Akura’s 2 marlin top the comp

Akura Fishing Charters took out the Anzac Day fishing competition on Wednesday hooking not one but two decent sized blue marlin.

Akura was one of 16 boats that headed out for the one-day comp sponsored by the Game Fishing Club of Rarotonga.

Returning from a combined charter on Wednesday morning, a German angler on board Akura hooked the first marlin two miles out from the Nikao sea wall.

The blue marlin, which took the German angler some 40 minutes to reel in, weighed in at 75kg and was the heaviest fish of the competition.

According to Cameron Thorp of Akura, the visiting angler was ecstatic after catching his first game fish ever.

After offloading the fish, Akura and her crew were out for their second fishing session of the day and 10 minutes into it – they hooked their second blue marlin.

The marlin weighed in at 72kg and won second place in the heaviest fish category of the Anzac fishing tournament.

The fish was hooked just before the Panama FAD and as it was only the start of the afternoon charter, the fish was returned to shore before the anglers set out to hunt more fish.

Reel Time Charter placed third in the heaviest fish category with a 30.6kg sail fish.

In the aggregate (combined weight) division, Al Torro skippered by Pupuke Robati brought home 57.6kg of fish to take out the division while Marlin Queen came in second with a total weight of 49.8kg which included 10 small yellowfin tuna.

Grace Riddell hauled in 39kg of various fish to place third overall.