
To find out more about the comp, sign up a boat or learn about the Ulladulla Game Fishing Club, visit the website at www.ulladullagamefishing.info