" Well here we are over half way through July which obviously means we're half way through the year!

We're all still getting over Brian's passing last month. If one thing can be taken away from this whole tragedy is the words of his brother from the funeral, just please please please, use the three words "I need Help". You don't have to be at the stage Brian was, or anywhere near it, but they don't say a problem shared is a problem halved for nothing. There are enough of us around who have done our dance(s) with the Black Dog over the years and that support is right there as soon as you need it. Whatever happens just say those three words and we'll be available.

In slightly happier news, the Winter Champs are well under way and we have two SBT on the board in the new SBT Category, and already impressive snapper and other species. Meanwhile the rest of us haven't been able to get anywhere near the water, well not saltwater or fishing water anyway.

Don't forget that Memberships for the new Fishing year are now due since July 1st. If you're planning a trip away to target Blue Fin then make sure your membership is current so you can get it weighed at an affiliated club weigh station, and/or measure it to enter it in the Winter Champs.

Also don't forget that you now get the new digital membership card to setup on your phone. See last month's newsletter for how to do that.

Put a big red circle around August 13th, that's our August Club night where we'll be telling you all you could ever want to know about fishing Shallow Harbours. Last months Mussel farm presentation from James and Ant was superb and packed full of very useful gems.

Then put another big red circle around September 17th that's our Annual General Meeting and End of year prize giving. Yep we'll be looking for new committee members, or if that's too big a step then we're also looking for people to help with securing Sponsorships and organising our various comps and tournaments.

We've also shifted the Shelly Beach Family comp back a week this year, it will now be on the weekend of November 8th & 9th. We'll have a entry form going up on our website and the Sporty App very soon. So please register early so we can get a better feel for catering etc.

We'll be doing a Christmas Cub night this year on December 10th so keep that night free for something a bit special.

Anyway that's it from me for the month, enjoy the rest of July and we'll see you in August!

Cheers

Bob

In memory of Brian Mellow

Brian was more than just a member of our club—he was its heartbeat for over 15 years. Whether as a Sponsor, Accountant, Committee Member, Tournament Organiser, or most recently, President, Brian poured his energy, ideas, and passion into every corner of our community.

His dedication was unmatched. From streamlining tournament logistics with innovations like the Picture App and voucher prize setups, to quietly handling memberships, sponsorships, hall admin, and accounting—Brian’s behind-the-scenes efforts kept our club thriving.

He brought not only skill but spirit. Always up for a bit of good-natured ribbing, Brian was a joy to work alongside. Many a tournament plan was hashed out over a couple of Coronas, and his signature nervous sweat during prizegiving became a beloved tradition. His generosity, warm welcome to members, and tireless commitment made a lasting impact.

For many of us, Brian was the one who drew us in—whether through a spot prize announcement or a simple invitation to help out. His legacy lives on in the strength and spirit of our club. We will miss him deeply, but we will carry forward the passion and drive he instilled in us all.

Rest easy, Brian. May the seas be calm and the winds forever be on your back.

Bluefin Tuna Season Is Underway

Hooked once, landed twice

Darron from Raglan Fishing Charters has taken his charter boat Sea Prophet from Raglan up round North Cape and down to Whakatane to chase Bluefin Tuna during winter.

I got together a group of mates to be his first tuna charter trip (guinea pigs) and we headed down to Whakatane for a 3 day trip. We were to be both deckies and fishing cliental.

The first day started with a chilly start at the wharf outside the Whakatane Sport Fishing Club. Once over the bar and away from the headland the wind made it a bit rough as we headed towards the cape, but soon dropped and become very cruisey trolling. The first day we got a couple of small hits from suspected skippy or albies, but none stuck.

The closer we got to the East Cape the southerly wind and sea picked up. The first night we anchored at Waihau Bay.

4.30am the next morning the engine started and the boat headed towards the East Cape, with some crew getting up and some staying in bed a little longer.

