16/03/2023
Congratulations to all our anglers who got out and fished the Whakatane Trailer Boat Tournament. We had 151 anglers on 44 boats. Due to a large ground swell on Saturday, which closed the river bar and halted fishing, we only got in one day of fishing, so well done to everyone who was able to fish on the Friday and get some fish weighed!
The winners were:
Snapper section sponsored by Razorback Decks;
1st heaviest was Kevin Durham on Sweet Deal at 8.06 kgs
2nd heaviest was Thomas King-Hazel on P*e Wee II at 4.78 kgs
3rd heaviest was Sophie Sutton on Catchβm at 4.34 kgs
Tarakihi section sponsored by Davey Painters
1st heaviest was Jeff Bakalich on JJ at 1.74 kgs
2nd heaviest was Julie Bakalich on JJ at 1.62 kgs
3rd heaviest was Shane Hanlen on Hot Rod at 1.40 kgs
Kahawai section sponsored by Tracks Concrete
1st heaviest was Dave Archibald on Salacia at 2.26 kgs
2nd heaviest was Dene Nickel on Silver Dream at 2.10 kgs
3rd heaviest was Bruce Clark on 4 Ever Fishing at 2.08 kgs
Red Gurnard sections sponsored by the Whakatane RSA
1st heaviest was Dene Nickel on Silver Dream at .70 kgs
2nd heaviest was James Ennis on Wotz Work at .68 kgs
3rd heaviest was Dave Lumsden on Silver Dream at .62 kgs
The winners for Fridays daily averages, which was sponsored by Irispinsanity, were Snapper, Dave Archilbald, Tarakihi, Dave Archilbald, Kahawai, Janis Robb and Red Gurnard, Kirk Dalton.
Saturdays daily averages were sponsored by Phillips Contracting and were drawn due to no fishing. The lucky anglers were, Snapper, Kelvin Heath, Tarakihi, Jason Conibeer, Kahawai, Maree Hunt and Red Gurnard, Jeanette Pinkerton.
The Mystery Weight overall species, sponsored by Miss Mollys Cattery, was won by Jeremy Kearny on Lucky Devil.
A new section this year and sponsored by Pacific Coast Charters, for the angler who caught all 4 species and had the heaviest combined weight went to Barry Needham on Dream Catcher 2.
Radio 1xx sponsored $1500 worth of advertising for our fabulous sponsors and the winner was Ian and Anna from Harcourts Whakatane who sponsored our Early Bird Prize.
BOP Boat Hire sponsored the juniors section and we had 8 juniors entered this year. They each received a prize.
1st heaviest was Fletcher Langley on Yahtzee at 2.04 kgs
2nd heaviest was Rhys Arrol on She Loves Me at 1.76 kgs
3rd heaviest was Riki Dalton on Maui at 1.68 kgs
4th heaviest was Kirk Dalton (jnr) on Maui at 1.48 kg
5th heaviest was Kyle Hanlen on Hot Rod at 1.40 kgs
6th heaviest was Fletcher Davis on Hot Rod at 1.40 kgs
7th heaviest was Cullen Braithwaite on Pescatore at 1.20 kgs
8th was for Alana Thomson on 4 Ever Fishing for going to school instead of fishing.
Once again, congratulations to all our anglers.
Another great tournament with fantastic support from our generous sponsors, anglers, the Whakatane RSA and our committee. See you all next year!