The snapper slayer, @danielfobbester has done it again! Off the bricks he's landed a beast of a 91.5cm specimen, caught in the far north. Now the current leaderboard-topper, Furuno Snapper World Cup leader and the =5^th biggest snap we've ever seen in the Competition, what's even more amazing is that it's been released to see another day. Read on about the story of a catch of a lifetime...

"Spent 5 incredible days up north, diving back into my passion for fishing after a long work hiatus. The thrill of the chase was worth the wait! Landed over 100kg of mullet, 40kg of bullet tuna, and hooked around 20 Kahawhai, creating an epic snapper session. Mother Nature threw in some rain, wind, and wild weather, making it a true adventure on the bricks.

Among the prized catches were 3 snapper that exceeded the 20lb mark, with many more in the impressive 15-18lb range. It took some serious perseverance to release the mighty 28lb snapper, but eventually, it took off, leaving us in awe. Couldn't capture a photo due to the adrenaline rush, but managed a few quick snaps on the measure mat before returning the beauty to the water. The excitement of releasing fish means more chances for my kids to experience the same thrill of landing a beauty.

All in all, the two of us managed to land over 60 snapper on this trip. We shared one big snapper with the generous landowner's family of 14, ensuring they enjoyed a delicious meal. For our own families, we kept four mouthwatering pannies. The secret to our success? Half mullets, sometimes even whole, or a combo of half Kahawhai and two tied bullet tuna baits. Those snapper couldn't resist!

Oh, and guess what? My trusty baitrunner Ci4 got spooled by an elusive Kingie or who knows what mysterious creature lurks beneath. One thing's for sure, I'll be back at that spot, determined to land that elusive 30lb horse. It's just a matter of time, right? ??

Before all this, the night before the trip, I did manage to catch an impressive beauty weighing in at 10.7kg. We happily kept it for the family of the spot. Moments like these remind us of the joy and connection fishing brings."

-Daniel Fobbester

For more about the Export NZ Fishing Competition click here.