Wet ‘n’ wild in Whitianga

PlaceMakers latest One Base fishing competition sunk a common myth about unlucky numbers

More than 90 boats and 388 anglers took to the water in Whitianga over 8-9 April for a weekend of fishing and tall tales.

It was the 13th running of the event, but any superstitions about that number were put to rest as two striped marlin were caught on the opening day – the first time ever that marlin have been caught in the event’s history. Unfortunately they were ineligible for the competition.

Ben Vincent’s monster 19.16kg kingfish – the heaviest recorded catch – earned him first place in the biggest kingfish category by a narrow margin, with second place going to Thomas Curle with a 19.159kg beauty. Both anglers are from Huntly.

Hugely popular every year, the event is open to trade customers from PlaceMakers Clarence Street, Huntly, Morrinsville, Pukekohe, Te Kuiti, Te Rapa, Thames and Whitianga branches.

A number of competitors chose to donate their catch to the local Lions Club, who organised an auction with proceeds going to Thames Coast Kiwi Care Inc, which works to grow the small population of Coromandel brown kiwi at Te Mata.