Fishing competition reels in gold

New Zealand’s biggest fishing competition has come a long way - and now it’s netted the Holy Grail of beer.

Now in its sixth year, the Carters Beach and Boat Fishing Competition has reeled in DB Export Gold as official beer after ‘releasing’ its previous sponsor.

Ruakaka on Bream Bay in Northland comes alive every February for the competition which attracts anglers from as far afield as the US and Canada as well as Australia.

Tournament organiser Tony Wheeler says Export Gold has the perfect brand fit for the popular two-day, five-species salt water fishing competition.

“It’s a big boost to have the DB guys and the Export Gold brand team on board,” Wheeler says. “I know their professional approach will really be a help in reaching our goals of increasing awareness and participation in our event.

“Export Gold is a great brand and a perfect fit for our event now we are six.”

The Carters Beach and Boat Fishing Competition is renowned for its big snapper and kingfish catches. Competitors venture as far offshore as the Hen & Chicken and Mokohinau Islands north-west of Great Barrier and about 55kms out in to the Hauraki Gulf.

The biggest snapper recorded in the annual competition weighed in at a hefty 11.33kgs while the heaviest kingfish tipped the scales at 26.2kgs. In 2010 the heaviest snapper was 10.07kgs and the kingfish 8.63kgs.

The winning fish are retained by the organisers but the remainder are sold for the benefit of local Northland charities. The heaviest snapper wins the angler a $29,900 prize package that includes a jet ski and other fishing essentials. Daily prize packs are valued at up to more than $2,000.

The Beach and Boat Fishing Competition gets underway with a briefing night at Marsden Cove Marina on Thursday February 24. Fishing begins at 5.01am the next day and there are three different categories – boat, beach and junior.

Entry costs $20 for juniors and $125 for a senior standard ticket.

More information and entry forms are at www.beachandboat.co.nz, at www.carters.co.nz/cartersbeachandboatcompetition/ and in-store at Carters.