Mark Read new Whakatane manager

Former airline pilot Mark Read is the new manager of the Whakatane Sportfishing Club where he has combined two of his passions – management and fishing.

Married with three adult children – two sons and a daughter – Mark lives in Papamoa and commutes to his new office.

He has flown for 25 years, firstly with a small regional operator before Air NZ Link, a company he left 10 years ago to fly both domestic and international routes with Jetstar.

Mark has spent many years in management roles with the NZ Red Cross, school boards of trustees and most recently as the EO of the Wish 4 Fish Charitable Trust.

He and his sons own a six metre alloy hardtop and fish out of Tauranga where they particularly enjoy live baiting and stick baiting for kingies – “there’s nothing like catching a kingie in the Tauranga Harbour in a metre of water” – along with straylining for snapper, either on a shallow bank in the harbour or over a reef offshore.

Mark is looking forward to meeting as many of the club members as possible in the coming season as well as greeting visitors to the club.

“We have an exciting programme lined up for both the club members and visiting anglers alike, feel free to come and check our great facilities out,” Mark says.

The Whakatane Sport Fishing Club occupies some prime real estate adjacent to the main wharf where people can sit and enjoy some great hospitality while watching the boats come and go.