All female contest is bait for babes'

"Fisher babes" will battle it out in the annual, all-female, fishing competition at Castlepoint this weekend.

Dianne Millar, one of the event organisers, said the fishing would take place both days from 6.30am, weather permitting.

Prizes will be awarded for "top boat-based babe", "top babe on a boat 20-foot and under" and "top land-based babe".

Eight species of fish in both the boat-based and land-based sections will be part of the competition.

Prizes will be awarded based on the weight of the fish but the fishers who catch all species of fish are also in with a good chance of winning "top babe".

There will also be a prize for the average-weight kahawai.

The all-female fishing competition began in 1999 and Mrs Millar said it started as a way for women to get away for a day.

"It's usually men that go out for the day fishing and women stay home with the children.

"We just thought 'let's have a ladies one' and it's taken off quite well," Mrs Millar said.

She said more than 150 anglers participated last year and hoped numbers would be even higher this year.

"It's always been a fun competition. It's nice if you win a prize but the idea is that you're there for the fun," she said.

Palmerston North band Twisted will play in the marque at Whakataki Hotel on the Saturday night to finish the event.