The first Don Beer Akatokamanava/Mauke Reef and Open Water fishing competition has seen the weighing in of good yellow fin tuna catches.

Don Beer, who opened his store ‘Trader Don’s’ on the island two years ago always had the intention to run an annual fishing competition.

Tere Daniel won the Open Water Heaviest Fish prize and Tutere Moetaua took out the Reef Fishing Heaviest Fish award.

There had been some good catches on Mauke, said Beer.

“The fisherman go through the same issues like those on Rarotonga -  the fish catches are not always constant.”

Lots of tuna up to 15 kilograms and wahoo up to 19kg have been caught on Mauke and some fishermen have been supplying the Rarotonga market with fresh fish, keeping their fish on ice for the plane ride making good use of Mauke Fishing Club ice machine, said Beer.

Children had the opportunity to join in the Under 10 and 10 Years plus categories fishing within the reef, and bringing in fish fresh for the table.

The Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) Fisheries Officer Tai George entered her children - daughter Poetiare (10yrs) and sons Andrew (5yrs) and three-year-old Marcellino in the fishing tournament for the first time, in the past, she had been too busy helping to run the competitions since being an executive of the Mauke Fishing Club.

“The fishing event was so good, my kids really enjoyed it, they are always keen to go on the reef fishing when the sea is calm,” said George.

She encouraged parents to teach their kids how to fish when they are really young.

“Teach them when they are young, me mapu mai me kare me anau tamariki aere kua kite i te tautai ei angai i to ratou ngutuare tangata,” said George.

The two older children were happy to catch some fish, however little Marcellino grew quite impatient, and feeling hungrier by the hour he went home early, said George.

George’s family is well known in the fishing trade and sometimes the kids follow their father trolling out on the ocean.

The Akatokamanava Don Beer Fishing Competition results are as follows.

Open Water Heaviest Fish 1^st Tere Daniel 12.04kg, 2^nd  Nooroa Tua  10.62kg, 3^rd Tai Akarare 10.52kg; Heaviest Aggregate 1st Tutaka Tararo and Daryl Ngaoire, 2nd Uke Urarii, Mikaela Eliaba and Papa Orometua Pareta Ezekiela, 3rd Moana Boy Rakei and Moira George.

Reef Fishing Heaviest Fish 1^st Tutere Moetaua .44kg, 2^nd Maggie Tararo .32kg, 3^rd Tuaine Akamoeau (Mama Tu) .28kg.

Open Women’s - Moira George and Vaine Keu.

10 Years+ Heaviest Fish 1^st Lorna Teatai .36kg, 2^nd Ngametua Samuela .30kg, Pharissa William .28kg; Heaviest Aggregate 1^st Pharissa William and Ngametua Samuela 2.46kg, 2^nd Lorna Teatai 2.16kg, 3^rd Kupatoa Moetaua 1.56kg.

Under 10 Years Heaviest Fish 1^st Lucia Tararo .48kg, 2^nd Mana Boy .38kg, Poetiare Rakei .36kg; Heaviest Aggregate 1^st Poetiare Rakei 3.96kg, 2^nd Ngapoko Toroma 1.70kg, 3^rd Lucia Tararo 1.28kg.

Mystery Weight 9.8kg - Tutavake Akamoeau, Marcellino Akamoeau, Turangi John; Lucky Anglers: Owen Samuela, Teina Nootai, Ngatuakana (Nix) Matapo, Vaine Keu, Tai Akarare, Nooroa Tua, Uke Urarii, Papa Orometua Pareta Ezekiela, Moira George, Mona Boy Rakei, Tutaka Tararo, Mikaela Eliaba, Kupa Tararo, Teakatauira Tamaka, Daryl Ngaoire, Marcellino Akamoeau, Tutavake Akamoeau.