A heavyweight snapper, coming in at 8.945kg, was leading the 90 Mile Snapper Bonanza after yesterday's fishing.
The fish, caught by Grant Dodunski from Te Puke, was leading the race for the $30,000 top prize ahead of today's start to the comp after being caught on the beach yesterday morning.
The monster wasn't a one-off though, as Mr Dodunski's teammate Jackson Brown caught one weighing in at 7.240kg.
The Snapper Bonanza started on Tuesday and continues until Saturday, with the event sold out and the beach packed with fishers all hoping to snag the big one.
The event pours vital income into the area and puts the Far North at the centre of snapper fishing world.
