Fishing Report
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Despite the recent atrocious weather, fishing for the table is still holding up well, with good snapper of 2 to 3 kg, the odd tarakihi available on the offshore reefs, and gurnard arriving on the sand. I also managed to catch two blue cod over 2 kg at the end of June. These prime eating fish came from the plateau that rises about halfway out between the Goblin and Castle Islands and were the largest of this species I have caught in our waters. Land-based fishing is also firing with Steve Singer landing a 7.375 kg snapper on 15 kg off the rocks north of Sailor’s Grave.
Congratulations to Melita Dean for the tag and release of a striped marlin on 3 July; this fish being the first marlin for our club and New Zealand for the new season which commenced on 1 July.
Our six week long Kilwell competition was held from Saturday, 7May through Saturday 25 June. The heaviest snapper, at 8.180 kg, was caught by Ian Jowett, heaviest kahawai a fish of 2.240 kg, was caught by Julie Elliot, heaviest trevally, a fish of 2.425 kg, was caught by Frank Watkins, and first junior was Cruz Kilpatrick with a snapper of 1.120kg. The Kilwell Cup was won by Julie Elliot with a total of 11.395kg from one each of the three species, and she was also top lady angler for the competition, with her snapper of 7.580kg.
Shooting: There were 15 licensed shooters in the shooting section and 36 geese were shot. Noah Clarke won the heaviest goose at 4.940kg, and Harry Clark, most geese, with nine birds.
Our inaugural Ace Towing Southern Bluefin Tuna Tournament commenced on Tuesday, 28 June, and will conclude at 4:00 pm on Saturday, 13 August. Unfortunately, due to unfavourable weather, only 2 fish have been weighed thus far, with 9 caught the day before the competition started. Congratulations to 6-year-old small fry angler Cooper Thomsen who landed a 37.65kg Southern Bluefin using 15kg tackle on dad Rodney’s boat, Adventurer. This fish, a new club record for a small fry angler, will be checked as a potential New Zealand and World record. Congratulations also to Simon Coe fishing on Cyang who has landed the heaviest blue fin tuna for the season thus far, with a fish of 59.000 kg on 37 kg tackle. Fish of the month for June was albacore and the one litre of Black Heart Rum sponsored by Asahi Beverages was won by Melita Dean, with a fish of 17.25 kg. Fish of the Month for July is southern bluefin tuna.
Tight lines,
Wayne Barnes
Tairua-Pauanui Sportfishing Club (TPSFC)