This year’s Bay of Islands Swordfish Club Yellowtail Fishing Tournament attracted anglers from around New Zealand and some from Australia. There was even an entry from landlocked Hamilton and it’s not hard to see why.
The tournament has been going for 54 years and has gathered a reputation as being one of the best yellowtail-catching contests in the southern hemisphere. Remarkably, it slips under the promotional radar except to those in the know. There is very little local profile-raising, possibly because there doesn’t need to be. There are enough entrants across all classes to almost drown the club’s facilities.
This year there were 94 anglers in 27 teams, including 12 junior teams and eight ladies’ teams. In addition to the standard fishing prizes to be won, there was a trophy for the Hardest Trying Junior, Most Promising Junior, the Most Meritorious Catch and the self-explanatory Mr Bottomly Award.
When the fishing started on the second day, there were already a couple of stories worth telling. Clint Hall on board KC discovered the best way to catch bait was to swim in the sea, gumboots and all, and the Fat Camel crew served up a shark meal after three hours of working on a possible haul.
By the end of the fourth and final day, the tournament tally was 89 yellowtail kingfish weighed, two snapper weighed, one tope, five yellowtail kingfish tagged and released and 24 yellowtail kingfish measured and released. That brought the total for the four-day tournament to 121 fish.
The first three winning teams were all from Australia with a crew from the Swordfish and Tunny Club from Montague Island, New South Wales, taking the top prize. Club member Kevin Oates placed 2nd overall and John Huse was 4th. Well done to all.
STC Captures - All on 6kg
Terry Titchener - 18.40kg, 14.35kg, & 13.85kg
John Huse - 18.05kg, 18.30kg, 15.3kg & 14.20kg
Kevin Oates - 22.00kg, 19.65kg, 17.85kg & 15.25kg
Peter Grealy - 19.75kg & 15.20kg
Best Capture in Comp
Byron Swanson BOISC 23.85kg
The Bay of Islands Swordfish Club Yellowtail competition
If any Club memebr would like more informaton about fishing this wonderful competition in New Zealand, the Club can put you in touch with Terry or Kevin. Both have had a long and proud assocation with this annual gamefishing event and supporting Australian Junior Angler's contesting in it. The competion is held in early June each year out of th e port of Russell in Northland NZ.
You can also learn more at: https://swordfish.co.nz
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