It was the biggest fish he had landed in his 18 years of competing. He refused to even consider what he would do if he won the $30,000 top prize, contenting himself with the $2000 cheque for heaviest fish of the day.
"I'm not even going to think along those lines. There's still four days' fishing to go," he said.
In total 376 snapper were weighed in on Tuesday. Co-organiser Dave Collard said it was the best day's fishing he had seen in the four years since the Bonanza started. Contest veterans told him it was the best opening day in the 32-year-history of surfcasting tournaments on 90 Mile Beach.
Conditions were perfect with easterly winds, sunshine, a swell of 2m and falling, and the stir-up provided by Cyclone Lusi bringing fish in close.
The original Snapper Classic, said to be the world's largest surfcasting tournament, was founded in 1982 but folded in 2009 after its new owner ran into financial difficulties.
The contest was rescued in 2011 under a new name, the Captain Morgan Snapper Bonanza, by Mr Collard, a publican and district councillor, and John Stewart, a printer.
Mr Stewart said it was an event the district could not afford to lose. According to a council economic impact report, the contest pumps $2 million into the Far North economy each year. Organisers "did not spend a penny" outside Northland and all prizes were bought from Far North businesses.
Two-thirds of contestants came from outside the district so were also paying for accommodation and meals. Thirty of this year's anglers had travelled from Australia; one came from Italy almost every year.
Mr Stewart said the contest had a powerful appeal.
"To a lot of these people, it's their annual getaway. There's people here who've been coming every year since it started."
However, organising the event consumed a huge amount of time and sponsorship was increasingly difficult to find.
Another problem was the confusion sown by the organiser of the defunct Snapper Classic, who continued to advertise his event even though it had not been held since 2009. The Classic announced new dates online each year, only for would-be competitors to be told later the contest had been cancelled. The result was frustration for fishers and lost ticket sales for the Bonanza.
Mr Stewart said he had lodged a complaint with the Commerce Commission without success.
Organisers struck another obstacle last year when the Department of Internal Affairs alleged the event breached the Gambling Act because it gave away spot prizes worth more than $500. The contest's future again looked uncertain until a law change pushed by MP Mike Sabin.
The 2014 Snapper Bonanza was officially opened by Mayor John Carter, whose home is near the contest headquarters at Waipapakauri Ramp.
The contest is also a fundraising opportunity for other organisations. Houhora Coastguard will be supplying hangi to raise money for a new vehicle. Far North Surf Rescue, which saved the life of an angler sucked out by waves last year, is patrolling the beach.
Best fish of day one were caught by Neil Sides, Kaitaia (9.995kg); Sam Rodewyk, Otumoetai (8.395kg); Richard Grace, Wairoa (7.355kg); Roy Langford, Awanui (6.405kg); and Robert Schrafft, Kaitaia (6.280kg). Average weight (2.377kg) prize, Murray Morris of Matamata. Day two results were not known at edition time yesterday. Top prize in Monday night's earlybird draw, a $4500 Seahorse torpedo, won by Lance Gravatt, Ohaeawai. The all-time record to beat (12.03kg) was set by Te Puke's Darin Maxwell in 2012. Today is Reel Rods day, when contestants fish anywhere from Tokerau Beach in the east to Shipwreck Bay in the west. However, today's fish do not count towards the big prize.
