Hamilton’s Stuart Webb (right) is congratulated by DB Breweries’ Eddie Commons on winning the Export Fishing Competition’s main prize, an Extreme 545 Centre Console.

Before Stuart Webb’s name was drawn as the Export NZ Fishing competition boat prize winner, his fishing had been confined to land-based and, more recently, kayak excursions.

He was introduced to his new boat – an Extreme 545 centre console, powered by a Honda 90hp outboard, with Lowrance elite electronics, sitting on a GFAB trailer – at Auckland’s Outboard Boating club on Tuesday by NZ Fishing Media’s managing director Grant Blair and sales manager Josh Williams.

While the weather for the handover was miserable, it did nothing to dampen Stuart’s delight at his $80,000 windfall.

He was already planning his first mission to the Coromandel mussel farms with his young family. Only a week ago, he had invested in a kayak to broaden his fishing horizons. Little did he know the good news that lay just around the corner.

Stuart was a newcomer to the measure-based, free-to-enter online competition – but it only takes one fish to win. In his case, a solid 54cm snapper. All anglers entering a fish in the 2021-2022 competition were eligible for the draw.

This year’s prize is a versatile and stable Extreme Centre Console fishing weapon with the ability to fish four people comfortably, powered by a Honda 90hp to get the crew out and back safely, and without costing an arm and a leg in fuel. Pride of place on the dash is a Lowrance Elite FS 9”, to help with the fish finding and navigation. Under the rig is a custom-built GFAB alloy trailer, customised to carry the centre console. Finally, the boat is made comfortable with U-DEK decking throughout the vessel (which also provides a safer, grippier footing surface), while another stunning wrap from Brave Design personalises and protects the rig. The fishing department was not forgotten, with Stuart now the proud owner of a couple of Shimano combos for soft-baiting and jig fishing. The winner has everything he needs for his family and friends to enjoy time on the water.

The Export competition ended on May 31^st with the boat draw. It was the biggest season yet for the event, with over 5000 catches submitted in an attempt to win over $100,000 worth of prizes.

For full details of the species winners and champions, new Hall of Fame inductees, and the announcement of the CRC Champion Angler, check out the website www.fishingcomp.co.nz, or the July issue of NZ Fishing News.

The 2021-2022 Export NZ Fishing Comp $80,000 Prize Boat.