The week-long competition drew 160 entrants, including 30 juniors, who battled it out across 15 categories.

Mr Harry landed his winning entry off Childers Cove on Saturday afternoon and said it took him by surprise.

"I assumed it was a gummy shark; within probably 20 feet of the surface we realised that it wasn't a shark, it was a fish of some kind," he said.

The 6.5 kilogram snapper was quickly brought in, although a net intended for the job had been shredded by an earlier catch.

"You can't really grab a fish by its gills because it sort of kills it," Mr Harry said.

"Because I wasn't releasing it I just had to get it on board."

The 30-year-old Warrnambool resident knew he was in with a good chance for the heaviest fish title after learning his nearest rival's catch weighed 1.5 kilograms.

"It's a great experience, something you've always aimed for," he said.

He won a new fishing rod and a cash prize of $500 .

Warrnambool Offshore and Light Game Fishing Club president Peter Kavanagh said it was pleasing to see an increase in the number of junior entrants.

"I've entered a lot of competitions and never done well. The main prize is what I was after."

"That's what keeps you going, because we try to turn it into a family event," he said.

"Just the love and the passion to see these young children come out through the ranks; their age groups would have been from 15 to 16 years of age, which was fantastic to see."

Mr Kavanagh said the majority of entrants received a prize from event sponsors.

"We had a really good crowd; the crowd stayed there because they didn't have to catch a fish to catch a good prize," he said.

Anglers were able to fish between Port Fairy and Port Campbell and could access rivers and estuaries, with daily weigh-ins held at Hooked on Rods 'N' Reels and the Warrnambool breakwater.