15-year-old Shanae Dance of Kingston broke record after record after record at the Tuna Club of Tasmania’s recent presentation.
Amongst her many achievements, Shanae earned five merit pins in one season, the first in the club to ever do so.
“Shanae has so much passion for the sport,” said mum Cherie.
“It’s her safe place out on the water with her dad Phillip.”
Shanae’s record-breaking captures include:• 8kg Line Class: southern bluefin tuna, 31.10kg (Australian, state and club record)
• 10kg Line Class: southern bluefin tuna, 31.40kg (Australian, state and club record)
• 37kg Line Class: southern bluefin tuna, 42.10kg (Australian, state and club record)
• 24kg Line Class: black marlin, 52.4kg (Australian and state record)
• 8kg Line Class: mako shark, 92.6kg, 10:1 Club Achievement
• 60kg Line Class: mako shark, 253.5kg (Australian, state and club record)
•All-Tackle IGFA Junior Female World Record: southern bluefin tuna, 140.3kg
Cherie said Shanae has spent up to 34 hours catching some of her record-breaking fish.
“It’s technique and patience,” she shared.
“The shark Shanae got at 253 kilos was very daunting and scary, took her three hours.”
Shanae’s achievements span not just record-breaking catches but also major tournament wins and conservation-focused tagging efforts.
She was awarded the following trophies at the presentation evening:
• Royal Swan Trophy: heaviest tunny in southern Tasmanian waters (140.3kg southern bluefin tuna)
• Tom Bell Trophy: capture nearest to or over a gold button (92.6kg mako on 8kg)
• Kay Weil Memorial Trophy: heaviest shark in Tasmanian waters (253.5kg mako)
• John Telfor Trophy No.2: best junior angler fish (253.5kg mako)
• Graham Artley Junior Trophy: highest aggregate gamefish points (1823.70 points)
• Shane Banks Trophy: highest junior tag and release point score (72,000 points)
• Wood & Baillie Trophy: most southern bluefin tuna tagged in Tasmania (54 tags)
• Robin & Shane Banks Trophy: most sharks tagged in state waters (two sharks)
Shanae and her family run their own custom-made lure business, Colorato Lures, with Shanae making her own lures the night before she’s landed some of her record-breaking catches.
Her sights are now set on the new season.
“She’s written down what she wants, goals listed this year as to what she wants to catch,” mum Cherie said.
“She might get into a YouTube channel down the track and talk about what she does too.”
