LOTS OF FISHERS… AND FISHES
THE 2021 set new records, with 47 teams entering – making the event a sellout. And the big turnout was rewarded with good catches – the winners also benefitting from a record $80,000 prize pool.
Fishing started hot on day one on the game fish front, with Ata Rangi first to score, with a tagged and released striped marlin caught by Warwick Wilshier, on a 24kg line.
Soon after, there were more tag and release catches made by Steve Horton on Te Kotuku, Warren Whittaker on Mad Max and
Grant Stewart on Te Totara. There were another four tags later in the day – on Diesel and Savana City…and two for Neil Weber on board Ata Rangi.
Defiance fished a bit later into the evening and managed to get a 143.4kg striped marlin on a 15kg line, which the team weighed at Whangaroa for angler Alastair Pearson.
The snapper and kingfish specialists were also out measuring and releasing a good number of fish.
Day 2 brought more of the same: This time Defiance was the first to get on a roll, with two tagged striped marlin on 24kg – to
Alastair Pearson and Greg Haliday. Family Jewels followed with a tag and release for Robert Wood, soon followed by Greg Haliday again on Defiance. On board Mad Max, Mark Tucker caught his first marlin and Gene Lewis on Centrefold followed – with Mike Beckham on Free & Easy joining them a bit later.
Day 3 was a bit rougher and a few of the tournament entrants came in – but there were plenty still out there braving the weather.
Diesel was first to tag one, on 15kg with Clarke McRobbie on the reel. Clive Gordon, who has fished the tournament every year for 19 years, achieved his first tagged striped marlin on 37kg line.
And, with only an hour and a half to “stop fishing,” Trevor Jackson – on board Family Jewels – hooked a blue marlin, landed it after over an hour of fighting, and brought it in to be weighed – this one tipping the scales at 150.3kg.
So, after three days’ fishing, the winners were presented with their prizes on Saturday night at the Bay of Islands Swordfish Club’s Paihia clubhouse. The event was aided by a generous sponsor shout and the Calcutta winners’ contribution.
On display – on a three-tier stage, thanks to Bay of Islands Scaffolding and Hire – was the record haul of prizes up for grabs.