Anglers finally land $50,000 prize

A judge has ordered organisers of Hawkes Bay's biggest fishing contest to hand over a $50,000 prize, six months after it was withheld following a dispute over the rules.

In Napier District Court, Judge Geoff Rea ruled in favour of Hastings angler Stewart Reddy who landed a 352.2kg mako shark during the Napier-based Coruba Megafish tournament in February.

The Hawkes Bay Sport Fishing Club disqualified the monster, alleging a rope used to secure the shark was too long.

However, Judge Rea said he was satisfied on a proper interpretation of the rules that the fish was legally caught from a boat with a rod and reel, by Mr Reddy from the boat Pawnbroker. The ruling clarified the meaning of the word "caught".

He accepted the evidence of Mr Reddy, others aboard Pawnbroker and those on a nearby boat, that the rope was used only to secure the catch to the boat for the 50-nautical-mile voyage back to shore.

The mako was the biggest in the competition and heavier than the 250kg needed to take the $50,000 prize.

Mr Reddy said he was pleased the court determined that the rope had had no bearing on the capture of the shark.

"The ruling makes it clear that the team fishing from Pawnbroker interpreted the rules correctly and in the manner that most other anglers have practised in the past," he said.

The mako was disqualified at a weigh-in, a protest rejected, and the drawcard prize went unpaid.

But in court Judge Rea accepted the "uncontradicted" evidence that the disputed rope was placed around the shark only once it was dead, and only for transporting it back to shore.

Pawnbroker skipper Glen Hicks said: "We still regard the Coruba Megafish as a truly great fishing tournament. We'll be back out there again in February to see if we can do it again."

Club president Terry Jenkins was unable to be contacted yesterday, but the club was not thought to have decided whether to appeal.

- NZPA