The 4th Fishing World Cup 2008 Australia has become another landmard in the history of WSFF.

From Aug.22nd through 26th, 200 professional anglers and officials from 30 nations worldwide have gathered at Tallebudgera Leisure Center for this event. The venue of the 4th FWC was located along the famous Gold Coast of Queensland State.

About 60 players competed in the Rock Fishing Tournament at the Rock Wall of Tweed River, while 80 players split into 8 boats which took them to Gold Coast offshore for the pleriminary match. The play ground for the Rock Fishing did not look appropriate for this level of international fishing tournament, especially for those who were accustomed to rocky shores of remote islands in Asia. But it turned out that the place was so plentiful with school of Breams and Ludericks swimming on the surface.

Australia does not have tyhoons, but it does have strong winds and high sea waves. So, 17mps winds prevented the players for the Boat Fishing from starting the Tournament for the entire 2 days, which resulted in the change on the tounament schedules from 3 stages to 2. Yet, all the players seemed very impressed by the Australian sea and have enjoyed the fishing.

The Championship for the Rock Fishing went to Mr.Muneyuki Tateishi, the famous fishing master and Shimano instructor of Japan. Mr.Sing Ting Lee of Taiwan and Mr.Toshiaki Hashimoto of Japan rose to the 2nd and the 3rd places.

Mr.Jin Ho Choi of Korea became the Champion in the Boat Fishing. followed by Mr.Masatoshi Aoyama(2nd) and Mr.Dai Kangaya(3rd) from Japan.

The Group Prize as the country were given to Urguay(First), Kazakhstan(2nd) and Russia(3rd) as the sign of recognition for a regular participation for the Fishing World Cup and the contributions they are making for the development of WSFF.

At the Closing Ceremony, there were tears on the eyes of Mr.Arai of Oceania Seafood Ltd. who took major role for the financial management . Mr.Kim Raymond of GOODGO Fishing Charters who served as the center of Administrative Office and the rest of the FWC staff. With the limited time of preparation. the financial as well as human resorces, it was only by their voluntary spirit and endless dedication that the 4th FWC has reached a successful completion.

Not every player recieved the prize, but no one would have failed to feel that he was right to have come to Australia. Australia is a beautiful country, and so is the heart of the people of this country and the Oceania.

(Osamu Sano)

Here are some of the reports from the 4th FWC.

◇The 4th FWC 2008 Australia Booklet (PDF File)

◇General Report on the 4th FWC Australia 2008 (PDF File)

◇The Boat Fishing Tournament Results (PDF File)

◇The Rock Fishing Tournament Results (PDF File)