A THREE-day region-wide fishing competition starts next week; covering surfcasting, rock and boat fishing. Participants can fish from Castlepoint to Cape Palliser, east to Cape Terawhiti and north to the southern side of the Otaki river mouth.
“It is quite unusual to have such an extensive shore and boat fishing section, there are none quite as big in Wellington. It means everyone has a good time, and of course we give heaps of prizes out,” says Wellington fishing veteran Pete Lamb, who organises the competition.
Of approximately a dozen sections, most sought-after titles include heaviest snapper, hapuka and kingfish. It’s nearing the end of some of these seasons, but Lamb says the fish are still plentiful.
“We pulled in an 80 pound kingfish last week, and we’ve been having amazing snapper fishing too – we bought back 20 on our last trip. The numbers come and go depending on species and regions, but for these fish it’s been one of the best seasons on record,”
The success of the competition depends largely on the weather - last year, the competition came about after a month of 50-knot southerlies. Not ideal.
“We didn’t get a kingfish last year, but in the past we’ve had them up to 50 pounds, and snapper up to 20 pounds,” says Lamb.
Another section awards the fisherperson who catches the most species.
“It’s quite a challenging section – you have to use different baits, in different terrain and at various depths. I think the winner with the most in the past had seven,” says Lamb.
And while ‘ladies’ and ‘juniors’ are both eligible for taking out the top prize, they also have their own sections.
There’s more than $15,000 worth of prizes to be won, including a $2000 rod and reel- the winner of which will be drawn from a hat during the prize giving.
Aon Home Managers fishing competition, Wellington, May 13-15.