AON - SOUTHERN BAIT CHALLENGE FISHING COMPETITION
in association with The ROCK 96.3FM, Home Managers and Waitai Cottage
May 16 - 18 2008
All in all the competition was a big success due in part to the great weather all weekend and part to the plenty of competitors catching some good fish. Everyone came back safe without any injuries (apart from one unlucky angler who got a hook in his bottom while taking his daughter fishing).
Included are the 'drawn prizes' team and species section winners.
Statistics
Over the three days we had 222 people entered including 142 anglers in 60 boats, 9 anglers in kayaks, 80 anglers off the shore, 10 kids, 16 ladies and 10 juniors.
In the boat section there were 11 teams and 24 anglers in the most species section. Off the shore we had 5 teams and 15 anglers fishing the most species.
12 Anglers chose to fish boat and shore sections at separate times.
There was an even mix of participants from Wellington and the Hutt Valley with 12 anglers from the Kapiti area and 6 anglers from the Wairarapa. Quite a few surfcasters fished the Wairarapa and quite a few boaties fishing the Kapiti area.
The weather was almost perfect with light winds Friday and Saturday and a northerly getting up to 15-20 knots by lunch time on Sunday. A one to 1.5mtr swell on the south coast made fishing a little tough for the surfcasters over the w/end and added some extra ''surface berley'' for the occasional boatie.
Boat - The west coast produced a good number of snapper and a few kingfish were lost. Hapuka were in good numbers out wide and large terakihi were caught down past Boom rock. Nicholson’s trench produced bass, bluenose and puka. A 25kg bluenose was caught on vessel Daniel but not by a contestant.
A few sharks were caught in the boat including tope, sevengill and porbeagle. Quite a few warehou, trevally and john dory were caught and we will probably add these species in our next comp. Elephantfish were hard to catch in the harbour but some nice snapper and gurnard were caught.
62 boat anglers weighed in 209 fish
Shore - The west coast was perfect with anglers fishing places like Boom Rock, Waraki point, Makara and Paikakariki. The south and east coast were harder fishing with a 1.5 mitre southerly ground swell on Friday, easing to one mtr and less through the weekend. Surprisingly no gurnard were caught.
Snapper, trevally or kingfish can be hard to catch and none were caught that I am aware of. Plenty of kahawai were taken with the leading fish only 100 grams away from a trip to the 3 kings. Moki fishing was tough with only 2 weighed. Plenty of spotty sharks, red cod and barracouta were weighed in. 50 fish were weighed off the shore by 34 anglers.
The kayak section was more popular this season, 3 anglers weighed in 20 fish and 9 entered. Kahawai were mainstay of the catch with snapper, bluecod, terakihi and gurnard as well. Good to see this kind of fishing gaining popularity. I have seen some great fish captured in Wgtn from kayaks over the years including snapper to 30lb and kingfish to 25lb. Shore anglers are using kayaks to get to better spots quickly and catching a few terakihi and snapper on the way home.
The ladies did well this season with Sandy Rogers leading the way with a 5.6kg snapper. Kahawai, terakihi and barracouta, spotties, a herring and parrotfish were also weighed in by 10 anglers.
Junior Section Logan Gibb and Josh Lawson caught some nice fish in the boat including kahawai, elephantfish, terakihi, bluecod and gurnard.
Kids section Jade and Jackie Lamb caught weighed the biggest spotties in the comp and had a ball with their mum at the Evans bay coastguard reclamation (a good kids fishing spot). Gloria Porebski caught a nice herring, a 500gm barracouta, a parrotfish and a slimey mackerel (with the help of her dad Chris). Melody, Naiomi and Johnathon Ashman all caught nice parrotfish.
Teams - This was an interesting section. You could have up to 4 anglers in the team and all your quality fish weighed were worth a point (shore - moki, spotty shark, kingfish, snapper, trevally and boat - groper, bass, bluenose, snapper, kingfish, gurnard). You could only weigh one fish per specie per day in the comp so it was a real challenge.
The shore section was hotly contested by Team Salty Seamen (renamed from last years winning 4, ‘Codsman of the apocalypse’) and Team WSAC. Both teams weighed a moki each and Team WSAC pipped salty seamen by one spotty shark.
