Fishing
FISHING - 2019
The Tall Poppy Omokoroa Boat Club Fishing Competition 2019
The Omokoroa Boat Club’s fishing competitions were separated by two weeks this year. The Kids’ competition took place on Sunday 3rd March (NZ Children’s Day) and the Adults’ competition on 15/16th March.
The conditions were outstanding on both weekends – maybe even too good for the kids’ competition. Those that could entice their young ones out early for the 6am start had the best of the fishing. The water was exceedingly clear in the harbour and as soon as the sun got high in the sky the fish seemed to go off the bite. As ever, though, there are always exceptions to the rule. The winning 2.8kg snapper in the 8-14 year old section was caught at 2.30pm by Tommy Moon and was his new personal best! Good numbers of trevally, kahawai and snapper were caught but no kingfish this year for the kids. We had 91 entries which was great to see and prize giving was a hoot, with all kids receiving a goody bag and fish and chips from Skippers Restaurant, included in the ticket price. Seeing these young people having such a good time out on the water with their parents is really what makes this event worthwhile.
The adults’ completion started on Friday evening at 6pm although quite few boats were on the water slightly early. An investigation was launched but all members of those vessels were found to be in the boat club making sure they were fully hydrated before the long night ahead. With 94 entries the harbour was lit up like a Christmas tree! Flat calm conditions and not a breath of wind meant the whoops when a big one was landed could be heard far and wide as could the laughter from those not taking the fishing quite so seriously.
Saturday morning saw competitors strewn throughout the harbour with secret spots being not so secret with the arrival of daylight. Nearly everybody came home with a feed of snapper and four kingfish were also weighed. The number of kahawai and trevally caught were down from last year but those fish that were weighed in were all a very good size.
Comedy highlights this year were a couple on Friday night who on catching a large trevally weren’t sure if it was a king fish or a trevally. They have been sent a ‘Fishes of New Zealand Book’ on behalf of the boat club for next year. One contestant nearly lost the out board off the back of his boat after one of the clamps came loose. Had it not been for the tight grip he had on the tiller, he would have been rowing home.
Finally, a well known member of the club lost his brand new collapsible bucket over the side when he had a massive hit on his rod that nearly caused him to fall over the side with surprise and excitement. The bucket and fish were never to been seen again.
A massive thank you to Rachel Millard at Tall Poppy Real Estate for being lead sponsor this year and to all our other wonderful sponsors. The spot prizes and donations from these local businesses enable this competition to happen and are what make it really special.
Thank you to all the committee members but especially Stew Weir for their hard work in organizing this event. Thank you also to Rachel our bar manager for all her efforts. It is a real community event and I look forward to seeing you all next year.
Tight lines!
Tim Raeburn
Commodore OBC
OBC KIDS FISHING COMPETITION PRIZE WINNERS 2019
Heaviest Snapper 0-7 GIRLS: Hayliegh Evered Weight: 1.066kg
2nd Heaviest Snapper 0-7 GIRLS: Lilly Watts Weight: 0.874kg
Heaviest Snapper 0-7 BOYS: Evan Baldwin Weight: 1.112kg
2nd Heaviest Snapper 0-7 BOYS: Lachlan King Weight: 1.084kg
Heaviest Trevally 0-7 GIRLS: Paige Moriarty-Rae Weight: 1.798kg
Heaviest Trevally 0-7 BOYS: Evan Ironside Weight: 1.722kg
Heaviest Kahawai 0-7 GIRLS: Lilly Watts Weight: 1.064kg
Heaviest Kahawai 0-7 BOYS: Wilfred Chatfield Weight: 2.030kg
Heaviest Snapper 8-14 GIRLS: Ella Ryan Weight: 1.676kg
2nd Heaviest Snapper 8-14 GIRLS: Thea Roest Weight: 1.624kg
Heaviest Snapper 8-14 BOYS: Tommy Moon Weight: 2.800kg
2nd Heaviest Snapper 8-14 BOYS: Sam Ryan Weight: 1.704kg
Heaviest Trevally 8-14 GIRLS: Imogen Hodgson Weight: 2.216kg
Heaviest Trevally 08-14 BOYS: Ryan Vickers Weight: 2.304kg
Heaviest Kahawai 8-14 GIRLS: Charlotte Elsmore Weight: 1.910kg
Heaviest Kahawai 08-14 BOYS: Noah Farrell Weight: 2.250kg
Average Kahawai (Combined): Cohen Watts Weight: 1.280kg
Snapper Heaviest WOMENS: Emma Sheely Weight: 2.186kg
Snapper Heaviest MENS: Angus Raeburn Weight: 2.918kg
Heaviest Kingfish (OVERALL): Steven Wallace Weight: 10.586kg
Heaviest Trevally (OVERALL): Scott Kirk Weight: 2.624kg
Heaviest Kahawai WOMENS: Emma Sheely Weight: 1.786kg
Heaviest Kahawai MENS: Wade Roest Weight: 2.264kg
Snapper 2nd Prize WOMENS: Nicky Raeburn Weight: 2.044kg
Snapper 2nd Prize MENS: Allan Bond Weight: 2.596kg
Snapper AVERAGE WEIGHT: Kushla Moriarty-Rae Weight: 1.498kg
Kahawai AVERAGE WEIGHT: Emma Sheely Weight: 1.786kg