Marsters wins Don Beer Snr Memorial Trophy

Tuna proved an elusive prey for those participating in the annual Queen’s Birthday fishing competition hosted by the Cook Islands Game Fishing Club.
According to acting weighmaster Peter Etches, a number of reasonable-sized paara were weighed in but the Don Beer Senior Memorial Trophy for the heaviest tuna was taken out by Dick Marsters, with a small 9.5-kg yellow fin tuna. Altogether 23 fish with a total weight of 205.8 kilograms were weighed in, substantially less than many previous competitions.
Fifteen boats registered and expectations amongst anglers were high as a number of good-sized tuna had been caught during the previous week. Unfortunately for the competition’s entrants, the calm waters over the two-day competition meant that paara were feeding on the top whilst the highly-prized tuna sought out the cooler ocean depths.
Results:
Don Beer Memorial Trophy – Dick Marsters (Black Beauty), with a 9.5-kg yellow fin tuna.
1st Heaviest fish – Brendon Nicholas (Dawn Breaker) with a 19-kg paara.
2nd Heaviest fish – Pauoro (Akura) with an 18-kg paara.
3rd Heaviest fish – Steve Kavana (Tangaroa) with a 17.4-kg paara.
1st Aggregate weight – Teariki Buckley (Mataengoa) with five-fish total of 43 kg.
2nd Aggregate weight – Jason (Seafari) with four-fish total of 33.8 kg.
3rd Aggregate weight – Steve Kavana (Tangaroa) with two-paara total of 27.8 kg.
Prize giving, followed by a light kai kai, was held in the recently renovated Are Puhoi outside facility at the fishing club, with many visitors staying to witness the occasion.
The Cook Islands Game Fishing Club wishes to once again acknowledge the generous sponsorship from the Beer family for this tournament and all the fishermen who registered. It is also pleased to note that the Kii kii FAD, which was lost over a year ago, has recently been replaced by the Ministry of Marine Resources. Our thanks go to Sonny Tatuava and his boys for this work.

Herald Issue 463 10 June
- World famous activist assisting residents
- Budget will decide if residents prosecute Government over landfill
- Forestry project sucking Mangaia dry
- Budget 2010 – fiasco or disaster?