Snapper fishing is patchy at the moment with reports from anglers who have caught plenty to some who have barely caught anything. “To increase your chances, fish at daybreak or dusk and if you’re on the sand, bring your tackle a few metres off the seafloor,” says Alan Proctor, Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club (MBGFC) manager.

Things are heating up out wide, in time for the MBGFC Suzuki Top Ten Tuna Tournament which has started on Saturday last week. The eight-day is tournament finishing on Saturday this week. Entries are open

Last month, MBGFC members have weighed two blue marlin, one striped marlin, eight yellowfin tuna and three shortbill spearfish.

Between New Year’s Day and Monday this week, three more striped marlin have been weighed and two has been tagged and released. Several yellowfin tuna have also been weighed in the Suzuki Top Ten Tuna Tournament, including a top spot contender of 53.64kg caught by Craig Scarrott.

Pictured: Craig with his catch. Photo by the MBGFC.