First big fishing comp this weekend

ABOUT 40 boats and 100 anglers are expected to take part in Gisborne Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club’s first big fishing contest of the year this weekend.

The Hunting and Fishing Inshore Fishing Competition targets the shallower species like kahawai, terakihi, kingfish and blue cod and offers $10,000 worth of prizes.

Club president Roger Faber says after the huge swell earlier this week, yesterday it looked like it was dropping away.

“The north westerly really flattened it out and for the weekend it looks like there will be around a one metre swell and a 15 knot wind.”

Most boats will be able to get out and fish for the competition species in the bay or at Whareongaonga where it is sheltered from forecast winds, said Mr Faber.

Next weekend is the ladies fishing competition, which has more than $8,000 in prizes and is “all about the women”.

“Fishing in our waters so far has been really good when we have been able to get out. Last week there were some really good-sized fish caught, a kingfish and a bass, and nationally there have been some good bigeye tuna, yellow fin and nice blue marlin caught too.”

Anglers will be hoping the water warms up for the club’s big game fishing competition, the 33rd Enterprise Cars Bay Bonanza with a $65,000 prize pool including a $20,000 cash lucky angler draw.

“Temperatures were good but they have dropped away a bit lately, but once the weather settles down it won’t take long to come baclk up again and we should have a good game fishing season.”

Anyone wanting to see what has been caught in this weekend’s contest can head down to the inner harbour by the fishing club where catches will be weighed from about 3-5pm today and between 2-4pm on Sunday.