The Franklin Hunting & Fishing Grunter Hunter 2025
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: The Briny Bar
Forum Description: The place for general chat on saltwater fishing!
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=139698
Printed Date: 27 May 2026 at 5:58pm
Topic: The Franklin Hunting & Fishing Grunter Hunter 2025
Posted By: smudge
Subject: The Franklin Hunting & Fishing Grunter Hunter 2025
Date Posted: 16 May 2025 at 8:09pm
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I started this event in 2011, with a 1st prize of $1000.00 and we had something like 80 entries. Our biggest event was 427 entries and members of these forums have featured heavily in the prize lists over the years. Well it has grown a bit since those early years and this year we have $5000.00 for the heaviest red gurnard. We also have $500.00 for the average weight fish. This is my final year at the helm, time for some new blood to help keep things growing and glowing. I always look forward to catching up with you guys and I hope it continues. Tickets are on sale now online http://www.csfc.co.nz" rel="nofollow - www.csfc.co.nz or at Franklin H&F. Ticket sales close on June 2nd so don't miss out. Just remember that Skoti is the weighmaster and results & rum go hand in hand. Nah just kidding, we play it straight - no worries there . Good luck to all! ------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Replies:
Posted By: Schecter
Date Posted: 18 May 2025 at 8:54pm
| If the weather plays ball, I’ll be there. 👍 |
Posted By: Skoti
Date Posted: 19 May 2025 at 7:28am
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Can't wait to win the snapper section...... ------------- COVID is no joke ! One former patient was so brain damaged after , he thought he won an election he lost by 7 million votes . |
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 22 May 2025 at 7:14pm
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On Saturday 31st were having an in store interactive 'how to catch gurnard' session kicking off at 9.00am and going through to midday. Most of you regulars know what to do but would be great to catch up anyway. Ohh yeah it's at Franklin H&F, the big store in Pukekohe. ------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: wayno
Date Posted: 22 May 2025 at 11:29pm
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Will be there again this year Smudge! Think this will be my 9th (maybe 10th?) appearance after poaching the big $1k prize in 2013 on my first trip north. Have learned a lot about the mighty Manukau harbour over that time, (and found a few favourite spots that keep delivering prize winners 👍), and drunk a very large amount of rum at the Hillbilly Mansion... Long may that continue 👍😁🥃 ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow">  To be old and wise you must first be young and stupid. |
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 23 May 2025 at 6:18am
I can't think of a reason for it not to continue Wayno! ------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
wayno wrote:Posted By: SAND GROPER
Date Posted: 25 May 2025 at 3:26pm
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Hey Smudge, its been ages since we had a rum together so better get that sorted too
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Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 25 May 2025 at 6:56pm
Hehe yeah for sure. Hey, didn't we share a few rums on Saturday? Ohhh no that's right we shared a lot of rums! Here's a link for tickets: https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/357227?fbclid=IwY2xjawKfnltleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFMYlAzY2dvbFpNdUVCckE4AR7awqileBwPEYsJmWG6UH8I-_5_juc2bEzvGYiupfnsV22wNinpcc_DDcFl-Q_aem_Mtq0ayNKrQJao7qj-KN3hA
------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: Pcj
Date Posted: 25 May 2025 at 7:00pm
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Wil be Aussie,bad timing on my part again
------------- "Times up" |
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 26 May 2025 at 5:43pm
There is a good write up on gurnard in the 2025 Winter edition of NZ fishing News. It's easy to spot as it has a great cover shot. OK some of the content came from me but Nick Jones (the editor) has done a great job of putting it together. It is easy to overthink fishing but IMO this article really tells a good story (it's supposed to do that Smudge).
 ------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: Grunta
Date Posted: 26 May 2025 at 6:03pm
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Nick always likes to talk to the experts (or in this case, the Gurnard Guru) Smudge so that would be why he called. Nice job and some good insights on how to catch the little Grunters so thanks for the input! ------------- Online... |
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 26 May 2025 at 7:25pm
Thanks Grunta! Was a pretty simple list of stuff from me but yeah, gurnard aren't that hard to catch!
