Message from MGFC

Welcome Letter from the Editor and President of the Madang Game Fishing Club (MGFC)

To all fellow fishermen, women and juniors, to all our old friends and new visitors, welcome to the 30th GFAPNG National Titles and welcome to beautiful Madang. Thank you for making the effort to fly here, drive here, bring your boats to Madang and be a part of another special PNG fishing experience.

The hosting of a National Titles in a small town like Madang requires both enormous commitment from a dedicated few, the tireless titles committee that is (particular thanks to Robbo, Charlie, the Big Fella and Trev), and the invaluable support of sponsors. It has been a particularly daunting challenge for the MGFC Committee with the same committee having to keep the Club going as well as prepare for and host the 2005 Titles. Thanks Chris, Jake and Mhay and to all of you that have lent a helping hand along the way.

Sponsors undoubtedly make the pinnacle of game fishing in PNG possible, even more so in smaller towns like Madang and without you there would be no Titles. Not only has the support from Madang businesses and residents again been overwhelmingly generous, there has been invaluable support from businesses outside of Madang that have made this event what it is. We thank you all for your contributions in cash or kind.

Thank you also to the Madang Club and their committee, which has made a commitment to upgrade facilities and to be our tournament headquarters and Presentation Night venue.

This year I have put a great deal of time into trying to do something a little different for our titles magazine and for your reading pleasure I am pleased to present a theme of greater conservation in game fishing. After 29 years fishing the way we have around PNG it is an appropriate time to introduce some significant changes during our 30th anniversary of national tournament game fishing. A change that has been reflected by the recent endorsement of standard titles fishing rules by the GFAPNG in January 2005, details of which should be read carefully in the following pages on tournament rules for this event. Note also the newly adopted tagging rules that apply not only to the titles but to all affiliated clubs fishing rules.

This conservation theme is spawned from the way the rest of the world is now fishing by promoting greater angling skill and more tagging, from the principles of the IGFA and above all else, from this historic old quote from one of the oldest registered fishing clubs in the world, the “Tuna Club of Avalon”, Santa Catalina.

“The underlying spirit of angling is that the skill of the angler is pitted against the instinct and strength of the fish and the latter is entitled to an even chance for his life”.

Is ensuring you catch and tag your quota of jellybean skippies, runner and mack tuna on heavy tackle the kind of incentive we want to endorse at the highest level of game fishing in PNG? I certainly hope not and the rules have now ensured this will no longer be the case. The responsibility of promoting greater conservation in fishing lays with us old, experienced, crusty stalwarts of the game and how we promote the sport in our respective Provinces, and more importantly how we teach our children. If young fishos are taught the skills of light tackle fishing, safety at sea and to release all but food and record fish then we have done our part to ensure this great sport and this great fishery here in PNG has a future.

I remember clearly as a child when I saw a sailfish tagged and released for the first time thinking “what on earth are you doing, are you out of your mind”, why did I think that, perhaps growing up in PNG and the countries culture bears some responsibility but in this day and age tagging and releasing is now the only thing to do. I have the greatest respect for several clients, fishing buddies (yes Paul & Bob I include you) and all of you out there that tagged your first billfish, admired its beauty, photographed it still alive, released it to fight another day and potentially contributed to invaluable research that could save the species in the future. A great example of this being Brian Lindeman’s recapture of a black marlin at large for 7 years (see further details following Julian Pepprell’s article on billfish migration).

Specific results of the conservation effort around the world adorn the pages of this magazine thanks to who else but our much loved fishing guru scientist, Dr Julian Pepprell. Julian has contributed an article on billfish migration and on how we should be tagging our game fish; please take particular note of how to tag the little fellas. A big thanks also to our favourite pro skipper Robbie for a genuine and humourous reflection of fishing the PNG National Titles circuit and of course to PNG’s very own story telling legend, lest we forget, Lester Rohrlach for another fishy masterpiece.

Thank you also to all our photographic contributors (particularly Dr Tony Lewis for the yellow fin tagging shots and advice) and all those special angling moments, let’s hope there are many more over the next 9 days of fishing. Of course a big thank you to our professionals in art; the “pirate” himself, Craig Smith for the magnificent poster and cover of this magazine; and for design, the unflappable Steve Landon. Thanks both for making my vague ideas into a professional looking reality. Please note that Craig will be on the Madang Club verandah painting all week and really is a friendly bloke for a Kiwi!! so please go and see him if you want that special fishing moment recorded on paper and in water colours as only Craig can.

If this magazine and new look tournament does nothing more than stimulate some debate at the bar, makes you think twice about putting away the flying gaff and picking up that tag pole then I have achieved what I set out to in creating a platform for our fishing future and understanding the fish stocks themselves through conservation in our great sport.

Have an awesome tournament with us in Madang, both on and off the water fostering the spirit of fishing, the competition, the comradery & companionship, yes the comedians but also the conservationist in us and above all else to remember that the great fish we fight is indeed entitled to that even chance for his life.

Tight Lines
Ian Middleton

reprinted with permission from the 30th National Titlles Magazine