Kaitaia kayak angler wins series

Kaitaia angler Kerry Flowers (right) took out the individual section, and also the teams section with Jason Kemp of Whangarei, in the 2015 New Zealand Kayak Fishing series. PICTURE/SUPPLIED

A keen Kaitaia kayak fisherman, Kerry Flowers, has recently returned victorious from the 2015 New Zealand Kayak Fishing Series, bringing home a new kayak as part of his winnings.

He said he will use it to take the kids fishing.

After winning the individual section, and also the teams section with Jason Kemp of Whangarei (where they were known as Team Pinnacle 2015) in the 2015 series, Flowers said he is ready to try again in 2016 in the hope of becoming a back-to-back champion in the popular fishing competition organised by Orton Events, which takes kayakers to Taranaki, Coromandel, Auckland and Northland.

Flowers said the individual section is judged on the ability to catch five species, the main four snapper, kingfish, kahawai and trevally, and the fifth either john dory or gurnard. Anglers are given three points for each species and add to that tally by just catching a fish, worth four points without needing to 'place' in the top five of its respective category.

Otherwise, placing first (heaviest) gives an angler 10 points for that species, second is worth nine points, down to fifth place which is worth six points.

The teams section had Flowers and Kemp claim the title, with the heaviest total weight of fish caught over the series. Flowers said doing well in the the event depended on good fishing knowledge rather than luck, and required planning beforehand. Some of the New Zealand's best kayak fishermen had given the Northland duo advice at the three outside legs of this year's series.

"It's been a great competition and allowed us to fish some of the best spots in New Zealand including some right here on our doorstep, like Matai Bay," where he captured New Zealand's first marlin from a kayak in 2014.