WITH men confined to being deck hands, an annual women's-only fishing tournament saw a solid turnout at the weekend.

The Ribbons Ladies Game Fishing Tournament, which celebrated its 28th year of competition, featured more than 130 adult anglers and 14 junior anglers together with 38 boats participating.

Ribbons committee president Dianne Hance praised the turnout for the event, with a number of local juniors and out-of-town anglers taking out top honours.

"Our motto is fun, friendship and fishing and I think our weekend really represented that," Ms Hance said.

In keeping with tournament tradition, men are only allowed to participate as deck crew during Ribbons.

But that proved to be no handicap for the ladies participating, after visiting angler Kelly Barnes nabbed a 16.1kg spanish mackerel.

Started by inaugural president Robyn Wallace in 1984, Ribbons was initially viewed as a way for the wives and girlfriends of local marlin fishermen to get in on the action.

"I’m so proud of the way it’s grown,’’ Ms Wallace said of the event’s development.

Results

Champion junior: Georgia Bolton

Runner up: Maddison Britain

Champion senior: Simone Sipthorp

Champion team: Askari (boat) – Misty Dawson, Simone Sipthorp, and Julie Miles

Runner up: Jimmy (boat) – Jenny Friel and Georgia Bolton

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