Intense competition is not for the faint hearted at any time. Make it saltwater fishing, light line, small boats, top fishermen, late nights, incredibly early starts, lots of sea miles into north easterlies and even bigger fish and this becomes an awesomely serious and intense competition. Precisely the type of challenge highly skilled fisherman are love to rise to.

Pah Farm Fishing Lodge, Kawau, saw 80 of NZ€  ™  s best saltwater light tackle anglers compete for the Maverix Snapper & Kingfish Trophies,

Average prize winning snapper this year were approx. 20% heavier than last year! Whilst the Tournament winning snapper was caught by Darren Werner and weighed 11.590kg a 21.905kg Kingfish caught by Vincent Fong secured the Kingfish section. Remember that all fish landed in this Tournament are caught on 6kg line.

To ensure contestants can totally concentrate on their fishing everyday they are looked after as best possible all meals are provided. And to start with, the tournament bag includes a range of sponsor deals, tournament hats & shirt, 1000m of Momoi Hi-Catch 6kg line over and above the spool up, CRC, tournament camera and other goodies.

A 4am wake up call down on the marina courtesy of the organisors initiates fishing commencement. Whilst you can fish anywhere you want, but MUST be back at the weigh in no later than 5:30pm tournament time. Many boats and crews were traveling as far as the Mokohinau Islands, Little Barrier, Great Barrier, Cuvier, Channel Island & Hen and Chickens Islands whilst others preferred to stay closer to Kawau and get more fishing time.

Day One dawned with a 15-20 knot north easterly. An easterly exposed the Gulf making for challenging fishing conditions especially for those wishing to travel longer distances. Spending 4 hours in an 18footer traveling in the dark to Mokohinau islands is serious stuff but typical of the determination these guys apply to get on the spot for the bite.

As the day progressed, crews started returning for the weigh in the excitement built with stories of the big one that got away and fish that were spooling reels being shared. Since only one snapper and kingfish eligible per angler per day only the best fish were being presented.

Day 1 top 5 Placings snapper were Brett Rathe 8.665kg, Brent Edwards 8.215kg, Richard Bathurst 8.200kg, Wayne Radford 7.220kg, Shane O€  ™  Brien 7.170kg.

Kingfish are a huge challenge on 6kg, which is apparent with only 3 weighed this day. Vincent Fong 21.905kg, Richard Spencer 7.930, Dale Robson 4.285.

Day Two started at 4am again, and delivered many great tales of monster Kingfish hooked and lost, even bigger snapper that would have easily beaten the leader if only the hook had set, etc. It also proved that the north easterly was not going to go away either. With a little more puff and contrary tides a rough day was in store. But as they say €  ˜  When the going gets rough, the tough get going€  ™  .

Day 2 landings where; Top 5 snapper - Darren Werner 11.590kg, Brent O€  ™  Loughlin 9.595kg, Paul Dochar 8.575kg, Scott Mc Donald 7.645kg, Craig Moodie 6.660kg.  Kingfish - Rob Nightingale 6.135kg, Glen Kwok 3.300kg .

We€  ™  d like to congratulate all contestants for being such great sportsmen and bring home the fish that make a great contest.. Awesome. You can all be proud to know you are amongst the best in the world. If you think you are good enough, be there in 2002.

This Tournament could not have been such a success without the valued contribution of the sponsors.