CASTING OF A NEW LEGACY

How a bold idea has become the framework of Australia’s most inclusive and rivalrous fishing competition — and why you’ll want to be part of this year’s epic season.

As the coordinator and designer behind Australia’s Reel Gauntlet, I can’t tell you how excited I am to launch the 2025 season. When I first brought/pitched this idea to my leadership team, I knew we’d be taking a gamble. We were blending two quintessential Aussie passions — our exuberant and extraverted footy-style state rivalry and the more introspective and individual focused pursuit of fishing. The concept was ambitious, even a bit unconventional. Many doubted that we could bring the spirit of competitive sport to an activity usually prized for its serenity and simplicity. But 2024 proved them wrong — and now, the Reel Gauntlet is a growing fishing phenomenon.

The beauty of Australia’s Reel Gauntlet is that it’s unlike any other fishing competition. It’s not about one big day on the water; it’s about a whole year of fishing, wherever and whenever it suits you. And although it is facilitated and coordinated by my beloved Women’s Recreational Fishing League, it is an open competition, specifically designed for nonmembers (yes, that’s you blokes) to fish alongside our members through our unique scoring system. All you need is the free WRFL (Women’s Recreational Fishing League) app on your smart phone (and one of the 50 spots on your state team), and every catch you log can bring your state closer to the top of the ladder — and YOU closer to your state’s highest accolade, The Golden Rod.

If the closing months of last season are anything to go by, our new tournament is resonating well with men and women alike — anglers from all walks of life banded together and formed virtual teams spanning their entire respective states. Good natured sledging erupted on our social platforms, anglers adopted state shields as their profile pics, and fishing friendships forged between strangers. It’s become a vibrant online community, a way for anglers to rally for something larger than themselves.

A SEASON THAT’S ANYONE’S GAME

What’s special about the Reel Gauntlet is its accessibility. From the very start, we wanted this competition to be open to everyone, regardless of experience, fishing preferences, location, creed, or schedule. Our app makes it possible to fish on your own terms, whether you’re walking a secluded beach or launching a boat in your local river. You don’t have to travel or compete shoulder-to-shoulder or worry about maintaining a 30m distance to the nearest competitor boat — this is a competition that travels with you, adapting to your lifestyle.

Each month your state team faces off against a rival, logging points by measuring your catches from the state species list. Based on the tip length size of your fish, the algorithm determines the score to contribute to your state total. As the season progresses, the rivalry builds, just like in a footy season.

I have the singular privilege of being a member of every state team chat group and am therefore in possession of the most intimate insight into the rivalry. Whilst it’s taken the full inaugural season for the intensity of this unique competition format to land, it bit hard in the sudden-death semifinal month of October, when two of the four remaining states would be eliminated! The excitement is well summed up in this snippet, “This ref saw scores see-sawing across the night, with reports of terrifying lightning storms and sweltering conditions swapped. It was incredible to watch!

Thankyou to all who cast so much into the fray. We truly appreciate the entertainment.”

By November’s Grand Final there was a buzz in the air. At the time of writing, the Grand Final is still in play. The team chats of the Hard North NT Crocs and Reel Action Lures QLD Brolgas tell tales of blisters, sweat, near misses, undersized quarry, and triumph. They display strategy, collaboration, and solo quests. Witnessing the inspiration this innovative competition engenders is truly rewarding… it’s proving to be everything we’d hoped for! When that last cast is made on November 30, and one team emerges as the “Holder of the Gauntlet,” every angler who has participated in this championship quest can feel proud. They’ve just competed in a world first and become a character in a fishing yarn that is bound to become legend!

This is no longer just fishing; it’s a quest for glory and state pride.

RISE OF THE GOLDEN ROD

State pride is the heartbeat of this competition, but we wanted to give every angler a personal stake, too. That’s why we created the Golden Rod, a Best and Fairest award for the top scorer in each state. Think the Dally M or the Brownlow, but on a state level. Each state has a single naming sponsor who awards the Golden Rod prize (valued at $2,000) to the individual team member who achieves the highest score for the season. This means that even if your state is knocked out early (as South Australia was in 2024), all team members continue fishing to accrue as many points as possible. In 2024 South Australia failed to have any fishers record scores — in either the Gauntlet or the sister events of the League Sprints (women’s comp) — until the very end of the year, when Tumby Bay fisho Mick McCallum saw the fun and opted in. For his efforts, Mick took home the inaugural South Australian Golden Rod award, and $2045 worth of Shimano rods, reels, and accessories!

In 2025 South Australia has lured MoTackle and Outdoors as state sponsor, and the angler named the 2025 SA Kings Golden Rod will enjoy a $2000 voucher to spend at Australia’s biggest online tackle store!

