ARB Moreton Island Fishing Classic: Day 1

On any occasion, driving onto the Moreton Island Adventures MiCat delivers a feeling of excitement and good times ahead but none more so than on today’s journey. On today’s crossing, I am joined by some of the most hard-core Tailor and Mulloway Fisherman ever to cast from a beach. As we make our way to Bulwer for the midnight start of the annual ARB Moreton Island Fishing Classic.

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Moreton Island Ferry – MiCat

The 90-minute crossing to Moreton is a great opportunity to reacquaint with old mates. Tell the odd tall fishing tale and grab a famous MiCat Smiley Face Pie or a coffee. It really is a comfortable way to travel and on a stunning day like this, spirits are high as we make our way across the bay.

Moreton Island Beach Fishing

While other forms of fishing and other sports embrace technology. It’s interesting to think about the process of fishing from the beach using a 12-foot surf rod and an old cherrywood Alvey reel. Not a lot has changed when it comes to beach fishing. And in fact, there are a few fellas around these days who just like tinkering with old cars have developed an affection for the old rods and reels. And they’re turning them into collector’s items.

Once we arrive at the Tangalooma Wrecks it’s time to offload a very full car deck and lose our watches as we are officially now on Moreton Island time. A measurement of time dominated by the tide…and not much of anything else. As we head north to the fishing town of Bulwer on the most beautiful of days I still find it hard to believe that this treasure remains virtually untouched, the way mother nature had planned.

At Bulwer, we head to the aptly named Castaways with its tropical beachcomber vibe. The scene for tonight’s opening party for this years MIFC or what I like to call “First Night Fever”. It seems that it’s been such a well run and fun event for the past 5 years that many people have returned to try and share in the more than 60 000 dollars in prize money.

ARB Fishing Classic

ARB has been involved with the event for a number of years as the naming rights sponsor and that brings State Manager Roger Vickery to the event again this year, he absolutely loves the island and his time here.

So as the party gathers momentum into the evening and the serious head to there favourite gutter ready to stake their claim for a midnight cast. It’s time to say farewell, till next show when we will take a good look around beautiful Moreton and hopefully catch a few fish too.

MIA can hook you up with accommodation, meals and transfers if you need. And ARB the naming rights sponsor of the event covers off on most things for you and your fourby to get there. The MIFC is on at the end of August, you can look online for all the details here.

Don’t forget to check out Episode 64 of the Campr series for all the action at the ARB Moreton Island Fishing CLassic.