The Tokomaru Ākau community is gearing up for another exciting beach and boat competition in the annual Te Puka Fishing competition being held this Saturday, February 3rd. The event, featuring a sandcastle competition on the beach and a boat species challenge targeting kingfish, promises over $18,300 in prize money.

Organizer Matt Mc Leely said this year’s competition will be a one-day event, with boats launching from the Awhina ramp outside the Te Puka Tavern. The competition offers cash prizes for a variety of fish species, including a first prize of $2,000 for the heaviest kingfish, $1,000 for the second, and $500 for the third.

Participants can register online through the Club’s Facebook page, up until midnight on February 2nd. Manual entries are also accepted on the night of the 2nd for those paying in cash. The competition kicks off at 5.30 am on Saturday morning, with earlier starts possible by contacting Club officials.

Fishing will run until 2pm with fish being weighed during the day.  Fish catches will be auctioned, and the proceeds will be reinvested into the community. The sandcastle competition will be judged on the beach.  The final weigh-in, auction, and prize-giving ceremony is scheduled for 7 pm on February 3rd, with a backup date on the 4th in case of inclement weather.

The Te Puka Hunting and Fishing Club are thankful for the day’s sponsors including H Black Bee Contractors, Mackay Carriage, Eastland Group, Ngati Porou Forests, and Te Puka Tavern.

 Detailed information, including rules and prize categories, can be found on Te Puka Tavern Facebook page. The community is looking forward to a successful and enjoyable day of competition.

By Oriwa Atkins