Both entries were submitted without their knowledge by family members, and were among more than 20 submitted for the giveaway.
Also fishing with them will be another young cousin, Asha Parsons.
And the rest of the family will get in on the action too, attending the committee’s social nights at Deniliquin Memorial Park tonight and tomorrow night.
Brandon and Shia often fish together, and they hope their recent run of good luck will continue this weekend.
In the past three weeks alone, the pair say they have caught and released 26 Murray Cod from their secret fishing spot - which is within this weekend’s fishing boundaries.
“We go out most nights, quite often together but Shia also goes out with her sister,” Brandon said.
“We normally like to fish between 5pm and 9pm though.
“The average size caught has been between 40cm and 60cm, but we got a 67cm cod on cheese (Wednesday) night.”
While the family has access to a boat, they say they are more often found throwing in their lines from the bank. They intend to do the same this weekend.
Shia has been fishing since she was quite young, but was unable to recall her record catch to date.
For Brandon, his personal best is a 92cm cod caught at a previous Deniliquin Fishing Classic.
A decent size that would usually warrant a prize, Brandon was bested by other anglers that year.
The Edward Kolety Fishing Challenge’s $30,000 prize pool includes a $15,000 boat and motor package from Deniliquin Yamaha.
There’s a host of other great fishing prizes too, and two raffles.
“There’s quite a few prizes that can be won even if you don’t catch a fish, or are not a registered angler,” committee member Andrew Jefferies said.
“So grab all the family and come down to Memorial Park on Friday or Saturday night to join in.
“Every dollar of support we receive goes back into restocking the local waterways, so we would like plenty of people to come along.”
Tonight’s mega raffle has 12 prizes, with garden furniture, fishing and camping equipment, accommodation packages and tickets to local events among the prizes.
Tickets go on sale at Memorial Park from 6pm tonight, with the Rotary Club of Deniliquin barbecue and Deniliquin Rovers Football & Netball Club bar operating.
Registered anglers will receive a free meal as part of their entry.
Raffle tickets are $5 for five numbers, and all proceeds go to restocking the river, community projects and partnerships.
In the weekend’s major raffle, also for $5 a ticket, first prize is is a 75 inch flat screen television valued at almost $2000, donated by Deniliquin Betta Home Living Superstore.
Northside Car Solutions sponsored the $1700 60L ARB Elements weatherproof fridge freezer up for grabs as second prize, and third is a range of goodies from Middy’s Deniliquin valued at $1000.
You can purchase your raffle tickets online using the ‘enter now’ button at www.edwardfishingchallenge.com.au.
The Challenge, which includes a Dash for Cash fishing event on Sunday, is only open to a limited number of entries.
At the time of going to print yesterday, Mr Jefferies said there were only 12 tickets remaining.
Online entries are taken on the event’s website.
Mr Jefferies said if the ‘enter now’ link does not work for you, it means the event is sold out.
Tickets are $150 for adults, which is anyone 15 and over as of February 1 this year.
Kids under 15 can register for $110. Juniors are eligible to enter the adult section if they pay the adult entry fee.
Registered anglers get five free meals throughout the weekend.
For more information about the event, ticket inclusions or the list of prizes, visit the website or the Edward Kolety Fishing Challenge Facebook page.
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