The boat section was a one pony race with Murray Davis's team, ‘More Toys’ weighing 15 fish (a new comp record) and Steve Brown's team senator with 6 fish.
Most species - Another good challenge really testing an anglers skill in wide and varied conditions.
In the shore section, Tim Henley and Cliff Deighton both caught 4 species each but in the event of a tie (as with any sections of the comp), the 1st weighed angler wins. Under normal conditions a gurnard or barracouta would be easy to catch but for these two anglers it was not to be. Four other anglers caught 3 species each.
In the boat section Arron Houghton, Cark Caldow and Andy McEwan all caught 5 species (kahawai not included). Andy weighed 1st (only just) to clinch the title. Anglers found it hard to catch 2 or 3 deepwater species or a combo of Snapper and elephantfish. Tarakihi, bluecod and gurnard were easier but no-one really strung it all together. An interesting contest
Bad luck stories were a plenty with lost fish, a hook in the backside and 2 lost rod/reels over the side (nice gold coloured ones). A few anglers didn’t read the rules properly and missed the final weigh-in cut at 3pm on Sunday, including the heaviest bluecod.
I shouldn't be mentioning names here as I don’t want to embarrass particular anglers but lets just say a couple of Greek gentlemen lost rods over the side and a particular commercial fisherman/part time charter deckie got a hook in the fleshy part of his anatomy. Hard luck to the entered angler on the charter boat Daniel who's 25kg bluenose was 'stolen' - caught by the non-entered anger fishing next to him.
Prizegiving/weigh-ins
Joseph will have a computer based catalogue system next year so the results and updates will be more forthcoming. Also we will have a set of trade industry scales for NZ record purposes and more accurate weighing.
John 'Mystery; Morrison and myself hosted the prize-giving and although we had a few 'admin' hitches, it all went well. Next year we are looking at entrants putting their entry cards into a box at the prize-giving for the un-struck prizes (you will have to be present to be eligible.
You might have noticed Fat Freddy Drops keyboard player 'Iain Gordon' at the prize-giving looking very dapper. Iain caught the 3rd heaviest snapper in the boat section and lives local.
Next year/season
We are planning to run the following competitions next season - kids and junior fishing comp, ladies fishing comp, Kayak fishing comp.
Also we are looking for sponsors to cover a 'modest condition' boat and 4x4 for 'lucky draw prizes' at next years May fishing comp. If anyone knows of a boat or car dealer or anyone else who might be interested in helping please let us know.
Drawn prizes next year will be drawn at the prize-giving by anglers putting their entry cards in a box.
It has proven hard to run a profit in a large fishing competition without running a 'fish auction' or attracting 300 + participants. If anyone knows a charity who can help with this or a better way of attracting a bigger crowd, please let us know.
Any feedback on this of other matters is greatly appreciated.
Results
THE ROCK 96.3FM SHORE-BOAT SECTION
HEAVIEST KAHAWAI OVERALL – shore or boat
$1500 3 Kings fishing trip (1 spot - 2009) sponsored by Pete Lamb Fishing and Home Managers ltd
1st - Ivan Stevenson 2.664kg (boat caught) (Paraparaumu)
2nd - Ricky Vreeburg 2.542kg (shore caught)
3rd - Mark Saxton 2.412kg (boat caught)
4th - Tim Soloman 2.3kg (shore caught)
HEAVIEST KINGFISH OVERALL – shore or boat
$1000 Penn VW 50wide gold lever drag reel sponsored by Penn and Aon Insurance
(no kingfish caught - will be drawn out of the hat under police supervision) winner Andrew Richardson
