Saturday snapper takes the cake

ANG 'EM HIGH: Snapper Bonanza organiser Dave Collard looks on as Troy Notton hoists the heaviest snapper caught in the 2015 Placemakers 90 Mile Beach Snapper Bonanza high.

It took until the last day of this year's 2015 Snapper Bonanza for the ultimate winner to be revealed.

Troy Notton reeled in the heaviest fish of the annual surfcasting event on 90 Mile Beach at 10am Saturday, the 8.315kg specimen securing the 24-year-old Kamo man $32,000 cash in the process.

Notton, who emphasised he was originally from Kaitaia, said he used bonito as bait to reel in what became the only fish he weighed in during this year's Bonanza, while fishing Area 1 (a 21km zone on the northern side of Hukatere). Notton's fish pipped the opening day's catch of 8.245kg by Mike Dowden which had held top spot on the leaderboard until Saturday.

While many felt for the Whakatane angler, Dowden proved philosophical at the final prizegiving, happy to have won $2000 for catching the heaviest fish on Tuesday, and had not kept his hopes up from that point on.

Keeping the event's other major prize in the province was Waiharara farmer Greg Mellar, the last man standing from the 12 names drawn throughout the week who were given a chance to win the Mitsubishi Triton ute valued at $50,000. Mellar was clearly stoked when his number was pulled from the barrel punching the air victoriously, and noting he had only been able to fish six hours in total at the event due to work commitments.

Locals in the moneyOther locals to feature at the final prizegiving were Thomas Rogers, sharing the overall average weight prize of $10,000 with Garry Duke from Auckland (thus $5,000 each), while Rogers' mum, Moira, took out the $1,000 cash for landing the ladies average weight overall with a 2.063kg fish. Also winning $1,000 was local Tania Yates for catching the ladies' heaviest snapper overall with a 6.29kg snapper; a decent enough size to be sure, albeit one which hadn't even made the daily leaderboard. Yates' wit proved as sharp as her surfcasting skills when, upon being asked where she had caught the fish, she responded dryly with, "On the beach."

Other Far North names to feature in the money over the five days included veteran surfcaster Milton Arnold (Kaitaia), winning the $1,000 average weight prize and $500 for the 3rd heaviest snapper on day 2 as well as leading his Team Spot X to a $400 cash prize as the best team on day one. The leaderboard on day 4, Friday, was also dominated by Kaitaia names with Mate Petricevich reeling in $2,000 with the day's heaviest snapper at 4.66kg, Ian Christensen taking $1,000 for second place with 4.55kg, and Mike Rameka winning $200 with 5th with 3.085kg. Rameka also won $500 for catching the 3rd heaviest snapper day 1 at 7.65kg, and Simon Brown won Saturday's average weight prize of $1,000 with 2.793kg.

Talking shopOverall, 589 snapper were caught. Most came on Tuesday, day 1, with 321 fish recorded. There were diminishing returns for the near 700 anglers over the following three days - 128 on Wednesday, 124 on Thursday (in which fishing was open to both coasts) and 46 on Friday - before picking up for the final day with 101. When asked to reveal what they had been fishing with, various winners spoke of using bonito, octopus, squid and pipi as bait. The best response, however, came from one angler - potentially representing a large number of hspless participants - who said the best bait was "patience".

It was hard to ignore the presence of several previous winners - who hold near celebrity status in the Far North for the achievement - for again featuring on the prize list. The group included 2013 champion Jeremy Alai winning the average weight prize ($1000) on day 1, and 2008 supremo Vaughan Craven whose team took out the overall team prize award, $4000 and the Snapper Bonanza World Cup trophy, with a combined weight of 52.455kg.

Organisers Dave Collard and John Stewart were unequivocal about the success of this year's event and looked forward to its return in 2016. Collard described it as another very successful week of fishing.

"Absolutely brilliant competition. Nobody could complain about the amount of fish caught," he said, going on to thank those who worked behind the scenes throughout including bar staff, clean-up crew etc. He also thanked the major sponsors for their valued support.

In return there was positive feedback from Peter Hills, whose Team Hamills from Murupara placed 2nd overall for best team of the week (pocketing $1000): "Wouldn't miss it for anything. We live for it."

A comment by the aforementioned Craven provided evidence of the rare and enduring loyalty that the Bonanza enjoyed.

"I've been coming up here for 23 years. Really nice it's up and running," Craven said, referring to the challenges faced by organisers both in resurrecting the Bonanza (from its former incarnation as the defunct Snapper Classic), and keeping it going despite significant adversity over the past few years.

The annual event was regarded more than a fishing contest according to Ken Tyler, a veteran of at least 30 tournaments. Tyler described the Snapper Bonanza as a chance to bond with friends and family, unwind with like-minded people and - "talk bullsh*t!" Now living in Pukepoto, Tyler had moved to the Far North from Te Awamutu for the fishing contest and said he was joined every year by friends and family travelling from the Waikato.

"I love fishing, and I love Ninety Mile. It's a family get-together when we have a good time and talk a lot. If you come here trying to win, you're wasting your time. You come here for the enjoyment," he said. In the 1990s Mr Tyler's brother Ross won the $50,000 top prize; on Tuesday he had to content himself with a 1.9kg fish and a shot at the average weight prize.

- Additional reporting

by Peter de Graaf