Beach rods at the ready

The Marklew family chose their spot carefully and moved in early for this weekend's fishing contest. Photo/Bevan Conley

Sue and Trevor Marklew now take their annual holiday at Wanganui's South Beach.

"We used to go to Aussie two or three times a year. Now we go to South Beach," Mrs Marklew said.

This is the fourth year they've camped at the beach for the Eides Sports $40,000 Fishing Contest, and they were well ensconced on Wednesday with a pop-top caravan and awning, a cooking tent, a bathroom tent and a tent for another family yet to arrive.

They cook on gas, because beach fires are completely banned. Their pirate flag was fluttering, the sea was sparkling and, unlike last year, there was no smell of sewage on the light breeze.

Another family, the Houlahans, has been camping 1km further down the beach since January 31, Mr Marklew said.

"They've caught 42 snapper so far, on their Kontiki."

Others were getting their campsites set up. Some bring generators, fridges, stereos and Sky television.

Fishing is a tradition for the Marklew family. Mr Marklew still has the fishing rod he bought from Eides Sports in Wanganui at the age of 14.

"It's still as good as the day I bought it."

Grandson Braydon is learning. Both are entered in the contest this weekend, but Mr Marklew said it wouldn't matter if they didn't catch anything.

"We are here for a good time. There are a few good parties down here at night. It's a great opportunity for families to get together and socialise."

Fishers from all over New Zealand will converge on the 14km shoreline between the Whanganui and Whangaehu rivers this weekend.

The contest is going ahead despite a mystery substance cast up on one end of the beach early last week, co-organiser Miles Johnson said.

Medical officer of health Patrick O'Connnor said testing has found no problem with the water.

"The council has done a great job, and cleaned up that little issue," Mr Johnson said.

"The tests are good. The water is fine and apparently people are catching fish at the moment. Obviously it's up to them to decide whether they want to eat the fish afterward."

The contest is limited to 800 entries, and organisers Grant Clark and Mr Johnson have pre-sold at least 600 tickets. Others can be bought at Wilsons Hunting & Outdoors in Victoria Ave.

Fishers pay $10 a rod for Saturday's kahawai teaser, which is run by the Wanganui East Club's fishing adjunct and has $6000-worth of prizes.

It's $40 a rod for the snapper contest on Sunday and all of the $40,000-worth of prizes must go. The biggest is a $10,000 quad bike.

Weigh-in is at the end of each day at the nearby army camp.