Glenn Beamsley's dedication to the Eides Sport $40,000 Surf Fishing Contest has finally paid off.
A 12-year veteran of the competition, Mr Beamsley was the big winner of the day yesterday after hooking himself a 7.8kg snapper, the biggest of the day.
Not only was it the first snapper the Napier manhad ever caught from Wanganui's shores, but it also landed him the coveted top prize of the competition, a $10,000 Suzuki 4x4 motorcycle.
Mr Beamsley said he had a lot of family in Wanganui and he hadn't missed a year of the competition since he started attending 12 years ago.
In previous years the best he had done was to land a few spot prizes, but this year he was one of just four to land a snapper.
Last year, there were no snapper caught.
Mr Beamsley said his fish had been tough to land, because every time he got it in close, it would start fighting and run out again.
He would be celebrating with his family, and the snapper was destined for the dinner table, he said.
When the Chronicle spoke to event organiser Grant Clark, he was watching the traffic jam of cars leave Landguard Bluff with satisfaction.
It had been the best year of competition yet in terms of weather and crowds, he said.
Competition entries were filled to capacity at 800, and there was no real congestion along the beach.
Everyone seemed to get along together really well this year, he said.
The volunteers who helped keep the day running had been awesome, and they couldn't have done without them.
The best part for them was seeing the fishing poles out, stretching right along the coastline from the South Mole to the Whangaehu River, and the amazement of people who had never attended the competition before.
"It's just fantastic," he said.
With all $40,000 worth of prizes given away, the only thing left to do was pack up and go home.
