Hi All

Just when you thought we were all done with comps for the season don't forget we still have the year long Gurnard challenge underway, just use the sporty app to upload photos of Gurnard on a measure matt and load your photo to the Great Gurnard Hunt section in the registrations section of Sporty. 

If you didn't make the Big Four Prize giving you missed a great night. Congrats to Aaron Bennet and son Rory for taking out the overall , Men's' and Junior Categories respectively, and Lisa McDonald for taking out the Ladies section. There were some magnificent fish entered with only about 3 drawn prizes from memory. 

We're getting ready for our end of year prize giving which will happen on the same night as the AGM, Wednesday 23 September 2026. But please do make sure you get your trophies back so they can be polished up and engraved for next years winners. 

Our next Club night will be on the third Wednesday of the month on June 17th and the topic will be a Bluefin Fishing Safety evening, this time our Guest Speaker will be the God Father of modern jigging techniques in NZ Chris Wong from Jig Star NZ to tell us all about Jigging for Blue fin, and Simon from Coast guard reminding us of the perils of Winter Fishing in the open Ocean and how to keep ourselves safe! For more information and a registration link, please see further down in the newsletter.

We'd still really like a couple more new Committee members so if you can give us an hour or so a week to help deliver the cool stuff you've seen us do this year, we'd love to hear from you .

Looking forward to catching up again at our June Club Night, until then Tight Lines and stay safe!

Cheers

Bob

"Waikato Sport Fishing Club - sport and recreational fishing for our families, our communities and our future"

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

10% off at Hamilton, Cambridge and Matamata 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.

 Prepare for offshore fishing with Coastguard Tuna Seminars

Southern Bluefin Tuna fishing continues to grow in popularity across New Zealand. As a result, more boaties are travelling further offshore during the winter months. This brings unique risks, including unpredictable weather, fatigue, and difficult bar crossings.

To help you stay safe, Coastguard has partnered with the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council to bring back our Southern Bluefin Tuna Seminar Series. These free events over the next few months focus on practical preparation and sharing real experiences.

You’ll learn vital skills to keep your crew safe, including:
●    Mastering trip planning and understanding weather windows.
●    Improving communications and emergency preparedness.
●    Preparing thoroughly for bar crossings.

For more information click here

Register below (Free) for Hamilton (Waikato Sport Fishing Club) Southern Bluefin Tuna Pre-Season Seminar Series . Wed, 17 Jun, 7pm - 9pm

Hunting & Fishing Waikato Big Four Measuring Competition 

Aaaand that's a wrap for our 2026 Hunting & Fishing New Zealand, Waikato Big Four Comp. The overall honors came down to a hard fought battle between last year's winner Ben Cullen and Aaron Bennett. Congrats to Aaron for winning the comp for the second time in the history of the Big Four with an impressive 297 cm Bag with Ben following close behind with 282.5cm, with Rory Bennet taking out third place with a bag of 273.5cm.

Congrats to all the Category and Species winners you'll see in the table below.

We ended up with 59 entrants slogging it out for 3 weeks of April, which really turned out to be Easter and Anzac weekend for most of us, when the two intervening weekends were taken out by adverse weather.

Thanks so much to Scott at the team at Hunting & Fishing New Zealand, Waikato along with our other sponsors for continuing to support this Iconic tournament.

And last but not least, thanks to all the Anglers who supported us again this year and gave it their all!

Big Four Adult Male

Aaron Bennett - 297.0 cm

Ben Cullen - 282.5 cm

Scott Pritchard - 254.0 cm

Big Four Adult Female

Lisa MacDonald - 271.0 cm

Jess McLachlan - 155.0 cm

Timara Thwaites - 102.0 cm

Big Four Junior

Rory Bennett - 273.5 cm

Daniel MacDonald - 139.5 cm

Keira Waitere - 123.0 cm

Spotlight on Sponsor

PROUD TO BE ONGOING GOLD SPONSORS OF WSFC

Professional concrete solutions for commercial, residential, and civil projects. With years of industry experience, we deliver quality and reliability to support projects with precision. New Zealand-Certified and Audited Waikato Ready Mix delivers quality concrete every time.
For all your concrete & civil works enquires call Tom Love 021 654 912 or wrmc.co.nz

We’re getting ready for the Annual Prizegiving, and we need all trophies back for engraving.

If you have a trophy from last season, please return it to:

The club rooms on a Club Night or Supreme Sheet Metals 288 Kahikatea Drive, Frankton, Hamilton

Click here to read New Zealand Sport Fishing Councils May report

Safety First

Skippers Checklist

Heading out on the water? Here's a comprehensive checklist to ensure your day goes smoothly, with no maintenance worries or safety concerns.

Check Your Fuel Tanks: Before you launch, make sure your fuel is fresh. If your boat’s been out of the water for a while, replace old fuel and check all hose connections. Remember the 'thirds' rule: 

• 1/3 for getting there
• 1/3 for getting back
• 1/3 in reserve, just in case!

Batteries: Ensure your batteries are fully charged, terminals are clean, and all connections are tight. Your boat electronics can drain your battery, so check you've got enough charge for the return trip.

Engine and Motor Check: Turn the engine over before you head out. Ensure there are no blockages and everything is running smoothly. If you're unsure about the condition of your engine, consider taking a Coastguard Engine Maintenance course. 

