How the Best of the West was won
GAME FISHING
A Muriwai boat claimed top honours as the inaugural Best of the West tournament wrapped up on Tuesday.
On the fourth and final day day of the competition, Taylor Anderson landed the overall winner, a monster 156.5kg striped marlin, while fishing from Out West which earned the main prize of $10,000. At prizegiving, Out West skipper Stanley Phillips thanked the hosting Ahipara Gamefish Club for organising the competition and for putting in the time and effort to ensure it was a huge success.
“I don’t think people really understand how much time it takes up. All the Muriwai boys love coming up here and fishing and seeing mates from our sister club so cheers!”
Anderson’s fish pipped the 140.5kg stripey caught by local angler, Jay Sharp, aboard Hard Out on day two which eventually left the Kaitaia gas station owner having to settle for the runners up prize, a more than respectable $5000. Sharp said the fishing last Sunday was memorable from start to finish.
“Firstly, it was a real buzz in Shipwreck Bay with all the boats and anglers and the shotgun start made for a great sight with most of the boats taking off to race to Blue House,” he said, noting the crew onboard Hard Out soon hit rich pickings.
“At 11am suddenly we had three marlin in the gear and two of them got hooked. They were launching and rearing up out the water which was an awesome sight,” he said, adding one was dropped but the other fish stuck and required a long wind-in of nearly 50 minutes.
“These fish really are a beautiful sight up close and something to behold.”
AGC junior member Cohen Lloyd was the third placegetter with a 117.5kg stripey caught from grandfather Leo Lloyd’s boat, Torily, which gave the 12 year old $2000. Cohen’s father afterwards reported it had been big task for the youngster who battled sea sickness and sore arms to bring in his first marlin but the ordeal was far from his mind once he was holding his cheque.
In total eight marlin were weighed in and a further six tagged-and-released by the field of 50 boats from around the North Island which had entered the inaugural tournament.
BOTW spokesperson James Tattersall said a few AGC members had first gotten together to establish a small-scale fishing competition with a beach launching off the west coast. The initial concept was to run a local event which supported local organisations like [Ahipara] golf and rugby clubs, holiday park and printing company, Tattersall said. However, the success of the event took everyone by surprise after entries, which were first open for two weeks to AGC members, were released to the general public and sold out overnight.
Organisers also acknowledged Annette Hall of Far North Radio by presenting her with a $1000 donation from the AGC and competing anglers. In accepting the cheque, the local radio operator spoke of how much she loved these competitions, happily giving up her work hours to be part of the fishos’ day and loving all the banter among them.
■ UPCOMING The next event on the AGC calendar is the 15th Radz Invitational, the annual 24 boat west coast game big gamefishing challenge between Muriwai and Ahipara clubs (Muriwai won the title last year) from March 2-3. That will be followed later in March by the annual women’s competition featuring TradeZone Addicted to Fishing presenter Nicky Sinden as special guest. For membership enquiries, contact Emma Matthews (021)241-5690.