Catching the only two snapper to be weighed in on the first club day of the new calendar year can be known to make your head swell as well as giving you a jump start on the 90 Mile Beach Surfcasting Club's points board - and such was the casefor Miko Rogers when he reeled in the only snapper caught during the Riders Sports Field Day on Sunday, January 6.
Miko's brother, local surfcasting commentator Jack Rogers, noted sea conditions were testing to say the least for the non-scale contest with gusty southwest winds and a two-metre swell. Eventually, two snapper, four trevally and 12 kahawai were weighed in by 28 club members and one visitor with Milton Arnold claiming his first silverware for the new fishing year after landing the heaviest Non Scale Fish Trophy with a 33.77kg stingray.
The other top results were, heaviest snapper Miko Rogers 2.14kg, heaviest trevally Dave Hallett 2.84kg, and heaviest kahawai Fred Cassidy 2.4kg; then, visitor Michael Moses (a previous club junior champ in the Far North visiting his parents) trevally 2.60kg, 5 (e.g. fifth place); Wayne Newcombe (who travels from Auckland to contest each and every club day) kahawai 1.85kg, 6; Sandy White stingray 29.02kg, 7; Dave Harrison trevally 2.59kg, 8; Jo Arthur kahawai 1.66kg, 9; Beryl Andresen stingray 6.40kg, 10.
Also, Special Prize: Quaylan Wikitera, Haggle (2.3kg): D Harrison; Riders Sports Trophy (closest to mystery weight of 1.75kg kahawai): J Arthur.
The club's next contest is this Sunday, the Ray White/ Huketere Hook fieldday being fished from 7am-2pm over a 2.7m low tide at 10.48am. Prizegiving and a barbecue will be held by the club caravan at Waipapakauri Ramp following the weigh-in.
