‘I never win anything’ was nine-year-old Toby Barry’s lament, until he was told he was now the proud owner of the NZ Fishing News 2023 Mercury Take a Kid Fishing (TAKF) boat prize.

The nine-year-old Titirangi Primary student featured in the July issue with a snapper he had caught on the Manukau harbour, not far from his home. It was a modest fish, but one that turned out to have a huge prize attached to it.

Each year Mercury, ably supported by Voyager Trailers and Kilwell Sports, puts up an inflatable boat powered by a suitable outboard, all on a customised Voyager trailer. Kilwell comes to the party with a new rod, reel and tackle box.

Once Toby had come to terms with his good fortune, he was looking forward to taking family and friends for a spin – on his favourite Manukau harbour of course.

Friends Archie, Charlie and Alex were high on the crew list, as was dad Sean. Toby has younger siblings but they are too young to fish yet.

“Toby is the fisherman in our family. We have to do the research to keep up with him,” Sophie says.

This is the first boat anyone in the family has owned and will be a valued asset when they holiday at Hahei.

By way of a name, Toby has come up with Jafa and is still thinking about the spelling.

- NZ Fishing News