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Friday 12 February 2021
Heaps hooked at fishing competition
Pete Hamilton won the top auction prize bid for the kingfish caught and donated by Kelly Jaquiery. Photo: Shelley Grell. SHELLEY GRELL
The banquet of fish caught during the Pohara Boat Club Fishing Competition over Waitangi weekend saw amateur anglers green with envy. There were fish of all types, weights, and legal sizes, including a 10.9kg beast of a snapper caught by seasoned seadog Chris Ray. And, had they hauled it on the boat, the metre-plus-long blue shark hooked and eagerly released by Colin and Kelly Jaquiery may have beaten the records fins-down. Keen for some fishing tips, young entrants Lucas McCleely and Aleisha Best were asked where they got their catch. The retort was quick. “Secret spot!” replied Lucas. Colin was less schtum. “I go where I want, and the fish come to me. The trick is using lots of burley. There is plenty of gurnard and snapper around, and blue cod is coming back.
Every year it’s improving,” he beamed. Although the sea on Saturday morning was a bit rough on the guts, by mid-afternoon the winds died down to provide perfect fishing conditions that continued through the weekend. Newbie entrants Sam Goffriller and Rex Bowden poo-pooed the swell off Separation Point in their little lucky dinghy. Despite a post-late-night chunder off the side, Rex and his mate Sam caught an impressive haul that kept volunteer filleters Chris Ray and Niall Richards busy. “We were sitting in Wainui Bay when I hooked a big one. It could have been a winner were it not for my 30lb rod snapping in two when it was in the holder. I had to buy another rod,” said Rex. Sunday was pick of the days, with a calm sea, blue sky, and many burned singlet
late on the first day of the competition only to realise he’d forgotten to put his rods on the boat. “We introduced the fish auction and filleting to raise funds for the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter, as they’ve had a few callouts in the Bay lately,” said Amy. It was a good call as both the freezer trailer for the donated catch and the offal bins were filled to the max by the close of the competition. “We give much of the fish away to friends and family,” said Kelly Jaquiery. “I donated my kingfish to the auction, and our friend Graham is taking today’s catch with him back to Auckland to share with his mates.” Her kingfish was hotly contested and was gleefully won by Pete Hamilton, who was determined to take it home to his Tata bach for dinner. Results and more photos on page 2.
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shoulders as evidence. The car park was chocka with vehicles and boat trailers of the 106 entrants, such that latecomers had to find a park elsewhere. In addition, the boat club bar and deck were humming with supporting spectators. Organisers Amy Ashford and Graham Baigent went above and beyond to ensure a win-win for everyone. The horde of generous sponsor prizes they netted exceeded expectations. A top prize Weber BBQ donated by Hammer Hardware was awarded to Craig Hodgkinson for the impressive 10.45kg seven-gill shark that he and skipper Danny O’Neil reeled in. Of course, everyone has their days when things just don’t go right, and the “hard luck story award” recognises the saddest of tales. There were plenty of contenders, but the honour went to Kim Bourke for racing out
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THE GB WEEKLY, FRIDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2021
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