Teariki (Buck) Buckley Jr walked away $1000 richer on Saturday after winning the 2023 Gordon Murray Memorial Fishing Competition.

The annual event was organised by the Cook Islands Games Fishing Club.

Buckley Jr, the skipper of Moeroa, claimed the top two prizes in the heaviest category with 29.2 kilogram and 26.2kg yellowfin tuna.

He was placed second in the aggregate category behind Cameron Thorp on Tamahine.

However the highlight of the event was the number of blue marlins caught by competing fishermen.

“A total of four blue marlin were brought in, the heaviest and biggest for the competition weighing in at 274.5kg courtesy of Pauro Arnold onboard Haura,” the Game Fishing Club said in a statement.

“John Beasley on Maiata also brought in a 172.6kg blue marlin and Paku Poila on board Manakia III just made the cut (weight restriction for marlin) with a 90kg for his catch.

“Our marlin section winners all walked away with cash from a $1000 prize pool. Congratulations boys!”

The Game Fishing Club thanked “the man above for keeping our fishermen safe out on the blue yonder and for all the fish caught to feed our people, we praise you in your mighty name”.

“To Yvonne and Nia, Jane, Tim, the team at Vonnias and to all the Gordon Murray family, meitaki maata, meitaki atupaka, meitaki ngao to you all for your continued support and for making this event successful, the cash and all the prizes sponsored. You spoil our fishermen and for that we are truly grateful and appreciate you all and also to Greg Gustafson for sponsoring a bar card for the Lucky Boat Draw. Thank you from all of us here at the Cook Islands Game Fishing Club.”

Results

Heaviest – 1st Placing – Buckley Jr “Moeroa” – 29.2kg Yellow Fin Tuna, 2nd Placing - Buckley Jr “Moeroa” – 26.2kg YF Tuna, 3rd Placing – Greg Gustafson “Nike Greg” – 25.1kg YF Tuna.

Aggregate – 1st Placing - Cameron Thorp “Tamahine” – 103.4kg, 2nd Placing – Buckley Jnr “Moeroa” – 54.8kg, 3rd Placing – Papa Ina “Raumati” – 47.7kg.

Marlin Section – 1st Placing – Pauro Arnold “Haura” – 274.5kg Blue Marlin,

2nd Placing – John Beasley “Maiata” – 172.6kg Blue Marlin, 3rd Placing – Paku Poila “Manakia III” – 90.0kg Blue Marlin. Sponsors Mystery Weight (9kg) - Junior Ioaba “Bobi Marie” – 8.8kg YF Tuna.