When the sun rose we were in the right area with lots of other boats trolling in all directions. About 8.30am one of the rods bent over for a moment and then the line broke, a second rod started screaming as line peeled off followed by another rod. Mark Bennett grabbed the first screaming reel and Kelvin Scown grabbed the other. Unfortunately, Kelvins fish pulled line for a bit and then was gone. Marks fish was still hooked up and he settled in for the half hour fight. Interestingly the fish did most of its final fight up near the surface but not letting Mark get it any closer to the boat. Eventually it was closer enough for Kelvin to grab the trace and start leadering it to the side door. Darron and I got two gaffs into the fish and we pulled it aboard much to the relief and celebration of the crew. The side door was put back in place and Darron stuck a knife in to start the bleeding process and I removed one of the gaffs for photos.

This is where the story gets amusing (in hind sight). It may be a 55ft plus boat but the boat was rock and rolling form side to side, as there was a 3m sea running and the boat was drifting side on to the waves. Meanwhile we were all high fiving each other about our catch.

As we stood there looking at the fish on the deck and the boat rolled to the port side the tuna slid across the deck still with one gaff in, hitting the side door which popped up as the tuna slid out the door, and then there was panic. The other gaff must have come off as the fish made its exit thru the door, which then slid back into position on top of the line and then refused to move for what seemed like a lifetime. Once the door was finally removed again, Kelvin was back on the leader but the fish had gone around under the back of the boat and refused to come back to the door, with Kelvin hanging half out the door holding on. Again, what seemed like a lifetime before the fish was back at the door and we were able to get the gaffs back in. Once again the fish was lifted back into the boat and this time taken around the other side of the fish bin. Followed by a lot of “holy shits” and “wtf” just happened and then some celebratory drinks. The fish measured 148cm and was later weighed at Whakatane Weigh Station at 67.8kg.

We ended up at White Island that night for a bit of a restless night’s sleep as the wind changed direction during the night.

The last day brought with it a great sunrise as we tried some deep-water drops, leaving the White Island area with a couple of gemfish and a couple of bluenose. We ended our trip with a quick fish in the mussel farms of Opotiki bringing home 30 snapper to add to our catch bag.

The tuna have had a late start this year, but are gathering in more numbers now and heading our way, so get out there and give it a go. Darron and Sea Prophet are down there for a few more weeks so give him a call (021 201 9211).

Tony Brinkworth

Renewing your WSFC membership keeps you part of a network of passionate fishing individuals. Enjoy exclusive discounts, newsletters, fishing competitions and stay updated on events and news.

Membership Benefits

We hold monthly club nights which include guest speakers, demonstrations, fun games and the opportunity for a good old chat with fellow club members
Receive a monthly newsletter
25% discount off WSFC Hall Hire (terms and conditions apply)
Membership card will provide you with visitor access to affiliated clubs
Club Tournaments and Family Fishing Weekends away
Free entry to our Winter Challenge
Enter affiliated clubs fishing tournaments
Affiliation to the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council and International Game Fishing association.
10% off at Hamilton, Cambridge and Matamata (opening soon) Hunting & Fishing when you present your WSFC Membership. The discount applies to all items in store but excludes items already on special, electronics, firearms, ammunition, game and electric fishing combos.

Memberships are valid 1 July 2025 to 30th of June 2026.

MEMBERSHIP FEE'S

Adult: $40

Family: $90
(2 adults and up to 4 children 16 years and under as at 1 July 2025)

Junior: $10
(16 Yrs and under as at 1st July 2025)

Student & Transitional: $20
(any one 16 to 21 years old).

Our membership cards are now issued digitally . Upon completing your registration, you will receive immediate access to your digital membership card. This card can be accessed through the Sporty App, which should be downloaded to your mobile device.

The Sporty App allows multiple cards to be added therefore Junior membership cards can be added to their caregivers app. Once you have installed your PhotoCard it will also work when the phone doesn’t have a data plan or isn't connected to the internet.

To register for the WSFC 25/26 season complete our membership form below

WSFC 25/26 Membership Form

WINTER CHALLENGE 2025

The annual WSFC Winter Challenge fishing competition started on the 1st July and runs until the 30th September.

This is a WSFC 25/26 Season Financial Members only competition.

No entry fee. No need to register.

