Team’s 29.34kg catch wins prize
It was a case of not letting the big one get away for Napier anglers Mark Gregory, Scott Taylor and Kay Crozier when they took out the top spot in the Mahia Boating and Fishing Club Tuna Tournament a couple of weeks ago.
The annual competition is one of nine held during the season off the Mahia Peninsula and Mark says they were ‘stoked’ to haul in the big one.
“We entered the competition as per normal with high expectations but prepared for failure,” Mark says.
The trio made up the crew on board a 585 Profile, Mercury 115 four-stroke “to do the business”, Mark says.
“Day one was a rough day but we still managed to clock up 150km on the water over eight hours with only the one marlin visitor, who managed to rasp up a trace and lure without being hooked.”
Mark says conditions on the second day were equally as rough. “We decided not to venture too far out, action was slim pickings with only half a dozen albacore to show by 10am.”
But an hour later all that changed.
“At 11am the rod bent but decided to scream, the lure being snatched only two metres from the transom, after hauling all the lines in without any hiccups — it was on with the harness and into the fight.”
Fishing buddy Scott, who has been a member of the Mahia club for 12 years, says they kept the boat moving while trying to land the fish. “When you’re catching tuna you have to keep moving — it’ll swim with the boat. We kept going forward.”
Mark says a solid weight with no runs had been slightly worrying, but after 15 minutes some colour was seen which changed the mood on the boat from anticipation to excitement, then as the fish was identified, to panic.
“We maintained our speed of five knots as we gently nursed the yellowfin close enough to gaff without alarming the fish, all went smoothly and the gaff sunk in. Scott was yahooing while the fish was still in the water, this was interrupted by Kay with strict instructions to get the fish in the boat, followed by cheers and high fives.”
Scott says although Mark caught the fish, it was a team effort and the cash prize was split between the crew. The yellowfin weighed in at 29.34kg and won the Mahia Tuna Tournament for 2020.
“It’s a win. We were just stoked we got what we were trying to get. We were in the right place at the right time.”