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Gearing up for three month Salmon Slam competition

Headshot of Shannon Smith
Shannon SmithAlbany Advertiser
Peter Hill with a salmon at Cheynes Beach.
Camera IconPeter Hill with a salmon at Cheynes Beach. Credit: Nick Cuccovia/Nick Cuccovia

The salmon run is just around the corner and Recfishwest is gearing up for what it believes could be Australia’s biggest land-based fishing competition.

After COVID-19 forced the cancellation of last year’s Salmon Slam, the three-month fishing competition is back this year with a top prize of a dinghy, outboard motor and trailer worth $9000.

Run in partnership with Western Angler magazine, the Salmon Slam is free to enter through the Salmon Slam app.

Recfishwest launched its Awesome Autumn of Salmon campaign yesterday, with chief executive Dr Andrew Rowland describing the fish as the “barra of the south”.

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Dr Rowland said WA fishers spent $331 million each year trying to catch Australian salmon, and 80 per cent of that was pumped into local communities.

He said the south coast was home to some of the best spots to catch salmon in the State, such as Cheynes Beach.

“The economic value is considerable, but the value of the experience of catching one of the world’s best sportfish, on one of the world’s best beaches, is simply priceless,” Dr Rowland said.

He said another salmon fishing competition — the family-friendly Salmon Spectacular organised by Albany Fishing Club and Western Angler — would be held in Albany over the Easter weekend.

“The abundant schools of Australian salmon migrating along the south-west coast offer one of our State’s most spectacular and accessible sport fishing experiences,” he said.

“So, we’re inviting the fishing community to join us on the salmon run this year and help celebrate the barra of the south.

“While the run hasn’t started in earnest yet, the schools are beginning to build on the south coast, and autumn is just around the corner.”

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