Whakatāne Sport Fishing Club embarks on phase two of its Winter Tuna Tournament this weekend.

The Hubbard Contracting-sponsored tournament has been spread over two weekends bringing a total of five days’ fishing for participating anglers.

With the halfway point now reached, fishing resumes today – and the race for the $50,000 top prize remains wide open.

So far, 12 bluefin tuna have been caught and weighed, with an additional 23 recorded as catch and release. In addition to the bluefin, nine albacore have been weighed, with 10 more released.

As the fleet of hopeful anglers prepares to head back out to sea, Aaron Standen leads the scoreboard with a 97.4kg bluefin, followed by Glenn Berkett with a 79.8kg catch. Rounding out the top three is Jahnis Bowden with a 78.6kg bluefin.

Alll catches from the final three days of fishing but be weighed in by 7pm on Sunday at the Whakatāne Weigh Station.

Prizegiving will be held at the sport fishing club on Saturday, July 26, with a total prize pool of $150,000 to be awarded.