The Tapuaeharuru Bay Classic Fishing Competition 2026 held on Saturday (June 20) had record numbers says Torben Landl of the Two-Mile Bay Sailing Club.
The club which hosts the annual competition promotes it as a day out on the lake with friends and family and Landl says the competition had a great turnout in the youth categories.
“It was great to see mums and dads getting their kids out on the bay.”
The weather conditions were good, he says.
“It was very, very foggy and cold in the morning and there were a lot of people out there chasing that first fish from 5am. The first fish of the day was actually caught at 6.49am, so quite late.”
As well as a prize for first trout, the competition has several other categories from closest to average weight to best condition factor and even worst condition factor as well as spot prizes.
“We had a $25,000 prize pool… some great sponsors from Hunting and Fishing, Strettons Chartered Accountants, Grant and Clare Baley, Cam Mcdonald, Rayglass Boats, Chris Jolly Outdoors, Lakewood Plumbing and Beaver Trees and they all contributed to a record prize pool.”
Ironically Cam Mcdonald, who sponsors the biggest brown trout overall, was crowned this year’s champion – catching a 6.7 pound Rainbow trout in the bay.
Mcdonald caught what Landl describes as “a really good quality fish” at about 10am on Saturday.
Entrants must only fish in Tapuaeharuru Bay – defined by the boundaries of the outer Wharewaka Point two hundred metre buoy, the Rangatira Point 200 metre buoy and north to the lakefront.
Each angler can weigh in two trout only so needs to pick either heaviest, closest to average weight or best condition factor and must have a current fishing licence.
All forms of trout fishing are permitted - boat, kayak or shore.
The next fishing competition at the club runs in late November, early December, says Landl, and covers the whole of the lake.
