Former winner to sit out contest

Whakatane Sport Fishing Club president Peter MacDonald, a former winner of the Tuna Tournament, is leaving his boat Maxine home this year.

It is part of the territory as club president and therefore convenor of the largest fishing tournament of the year.

He will be reeling in the paperwork rather than the fish as 600 anglers head out in 160 boats from Wednesday after the 7am shotgun start.

"I don't mind leaving the boat home this year.

"My wife is going out on another boat and I will be in the clubhouse.

"But I have fished this tournament for years and am happy to have a stand-down."

The old adage the tuna arrive in the Eastern Bay before Christmas is long gone.

Old stalwarts remember when the tuna didn't arrive until New Year and warmer waters and this seems to be the case this year with to date no tuna weighed in at Whakatane.

But Mr MacDonald is philosophical.

"We are confident the tuna will have arrived by Wednesday.

"Although none have been caught in our waters yet, Mercury Bay held their tournament last weekend and caught seven."

One tuna has already been landed and weighed in at Waihau Bay so boat skippers will be heading east in search of the big one.

"It is a tuna tournament - that is where the big money goes so everyone will target those.

"Although, we have prizes for shark, billfish [blue/striped marlin], and kingfish as well."

Mr MacDonald said there is a total prize pool valued at $160,000 with the winner of the heaviest tuna taking home a $10,000 cheque plus rods and tackle.

Last year there were 23 tuna landed with the winning weight being 43.8kg.

Spectators will be able to watch the boats leave the Whakatane Harbour, with skippers heading up the channel from 6.30am and marshalling outside the heads, ready for the gun.

Then it will be every boat for themselves for four days.

"All we ask is that everyone treats the Whakatane river bar with caution and follows any instructions from the coastguard or the harbour master.

"We work in well with them to ensure the tournament retains its excellent safety record."

The weigh station is open every day from 2pm with grandstands adjacent to the wharf for spectators to view the fish as they are weighed-in.

There is a daily prize giving but the punters are kept guessing as to the eventual winner until next Saturday night.