Described among the New Zealand and international sports fishing fraternities as a "legend", Bay of Islands angler 'Snooks' Fuller will be honoured in the United State for his contribution to game fishing.
Captain Fuller's life-long career in sports fishing in the Bay of Islands and overseas will be recognised inductioninto in the Legendary Captains and Crews Hall of Fame of the International Game Fishing Association at a special ceremony in Florida on February 16.
Snooks is the third member of the Bay of Islands Swordfish Club (BOISC) to be inducted, following Alma Baker in 2006 and John Chibnall MNZM in 2012. BOISSC president Trevor Woolston said the club was extremely proud of the three members and their achievements which continued the strong history of New Zealand's oldest fishing club.
"These inductions highlight the strong part this club has played in the development of game fishing and the conservation of the sports fishing resource. Our club has been at the forefront of protection of the recreational fishing scene in New Zealand and now works internationally with the IGFA (attempting) to ensure that the world's oceans are protected from over fishing and species depletion."
Woolston went on to note Snooks' grandfather started the iconic New Zealand marine business in 1886, delivering mail and supplies by boat around the Bay of Islands and picking up cream from the various farms, later to become popular among tourists as the famous Cream Trip.
"His family involvement in the marine industry meant that a marine career was always on the card for Snooks. At age 19, he designed and built his now famous sports fishing boat, Lady Doreen, using Kauri trees felled near Kaitaia and milled at a timber mill at Rangiahua. The timber was transported to Deeming Brothers boat building shed at Opua where the Lady Doreen took shape. She has become one of New Zealand's best known sports fishing boats and is still in use 61 years later."
Fuller will be inducted alongside five other international sports fishing "legends": captain Jimmie Albright (US), captain Bob Lewis (US), captain Frank LoPreste (US), captain Gary Stuve (US), and captain Laurie Mitchell (US), who fished in the Bay of Islands with famous American angler and pulp fiction writer, Zane Grey.
