It’s time to cast your line for a great cause - and maybe reel in a big win – as Coastguard Tauranga hosts its annual fishing competition next month.
With more than $10,000 in prizes, raffles and auctions up for grabs, the event from Friday, November 21 to Sunday, November 23 promises plenty of excitement for anglers of all ages.
“We have caps, coolers, a kayak, fishing rods, trellis kits, tackle bags and even a Mercury 3.3 outboard motor from The Boat Place,” said competition organiser Mac O’Brien.
“There are also fantastic prizes from Stoney Creek Outdoors, who’ve generously supplied prizes for all divisions, as well as from Hunting and Fishing, Burnsco and Smart Marine.”
The prize pool doesn’t stop there – entries are also in to win tackle, chilly bins, homeware items, outboard motor servicing from Master Tech Marine, an open-water dive course from Dive Zone Tauranga, a $600 voucher from Hutcheson Boat Builders for remedial work, a Polynesian Spa package, fuel vouchers from GoFuel and Coromandel resort accommodation.
Some of the prizes donated for the Tauranga Coastguard fishing competition. Photo / Brydie Thompson.
First, second and third prizes will be awarded for the longest fish caught – in snapper, kingfish and kahawai divisions.
Measure and release
“We’re using rollout rulers so anglers can catch, measure and release their fish,” said O’Brien. “Each participant gets an angler number and submits a photo for the leaderboard. There’s no weigh station – you can release your fish or keep it; it’s optional.”
Entry fees are $50 for adults and $25 for juniors, with a free entry pack for the first 50 skippers to sign up. Entries close at 6.30pm on Friday, November 21.
O’Brien said the goal is to raise around $20,000 for Coastguard Tauranga.
“We’ve already raised about $7500 in sponsorship so far, thanks to Port of Tauranga and many other silver sponsors. This is our third year – the first year we raised about $10,500 with 125 anglers, and last year we only had about 100 anglers. We’re really pushing to get 250 anglers involved this year,” he said.
Prizes in the Tauranga Coastguard fishing competition include a Mercury 3.3 outboard motor from The Boat Place and a kayak. Photo / Brydie Thompson.
Land and sea
Anglers including kids can fish from boats, kayaks, jet skis or even off the wharf – and yes, drone fishing is allowed.
“The rule is that you catch it on a line,” O’Brien said. “We have great sponsorship and lots of prizes and we need people to come and fish.”
A competition briefing will be held at Tauranga Sports Fishing Club at 6.30pm Friday, November 21, with fishing starting immediately after and continuing until 3pm Sunday, November 23. The prizegiving ceremony will take place at the same venue that evening at 6.30pm.
For more information or to enter, visit: www.tsfc.co.nz or call 07 578 6203.