Fisherman lays claim to $50,000

A Havelock North fisherman is preparing for a court battle to get the $50,000 he says he won by hooking a monster shark during a competition this year.

Stewart Reddy fought a 3 1/2-hour battle to land a 352kg mako shark on his boat during the Hawkes Bay Sport Fishing Club's megafish competition on February 3.

It was the biggest shark caught during the competition.

However, club officials disqualified it and refused to pay Mr Reddy the $50,000 prize.

They said he had used too long a piece of rope to secure the shark on the way back to port.

Now Mr Reddy is preparing to fight the fishing club in court to get the $50,000 he says he is owed.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing," he said.

"I just think it's a damned shame. We won and they just do not want to give us recognition."

The fishing club says Mr Reddy breached competition rules and the rope he used to secure the shark on the 93km journey back to shore was longer than 9.14m.

Committee member Wayne Bicknall said the rule was clear.

"It is in the rules. It is in every fishing rule book. The rope has to be under 30 foot (9.14m).

"It is like a game of rugby. If you do not follow the rules you get caught."

But Mr Reddy said there was no rule specifying any maximum length of rope when transporting a fish back to shore.

"Show me where the rule is, because we are prepared to go to court.

"I have done everything 100 per cent right, according to the [International Gaming Fishing Association] rules," he said.

Glen Hicks, the skipper and owner of the boat Pawnbroker, from which Mr Reddy caught the shark, agreed with Mr Reddy.

Mr Hicks and the Pawnbroker crew also are disputing the weighmaster's decision.

They sought clarification from the association. After outlining the scenario, they received a reply that stated the rules did not limit the length of rope(s) used to secure a fish for transport.

Crew on an independent boat have signed affidavits to say that all the procedures carried out by the Pawnbroker crew in landing the shark complied with international regulations.

Mr Reddy said that if he won the court battle he would divide the $50,000 among the Pawnbroker's five crew members.

He would enter the fishing contest again next year.

- NZPA

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