Welcome to the August edition of our Newsletter, where has the year gone?

For those that couldn't make the August club night you missed a treat, it was a great discussion with those present about their experiences with Harbour fishing and everybody took something new away for this particularly enjoyable and rewarding form of fishing.

Our AGM and annual Prize giving is on September 17th, and kicks off at the earlier than usual time of 6:30pm. The Bar will be open and we'll be serving a light meal.

In general business of the AGM I'd invite you all to participate in a general chat about what you want from the club and what you might be able to help us with in some small way.

And speaking of the committee, I'd like to extend a welcome and thankyou to long time Member Murray Loye for offering to join the committee and help us out. Based in Cambridge and working at Fonterra on a 4-day-on, 4-day-off shift pattern, Murray makes the most of his time off by pursuing his passion for saltwater fishing. From soft baiting for snapper to chasing marlin and tuna, he enjoys the full spectrum of fishing experiences. His favourite spot is Raglan, where the variety of species—from gurnard to marlin—makes every trip exciting. Murray has offered to join the Waikato Sport Fishing Club Committee to lend a hand and share his enthusiasm for the sport. Thanks Murray we're looking forward to working with you.

Don't forget our October Club night will be the prize giving for the Winter Champs. If you're wondering where your entry is in the standings, you can now see the leader board later in this issue. Don't be like muggins here and try to use a tape measure for your measuring mat, and forget to show your membership number. Make sure you use a proper measuring mat and write your 2025/2026 membership number of a piece of card and include it in the photo of your fish before uploading!.

Note that our Shelley Beach Family comp will be a week later this year on Saturday November 8th. Give the Shelley Beach camp a call now to reserve your accommodation.

That's it from me and the committee for this month. We'll be looking forward to see you at the AGM on September 17th @ 6:30pm.

Cheers

Bob

Agenda:

6:30pm: Bar open

6:45pm: Light food served

7:00pm: AGM

Welcome
Apologies
Minutes of previous AGM
President’s Report
Treasurer’s Report
Financial Report
- 2024/25 Accounts
Election of Officers
Representative to NZSFC
Hall Manager
Proposed 2026/2027 Membership Fees

Category	25/26 Season	26/27 Season
Adult	$40	$45
Junior (16 years and under as a 1 July)	$10	$15
Family ( 2 adults and up to 4 children 16 years and under at 1 July)	$90	$100
Student/Transitional Adult (up to age 21)	$20	$25

General Business
Great Gurnard Hunt, mystery length $300 cash draw
Waikato Hunting & Fishing $250 voucher draw for financial 25/26 member attending AGM & Prizegiving

7.30pm: Junior & Senior Prizegiving

8.00pm: Speaker - Bob Gutsell

Bob’s Insights on Fishing in Tauranga Harbour from Bowentown

Bob shared a lot of tips about fishing in the Bowentown Harbour at our recent cub night and have invited him to present at the AGM.

With years of experience fishing in this harbour, Bob has extensive knowledge to share.

He will present detailed information about fishing locations in the harbour, including areas where snapper, kingfish, and trevally have been found. He will also give advice on fishing during different tidal conditions and describe his suggested rod setup.

8.30pm: Close

The mornings are crisp, the seas are sparkling, and the reels are spinning at our Winter Champs Fishing Competition! To date 15 fish have been entered. Geoff Preston has landed a whopping 85cm snapper while Katrina Winter secured a notable 71cm snapper. Dutchy is on fire currently leading in the Kingfish and Barracoutta and second in Kahawai, Trevally and Bluefin Tuna. Bob’s even managed to get out surfcasting and land himself a nice 52cm Trevally.

We have added a Winter Champs Leaderboard to our website. You can easily access this on your sporty app, Website - Tournaments - Winter Champs 2025.

Details and how to enter are available on our website.

