No marlin caught in Gisborne Tatapouri fishing contest but ‘four good days of fishing’

Billy-Mae Macintosh, also fishing from Hook-Sea, from which Hayden Donnelly hooked his $10,000 heaviest tuna winner, took second place in the juniors with this 22kg yellowfin tuna. Photo / Supplied

No marlin were caught and the heaviest tuna weighed in at under 30 kilograms, but the annual Gisborne-Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club Marlin & Tuna Hunt was still a success, club captain Kelly Humphries said.

The Gisborne Hunting & Fishing-sponsored contest drew more than 90 boats with 320-plus anglers on board.

“It went off really well and we got four days of fishing in,” Humphries said. “There were still a lot of good fish caught, but no marlin.”

The club decided to “lucky angler” the $10,000 heaviest marlin prize. Five shared it, receiving $2000 each.

A yellowfin tuna that weighed in at 29.05kg won Hayden Donnelly the $10,000 heaviest tuna prize. He caught it from Mat Macintosh’s boat, Hook-Sea.

“We hooked the fish at the back of South Rocks,” Donnelly said.

“It took less than 10 minutes to get it into the boat.

“I was surprised to win the $10,000 prize actually, because it only weighed just over 29kg, but the crew and I were stoked all the same.

“Actually we’re still in a bit of shock.”

Gisborne Tatapouri put up six boats against the six from Hawke’s Bay Sports Fishing Club that came up for the tournament.

“They won the Continental Airlines trophy that was up for grabs,” Humphries said.

The visitors scored 241 points to Gisborne’s 152.

“It was a very successful tournament and everyone got out and back safely.”

RESULTS - Tuna: Hayden Donnelly, Hook-Sea (name of boat) 29.05kg, 1st; Chelsea Young, Remedy, 24.2kg, 2nd; Sarah Lincoln, Old Girl, 23.97kg, 3rd; Mark Reeves, Charger, 23.915kg, 4th; Shane Leach, Just 1 More, 23.5kg, 5th.

Albacore: James Thomson, Tight Lines, 19.7kg, 1st; Alec Thomson, Tight Lines, 18.85kg, 2nd; Kelly Humphries, Dog Box, 14.51kg, 3rd; Johan Toodt, Sharkbite, 14.265kg, 4th; Mike Bond, Nirvana, 13.25kg, 5th.

Skipjack: BJ Robinson, Charger, 7.875kg, 1st; Mike King, Cool Runnings, 7.19kg, 2nd; Bill Blackmore, Blaze, 6.4kg, 3rd; Scott Davidson, Wahoo, 6.34kg, 3rd; Ray Moleta, Good Newz, 6.2kg, 4th.

Kingfish: Jake Pardoe, Defiant, 15.9kg, 1st; Adam Glenister, Blackjack, 15.4kg, 2nd; Derek Enderle, Glistening Waters, 13.6kg, 3rd.

Junior fish (up to 16): Tom Walmsley, Vaku Levy, yellowfin tuna, 23.6kg, 1st; Billie-Mae Mackintosh, Hook-Sea, 22.125kg yellowfin tuna, 2nd; Hunter Williams, Just 1 More, 18.05kg yellowfin tuna, 3rd; Couper Reid, Pitch Black, 14.195kg kingfish, 4th; Ngakau Maynard, Matariki, 11.05kg kingfish, 5th.

Interclub challenge: Hawke’s Bay 241.430, Gisborne 152.765.

No marlin were weighed in or tagged and released.