DAIWA Deepwater fishing section - heaviest fish
Bass
1st - Daiwa 600h reel and rod value $550 - Lindsay Mills 7.4kg - (Stokes valley)
2nd - romariz LBV 2001 ‘ mothers milk port value $75. not caught, drawn - Iain Gordon
Groper
1st - Black Magic Equalizer gimbal and harness valued at $400. Brady Gold 23.5kg (Johnsonville)
2nd - romariz LBV 2001 ‘ mothers milk port value $75. Dave O'Neill 22.29kg
Bluenose
1st Daiwa deepzone 24kg rod value $350. Steve Brown 10.08kg (Rongotai)
2nd romariz LBV 2001 ‘ mothers milk port value $75. Mike Taylor 7.38kg
KILWELL Inshore boat fishing - heaviest fish
Bluecod
1st - Tica Blue ‘bling’ lever drag reel – value $350 sponsored by KILWELL. Hamish Garratt 2.328kg (Paraparaumu)
2nd – $160 charter voucher donated by west coast charters. Ross Page 2.264kg
Terakihi
1st - Tica limited Edition 10-50lb ‘bling’jig rod value $250 sponsored by KILWELL.Nick Hartley 2.804kg (Whitby)
2nd – owner hooks value $125. Matt Nolan 2.572kg
Gurnard
1st - Abu Garcia GT345 reel and mussel tip rod value $230 sponsored by pure fishing/abu garcia. Rob Schofield 1.52kg (Stokes Valley)
2nd - Gamakatsu product value $125. Tim Hill 1.468kg
Snapper
1st – Kiwi Sizzler stainless steel boat BBQ value at $450 – sponsored by youvella and ryoshi. Tim Hill 6.5kg (Stokes Valley)
2nd – $100 worth of kingfish jigs and suffix hat value $100 sponsored by suffix. Sandy Rogers 5.6kg
Elephantfish
1st - Abu Garcia gt345 reel and mussel tip rod value $230 sponsored by pure fishing/abu garcia. Jason Gibb 6.26kg (Eastbourne)
2nd – Abu Garcia Ultracast pro 7ft rod value $100 sponsored by pure fishing/abu garcia. Clark Caldow 3.546kg
Kingfish NONE CAUGHT
1st - $245 Accomodation voucher for Furneaux Lodge. Drawn Elise Ofsofke
2nd - Abu Garcia Ultracast pro 7ft rod value $100 sponsored by pure fishing/abu garcia. drawn Peter Garratt
WAITAI COTTAGE Shore fishing section - heaviest fish
Blue moki
1st – $445 learn to dive package – donated by splash gordon. Cliff Deighton 3.072kg (Miramar)
2nd – 5 packs exude softbait, tica hat and kilwell towels value $100 Tim Henly 2.466kg
Spotty shark
1st - Penn 850 reel and silverado 3pce rod value at $400 Tony Stenhouse 6.55kg (Johnsonville)
2nd – Shimano polar fleece, hat and shirt value $125 sponsored by shimano Felix Wenzel 5.29kg
Barracouta
1st - $250 voucher for Outwide tackle + charters Mark Palmer 3.33kg (Raroa)
2nd - Shimano polar fleece, hat and short value $125 sponsored by shimano. Daniel Long 1.854kg
Red cod
1st – $300 worth of suffix braid/nylon products and SPOTX guide Jan Collins 2.048kg (Newlands)
2nd – Okuma rod rack value $100 sponsored by Okuma . Carl Vink 1.942kg
Gurnard none caught
1st - $250 worth of berkley products including gulp and SPOTX guide drawn Auseklis Ruffell
2nd – Owner hooks value $125 sponsored by owner drawn Andrew Reid
OKUMA Land based gamefishing section – heaviest fish
Kahawai
1st – Kilwell LBG rod value $500 Sponsored by Home Property Managers. Ricky Vreeburg 2.542kg (Paremata)
2nd - Okuma rod rack value $100 sponsored by Okuma. Tim Soloman 2.3kg
Snapper NONE CAUGHT
1st - Okuma Salina 4000 set with braid value $450 sponsored by Okuma drawn Bruce Deer
2nd – bottle of Romariz LBV 2001 port value $75 Sponsored by Romariz drawn Adam Mada
Kingfish NONE CAUGHT
1st - 24kg Berkley gorilla stick, 2 packs of gulp value $200 sponsored by Pure Fishing/berkley drawn Richard Rawlings
2nd - romariz LBV 2001 ‘ mothers milk port value $75 Sponsored by Romariz drawn Logan Eastham
Trevally NONE CAUGHT
1st - Okuma surf reel value $275 Sponsored by Southern Bait drawn Owen Martin
2nd - romariz LBV 2001 ‘ mothers milk port value $75 Sponsored by Romariz drawn Chris Bailey