And with a massive cash prize of up to $10,000* being added for the 2025 Season overall National Golden Rod (with ALL scores accumulated through the app, including the female competitors of the WRFL), the Gauntlet is ensuring this prestigious title becomes a monument to the inherently gender-neutral nature of fishing as a sport.

Watching anglers rise through the ranks, giving it their all each month, is inspiring. And for those who reach the pinnacle, the Golden Rod isn’t just a title — it’s a symbol of their hard work, skill, and passion. Last season the competition was fierce, with anglers pushing themselves to catch more, score more, and bring glory to their state. If you think you’ve got what it takes, there are still team spots available.

The Golden Rod isn’t just about personal achievement; it’s about lifting your whole team’s spirit. It’s about going the extra mile for something bigger than yourself.

BUILDING A COMMUNITY: THE WRFL VISION

The Reel Gauntlet grew out of the Women’s Recreational Fishing League (WRFL) vision for inclusivity and gender equity in our sport. Our goal was to create a competition that wasn’t just open to all, but where every angler — no matter their background or experience level — could make a difference. I’m proud to see that vision coming to life. Our monthly League Sprints encourage our female members to compete, with their points going straight into the Gauntlet, bolstering their state’s score and building confidence along the way. The Sprints are literally shorter versions of the Gauntlet, with each state Sprint winner receiving a prize.

For those who haven’t come across the League before, we are a nationwide not-for-profit sporting association built around a vision of a recreational fishing community that boasts genuine equality. As a collective, we are committed to forging a future where female-focussed fishing groups are irrelevant, and the gender-neutral nature of recreational fishing is expressed and experienced in all facets of Australian culture.

SO, HOW DOES AUSTRALIA’S REEL GAUNTLET FIT INTO THIS VISION?

That’s a really good question, with a truly inspired answer… Whilst the number of competitors able to fish as a part of a state’s A-Team (that is, the spots available to men or an non-member of the League) is limited to 50, there are no limits placed on female members competing in the Sprints. As all points accumulated in the Sprints flow into the relevant state coffers, the more women fishing the League’s state Sprints, the better the outcome for their State Gauntlet Team. This workaround makes it beneficial for all states to encourage more women to take up competitive fishing as a sport… which is the WRFL remit.

What’s truly rewarding is watching the entire national fishing community grow stronger, more balanced, and more united. The League is here to help women build confidence and challenge self-limiting beliefs that hold them back from participating fully in fishing as a sport. Our goal is to see an equal number of men and women competing in all aspects of fishing, not just our own comps. Wouldn’t that be a great thing?! Imagine the power our sector can wield if we have as many sopranos as baritones singing in our choir…

And so, to add extra inducement, the League itself has decided to sponsor a $2,000 Lucky Angler draw in the 2025 season, open to everyone who participates — male or female! All you need to do to qualify for this draw is register a legitimate scoring fish through the app!

THE GILT PATH TO THE GAUNTLET

The 2025 Season of Australia’s Reel Gauntlet casted off on December 1. With a year-long season, every month counts, and every angler’s contribution matters. July kicks off the first seeding round, followed by eliminations that get more intense with each month. By October it’s down to the wire, with the two prevailing teams going head-tohead in November’s Grand Final. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, and the intensity is unmatching in the Australian fishing scene.

I’ve seen firsthand how invested anglers become – It’s a commitment, a thrill, and a challenge all in one. When the season wraps, and the last cast is made, there’s a sense of accomplishment that goes beyond words.

HOW TO JOIN THE QUEST

If you’re feeling the call, it’s simple to join. The WRFL app is free to download. Just search Womens Recreational Fishing League in your app store. To register for your state team, type in this shortened URL; http://bit.ly/3ArHgVq

You’ll need a full kit of:

• A-Team Spot for your state

• Personalised Guernsey (TIP: watch the video on how to get your name on the back)

• Official 2025 Brag Mat

Remember to select your state in all the dropdowns, and don’t wait too long. You can’t score until you receive your official kit (shirt and mat required for scoring photos), which are made to order. Allow a three-week turnaround. Annual pass holders are locked in for the season, while casual competitors can jump in monthby-month if there’s space.

WILL YOU PICK UP THE GAUNTLET?

The Reel Gauntlet is more than just a fishing competition. It’s a celebration of what makes our Australian culture unique. It’s about rivalry, unity, and adventure — bringing our love for the outdoors and our pride for our states together in a way that’s never been done before. As someone who’s been there from day one, I can’t wait to see what 2025 brings.

So, if you’re ready to be part of something big, step up for your state, grab your rod, download the WRFL app, and join us. Australia’s Reel Gauntlet is waiting to be seized! For more information, visit reelgauntlet.org