Fish contest `too big' to cast aside

It will be the end of one era, and possibly the start of another, at next week's Ninety Mile Beach Snapper Classic.
The competition, which offers a $50,000 prize for the heaviest snapper caught during the five-day event, has been organised since its inception 25 years ago by the Brljevich family.
Father Tony started the event from the family's The Park accommodation complex and in recent years it has been organised by his sons Paul and Ross, growing into the biggest of its kind in the country.
But the Brljeviches sold The Park in 2004 with Paul now living in Matamata and Ross in Christchurch, making organising the event difficult.
Paul Brljevich said this would be the last year the family organised the event, but he was confident others would take over.
"The contest will keep going. It's become too big an event for the area not too," Mr Brljevich said.
"It's been a wonderful event to organise and we are proud of what we've done. But it's time to move on."
While it's the end of the Brljevich era, it could be the start of another.
"Now that we won't be organising it any more it gives us the chance to come up and fish the event for the week. We've always wanted to do that so maybe next year Tony, Ross and myself will be up here as competitors," Mr Brljevich said.
But he claims that living in the area most of his life has not given him any expert knowledge on where to catch the big snapper. At least if he does have the good oil on the best spot, he's not sharing it.
The event is limited to 1000 people and this year fishers are coming from as far away as Canada and Australia in search of the elusive big one.
The contest starts on February 21 and will pump about $6 million into the Far North economy.
The heaviest snapper caught during the event will earn $50,000, while the heaviest snapper caught each day is worth $3000. A Ford Courier double cab vehicle and Ford Falcon sedan are also in the prize pool.