Good catch for Jaca Queen Quest

Mat Bloomer and Abbey Browning.

Photos

Grafton Jacaranda Festival Queen 2009

View Photo Gallery »

THE weather might not have been too friendly for a fishing competition, but apparently the fish didn't care.

Grafton Jacaranda Festival Jacaranda Queen candidate Abbey Browning held a combined rock and beach and offshore fishing competition at Minnie Water on Saturday and yesterday, and despite the conditions being less than perfect, there were plenty of fish biting.

Abbey, herself an angler, headed offshore on Saturday and each person in her boat bagged more than 15 fish - and there were some decent ones among them.

Included in the haul from her boat were a 3.5 kg amberjack, 2.5 kg pearl perch, a 2.5 kg snapper and a 'good size' flathead.

But she described the conditions on the way back as difficult. In all, there were between 30 and 40 anglers in the competition, which Abbey thought was great considering the weather.

Money raised from an auction of the fish yesterday (which was sanctioned by the Department of Primary Industries) goes to her Jacaranda Queen competition and towards a defibrillator for the Minnie Water Caravan Park.