A HUGE turnout for the Tutukaka Small Boats Contest
With the promise of some good weather (about time!!), 115 boats and some
three hundred anglers turned out for the ever popular Warren Hay Marine /
Shimano Small Boats Contest in conjunction with Lowrance and Golden Homes
on March 21 & 22.
Saturday, Day One of the Contest dawned clear and bright and, with ideal
weather conditions, expectations were high. First on the board was Julie
Hawkins on "Pot Black" with a Striped Marlin weighing in at 80.8kg on 24kg
line. Next to register was Brad Greenall fishing on "Either Side" with a
great honeymoon present for he and new bride (and skipper) Leah Greenall
with a Stripey weighing in at
100.8kg on 24kg line. John Holdsworth fishing on "Rogue" tagged a great
Striped Marlin estimated at 130kg on 37kg line, but the catch of the day
went to Merv Wardell on "Ice" with a beauty Blue Marlin tipping the scales
at 192.2kg on 37kg line. Sadly the story for the rest of the day were the
numbers of fish "dropped" with some boats suffering from at least two
"drops" for the day - some great video footage was taken we believe to
help relive the tale of the ones that got away!!
Sunday, Day Two and conditions had deteriorated somewhat with a Soueaster
moving in, making life less than comfortable for some of our small boats.
It was the team on "Westside2" who broke the drought for the day with Doug
Andrews recording his first fish, a Striped Marlin weighing in at 94.6kg -
Westside2 proudly flying their brand new marlin flag (bought bright &
early on Sunday morning). Next came Brogan Taylor on "Hookd" with a lovely
Stripey going 126kg on 37kg line followed by a tagged Mako Shark estimated
at 50kg on 15kg line by Kelton Ryan on "Divider" and a tagged Hammerhead
shark to Andrew Lyons on "Miss Magic" estimated at 130kg on 37kg line.
Rounding off day two was Gary Purdy on "Annihilator" with a Blue Marlin
tipping the scales at 207.4kg on 24kg line.
The Gameshark section was decided by way of a draw between two anglers
with equal points, and it was Kelton Ryan who came in second and Andrew
Lyons who took out first place honours.
The tagged Marlin section was of course won by John Holdsworth on "Rogue"
with the only tagged Marlin for the Contest. Full honours went to Gary
Purdy taking out the heaviest Landed Marlin section with his beauty 207.4
Blue receiving not only a truckload of prizes but also the Pips McCoy &
Thomas Trophy for the most points for a single fish and the Yamaha Trophy
for the heaviest fish on a boat with a Yamaha motor - not bad for your
first Marlin!!
As always a great atmosphere here at Tutukaka for the Small Boats -
wonderful to see some very excited first time anglers and so many
visitors, some from as far away as Palmerston North, for a great
tournament so proudly supported by Warren Hay Marine, Shimano, Lowrance
and Golden Homes.