Big blue reels in $10k, Ted’s tuna a near-world record

This 157.8-kilogram blue marlin caught by Richie Needham on the boat Too Keen won the $10,000 cash top prize in the Marlin and Tuna Hunt. From left are Stephen White, Richie, skipper Nick Greeks and Kieran Venema. Picture supplied

The Marlin and Tuna Hunt tournament that concluded here on Sunday was “amazing with magnificent fishing”, Gisborne Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club president Roger Faber says’

Close to 100 boats and more than 330 anglers took part in the Gisborne Hunting and Fishing-sponsored tournament over four days.

“We could not have asked for better weather on Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” Mr Faber said. “Conditions were absolutely beautiful.”

Forty-two marlin were tagged and released over the four days . . . “well and truly a club record”,  Mr Faber said.

Hawke’s Bay’s David Dodge, off the boat Dodge the Boss, won the $10,000 Lucky Angler draw for tagged and released marlin.

He also won, on his boat’s behalf, the boat sweep pool.

Gisborne’s Richie Needham, fishing from the boat Too Keen, won the $10,000 first prize for heaviest marlin or tuna with a 157.8kg blue marlin.

Eleven-year-old Ted Lincoln, fishing in the junior section off father Rodney’s boat Old Girl, landed a 128.2kg big eye tuna.

It would have won the major prize in the competition if he had been a senior (over the age of 16). The weight of tuna is doubled under the rules of the contest so the big eye would have been converted to 256kg.

The fish wasn’t far off The International Game Fish Association junior world record for a bigeye (Pacific) tuna of 129.1kg caught by Whakatane’s Ben Shaw at Waihau Bay in January 2017.

Mr Faber said in another hard luck story Neil Miller, fishing off Tzer, landed a 225.8kg broadbill swordfish that would have won the contest but it arrived too late for the final weigh-in.

“Neil and his father Craig hooked it outside ‘Baistows’, which is sightly north of the Aerial Reef, at around 2.30pm Sunday afternoon.

“They were still playing it at 7.30pm and finally got to the marina for weigh-in at 9pm,” Mr Faber said.

“It was too late to count in the contest but what a lovely broadbill.”