Busy day as boaties head out fishing

ALL GOOD: Eddie Gilsenan and crew head out on the Waka-tini yesterday morning from Wharf St slipway. PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY

One-hundred-and-six boats checked in with the Wanganui Coastguard yesterday as holidaymakers and locals alike made the most of the good weather to go fishing.

Among them was Whanganui man Eddie Gilsenan and whanau on his boat the Waka-tini heading out to the fishing spot known as the Rylons, off Patea.

Mr Gilsenan said he had been out on Christmas Eve and got a good haul of snapper and blue cod.

"Just enough for a feed; we didn't need to get our quota."

He said compared to the other place he often goes fishing, Mangawhai in Northland, the Whanganui fishing grounds are in good shape.

"Fishing is pretty healthy on the west coast, possibly protected more by the weather as well."

Coastguard radio operator Pam Gilligan said 106 boats had reported leaving the Wharf St slipway, which made it a busy day.

The vast majority of boats used the service.

"It's been pretty hectic."

She said the Christmas period had been busy given the good weather. In terms of emergencies, two boats had needed a tow and the Coastguard had joined the search for the missing 17-year-old who drowned while swimming at Castlecliff Beach.