Twenty-four boats entered the tournament held on Saturday,May 11, with 18 women heading out to the big blue taking with them “lady luck”on the high seas. Every woman managed to reel in a fish keeping theskippers happy. A combined total of 122 fish was caught on the day.
First-time angler Ake Viniki-Teauiti was “thrilled” toreel in the heaviest fish in the ladies division – a 34kg yellowfin tuna onboard“Island Time” skippered by Simon Marsters. “When we left the harbour in the early morning it wasstill dark and I was quite excited,” Viniki-Teauiti said. They struck the winning fish at the Rarotongan FAD(Fishing Aggregate Device).
“I learned what a FAD was, and how to reel in a fishproperly ...
it was so much hard work, I just collapsed after and wanted to go tosleep.” Viniki-Teauiti said she enjoyed the fishing experienceand would like to see the Game Fishing Club continue the women’s division inthe next Weighmasters Competition. The club would like to acknowledge the fishermen whotook the women anglers out on their boats, and the women for participating inthe event.
The competition saw a diverse range of catches,including one wahoo, one mahimahi, one rainbow runner, one marlin, 47 yellowfintuna, and a whopping 71 skipjack tuna. Results Heaviest Fish – Women Division: 1 st AkeViniki ‘Island Time’ – Yellowfin Tuna 34.0kg wins $1000 cash + Pacific Resort$100; 2 nd Marilyn ‘Mama Matapakia’ - Yellowfin Tuna 26.
5kg wins $500 cash +Pacific Resort .