To commemorate a lifetime contribution of service to ANSA by the late Geoff “Hawko” Hawkins (Life Member ANSA National and ANSA NSW Branch) the Board of ANSA and State Branch Delegates attending the 2016 AGM and Branch Delegates meeting, unanimously agreed to dedicate these prestigious awards to the memory of Geoff. The awards hereinafter will be referred to as the “Geoff Hawkins Memorial – Meritorious Capture Awards”.
ANSA conducts an annual Geoff Hawkins Memorial – Meritorious Capture award competition. This prestigious competition runs from 1 July to 30 June every year and has 2 categories – freshwater and saltwater.
ANSA members are encouraged to nominate for these prestigious awards . The fish does not need to be a record capture but as the name implies there must be an meritorious aspect about how the capture was made. The awards are decided by the ANSA Board in conjunction with Branch Delegates attending the ANSA Annual General Meeting and Delegates conference. Meritorious Capture Award nomination forms are available on the ANSA website.
2023/24. The freshwater and saltwater Meritorious Captutre Award winners for 2023/24 were Ashton Weaver, a junior, from Lower Murray Lure Fishing Club SA with his freshwater capture of a 1010mm Murray Cod on 9kg braid while fishing on a boat at Loxton with his dad. The saltwater winner was Craig Williams from Nickol Bay Sportfishing Club WA with his capture of a 4.68 kg Oyster Popano/ Dart while flyfishing at Point Sampson from a boat with a 2kg tippet.Congratulations to both Ashton and Craig on these meritorious captures .
There were 6 captures nominated for the 2023/24 awards and the task of determining the winners was a challenge for the deciding panel. Congratulations are also extended to Troy Whyte ( QLD), Richard Hill (SA) for their runner up captures.
Click to read Ashton and Craig’s account of their captures.
2022/23 Awards. The Meritorious Capture Award winners for 2022/23 were Nelson Philips and Don Patterson both from Bundaberg Sport Fishing Club. Nelson received the Freshwater Meritorious Capture award for his capture of a 550mm Australian Bass while fishing Lake Gregory on his kayak. Don received the Saltwater Meritorious Capture Award for his capture of a 1160mm Barramundi while fishing the Burnett River. Click to read Nelson and Don’s account of their captures.
2021/22.Awards. There were no awards presented over 2021/22
2020/21Awards. The Meritorious Capture Award winner was Dakota Colls from SA, aged 5, with her amazing recapture of a 44 cm Golden Callop which had been tagged and released by her slightly elder brother Rhys back in 2017. The runner up was Steve Incledon, also from SA, who after many years of trying finally achieved his ambition of lure casting the capture of a Murray Cod. You can read Dakota and Steve’s capture stories.