Big fish, big day

NO LOCAL beach didn't stop the New Commercial Boating and Fishing Club from having an outstanding inaugural fishing competition.
The Mountain Motors Open Boat Fishing Competition was open to all fishers Taranaki-wide, with huge prizes up for grabs.
Just over 100 rods were entered in the competition on Saturday, April 5, with competitors fishing from Patea, Ohawe, Opunake, Cape Egmont, New Plymouth, Waitara, Waiti and Mokau.
Fishers had excellent, calm conditions, which saw huge fish being caught throughout the day.
Fishers could enter in five groups - snapper, blue cod, tarakihi, gurnard and kahawai, with five prizes up for grabs in each section.
As no tarakihi was caught the prizes were given out as lucky draws.
The club also gave away $1500 worth of spot prizes.
Committee member, Don Oakes said the entire event ran smoothly, with lots of positive feedback from fishers.
"One person said it was the best fishing competition he had been in as there was no waiting and great organisation. Another person said he would be back next year and would take part in any other contest we had," said Don
Don would like to thank the chairman and the committee for all of the hard work and longs hours put into organising the contest.
A big thank you to the bar staff, volunteers, sponsors, supporters, fishers, other Taranaki fishing clubs, the Old Folks Association for supplying a new venue since the fire at the New Commercial Hotel and everyone else who was involved.
Don would also like to thank Clive from MAF in New Plymouth for scrutinizing the weigh-in of fish.
All of the fish caught were auctioned and the money raised will be donated equally to the three rest homes in Stratford.
At the clubs annual meeting a resolution was passed that 70 percent of all money coming into the club would go back out in prizes.
The club would like to thank Motor Mountains Stratford, Tank and Trough Cleaning, Taranaki Worm Products, Park Hall Investments, Fishing & Hunting, Bunn Contracting Ltd and Stratford Metal Supplies.
Results
Snapper
1st Howard Goble, Lady Inara (boat), 8.6700kgs (weight of fish)
2nd Troy Burkhart, Last Chance, 8.2950
3rd Bruce Trott, Last Chance, 7.6200
4th Matt Cleaver, Pass N Time, 6.6300
5th Steve McEwen, The Slayer, 5.7040
Blue cod
1st David Armistead, Boardroom (boat), 1.7720kgs (weight of fish)
2nd Neil McMillan, Boardroom, 1.6680
3rd Zac Armistead, Boardroom, 1.3760
4th Brian Percy, Intruder, 1.2540
5th Murray Aspinall, Last Chance, 1.2180
Gurnard
1st David Armistead, Boardromm (boat), 0.7460kgs (weight of fish)
2nd Brendon Ironmonger, Reel Class, 0.7400
3rd Pat Wilkins, Vertigo, 0.6900
4th Neil Volzke, Ali-Ann, 0.6880
5th Zac Armistead, Boardroom, 0.6460
Kahawai
1st Newt Hart, Vertigo (boat), 2.6160kgs (weight of fish)
2nd Maurice Hurley, Margaret Marie, 2.6080
3rd Ross Clements, Air Bourne, 2.3980
4th Troy Burkhart, Last Chance, 2.2480
5th Kevin Herbert, Shall Sea, 2.2020.