Lifejackets for Everyone: Make sure there are lifejackets for everyone on board, and ensure they're in good condition. It's tough to put on a lifejacket in the water, so always wear them while underway. Trailer boats can sink quickly, so it’s crucial to stay prepared. 

Two Forms of Communication: Bring at least two working forms of communication, such as a charged VHF radio and a mobile phone. Perform a radio check with us to ensure your VHF is functioning properly. You can call us on your local VHF channel or dial *500 from your mobile.

Check Your Local Marine Weather: Always check the marine forecast before you head out. What looks like a gentle breeze on land could be much more severe on the water. Use the free Coastguard app or your VHF Nowcasting channel for the latest updates.

Trip and Bar Crossing Reports: Making a trip report takes just a minute but could save your life. Let us know your departure point, destination, ETA, the number of people on board (with lifejackets!), and your boat details. If crossing a bar, don’t forget to close your bar crossing report when you're safely through to avoid triggering a search.

Navigation Lights: If you plan on being out at night, make sure your navigation lights are working. They're easy to overlook but essential for nighttime boating. 

Bung Check: Before launching, confirm that your bungs are in place. A quick once-over of the boat, including the hull and outboard, can prevent surprises later on. 

Clean Hull: If your boat stays in the water, keep your hull clean to ensure a smooth ride and to avoid spreading marine pests. Many marinas may turn you away if your boat’s hull is dirty. 

Be Kind at the Boat Ramp: Boat ramps can get busy, especially if it's a nice day. Everyone’s excited to get on the water, so practice patience and kindness.  

Coastguard Membership: If you’re not a member already, consider joining Coastguard. For only $150, you get peace of mind with free on-water assistance whenever things don’t go to plan. 

Marine Insurance: Lastly, protect your boat by getting coverage in case the unexpected happens. Tower, Coastguard’s preferred marine insurer, offers policies specifically designed for boaters. 

Now that you’re all set, enjoy your time on the water!
 

Don't forget to get your entries in for the Great Gurnard Hunt 

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.

Check out these stories and more in the May 2026
issue of the IGFA's International Angler!

• 12 of the Largest Northern Pike in IGFA World Record History
   
• IGFA Master Angler Program
   
• Celebrating 87 Years of the IGFA: IGFA Day Online Auction
   
• Conservation Update: Forage Fish Data Workshop
   
• Youth Angling Camps: Shaping Young Ethical Anglers 
   
• Newly approved IGFA World Records and Slam & Trophy Clubs
   
• Hot New Products from IGFA Corporate Sponsors 

WSFC Event Calendar

17 June 7.00pm Club Night 

Bluefin Fishing Safety evening. Guest Speaker will be the God Father of modern jigging techniques in NZ Chris Wong from Jig Star NZ to tell us all about Jigging for Blue fin, and Simon from Coast guard reminding us of the perils of Winter Fishing in the open Ocean and how to keep ourselves safe!

1 July 2026 WSFC 26/27 Membership Registrations Open

1 July - 30 September - Winter Challenge Comp (more details in the June newsletter)

8 July 7.00pm Club Night

12 August 7.00pm Club Night

23 September Annual Prizegiving & AGM

Our clubrooms are located at 499 Grantham Street, Hamilton.

Limited Edition WSFC T-Shirts

We have a limited edition Waikato Sport Fishing Club T-shirt available for purchase. It's the perfect way to show your support and affiliation with Waikato Sport Fishing Club. The T-shirt is produced by the very popular AS Colour brand.

See our design below: Left is the front, right is the back.

Mens T-shirts $50 Size S, M(SOLD OUT), L, XL, XXL(SOLD OUT), XXXL(SOLD OUT)

Womans T-shirts $50 Size S, M(SOLD OUT), L(SOLD OUT), XL

Kids T-shirts $45 Size 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14

Please follow this link to our online order form. WSFC T-Shirt Online Order . Please note that postage costs will be added if required. You can also opt to pick up your order from our next club night.

Many of you will be aware that safe passage over the Port Waikato Bar has become very difficult with weather moving the channels.

Because of this we had to remove the top lead mark in Waiuku forest, as the bar has changed so drastically that it has physically exceeded the adjustment necessary to mark the safest line across the bar.

We are also unable to mark the channels with buoys due to the strong currents and how rapidly the bar is changing.

 We would appreciate it if you could communicate this widely to your members and any other users you can reach, as we are aware of recent capsizing and people being thrown into the water. We want to ensure boaties have as much information as possible to cross safely, or to make a sensible judgement to stay on shore – we know it’s much harder for people to accept turning back once they’re out there.

 I have attached photos below, taken 01 May 2026, to show the two channels passing out to sea on that date.

 I have also attached of copy of the temporary signs we have added to all the boat ramps around the Harbour.

 Our safety recommendations are the same as always:

 Always wear a life jacket

• Log a bar crossing report with Coastguard on Channel 18 or by dialling *500
• The safest time to cross is near high tide (never cross near low tide)  
• If in doubt don’t go out.

 We consider this bar extremely high risk at the moment and would recommend anyone new to the bar - or bar crossings in general – should avoid crossing at all.

 We appreciate you sharing these safety messages and we will reinstate markers as soon as there is a safe channel to mark.

 Regards

Shane Miles

Deputy Regional Harbourmaster

Waikato Regional Council