Baited breath for contest anglers

The hooks are baited, the boats are loaded and anglers are just praying for calm seas and still air tomorrow for the 16th Castlepoint fishing competition.
An estimated 300 sea jockeys will be vying for the fattest kahawai, kingfish and snapper in the annual tournament for both land and boat-based fishing hosted by the Castlepoint Fishing Club.
Andrea Easton, a club committee member, said if the weather played ball they might have an even bigger turnout.
"It doesn't have to be 'sunny sunny', as long as we don't have too much wind and the boats can go out as well, then everyone's happy."
If the weather became choppy, as it did Sunday last year when the boats were left high and dry, they would either wait a few hours until it cleared or call off the day and hand out spot prizes.
The top prizes are $1000 each for the heaviest snapper and heaviest kahawai over 3.5kg, and a $1000 voucher for a designer fashion store for the heaviest kingfish.
The prizes and expense for the Castlepoint fishing competition is largely funded through grants and sponsorship, with funds raised from the $25 entry fee and raffles going back to the Castlepoint community.
Mrs Easton said it had been tougher to get sponsorship last year due to the recession but this year was slightly better after gaining and losing sponsors.
The Castlepoint Fishing Club kept $10,000 in reserve to fund the following year's competition in case they encountered a shortfall.
Mrs Easton believed the secret to catching the perfect fish was the perfect location and bait.
"I always use squid but everybody has their preferences," she said.
Unfortunately, Mrs Easton won't be doing any fishing this weekend, she will be manning the registration booth and taking the occasional photograph.
She said her turn would come soon enough at the "Battle of the Babes", a fishing tournament for women held in late February.
Entrants could begin registering for the competition at 4pm to 9pm on Friday at Castlepoint Community Hall and 6am on Saturday at the beach.
Weighing fish will start on Saturday at 3pm with the close of the competition at 2pm Sunday and prizegiving at 6pm.
Mrs Easton said there would be spot prize, barbecues on Friday and Saturday nights, and entertainment on Sunday night.