My Account
The Kawau Bay Fishing Club is calling past and present members for some stories and scuttlebutt to celebrate 25 years on Saturday, November 16, at the Mahurangi East Bowling Club in Snells Beach.
Fishing club president Ian Clark says the club has always been about more than just fishing.
Over the years, the club has contributed to community causes including Coastguard, Snells Beach Primary, Mahurangi East Fire Station, Westpac, St Johns and Hospice, to name a few.
He says raising funds for donations was easier in the old days when it was allowed to raffle off the day’s catch, before the Ministry for Primary Industries put a stop to it.
The amount of fish in the water ebbs and flows, but Ian reckons the fish are smaller these days because Kawau Bay is a beauty of a spot that is close to Auckland.
“The amount of people fishing here has increased. On a fine day you can count 50 to 60 boats on the water.”
He says there ought to be some kind of survey about what fishers are taking from the bay, even if it’s self-reported.
“People say recreational takes similar quantities as commercial, but I don’t know about that,” he says.
He adds that the rules on how many fish people can take from the area are also confusing, because it changes depending on what side of Kawau Island you are on.
In September, the club held its annual month-long competition for the Ken Erceg trophy and 68 fish were weighed in.
Kevin Johnston caught the heaviest snapper (4.67kg). Second place went to Grant Thompson, with a snapper weighing 4.495kg. Graham Bond won the trophy for a 1.433kg fish that was closest to the average weight caught.
Each year, the club hosts a junior day, paid for by the club to encourage children to try fishing and spend a day with their parents and grandparents.
Ian says membership in the club still sits around 70 members, with many having come and gone since it was founded by Ken Erceg and Shirley and Dudley Cooper.
All past members are welcome to the 25-year celebration and should RSVP to kawaubayfishingclub@xtra.co.nz as soon as possible and before November 1.
