Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club

Welcome to The Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club website. Mercury Bay and Whitianga are nestled on the eastern side of the Coromadel and provide a pristine and unspoiled location for the club.

The club has some wonderful history and is one of the first gamefishing clubs to be established in New Zealand.

The Mercury Bay Swordfish and Mako Shark Club was established in 1924 by a small band of local enthusiasts held a meeting in the cargo shed at the end of the wharf.

This location later was to become the home of the Club and the clubrooms remained there until recently when the club moved accross the road to new sparling premises.

The Club’s first recorded day of fishing was on 26 February 1925, marked by its first two catch records – a 300lb striped marlin caught by ‘Chad’ (Mr Chadban) and a 320lb mako caught by local policeman, Tom Cannon.

The news of the wonderful fishing and superb scenery around Mercury Bay and the Mercury Islands spread quickly and in 1928 Zane Grey and his companion Captain Laurie Mitchell arrived to tackle the abundant Mercury Bay waters.

Amazing stories abound and for the full run-down check out the club history here.

However there’s no debate that the waters of Mercury Bay and it’s environs are home to great fishing and a number of world records have been claimed from the area including broadbill, tuna and snapper.

The club records can also be found here. The club is very much family oriented and recognise the value of a healthy outdoor activity for children – the kids wharf fishing days are always a roaring sucess with every child receiving something for their participation.

Every year the club holds a number of tournaments, The Annual One base and The gamefish classic being one of the premium tournaments in the country.

Club members can have a meal and a drink while watching the on water activity as the new clubrooms overlook the estuary and are a great place to catch up with friends.

For the non-resident members, the weekly Friday Flash will keep you posted on what’s happening.

If you’d like more details on who’s who or who to contact at the club click here.

Keep tuned to Gamebase on Channel 61 when you’re in our area – club members are usually on the air to help and assist visitors to Mercury Bay and that familiar call of Gamebase, Gamebase is often followed by the details of yet another great catch in Mercury Bay……