President's Report
Hi and welcome to our new season.
A big thank you to our sponsors for the September competition, Matamata Mitre 10, Mark Wilcox Builders Ltd and Piako Rural Services Ltd (Jim and Wendy Oliver). We would also like to extend a big thank you to all of our sponsors, big or small, so please where possible, support these businesses that support us. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor please let us know so we can work with you.
We have another great committee lined up for the year. Many thanks to Natalie Clothier for her two years’ service to the committee processing fish weight entries etc, she has now stepped down, and we welcome back Eileen Ward and three new-comers, Grant and Sue Dixon and John Price. We are really looking forward to their input for the season. We have a very enthusiastic committee going into the new season and are always open to any new ideas or suggestions to improve the club so please come forward if you have any.
Recently at our AGM there were three rule changes to be aware of:
1. FISHING BOUNDARIES– for this current 25/26 Fishing Season the Boundaries have BEEN REMOVED.
2. DRONE FISHING– must be used with only (2) two hooks per rod or handline per fisherman, NO Long lines. NO FISH POINTS FOR ANY FISH CAUGHT BY A DRONE. There will be a category in selected competitions for any fish caught with the help of a drone.
3. ELECTRIC REELS–may be used if you have a physical disability or only in deep water when fishing for deepwater species i.e. Blue Nose, Hapuka, Gemfish and Bass.
We will trial drone fishing for several months, the first being this September competition – there will be a prize for the heaviest fish caught by a drone. Please specify at weigh in if you have caught your fish this way. This will be reviewed by the committee at a later date – this was a suggestion forwarded to the committee and we have decided to give it a go.
Keep an eye out on our website and social media for other plans that we have for our competitions coming up. Also, if you know of anyone looking to join the club please encourage them to register via our website or get in touch with a committee member.
Hope everyone can get out for our first competition for the season and make it a great start.
Happy fishing and be safe, All the best for the season
Kind regards
Phi