------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: SAND GROPER
Date Posted: 27 May 2025 at 8:48am
 I need to find another one of these at competition time, funny how everyone else does but me. But not this year Smudge ha ha ha |
Posted By: Skoti
Date Posted: 27 May 2025 at 5:04pm
You might want to pick up your game a bit there Gumboot if you want to play with the big boys ( not the way that sounds BTW )  
------------- COVID is no joke ! One former patient was so brain damaged after , he thought he won an election he lost by 7 million votes . |
Posted By: SAND GROPER
Date Posted: 27 May 2025 at 5:46pm
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I don't mind coming second skoti, He who goes second lasts longer Besides we can chat on the day, because I'm following one of the experts, smudge hides his spots ha hahaha |
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 28 May 2025 at 5:23pm
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Just a reminder guys that ticket sales stop at 9.00pm on Monday June 2nd
------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 01 Jun 2025 at 4:29pm
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Just a friendly reminder that ticket sales close tomorrow. We sell tickets at Franklin H&F in Pukekohe - the big store- and online at csfc.co.nz We had a good turnout at H&F yesterday, thanks for those from here that made it there. I am so going to miss doing this next year! I know there are a lot of people who read these forums that don't log in (Smudge Ninja powers show me that) and that's all cool but I wish you all the best of luck for my final gig. A little birdy tells me that there may be a prominent fishing show presence. ------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2025 at 6:23pm
   Some pics from today in the Waiuku Channel ------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2025 at 6:25pm
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Smudge! This thread is about The Grunter Hunter! Did you even get any gurnard?? ------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2025 at 6:26pm
Ohhh yeah, this:  ------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2025 at 6:28pm
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Two and a few hours to get you tickets @csfc.co.nz
------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 03 Jun 2025 at 6:23am
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358 entries! Not too bad at all. Good luck to all the fishers.
------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2025 at 5:50pm
Another one bites the dust, so cool to have so many turn (358 entries) up to an event that you've started up yourself and to be the front man. It's very humbling and the event has been supported by you guys very well over the last 14 years. My last year at the helm and I have mixed feelings about that for sure, I'm already regretting that decision. Anyway! Here are the results: ------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: Pcj
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2025 at 6:50pm
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What was the winning Weight "smudge" Next year hopefully, too much going at the moment. Fallen in love with the motorcycle,but it will pass! ------------- "Times up" |
Posted By: Tzer
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2025 at 8:48pm
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Good to see Arron Parker feature given the conditions he had to endure What about his snapper no consolation prize. |
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2025 at 6:17am
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The winning fish was 1.27kg, the average weight was 0.77kg from memory. Arrons snapper went 4.96kg, pretty good for this time in the year in the shallows, the other snappers he got were 62cm and 45cm which we didn't weigh. No prizes for any species other than gurnard ------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: Schecter
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2025 at 7:07am
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Nice catch Arron. A really enjoyable event. I was knackered yesterday. Hopefully the weather is settled this weekend. I’ll head out again and try catch some more gurnard. |
Posted By: Hookski
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2025 at 9:24pm
| Congrats for running another awesome GH competition Smudge. No prize winners on my boat this year but we had a good haul of carrots. It must feel bitter / sweet to host your final GH competition. But at the end of the day you have left an amazing legacy that you can be very proud of. |
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2025 at 6:12am
Next year then Hookski! Yeah it was as soon as the prizegiving was over that I was questioning my decision to hand the event over. I'll miss the build up but then its a whole lot easier for me to not have to worry about the hundreds of things that could go wrong. In 14 years we've never had to cancel nor had a bad event during the comp. I'm sure the GH will continue to improve. Thanks for your kind words. ------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |