UP FOR GRABS: Trevor Bailey and Grant Clark with a 2016 Suzuki Jimmy, one of many prizes in the upcoming Whanganui Easter Fishing Tournament. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO
A brand new 2016 Suzuki Jimmy and $45,000 worth of prizes will be up for grabs in Whanganui's 11th annual Easter Fishing Competition next weekend.
Fishers from Coromandel to Wellington will show up for the competition which is held from 7am to 3pm, Saturday and Sunday, March 26 and 27.
Organiser Trevor Bailey has been a fisherman for 20 years and takes part in the competition every year.
"I'm loving it, mate - it's a great weekend."
He's got a bit of safety advice for boaties taking part.
"Just make sure people start their motors the day before, make sure your steerings not jammed up, VHF radios are working, wear your life jackets - and don't do anything silly.
"Every year we've had no catastrophes."
Mr Bailey said the competition could be cancelled if the weather looked bad.
"We've got to look out for the small boats as well as the bigger boats."
The competition was called off last year because of weather - the first cancellation in 10 years.
"Hopefully it doesn't happen again - but if it does, it's good for the pubs."
The competition will involve 80 boats with more than 200 fisherman trying to catch seven varieties of fish.
Prizegiving will be held at the Cosmopolitan Club and includes a $10 ticket raffle for a 2016 Suzuki Jimmy.
Other prizes will include fishing gear for the heaviest fish in each category, and spot prize of a $2500 outboard motor provided by Tasman Marine.
All proceeds from the competition will go towards Coastguard New Zealand.
“It was basically ruined."