Alex's Column 16 October 2025
- NAFA
- Oct 17
- 3 min read
The Build-up is a busy time of year for Top End fishing competitions.
In the last few weeks, we’ve had the Secret Women’s Business Barra
Challenge, Corroboree Park Challenge, Territory Saltwater Fly Fishing
Challenge, Top End Barra Series Billabongs Round and the Alure Ladies Fishing
Classic.
I haven’t reported on the Alure comp before, but by all accounts it’s another
successful women’s fishing competition.
It’s held every October on the Victoria River, which is interesting in itself as it’s
easy to come unstuck in the treacherous Vic River.
According to Alure event organiser, Jade Andrew, the competition was the
brainchild of Simone Andrew who wanted to create a competition which was
just for women.
“Simone worked on cattle stations and was able to get the first Alure Ladies
Fishing Classic happening on the Vic River in 2018,” Jade told me.
“It’s a non-for-profit event, and all the money goes back into the comp.
“There are many wonderful sponsors and this year there were 35 prizes worth
a total of $40000.
“Some of the prizes were sponsored while others were paid for, and there is
even a ‘Mystery Barra’ prize each day,
“It’s been successful every year, and this year was no different.
“There were 20 boats this year, but we’ve had up to 30, and teams come from
interstate as well as locally,” Jade explained.
The Alure is well supported by both the Katherine and Kununurra
communities, and starts on Thursday afternoon with the briefing, followed by
the two days of competition fishing which commence at 6am on both Friday
and Saturday.
This is a catch-and-release event, and points are awarded according to fish
length, with all barramundi measured no matter the size.
This year, there were 171 barra landed.
The most prestigious award is Champion Team, with Donna Donzo, Leanne
Gablonski and Biddy Hamilton in Hookin Mamas taking it out.
Gavin Donzo was their driver.
Biddy Hamilton caught the biggest barra of the camp at 94cm, and Leanne
Gablonski won Champion Angler.
Only two teams were all ladies and one of them, Team Angry Bird, came
second.
It comprised Emma Harbrow (skipper), Judy Ward, Peta Smart and Alysia
Bader.
Judy’s 90cm barra was the second biggest in the Alure.
“Angalourie Creek had been closed by the Defence Force, but it was opened to
us, and most barra were caught down that way,” Jade told me.
“We don’t allow forward-facing sonar or side-scanning to make it fair for
everyone.
“We even have teams hiring boats from Darwin.
“We have three teams of sheriffs who are volunteers and are so helpful, even
getting and backing down cars for the boats.
“There was only one small incident when a boat got stuck on a sandbar and
had to be pulled off by sheriffs.
“This is a fun fishing comp for women of all skills, and we hold a photo
competition, dress-ups and even fish bingo for entertainment and more
prizes,” Jade explained.
The venue for the Alure Ladies Fishing Classic is the Timber Creek Travelers
Rest.
I must say the organisation of this terrific women’s competition is taken very
seriously: there is a full committee with an elected President.
The next Alure comp will be held in the first two weeks of October next year,
so mark it on your calendar ladies.
