Sea of rods as fishermen chase big one

FISHER FOREST: Almost 800 surfcasting rods were in action from the Whanganui River mouth to the mouth of Whangaehu River for yesterday's Eides Sports annual competition. PHOTOS/BEVAN CONLEY

A forest of surfcasting rods stretched for 17km along the coastline south of Wanganui yesterday, all baited to catch the big one in the Eides Sports /Wilsons Hunting and Outdoors fishing contest.

And it turned into a Wanganui benefit with Josh Tewera hauling in a 7kg snapper to win the grand prize - a $12,500 Suzuki quad bike.

Some of the competitors had been camped on the shoreline between the Whanganui River mouth down to the mouth of the Whangaehu River, angling to reel in the biggest fish.

Fishers come from all over the country, even some from Australia this year, trying to get a share of the $40,000 in prizes.

Fishing started at 7.30am yesterday, and cut off four hours later, with prizegiving at Landguard Bluff at 3pm. As well as the quad bike, other prizes were won by the person catching the heaviest fish in a variety of categories.

And when the fishing began there were nearly 800 rods trying to reel in the big one.

Among those baiting up were Andrew Smith and his father-in-law Don Baker from Waipukurau.

Mr Smith is a maintenance engineer and has done the competition before. He and Mr Baker were on the beach at start time but when the Chronicle called all they had caught was a bit of seaweed.

"We were here yesterday (for the Wanganui East Club kahawai competition) as well but didn't do very well. Got a lot of weed then too," he said.

Like a lot of other competitors, they camped overnight at Landguard Bluff.

Mr Smith has been surfcasting for about 20 years and enjoys the relaxed nature of surfcasting.

"I don't get stressed out if I don't catch anything. It's a day off work if nothing else."

Another over from southern Hawke's Bay was meat worker Kane Saunders. A couple of mates coerced him into entering the competition.

They were camped on South Beach from late Friday afternoon, one sleeping in the back of the ute and the other two in a pop-up caravan.

Mr Saunders was playing "camp mother" when the Chronicle called, preparing a "brunch" of sausages, venison steaks and onions. All the while he was keeping an eye on his rod, that he already cast out.

Grant Clark has been running the competition for 24 years now and even though Eides Sports is no longer in business, the name remains and so does the contest. It's recognised as one of the three top surf fishing competitions in the country.

He said it carried on through the generosity of regular suppliers.

"Suzuki NZ have always been on board (the main prize is a quad bike). All the other suppliers who have been on board for years have stuck with us."

Mr Clark said they start organising the tournament back in August and, he said, what keeps him going is the people who come for the event.

"They're awesome and you get great comradeship. With all the bull**** that's happening these days, you just don't see it down here."

He said while there were nearly 800 rods, for each rod there would two or three people including mums, dads and families.

Mr Clark said what made the event tick was the help of the volunteers who have been involved for years.

"We usually make enough money to build it up for next year. The only scary part is worrying about the weather. Touch wood we've been very lucky."

Results (all Wanganui unless otherwise stated)

Snapper: Josh Tewera, 7.005kg snapper ($12,500 Suzuki quad bike) 1; Monty Apiata, 3.935kg ($1500 cash) 2; Jason Luke, 1.463kg ($1200) 3.

Kahawai/red cod/gurnard: Jason Luke, 3.159kg kahawai ($2100 barbecue) 1; Bruce Grimwood (Wellington), 2.92kg kahawai ($1000) 2; Donald Gailey, 2.88kg kahawai ($800) 3.

Non-scaled section: R Haddon, 13.78kg stingray ($1000 Kilwell fishing package) 1, Jimmy McNeill, 7.50kg stingray ($750) 2, Tony Bullivant (Napier), 4.183kg shark ($600) 3.