St John Ambulance paramedic and area manager Bruce Fraser has been with the organisation for an impressive 34 years but his enthusiasm for angling has been around for even longer than that.
The Mandurah local is excited to be the sport co-ordinator for the angling section of the Australasian Police and Emergency Services Games.
Angling categories include a deep sea fishing event for teams and a beach/estuary event for teams and individuals.
While most competitors would be from WA, Bruce said, about 10 competitors from NSW and Victoria will participate.
“The Mandurah Offshore Fishing Club agreed to host the event and will supply two vessels –the Comet Queen and Mistral, for the deep sea fishing event,” he said.
Fishing locations could include from Preston Beach to the south to Golden Bay to the north, and the Serpentine River.
While a demersal fish ban was in place in a region that included the Mandurah coast, Bruce said anglers had plenty of other options.
“We can't fish for snapper but King George whiting and black bream are on the bite at the moment, in good numbers, so where one season closes another opens. We’ll also be fishing for southern bluefin tuna offshore,” he said.
Event rules ask that sharks and rays be released if caught as they would not be weighed in nor are points awarded for them.
Bruce encouraged visitors to attend the Mandurah Offshore Fishing Club to witness the weigh-ins on competition days.
“There will be a medal presentation and dinner at the Club on Wednesday,” he said.
“The (long-range) forecast is sunny for the week so hopefully it will be nice spring weather for the Games.”
With safety a priority, competitors and crafts are required to comply with strict licensing and seaworthiness rules and checks.
In addition to his duties as a volunteer sport co-ordinator, Bruce will be busy pursuing one of his other passions, photography, in his role as one of a team of event photographers capturing memories from the 2018 Games.
