Easter fishing comp reels in a big crowd

Easter Fishing competitors Vaughn Ranginui and Lennard Parkes head for the weigh-in at Castlecliff.

The Easter Fishing competition at Castlecliff attracted 260 entrants over the weekend.

Organiser Grant Clark said there were 81 boats entered which is the biggest number in the 12 year history of the competition.

"There were some very big fish caught too," he said.

"Lots of snapper and some spectacularly big ones."

The competition ran both Saturday and Sunday with boats leaving the dock at 7am and coming in by 3pm each day.

There are prizes for the biggest fish in each category including snapper, blue cod, gurnard, kahawai, tarakihi, john dory, trevally and also a prize for the biggest crayfish.

Winners for each category were as follows:

Snapper Section
1st - Kilwell -Tica Rod/Reel Combo ($1000), Clary Steel, Wanganui.
2nd -Tica Rod/Reel Combo ($480), Bill Jane, New Plymouth.
3rd - Kilwell - Tica Rod/Reel Combo ($380), Paul Davies, Wanganui.

Blue Cod Section
1st - Kilwell - Tica Rod/Reel Combo ($1000), Glenn Terry, Wanganui.
2nd - Tica Rod/Reel Combo ($480), Matt Morgan, Wanganui.
3rd - Kilwell - Tica Rod/Reel Combo ($380), Alan Wood, Wanganui.

Gurnard Section
1st - Kilwell - Tica Rod/Reel Combo ($1000), Craig Amundsen, Wanganui.
2nd - Tica Rod/Reel Combo ($480), Marty Baldwin, Wanganui.
3rd - Kilwell - Tica Rod/Reel Combo ($380), Allan Gunn, Tangimoana.

Kahawai Section
1st - Kilwell - Tica Rod/Reel Combo ($1000), Brian Carr, Urenui.
2nd - Tica Rod/Reel Combo ($480), Murray Dodds, Waitara.
3rd - Kilwell - Tica Rod/Reel Combo ($380), Warwick Welsh, Urenui.

Tarakihi Section
1st - Kilwell - Tica Rod/Reel Combo ($1000), Dave Higgins, Wanganui.
2nd - Kilwell - Tica Rod/Reel Combo ($380), Dave Higgins, Wanganui.
3rd - Kilwell - Tica Rod/Reel Combo ($290), Justin Booth, Wanganui.

John Dory Section
1st - Kilwell - Tica Rod/Reel Combo ($450), Ethan Bailey, Wanganui.
2nd - Kilwell - Tica Rod/Reel Combo ($290), Mathew Brewer, Wanganui
3rd - Tica Reel ($150), Ben Anderson, Wellington.

Trevally Section
1st - Kilwell - Tica Rod/Reel Combo ($450), Matt Ratcliff, Wanganui.
2nd - Kilwell - Tica Rod/Reel Combo ($290), James Abernathy, Wanganui.
3rd - Kilwell - Tica Rod/Reel Combo ($190), Gwen Heap, Feilding.

1st Major Spot Prize: Yamaha Outboard Motor ($3200), Bob Anderson, Wanganui.
2nd Major Spot Prize: Gasmate Nebula 6630 BBQ ($699), Matt Morgan, Wanganui
3rd Major Spot Prize: Chicago Pneumatic Air Compressor ($500), Bill Russell, Wanganui.