The first lines hit the water yesterday morning for the 27th edition of the legendary Gary Parlour “Wahoo” Game Fishing Tournament, poised to make history as a record 46 boats have registered for this event.

Anglers from Aitutaki and Rarotonga are chasing the heaviest pa’ara (wahoo) and heaviest mahimahi in the country’s biggest two-day fishing competition.

The Gary Parlour competition now in its 27^th year alternates between the Aitutaki Game fishing Club and Rarotonga’s Cook Islands Game Fishing Club (CIGFC), who are hosting this year, continuing its friendly rivalry since its inception in 1997.

Since 2021, the Gary Parlour and Goldie Goldy/Ms Ben “Mahimahi” Fishing events joined together for the two-day fishing competition.

Rough sea conditions prevented some fishermen from catching any fish yesterday, forcing them to return to shore empty-handed.

Then there were the lucky ones like Piniata Katoa, who went out alone, returning home absolutely chuffed with his hefty wahoo, hoping no one would surpass his catch weight today.

Jeremy Winders, nicknamed “The Great White Hunter” from Aotearoa New Zealand and a member of the CIGFC, was “super stoked” to weigh in an impressive yellowfin tuna and a 62.5-kilogram marlin with skipper Nga Katuke.

Corey Fisher, on his charter fishing boat Reelaxing Fishing Charters, hauled in a mighty yellowfin tuna.

The Aitutaki Fishing Club members were welcomed at the Cook Islands Game Fishing Club on Thursday night with a turou from Steven Kavana, an ei for each member, a lovely buffet kaikai, and sounds by the club’s string band.

Apii William, president of the Cook Islands Game Fishing Club, welcomed the guests from Aitutaki, followed by a speech from Clive Baxter, president of the Aitutaki Fishing Club, and secretary Teinakore.

To encourage and support the sport of fishing, Peter Webb and Alan Anderson, members of the Cook Islands Game Fishing Club, paid for the airfares of two young, enthusiastic anglers from Aitutaki, Terrence George and John Baxter Jr, to travel to Rarotonga and participate in the event.

The 2024 Gary Parlour “Wahoo” and Goldy Goldie/Ms Ben “Mahi Mahi” Fishing Tournament is held from 5am to 5pm, with final weigh-in at the Cook Islands Game Fishing Club in Tupapa at 6pm sharp.

For the heaviest fish section, both the wahoo and mahimahi fish must weigh at least 10 kilograms to be eligible for the heaviest fish prize per respective category.

In the event the minimum weight is not met, the major prize will be forfeited and carried forward to the next Gary Parlour and Goldy Goldie Fishing Competition in Rarotonga in 2026.

All other species, including wahoo and mahimahi but excluding marlin, will be eligible to enter the “other species – aggregate section” prize draw provided they meet the minimum weight requirement of 3kg for each fish.

Any marlin weighed in must meet the minimum weight of 60kg to be eligible for a prize in the marlin section.

All fish must be caught on rod and reel and weighed in by 6pm. Prizegiving awards begin at 7pm tonight followed by a live island band.