This week, the Whakatāne Sportfishing Club Junior Team, consisting of Kiana Skead, Mia Hyndman, Malakai Ogle and Taj Leeder, headed north to compete in the McDonald’s Northland 56th International Yellowtail Tournament. This tournament focuses on yellowtail kingfish on light line.

Sunday was the first day of fishing and what a successful day the team had.

Thanks to Greg Morgan and Hadley aboard Opportunity II, each team member landed a pending world record yellowtail kingfish on 8kg line.

The standings after day three of the tournament have the Whakatāne Sportfishing Club junior team in first place.

Thank you to Kevin and Cameron for volunteering as team chaperones. A huge thank you also goes to Diverse Graphics for their fantastic work on the team hoodies and T-shirts, Okuma Rods for the team caps, and Grim Reaper Lures for generously donating the team fishing shirts.

The Hubbard Contracting Winter Tuna Tournament runs from Saturday, July 4, to Saturday, July 25, kicking off the southern bluefin tuna season in the Bay of Plenty.

Who will claim the Hubbard Contracting heaviest tuna trophy this year and will Aquarius manage to hold on to the champion team trophy after claiming it for the past two years? Only time will tell. Enter your team now online or at the club.

The briefing will be held at the club on Friday, July 3, and will incorporate the New Zealand Sportfishing Council and Coastguard Safety Seminar – Every Catch Deserves a Safe Return. You’ll hear from people who know the fishery and understand what it takes to target southern bluefin tuna in winter.

Members’ month-long tournaments start on July 1. These free, members-only tournaments begin at 6am on the first day of the month and finish at pm on the last day.

July is gurnard month. Measure your gurnard and send in a photo of your fish on the official Whakatāne Sportfishing Club measure board to be in to win.

Open and junior sections are available, with two photos per angler per week. Entries and rules are online now.

A reminder to members that the official club fishing season closes on June 30, with the Greg Grey Plate for the last game fish of the season up for grabs. The new season starts on July 1. Who will take out the Grant Mills Trophy for the first game fish of the season?

A drop-in session was held on Tuesday for anglers interested in having their say on tournaments and fishing, and to learn more about the Fishing Committee.

If you missed the session, touch base with Rochelle in the office and she will provide more information.

The committee meets once a month to discuss upcoming tournaments and planning for the year ahead.

Come along and be involved in the future of fishing and tournaments at the Whakatāne Sportfishing Club.

A big thank you to Haddock Spray Painters & Panelbeaters for kindly loaning the club their van while the juniors are away using the club vehicle. Thanks to their support, we are still able to provide a courtesy van for our members during this time.

Despite the building work taking place to the west of the club, it’s business as usual.

Access remains unchanged via the eastern car park entrance, with direct access to the ramp on the wharf side. The club and Skippers Restaurant are open, providing a warm place to catch up with friends and enjoy the river views.

Club nights are Wednesdays and Fridays, with happy hour from 5pm to 6.30pm. The club courtesy van operates on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 4pm and can be booked on 0800 CATCH ME (228 2463).