Tuna catch beats marlin for $10,000 top prize

TUNA TRUMPS: William Faulkner with his yellowfin tuna. He caught the fish off charter boat Glistening Waters, skippered by Alister Reid (right). Picture supplied

Despite a strong challenge from Hawke’s Bay the top prize was claimed by a local at the Gisborne Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club’s Liquorland Marlin and Tuna Tournament, which finished yesterday.

Gisborne angler William Faulkner reeled in a 52.25-kilogram yellowfin tuna yesterday to win the $10,000 for the heaviest marlin or tuna.

Williams caught his 10-grand fish off charter boat Glistening Waters.

It knocked Hawke’s Bay competitor Kelly Wilson off the top spot after he weighed in a 97.45kg striped marlin on Friday.

“The way it works is you double the tuna weight, so William (with a doubled weight total of 104.5) beat the only marlin that was caught that was over our minimum eligible size of 90kg,” club logistics manager Kathi McGregor said.

A total of 308 anglers on 89 boats took part in what was supposed to be a four-day contest . Day one was cancelled because of the weather.

“We had 15 Hawke’s Bay boats so it was a very good competition,” said Ms McGregor.