Another Winston seems to be holding the country at ransom again. This time with large amounts of hot air from Tropical Cyclone Winston. Freddy and Queen are on the radio singing “It’s a kind of magic”, a most appropriate song for this year’s Simrad Nationals.
Whangamata Classic – was way better than just a classic fish. Great fish caught on all three days. A top Blue Marlin was caught by club Rear Commodore Roy Hoskins on 24kg line weighing in at 226.6kg on day two. A top Striped Marlin was caught on the last day again, and again on the launch Te Ra. It weighed in at 171kg, the second place Striped Marlin weighed in at 141kg. 151 boats entered with 575 odd anglers, adding to what was another great Whangamata Ocean Sports event.
Fantastic day on the water for Hickeys Opotiki boat at Te Kaha – The fish of a lifetime, a yellowfin tuna of 81.2kg had its tail end bitten off by a mako shark just as the ‘fin was being traced at the boat! It took two long hours to bring to the boat. Glenn Steenson was on the rod with crew Jeff Gayman, Julie Penney & Tim Hickey (skipper). Fishing first day of Nationals at Te Kaha, the yellowfin are making a big comeback!!
Danny Mills with a pending NZ record Mako shark – 83kg on 6 kg line and a 7 1/2 hour fight. She did such an awesome job aboard Rampant Charters, from Napier in the Hawkes Bay.
Whilst fishing in the Tauranga Nauti Girls competition earlier this month, angler Shirley Waterhouse weighed in a 92.1kg Yellowfin Tuna off the vessel “Whai Whare”.
Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club – The boys on Sequil landed three nice SB Spearfish last night in ground prep area on their grid map weighing 18.30. 15.58. 12.96 respectively. Three different coloured Lures that hooked them.
Waihau Bay– 70.1 kg Yellowfin Tuna to Sam Toner fishing on Ballistic caught day two on 37, aptly called a fish of a life time.
From Mercury Bay – There is another possible NZ record claim for a Mahimahi caught weighing 19.23kg caught on a 24kg line.
From Gisborne – Check this out, a 188kg Broadbill caught by Mahe Lauti, off Penguins today. A 41.6kg SBSF caught by Mike Andres off the vessel No Excuses, this is a pending world record claim.
NZSFC SIMRAD Nationals mid event noteworthy fish – Day 4 is upon us and there is another 4 days to go. Here are some of the many great captures that may interest you;
Team Red Gill Lures angler Nathan Adams has the best Broadbill so far at 194.3kg and another 6 tagged and released fish. Louise Stewart has the best Blue Marlin, 240.1 kg for Tauranga. Both these fish are heaviest and hold the lead in single fish most points.
The Heaviest Striped Marlin is 156.4kg, but the best points Striped Marlin is 119.7kg on 15kg line for the Manukau Sport Fishing Club. The heaviest tuna, a Yellow Fin, weighs in at 70.1kg from Waihau Bay, yet the best points comes from a 33.8kg Yellowfin caught on 15kg line out from Whakatane. Great fish are being caught right up and down the country. To date there have been 254 fish landed and weighed, with another 124 fish tagged and released, giving a grand total to date of 378 game fish.
Editor
Current Lines