The Australian bass fishing competition and convention was held on December 7-8 on Brogo Dam.

Association publicity officer Mal Earnshaw said as well as a large contingent of local anglers, others travelled from as far as Sydney, Nowra, Griffith, Canberra and Hillston.

“Although the weather was excellent for once, the fish did not really play ball,” Earnshaw said.

The fish in question are the native Australian bass, Macquaria novemaculeata, found locally in the fresh and brackish upper reaches of coastal rivers, as well as in the Brogo Dam.

These fish released in Brogo Dam are known to escape over the spillway in times of flood into the Bega River thereby creating some excellent bass fishing downstream all the way to the where the river turns into an estuary.

There is no way unfortunately for the escapees to get back into the dam on the migration back upstream after spawning in estuarine waters down closer to the coast.

Meanwhile during this year's convention, a total of 100 competitors only caught 168 fish for a total length of 39.6m and data collected by these anglers is invaluable information for the NSW Fisheries’ Angler Catch Research Program.

“All fish caught are measured and carefully released,” Earnshaw said.

“All competitors voted the weekend a roaring success, with a lot of fun, frivolity and fellowship had by all.”

Another 11,000 Australian Bass fry were released into Brogo Dam on the Sunday of the competition, and the funding for the purchase of these young fish came from last year’s competition.

The fish are usually sourced from the local Narooma Aquaculture hatchery just up the highway at Narooma that specializes in native species such as bass and estuary perch, with fingerlings exported as far away as Victoria.

The Far South Coast Bass Stocking Association would like to thank its sponsors, large and small, their donations have contributed to the annual Brogo bass stocking program.

“A special thanks to NSW Fisheries and State Water, without their support the convention would not have been possible,” Earnshaw said.

Now here are the competition results:

Casella Wines trophy for Champion Angler: Dean Pollard 4522mm

The Boys from Bob's Bar trophy for Largest Fish: Matt Owen 370mm

National Australia Bank trophy for Champion Male: Dean Pollard 4522mm

Cobargo Hotel trophy for Champion Female: Sue Pauline 890mm

Bermagui Beach Hotel trophy for Champion Team: Bassaholics, Dean Pollard & Abe Holt 3166mm

Tathra Big 4 Seabreeze Caravan Park trophy for Champion Boy: Lachlan Sturgeon 1400mm

National Australia Bank trophy for Champion Girl: Not contested

Pratts Tackle Box trophy for Champion Sub-Junior: Brodie Steele 260mm

Pratts Tackle Box trophy for Largest Fly Caught Fish: Ray Ellis 325mm

Sapphire Coast Fly Fishing trophy for Aggregate Fly Caught Fish: Ray Ellis 1661mm

ACT Fly Fishers Largest fish caught from a canoe or kayak: Troy Charnock 250mm

Sapphire Coast Fly Fishing Aggregate canoe or kayak caught fish: Troy Charnock 250mm

Countryside Caravan Park Kalaru trophy for Smallest Fish: Col Gibson, 112mm

Cobargo Hotel trophy for Mystery Length: Joseph Douglas 235.6mm

ACT Fly Fishers Presidents Trophy: Josh Day, for arguing with his pop that the wallaby on the bank was really a monkey!