This week, the Bay of Plenty hosts two of its most prestigious and long-running fishing tournaments but each has some changes that entrants need to be aware of.
The 42nd Rotorua Casting and Angling Club's Surf Fishing Bonanza will take place on Sunday, January 30, and, while the contest area from Otomarakau to Matata remains unchanged, the start time has been moved from 9am to 8am.
The organisers have made the move in the hope that the earlier start time will bring anglers more rewards as the tide will be halfway in and rising when the first baits hit the water.
Stop fishing is now at 2pm with the weigh-in at Greenfields farm, about a kilometre past the Pikowai Reserve camping area heading towards Matata, starting at 3pm.
Another bonus will be that those participants travelling longer distances will be able to be on the road home earlier.
Entry fee is unchanged at $25 per rod or handline and this year's prize pool totals $20,000 in cash and sponsored goods.
Tickets are available throughout the Bay of Plenty, just look for the contest poster on display, or from HQ on the day of the event.
The top prize is $6000 cash for the heaviest snapper and $1000 for the runner-up.
The top kahawai weighed in will earn its captor $1000 cash with $300 for the next heaviest.
The third to sixth best snapper weighed will receive goods to the value of $350 for third place and $250 for the rest.
The third best kahawai wins prizes valued at $250, fourth $200, and fifth $100 but it would be a good idea to weigh in any kahawai you catch because there will be a new BBQ for the kahawai closest to a mystery weight.
Attending the weigh-in would also be a good idea as there will be plenty of spot prizes on offer there plus some lucky angler will get a new Viking kayak and accessories package valued at $1000.
The master of ceremonies will again be the highly entertaining Shamus who will enthral with his magic skills.
There will also be a lolly scramble for the kids, and refreshments and a BBQ can be purchased at HQ during the weigh-in.
The youngsters are never forgotten at this contest and, this year, there are 10 prizes to be won by those under 12 years of age.
All are sponsored prizes and the values range from $300 for the heaviest fish, $150 for second, $100 each from third to sixth and $50 each from seventh to tenth.
Chances are good that other species of fish will be landed during the contest and trevally could well be one of them.
The two heaviest trevs win product vouchers valued at $300 and $50 while the heaviest fish of any other species receives a voucher for $350 and the runner-up $150.
The two women weighing in the heaviest fish of any species will receive a $200 voucher for first and $50 for second.
Last but not least, Coastcare will be checking out entrants for their environmentally sustainable use of the beaches and vehicles and people staying off sand dunes.
The best they observe will be awarded $500 cash and five others will receive $100 cash.
Last year, the contest, now the third biggest of its kind in the country, attracted good entries and plenty of fish were caught.
Given decent weather, it is a great way to spend a Sunday at the beach.
The other major event in the BOP this week is what was for many years known as the Whakatane Tuna Tournament but this year has been reformed and renamed the Extreme Boats 20K 4Way Tournament.
Briefing will take place at the Whakatane Sportfishing Club's rooms on the wharf tomorrow night. The club has set a maximum of 600 anglers for this event and they will compete for a prize pool totalling more than $20,000.
Tournament fishing starts on Friday and the final weigh-in and prizegiving are on Sunday.
If you are lucky enough to get in as a late entry, the cost is $100 per angler and, for those not members of a gamefishing club, day memberships can be had for $20 per angler per day.
Where the contest differs this year is that the major prize pool has been spread over three species - marlin, tuna and snapper - with the heaviest of each weighed-in during the event receiving $5000 cash.
As a bonus, $5000 cash will be awarded to any team that weighs in these three species during the contest and, if more than one team achieves this, then a draw will be held to decide the winner.
Qualifying species for the main cash prizes are black, blue and striped marlin, yellowfin, big eye and southern bluefin tuna, and snapper with a minimum length of 45cm.
There will be overall prizes awarded for the best five fish weighed in each of these sections over the three-day tournament.
Other prize categories are for trevally over 2kg, kingfish over one metre and 15kg, and albacore tuna over 10kg.
In addition, eight lucky anglers will win a spot prize draw for a 50W Two Speed game reel.
Being in One Base format, boats will return to the river each night and the club will be open for refreshments, meals and no doubt the good luck and hard luck stories of the day.
Given the atrocious weather conditions of the past few days, the fish out there are likely to be hungry and ready to attack trolled lures and baits. The long-range forecast looks good and the club will be hoping for a fish-filled start to this new event.
Fish just one of the prizes to be had by lucky winners
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