CANOE AND KAYAK (WGTN) Kayak section – best fish
1st - $300 voucher frmo canoe and kayak . John Barnett kahawai 2.268kg (Wainuiomata)
2nd - $150 voucher from canoe and kayak. Rowan Wright 2.244kg
3rd – $50 voucher fmo canoe and kayak, . John Barnett 2.144kg
LADIES - best fish – the Daryl Edwards memorial prizes
1st – $300 voucher to spend at the shop Sandy Rogers 5.6kg snapper (Carterton)
2nd – $150 voucher to spend at the shop. Elise Ofsofke 2.118kg kahawai
3rd - $50 voucher to spend at the shop. Dina Stempa 1.352kg tarakihi
TIMBO’s Junior section – BEST FISH
Junior Max Collett (Newlands) actually caught the best fish (as judged by pete) a 3.4kg spotty shark but due to an admin error got missed out. Congratulations to Max, we are organizing another price for him
1st - Rovex Surfcasting3pce surf rod and longcast reel value $225, hat sponsored by tim henley. Josh Lawson 4.364kg Barracouta (Wgtn)
2rd - XOS planno tackle box value $175, hat sponsored by tim henley. Logan Gibb 2.598kg elephantfish
3rd - Hot Shots rigs value $125, hat sponsored by tim henley. Josh Rawson 2.130kg bluecod
HOME MANAGERS LTD most species SECTION (of the eligible species)
Shore – bluemoki, spottyshark, snapper, gurnard, kahawai, redcod, barracouta, kingfish, trevally
1st - $225 worth of berkley products including gulp and hat and SPOTX MAP Tim Henly 4 species (1st weighed) (Newlands)
2nd 7ft Fenwick eglass 8-10kfg rod with fuji componentry value $125 sponsored by pure fishing/berkley Cliff Deighton 4 species (2nd weighed)
Boat – groper, bass, bluenose, snapper, elephantfish, bluecod, tarakihi, gurnard, kingfish
1st - $225 worth of berkley products including gulp and hat AND SPOTX MAP Andrew McEwan 5 species (1st weighed) (Miramar)
2nd - 7ft Fenwick eglass 8-10kg rod with fuji componentry value $125 sponsored by pure fishing/berkley Clark Caldow 5 species (2nd weighed)
SOUTHERN BAIT Team section – shore- Up to 4 anglers
1 point for each of the following fish weighed snapper, kingfish, blue moki, spotty shark, trevally
1st – A $1000 voucher for a 3 – 5 day lbg trip to east cape or the far north for 4 people, 4 x hats, 4 x spot x guides team WSAC (cliff deighton, felix wenzil, glen newman, jan collins) 6 points
2nd - 4 x shimano hats and tshirts and kilwell towels
value $400 sponsored by shimano team Salty Seamen (jason christenson, tim henly, neil angus, tony stenhouse) 5 points
WGTN FISHING CHARTERS Team section – boat
Up to 4 Anglers
1 point for each of the following fish weighed snapper, kingfish, bluenose, bass, groper, gurnard
1st – A $1000 voucher for a 3 - day Marlborough Sounds
trip with Wellington Fishing Charters, 4 x hats, 4 x spotx maps team More Toys (murray davies, clarke caldow, andy mcewan) 15 points
2nd – 4 x shimano hats and polar fleeces and kilwell towels value $400 sponsored by shimano team Senator (Sean Horgan, Steve brown, Mike Quillan) 6 points
BERKLEY - ABU KIDS SECTION
Herring 2-5yr
1st - Fishing products, hat. Gloria Porebski (Wgtn)
Spotty 6 – 10yr
1st 10 trip pool voucher, fishing hat, value $125 jade lamb (Hougton Bay)
2nd NZ fishing news voucher, hat JACKIE LAMB
Other fish – 2-5yr
1st - $45 charter voucher, hat GLORIA POREBSKI (parrotfish)
2nd – fishing game, hat MELODY ASHMAN
Other fish – 6-10yr
1st – fishing product, hat lochlan rodgers (1.5kg snapper) (Carterton)
2nd – fishing game, hat naiomi ashman
THE ROCK 96.3FM HARD LUCK STORY
HUTCHWILCO life jacket (fitted) value $125 - Goerge Karasc
Thanks also to Tackle Tactics, Fishing Essentials, Nacsan, www.fishing.net.nz, NZ Fishing News, The Dominion Post, Baseline Imaging, The Kapiti Observer for help in advertising and prizes.
Pete Lamb
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