A new fishing club has been launched on Great Barrier Island with ambitions to put the island firmly on New Zealand’s sport fishing map.
The Great Barrier Island Fishing Club was established in July by local angler Michael Graham to support recreational and sport fishing around the island.
One of the club’s first priorities is becoming affiliated with the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council (NZSFC), the national body that governs recreational game fishing and oversees a nationwide network of affiliated clubs.
Affiliation would allow members to fish under NZSFC rules, enter national and international competitions, submit record claims and qualify catches for recognised awards.
The club also plans to establish the island’s first official NZSFC weigh station by building a permanent weighing gantry and training accredited weighmasters.
That would allow anglers to have fish officially weighed on Great Barrier Island without having to transport catches to the mainland, making it easier to validate tournament results and New Zealand records.
The NZSFC’s rules set standards for eligible species, tackle, weighing procedures and record claims. Affiliated clubs also promote responsible fishing practices, conservation and tag-and-release programmes.
Membership is open now. Annual fees are $70 for a single adult, $150 for an Aotea resident family membership covering two adults and up to three children under 16, and $20 for juniors under 16.
For more information or to join the Great Barrier Island Fishing Club, visit:
