Fishing: US hall of fame beckons Bay legend

Bay of Islands angler Snooks Fuller, known in world fishing fraternities as a "legend", will be honoured in the United States for his contribution to game fishing.

Captain Fuller's lifelong career in sports fishing in the Bay of Islands and overseas will be recognised with his induction into the Legendary Captains and Crews Hall of Fame of the International Game Fishing Association at a special ceremony in Florida on February 16.

Snooks is the third member of the Bay of Islands Swordfish Club (BOISC) to be inducted, following Alma Baker in 2006 and John Chibnall MNZM in 2012. BOISSC president Trevor Woolston said the club was extremely proud of the three members and their achievements, which continued the strong history of New Zealand's oldest fishing club.

"These inductions highlight the strong part this club has played in the development of game fishing and the conservation of the sports fishing resource. Our club has been at the forefront of protection of the recreational fishing scene in New Zealand and now works internationally with the IGFA (attempting) to ensure that ... oceans are protected from overfishing and species depletion."

Mr Woolston added Snooks' grandfather started the renowned Fullers New Zealand marine business in 1886, delivering mail and supplies by boat around the Bay of Islands and picking up cream from the various farms, later to become popular among tourists as the Cream Trip.

A marine career was always on the card for Snooks. At age 19 he designed and built his now famous sports fishing boat, Lady Doreen, using kauri trees felled near Kaitaia and milled at a timber mill at Rangiahua.

"The timber was transported to Deeming Brothers boatbuilding shed at Opua where the Lady Doreen took shape. She has become one of New Zealand's best-known sports fishing boats and is still in use 61 years later."