$1,500 IN PRIZES

All anglers one division

Kingfish, Trevally, Snapper, Kahawai and Barracoutta

Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in four species and single prize for Barracoutta

Fishing area: NZ Waters

Enter your catch on our Sporty NZ App under the Register button

Current leaderboard

Bluefin Tuna 148cm Mark Bennett Snapper 70cm Ben Cullen Kahawai 59cm Geoff Preston

Spotlight on Sponsor -Protech Stainless

Protech Stainless has celebrated their 21st birthday earlier this year and has been a proud sponsor supporting the Waikato Sport Fishing Club for 20 of those years.

Protech Stainless specialising in stainless steel fabrication and is a key player in Waikato, employing 27 staff.

Protech has predominantly worked in the dairy industry, but it has also completed some significant projects in other sectors. The company’s dairy clients include Fonterra, Tatua, Open Country Dairy, and international process companies such as GEA and Tetra Pak.

Protech is also there to help with your much smaller projects and jobs in stainless and aluminium.

Vessels and tanks can be manufactured to comply with HSNO (Hazardous Substances and New Organisms, (standards required for the storage of hazardous materials) with certification, while tank internal finishes can be polished to suit food grade or pharmaceutical specifications where required.

Protech’s team designs and fabricates with high attention to detail on every job to ensure they are within the tolerances of each customer’s requirements

Protech have good long-term customers that they have been dealing with for 20 years and have a reputation for quality.

Protech operates from a comprehensively equipped, 1700sqm workshop that has seven overhead cranes of various capacities up to five tonnes, in addition to plate and sheet rollers, sectional rolls, a variable brake guillotine, two sheet & plate rollers and two brake presses.

Safety First

At the coastguard's Bluefin fishing & safety seminar held in June at the clubrooms, many essential safety tips were shared, some of which are easy to overlook or forget. For example, inflatable life jackets require annual servicing. We have decided to feature a "Safety First" article in each monthly newsletter.

Looking After Your Lifejacket

A lifejacket, like any piece of safety equipment, won’t last forever. However, with proper care, you can extend its lifespan.

Foam Lifejackets

Check for damage: Look for any rips, tears, or UV damage. If the fabric feels brittle or the lifejacket is waterlogged, replace it.
Buckles and webbing: Ensure they’re in good condition and replace any that are damaged.
Weight test: A foam lifejacket should feel light. If it feels heavy, the foam may be waterlogged, reducing its buoyancy.

Inflatable Lifejackets

These jackets require more maintenance: They require annual servicing, and the gas cylinder must be replaced after inflation. These jackets can also be punctured.

Check out this video for everything you need to know about how to maintain and look after your inflatable lifejacket.

CO2 cylinder: Check that the cylinder hasn’t been pierced or corroded.
Annual checks: Inflate the lifejacket manually and leave it overnight to ensure it holds air. If it deflates, have it serviced or replaced.
Corrosion: Corrosion on the CO2 cylinder or within the jacket can compromise its functionality.

Regular Checks for Safety

Pre-wear check: Before heading out, make sure you know where your lifejacket’s whistle, oral inflation tube, and reflective patches are located.
Safety indicators: Most inflatable lifejackets have red/green safety indicators to signal readiness.
Fitting: Ensure your lifejacket fits correctly before every outing. Don’t forget to replace the CO2 cylinder after every inflation.

Remember, your lifejacket is the most important piece of equipment when you're on the water. Choose the right one, ensure it fits snugly, and take good care of it. Whether you’re kayaking, fishing, or out with the family, wearing a well-maintained lifejacket could save your life.

Hello Clubs, Presidents and Delegates

In this month’s NZSFC report you’ll find:

The reason clubs are asking anglers to carry EPIRBs and PLBs this winter
A behind-the-scenes look at the Southern Bluefin Tuna seminar series: what we learned, what we presented, and why clubs are already lining up for 2026
Big moves forward in Youth Nationals: freshwater fish, disability inclusion, and a call for young leaders to join up
A near-miss on trawl corridors, a new reef closure, and what it all means for your coastline
Plus: podcast episodes you need to hear, social posts firing up followers, and the trophy and awards deadlines you don’t want to miss

The full report PDF is attached and available online here

Open it. Read it. Share it. Print it.

Regards
Helen Pastor and Mike Plant
NZ Sport Fishing Council

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