Warrnambool-based tournament director Marty Ellul said the competition was an invitation-only event which he expected would attract some of the best fishermen from across NSW and Victoria.

“It’s basically a fishing state-of-origin and this is the fourth annual Victoria versus NSW event,” he said.

“It’s a friendly competition with the home state captains hosting fishermen from the visiting state on their boats.

The competition has alternated between Portland and Jervis Bay.”

Ellul said the three-day tournament would cast off on Thursday, March 18, with the Sunday set aside for a lay-day if there was bad weather.

“There will be a briefing on the Thursday and then fishing throughout Friday and Saturday with a presentation on Saturday night,” he said.

“All up there will be 60 fishermen, we limit it to that number so we can keep some control over the event. There’s a fair few blokes from Sydney as well as Griffith and fishermen from across the Victorian coast and Melbourne.”

The tournament director said the fishermen would target tuna as well as mako sharks.

“It’s really a tuna competition. Portland has developed the best tuna fishing reputation in Australia during the past few years. This area has been producing by far the best numbers of tuna — the best anywhere in Australia by a long way. Last year was just incredible.”

Ellul said this season had started slowly mainly due to the unseasonal warm water.

“There’s a lot of warm water. It’s 20.5 degrees (Celsius) when the ideal temperature is 17.5. But this cold change will really help push through the colder water,” he said.

“The Port Lincoln pros got their quota in two weeks, some in basically one day. It looks like being a bumper season. There’s also reports of the very rare striped tuna, not just one here and there but catches of up to five on a boat,” he said.