Albany’s Liam Ross takes out 2022 Salmon Slam with two 91cm whoppers

An Albany angler has claimed the title of 2022 Salmon Slam champion, narrowly beating the friend who told him about the competition.

Liam Ross finished with an overall length of 3.57m for his best four fish, with his two longest salmon measuring a whopping 91cm each.

His skill with rod and reel landed him Shimano and Assassin Fishing prize packs, including two new rods.

Run by Recfishwest in partnership with Western Angler and Shimano, the three-month Salmon Slam returned for 2022 after a successful inaugural year in 2021.

There were prizes on the line across several categories, from the major random draw taken out by Collie’s Chelsea Roney to best photo won by Busselton father and son, Shannon and Jack Conduit.

Mr Ross was one of 850 fishers who signed up for this year’s competition, setting his sights on the overall length category.

He charged into the lead in the final phase of the Salmon Slam in May and held off a late challenge from his friend, runner-up Tyson Groom.

“I actually heard about the Salmon Slam competition through Tyson,” he said.

“He basically put me on to this competition and we ended up duelling it out for top spot.

“He’s been keeping me on my toes for the last few weeks and he almost had me at one point, but I ended up pulling the two big ones out of a salmon school which solidified my spot at the top.

“I personally don’t have a boat, so land-based fishing is what I do the most and salmon are one of those fish you just love to catch when you actively target them, they pull hard and they’re up there as the pound-for-pound hardest fighting fish.

“I spent many, many hours, almost every weekend fishing for salmon to win the final phase and get the overall victory, so I felt like I’d earned it and I love that feeling.”