Last weekend saw Whakatāne host one of only two national kayak fishing competitions in the country, drawing near-record entries.

A total of 92 anglers, from Dargaville in the north to Stratford in the south and everywhere in between converged on the Ōhope Beach Tavern before heading out onto the waters around Whakatāne and Ōhope.

With conditions described as near perfect, Whakatāne Kayak Fishing Club president Gary Turner was pleased with how the event unfolded.

“The morning of the competition was beautiful, and we nearly beat our entry record with 92 anglers. Our youngest competitor was seven-year-old Evie Twaddle, among many first-time young anglers,” he said.

Competitors were allowed to fish from Ōtamarākau to Te Kaha, targeting species including snapper, trevally, gurnard, kingfish, kahawai, and John dory.

More than $300 was raised for Coastguard through fish filleting, with frames and heads distributed to the Kawerau community by Tarawera River Lodge.

Eastern Bay of Plenty Kayak Fishing Club weighmaster and Thornton resident Thomas Murphy won the main spot prize, an equipped fishing kayak supplied by Hunting & Fishing Whakatāne.

The grand slam prize (most target species) was claimed by Blair Simonsen of Tauranga, while the top snapper team, Reel Men from Rotorua, recorded a combined weight of 13.08 kilograms.

Simonsen also took out the top kingfish category with an 8.12kg catch. The John dory prize went to Cameron Luxton of Pāpāmoa with a 1.02kg fish.

Stace Lewer of Whakatāne won the trevally category with a 1.08kg catch, while the biggest kahawai a 1.92kg fish was landed by Mark Ray of Pāpāmoa.

The coveted snapper prize was awarded to Chris Simons of Ōpunake with a 4.08kg catch.

Luxton added to his success by also taking out the

gurnard/blue cod category with a 0.70kg fish.