How Shimano Won The Sixth Lexus...... It seemed only appropriate that one of the pioneers of the tagging and releasing of Cairns giant black marlin should win the 6th Lexus Black Marlin Classic held out of Cairns October 30 - November 4, last year.

After all, for the first time in the history of the event, and for that matter, any giant black marlin tournament held anywhere in the world, it was strictly tag-and-release and the gantry lay idle as anglers fought for huge prizes, yet not at the expense of a single fish. Cairns gamefishing legend, Captain Dennis "Brazakka" Wallace, teamed up with Sydney advertising executive, "Jungle" Jim Walpole to charge home from the middle of the pack on the 56th Cresta, Born Free, on the last day with four tags to take out the most prestigious event on the Australian game fishing calendar on a countback and collect $45,000 in prize money.

Brazakka and Jungle also just missed out on the bonus of a $US60,000 Lexus ES300 sedan for ten tagged marlin during the four day event. "We pulled the hook on a couple almost within reach of the tag and we had to cut another fish off that was well over a grand when it looked like taking us well into the night," Brazakka said. "With just an ounce of luck we would have taken out the car as well." Brazakka was full of praise about the first tag-and-release only Lexus. "It�s almost unbelievable to be able to win that kind of money, yet not kill a single fish," he commented after the win. "Lexus and the Toyota people are to be congratulated in leading the way to a kill-free future in gamefishing, both in Australia and worldwide." He was also full of praise for the Shimano Tiagra 80W�s loaded with 130lb line and they�ve never missed a beat in three seasons," he said. "Shimano are building me a Tiagra 130 (Not for some time, ed. ) in the near future and if they are as anywhere as good as these babies, I�ll be more than satisfied."

There seems to be little doubt that the bold decision by the Toyota people to stage a tag-and-release only tournament had a lot to do with the reduction of about 25% in anglers and boats compared to previous years. But the gamble paid off in a big way.

The Lexus was a raging success and the 34 competing boats with their 124 anglers from all over the world agreed that after the few initial hic-ups, the 1997 Lexus Black Marlin Classic will be a �full book�.

But while Brazakka took out Champion Boat honours, it was a tooth and nail battle from day one with the lead changing from boat to boat many times. " I just swear by those Tiagra�s," Brazakka said. "Loading 80lb reels with 130lb line and not having to worry about them blowing up under the pressure, is exceptional. But no matter how much pressure we put them under, they didn�t give us a split second�s trouble. Shimano 80W Tiagras will do me until something better comes along, and I can only see that being a Tiagra 130. The sooner the better."