Barra challengers line up
ANGLERS from across the country hit the Tableland yesterday to throw in a line at the Barra Bash, hoping to snag a share of $25,000 worth of prizes.
The event, now in its 16th year, is tipped to attract more than 1000 people to the lakeside town of Tinaroo and more than 150 boats should be on the water at the weekend.
Click here to see pictures from the Barra bash"Numbers are looking really good at the moment and we are expecting more people than last year," Barra Bash organiser Errol Taske said.
"The hotels and caravan parks in Tinaroo are full and so are most of the camping grounds."
Mr Taske said the weekend was expected to serve up perfect fishing conditions and organisers were expecting the competition to be stiff.
"Last year, 38 barra were caught and this year, I reckon we could get 50-plus," he said.
"It was wet and drizzly last year but this year it’s going to be hot and sunny and that’s perfect fishing weather."
It’s not just great prizes on offer. The world record is also up for grabs with Tinaroo holding the existing record for the largest barra caught, dating back to September 1999.
It weighed a massive 37.85kg, a whopping 14.85kg more than last year’s winning fish, and was 124 cm long with a 105cm girth.
Mr Taske said the 22 prize categories included biggest tilapia, but more importantly the event was a weekend for families and friends to spend time together.
"It’s a terrific weekend for everyone," he said.
The event officially started last night but people can front up as late as tomorrow to fish.
To be in the running for prizes, they must be there for the 11.30am weigh-in tomorrow.
Be sure to pick up The Cairns Post and log on to cairns.com.au on Monday to catch all the action and photos from this year’s Barra Bash.
Share this article
Reel time: Scott and Lorraine Davidson, Tristan Stedman and Ashley Sinclare from Cairns gear up for the Barra Bash.
New Jetstar flights between Cairns and Osaka
THE re-introduction of Jetstar's four weekly direct services to Osaka in Japan and a doubling of flights to Melbourne from April 1 next year are the first significant announcements today by the airline as the result of a new agreement with Cairns Airport.
Kate earns National Pride Medal
INSPIRING young leader and cancer survivor Kate Smith could hardly believe she won a national Pride of Australia medal last night.
Escapee back in custody
BREAKING NEWS: Police have found a man who escaped from police custody at Ravenshoe on Sunday night.
Woman watched boyfriend bash, strip tourist
THE girlfriend of a man accused of raping and attempting to rape two foreign tourists at a Cairns caravan park says she watched him bash and strip one of them then chase after her.
