Reeling in the prizes at mega fishing contest

Raymond Webster with his surfcasting prize won for a weighty kingfish caught after a long battle.

The Kairakau Marine Club is well known for organising a first-class fishing contest and this year was no exception.

The club has amalgamated what used to be four separate fishing competitions, run throughout the year into a two-day fishing extravaganza which this year saw 40 boats launched at 6.30am on Saturday, January 3.

Fishing then continued until late afternoon two days later, followed by a prizegiving barbecue attended by more than 250 people.

Kairakau Marine Club president Matt Ward said the small club was proud to have recently joined LegaSea Hawke's Bay to promote fish stock sustainability.

"And we are so thankful for the great support we get from the entire community for our competition."

Support also came from Coastguard Hawke's Bay who taught the families of Kairakau Beach how to check life jackets, use the boat radio and how to light flares if an accident ever happened and the boss of the boat was incapacitated.

At the prizegiving the spectators cheered when Rob Webster won the lucky rod draw - $1000 that could be spent in store at Hunting and Fishing, Guns and Tackle, or on a fishing charter with owner Paul "Wooly" Woodhouse.

The McCoskery Cup went to Jonty Strong for his 11.1kg groper.

All prize categories went to seventh place so there was lots of chances to win either a music docking system, electric drills, jackets, knife sets or even a portable gas stove for the boat.

The Skipper's Trophy rewards a mystery species nominated on the day, won by Gerald Blackburn who received a $300 voucher from Harvey World Travel for his 1.3kg gurnard.

Other prizes provided by Craftys Rod and Gun, Rivers to Rangers and other generous sponsors include the heaviest kingfish or tuna, won by Luke Nilsson (15.2kg). The terakihi prize was a tie at 1.7kg for Shorty Bellamy and Brent Muggeridge.Ngaire Duncan won the Shelley Perry Memorial Cup for her 13.1kg kingfish. Lynette Blackburn won an air compressor for her 10kg groper.

Club treasurer Kyle Tostevin had a successful fishing weekend, winning a rod and reel from Seven Electrical for 12 different species (tied with Nigel Harvey) and he also caught the heaviest blue cod this year, weighing just over 2kg.

His father, Dave Tostevin, aged in his 80s, won the oldest angler.

Four good sized snapper were caught and Tim Jeffares won the Carters Rod and reel with his 2.1kg specimen.

Colin Hope caught a 2.6kg kahawai and won a rod and reel from Hanson Products.

Joe Ward, 14, won most meritorious angler with a 10.8kg skipjack tuna.

The most excitement of the weekend was when surf caster Raymond Webster battled for ages down at the far end of the beach and landed a 15.5kg kingfish to take home an East Coast Canvas Dive Bag full of goodies and prizes.

Weigh master Pam Duncan was on hand all day, and Kerri Tostevin and Lorraine Thodey upheld an incredible safety record for the club by monitoring the VHS radio each day.