Prize fish tempting for anglers

Beni Hafoka's black marlin weighed in at 375kg. Photo / Supplied

Big yarns follow the big marlin as the fishing season has kicked into high gear.

And Papamoa's Beni Hafoka has the biggest story so far - a 375kg black marlin caught on January 7.

"There's unlikely to be a bigger one in New Zealand this year," Hafoka said.

He set a record for the Tauranga Game Fishing Club, beating a 320kg fish caught back in the 70s.

Tauranga charter fisherman Russ Hawkins said a striped marlin weighing 132kg caught near Mayor Island was a standout.

"One of the guys I talked to was in that same area [on Wednesday] and I think he had three or four marlin come into the lures. It was a sight to behold.

"One of the guys did hook a big fish the other day and lost it. He said it was a horse."

Interest in angling was running high everywhere this week.

Herald on Sunday fishing writer Geoff Thomas said conditions were brilliant around most popular spots after poor weather through Christmas and New Year.