Fishing day a washout

Press, 4 January 1978, Page 11

Fishing day a washout

PA Auckland Some said the Ninety Mile Beach fishing competition on Saturday was the worst beach disaster since Dunkirk. However, the exaggerated gloom is understandable. The conditions were dreadful, with a south-westerly gale, pounding surf seeming to stretch out to the horizon, and a high tide which swept through the weigh-in headquarters and trapped many cars and buses along the full length of the beach, though none were lost. There were few fishermen —only 500 or 600—a far cry from the days when thousands competed. From the fishermen’s point of view, the crowning calamity was that no snapper at all were brought to the scales but this was the one thing that saved the day for the Kaitaia service clubs that now run the event, as it meant they or their sponsor Alan G. Mitchell, Ltd, did not have to find more than $5OOO.

One of the few men who smiled was Mr R. Perry, of Hamilton, who won $lOOO for the best kahawai, a fish

of 3kg. He has fished at almost every annual contest, but he said it was the first time he had ever caught a fish or even had a bite. On New Year’s Day in better conditions the Houhoura Heads sweepstake drew a good crowd. The boat snapper prize, of $BO, went to Mr A. Tucker, of Pukenui,

a with a 7.63 kg fish: and Mr f J. Mitchell, of Auckland, won I $52 for a 3.40 kg fish caug'ht i from the shore.

The Kaimaumau contest yesterday was held on Awanui Harbour in beautifully fine weather. An Australian man, Mr J. Morgan, aged 66, won the boat section, earning $llOO with a 3.25 kg snapper. A Kaitaia man, Mr D. Poignand, won a similar amount with a 2.64 kg fish caught from the shore.