Snapper Bonanza going ahead after securing much needed sponsorship

90 Mile Beach Snapper Bonanza will go ahead in 2017 after Durapanel Systems Ltd purchased naming rights for the competition.

Concerns that the 2017 90 Mile Beach Snapper Bonanza might not happen have been allayed, with Awanui firm Durapanel Systems Ltd purchasing the naming rights.

Organising spokesman John Stewart also thanked Mayor John Carter, district councillor Mate Radich, Summit Forests NZ and Peppers Carrington Resort for their support, and collectively putting the competition back on a sound financial footing.

The five-day tournament will begin on Tuesday March 14 (after the traditional briefing on the Monday evening).

The challenge now, he said, for the organisers and competitors, was to show the sponsors that their support for the event was of value to them, and to the Far North.

Last week the organisers began making up for lost time, issuing invitations to last year's competitors to buy tickets with their 2106 numbers, if they wished to do so.

They have until December 25 to do that, while the early bird draw (for a $4500 Seahorse kontiki) closes on January 31. Tickets will cost $275 until January 30, and $320 after that.

The field will be restricted to 800 anglers.

The only change to last year's format concerns the Thursday (now the Daiwa/Finor day), with anglers permitted to surfcast anywhere from the bottom of 90 Mile Beach on the west coast to Tokerau Beach on the east coast, from 7pm on the Wednesday.

The deadline for weighing fish will be 10.30am on the Thursday, with the daily prizegiving to be held at the earlier time of 3pm.

Mr Stewart apologised again yesterday for the delay in issuing ticket information, but reiterated that the event had gone very close to being abandoned, at least for next year.

"Without sponsorship it doesn't happen," he said, "and Durapanel, and other supporters, have thrown us a lifeline.

"We cannot be finding new sponsors every year though. If you enjoy this event, please support all our sponsors. We will be publishing the full list shortly."