10/11/2025
PRESS RELEASE
TYRONE O'CONNOR SWEEPS THE AUSTRALIAN BILLFISH AWARDS ONCE AGAIN!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bermagui, NSW – November 2025:
Tenacious South Coast game fishing legend Tyrone O’Connor has once again dominated the national leaderboards, rounding out the 2024/25 season with a record-breaking performance that further cements his place among Australia’s greatest big-game anglers.
Now recognised as one of the most decorated anglers in GFAA marlin fishing history, O’Connor has officially tagged and released a staggering 597 marlin - the highest number ever recorded by a single angler since the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Game Fish Tagging Program began in 1973.
Even more impressive, the majority of these fish were tagged solo, without crew assistance, a testament to his extraordinary skill, persistence, and self-reliance.
From Melbourne to Marlin Mastery
Operating out of Bermagui, NSW, where he’s lived for the past eight years, Tyrone has earned a reputation for consistency and dedication. After a successful sportfishing career in Victorian waters, he moved north to chase the prolific South Coast billfish, fishing mainly from his custom-rigged 10-metre Luhrs Express, “She Left.”
In the 2024/25 season alone, he tagged and released 145 marlin, including 65 solo captures, ranging from black and blue to predominantly striped marlin averaging around 75kg.
“I’m just so grateful that marlin numbers have recovered so strongly over the past 15 years,” said Tyrone. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to experience that resurgence and to play a small part in documenting it through tagging and research.”
Dominating the Leaderboards
Tyrone’s results have been recognised by both state and national organisations, including the Game Fishing Association of Australia (GFAA), the Game Fishing Association of New South Wales (NSWGFA), and the Merimbula Big Game & Lakes Angling Club.
Among his most prestigious achievements is a fourth win of the Sir Garrick Agnew Trophy, awarded to the angler who tags and releases the most billfish in Australian waters. This equalled the long-standing record set by Bart Portelli (Sydney GFC) in 2007–08, with Tyrone now aiming to break that record outright in 2025/26.
2024/25 AWARD HIGHLIGHTS
GFAA National Awards
• David Litchfield Trophy – Highest point-scoring boat (T&R Marlin) in Australian waters
• Tailored Marine Trophy – Highest point-scoring boat (T&R) nationally
• Sir Garrick Agnew Trophy – Most billfish tagged and released in Australian waters
NSWGFA Awards
• John O’Brien Trophy – Highest point scoring male angler (T&R)
• NSW Southern Zone Trophy – Highest point-scoring angler (T&R)
• Amatil Shield – Highest point scoring boat (T&R)
• Don Goswell Trophy (GFAA) – Highest total points for T&R billfish
Solo Skill and Determination
Many of Tyrone’s marlin have been hooked, fought, and tagged entirely single-handed, an exceptional feat of seamanship requiring control, patience, and precision. Managing helm, boat, and fish in offshore conditions demands expertise, and Tyrone rises to the challenge with finely tuned techniques and safety systems.
Despite equipment failures and personal setbacks during the season, his trademark grit and focus saw him prevail.
“It’s a special feeling knowing those long days, calm or rough, add up to something that helps us understand these magnificent fish,” Tyrone said.
Champion of Conservation
Beyond competition, O’Connor’s tagging work is a major contribution to marine science. Each tag provides data for the NSW DPI, supporting studies on migration, population health, and breeding patterns that are vital for sustaining Australia’s billfish fishery.
“Tag and release has always been at the heart of what I do,” Tyrone said. “It’s about respecting the fish, learning from them, and ensuring future generations can experience the same thrill.”
Looking Ahead
While recent changes to NSWGFA award rules have excluded solo angler results from some categories, citing safety concerns, Tyrone remains undeterred. He plans to continue fishing hard, tagging responsibly, and pushing new boundaries in 2025/26.
“I’ve still got plenty of fuel left in the tank,” he laughed. “The ocean’s a big place — and there are a lot more marlin out there waiting for a tag.”
We say congratulations Tyrone!
Merimbula Big Game & Lakes Angling Club Inc Game Fishing Australia The Victorian Game Fishing Club