Winter Champs

Shelly Beach

The much-loved annual WSFC Shelly Beach Family Fishing Competition will be held on 8th November this year so mark it on your calendar. Hosted by WSFC at the Shelly Beach Top 10 Holiday Park, this event invites participants to enjoy a day of fishing in a welcoming, family-friendly environment. Prize categories include Snapper, Kahawai, and Heaviest Other Sports Fish. Prize giving will take place that evening with a barbecue dinner featuring homemade burgers and ice cream for dessert, all included in the entry fee.

We look forward to welcoming you to an enjoyable and memorable family fishing competition.

More details to follow in the September Newsletter

Photos from Shelly Beach 2024

A Heartfelt Thank You to a Long-Time Supporter

In every great club, there are people and businesses sponsoring clubs to help us thrive. For the Waikato Sport Fishing Club, one of those standout supporters is Mellow Business Group

Mellow Business Group has been a long-time sponsor of WSFC, and their support has helped us grow, connect, and celebrate our shared passion for fishing. From tournament prizes to event promotions, their backing has allowed us to deliver great experiences to our members.

Brian made an outstanding contribution to the club, and his family—Jane, Hamish, and Isabelle—also played key roles by assisting with prize-giving events, supporting kitchen operations, creating advertising materials, and organising memberships, among other valuable efforts.

From the 1 September 2025, Mellow Business Group will be owned and operated by Greg Brewerton, an experienced and highly respected Chartered Accountant with 25 years of experience supporting Waikato businesses with accountancy, tax, and advisory services. Greg brings both strong professional expertise and a genuine commitment to client care. He is looking forward to continuing the approach of trusted, personalised service that Mellow Business Group has always been known for.

New Zealand's weather can be highly unpredictable. Enjoying the sunshine and a light breeze at home is one thing, but the wind can be twice as strong out on the water.

There’s a big difference between the marine and land forecast so it’s important to check your local marine weather forecast before you head out. And never expect the weather or conditions on the water to stay the same as when you set out. Keep an eye out for unforecasted changes of clouds, wind direction and strength. Marine weather forecasts tell you what the weather is expected to do, but there’s no guarantee it won't get worse.

Check the weather before you head out and keep an eye on the conditions for when you’re due back

Use multiple forecasting tools to gain a broader perspective and make better-informed decisions. The following is a list of various tools you can use.

Coastguard app

The Coastguard app features 5-day forecasts,  the real-time weather situation and the ability to make a trip report right from your smartphone. It's got a boatload of handy features for fishos and boaties, you won't want to leave the dock without this game changer in your pocket. Check out the Coastguard app.

Coastguard VHF Radio

Coastguard's Nowcasting service is available continuously via your local Nowcasting channel. They broadcast real-time marine weather information including live observations from Automatic Weather Stations, recreational forecasts, sea areas, tides, navigation warnings and local station notices.

The Great Gurnard Hunt for the 2025/2026 fishing year will take place from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026.

The challenge is to encourage all Waikato Sport Fishing Club members to have safe family fun fishing out on the water.

Open to all 25/26 Financial WSFC Members freely, just catch a gurnard, take a photo of it on a standard brag mat along with a piece of paper with you current WSFC membership number on it and submit your entry via the Sporty App. You must be a fully paid-up member of WSFC at the time of the catch.

Prizes include $250.00 awarded for the longest gurnard of the season and $150.00 to a randomly drawn gurnard length prize at the 2026 AGM). All gurnard entries are eligible for the draw; however, the angler whose name is drawn must be present at the AGM to claim the prize, otherwise a redraw will occur.

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

WSFC Newsletter August 2025

WSFC Members receive 10% off Hamilton, Cambridge and now Matamata Hunting & Fishing

Shelly Beach

Spotlight on Sponsor - Mellow Business Group

Trophy Return

Safety First

Check Tides and Weather Before Going on the Water

Upcoming Events

WSFC 25/26 Membership Registration

Membership Benefits

MEMBERSHIP FEE'S

Limited Edition WSFC T-Shirts