Anglers reel in the Bonanza’s biggies
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 •
A SEMI- retired Gisborne woman described as a “tough nut” reeled in a massive hapuka more than half her weight to take three of the prizes at Gisborne Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club’s big fishing competition during the weekend.
Sixty kilogram Ruth Veall’s winning battle in the deep ocean with a 32.5 kilogram hapuku won her money for the heaviest fish, the ladies’ heaviest fish and the heaviest hapuka in the 27th Enterprise Nissan Bay Bonanza.
Fishing off son Warren’s boat Rhythm, she said reeling the big fish in “was quite hard — it was a strong fish.”
At the clubrooms later, the crew proudly showed pictures of them holding Mrs Veal so she did not get pulled off the boat as she fought to get the fish on board.
“She is a tough nut,” they said.
The hapuku is not the biggest fish she has caught — she landed a heavier yellow fin about four years ago.
The excitement of the day did not end with the prizegiving for Mrs Veall.
She was one of 40 people drawn out for the lucky angler draw to win a $34,450 Navara DX double cab ute. A couple of years ago, Mrs Veall made it to the last two in the draw and on Sunday made it to the last 10.
There were plenty of nerves for the 40 hopefuls as they stood in a group at the front of the clubrooms and one by one were knocked out of the draw.
The fourth name called could not be located among the group and there was a 15-minute delay while organisers sorted out what to do next. After a roll call of the remaining hopefuls, it was decided that person must have left.
Twenty-year-old Sam Currie was the eventual winner of the ute, with Justin Kahere taking the runner-up prize of $750 in travel vouchers.
“It was really nerve-racking up there. I asked the last guy if he wanted to arm wrestle for the ute before the last ball was drawn,” said Mr Currie.
He was “stoked” with his win. It topped off a great weekend on the boat Shapeshifter.
Of note among the prizewinners was Surfit crew member Sue McGregor’s 2.8 kilogram kahawai — .04 of a kg heavier than husband Boyd’s second-placed kahawai.
Viard Sheridan’s boat Nicolette took the most prizes. Sons Liam and Blake Sheridan caught the heaviest and second-heaviest kingfish and Liam also won the heaviest fish by a junior. Viard won the prize for heaviest trumpeter.
There were no marlin or tuna caught for the competition, with Michael Bond’s 87.3kg striped marlin caught on Friday not heavy enough to make the 90kg minimum qualifying weight.
Club president Roger Faber said the competition was suspended because of big swells on the second day but the last day of fishing on Sunday could not have been better.
“The fishing took a turn for the better. Over the past few months it has been tough fishing so, hopefully, it is a sign of things to come.”
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