Torpedoes launched en masse in Whatuwhiwhi

The Karikari Kontiki Klassic, the annual torpedo fishing contest, returned to base at the Whatuwhiwhi Top 10 Holiday Park on the beautiful Karikari Peninsula over the last weekend of the school holidays.

Thirty-six teams - featuring four anglers each - took part in the Reel Rods contest this year. Event spokesman Evan McKay noted it was an amazingly successful tournament overall with some lovely fish caught.

The heaviest snapper weighed in at 8kg and was caught by the Nicholas guys in the Nikora Ninjas team, another team weighed in an 8.8kg kingfish, while the overall winners were Ron Fenwick and Herbie Adams' H&R; Ltd team which caught a total weight of 34.8kg.

"In what must be a first for fishing competitions in New Zealand, the three major suppliers of electric fishing kontikis all got together as mutual sponsors and three lucky teams won one of their torpedoes each," McKay noted, adding the main prize of a Seahorse was won by Charlie's Angels, a team from Manurewa led by Charlie Pou who was the overall winner of the inaugural event in 2011.

Once again expertly compered by Mark de Lacy, aka The Minstrel, the event is scheduled again for the July school holidays in 2014 and has become a must for land-based kontiki fishermen to put on their calendar.

"No doubt this year's entrants will be returning en masse to what has become a wonderfully innovative, kid and family friendly and sociable event."

A total of 299 fish were weighed in at the 2013 Karikari Kontiki Classic held from July 26-28 and the results were, Snapper: Nikora Ninjas 8.0kg, 1 (i.e. 1st); Waipap Rampstars 6.2kg, 2; Kauhanga 5.6kg, 3. Kahawai: 295x45x20 2.6kg, 1; Shotcrete Beachboys 2.4kg, 2; Kauhanga 2.4kg, 3. Gurnard: H&R; Ltd 1kg (1st by countback) 1, Nikora Ninjas 1.0kg, 2; Koromoko 1kg, 3.

Other: 295x45x20 8.8kg kingfish 1, 2 Men & A Muppet 2.8kg pufferfish, 2; Boom! 2.4kg pufferfish, 3. Overall: H&R; Ltd 34.8kg (e.g. total weight), 1; Kauhanga 31.8kg, 2; Sanson 31.4kg, 3; Nikora Ninjas 30kg, 4; Hillbillys 28.4kg, 5. And, Mystery Weight Snapper: Charlies Angels 2.4kg.