News

November 10, 2014


Fishing can become catching... November 10th 2014

The switch has flicked and we are all go in the Jetskifishing world, everyone is eager to get started for summer! Added in this report is a selection of some smart looking skis which are up for sale.  These skis had been purchased and kitted out by the team at Jetskifishing and have enjoyed many great days on the water.  Their owners are now upgrading and are getting a custom fit out of their new skis at the Jetskifishing Store.

Earlier last week I managed to get away for a night to enjoy a couple of short fishing sessions. I ventured to the Far North where I really enjoy the adventure and challenge of fishing areas which I am less familiar with. These road trips are a  great break away and I always appreciate the versatility when fishing from my custom kitted out jet-ski.

Over my decade of Jetskifishing interest, I have met thousands of people eager to get started with the sport, most wanting to do it once and do it right, who happily utilize my skills and services to set them up from start to fishing. Although it frustrates me that some still try to reinvent the wheel in our sport, it unessisarily dulls their experience with the sport, by them enduring more trial and error than just enjoying what we do.

If you have been struggling or about to get started, here are some straight forward tips to save you the hard yards so you can do more catching rather than fishing.

Key factors to enjoy the sport the way I do:

  • Purchase a late model (2004 minimum), 4 stroke Naturally Aspirated, 3 seater, 155 plus horsepower craft with adequate storage for your necessary safety equipment and fishing tackle.
  • A Trailer which can be beach launched easily.  I personally use the customized DMW rollered trailer which I can easily beach launch and retrieve in tidal areas with little hassle. Often a retrieval will be solo and sometimes an added challenge when there is little water to get the ski all the way to the trailer.  Pivoting rollers and an appropriate winch ratio make for hassle free retrieval off the beach.
  • The Fishing kit which I use is the Ultimate Rod Holder with a minimum of 4 holders .Typically I only take two or possibly three rods, as to not over complicate the fishing adventures with tackle in the way when playing fish 360 degrees around the ski. An important feature of the kits is the rod holders, and making sure they are in practical and easily accessed locations. If considering one of the many other brand kits, think realistic... How many fish will you be really be keeping to fit in your chilly bin? How much salt-ice expense will you require for each trip for over sized bins? How secure are they and can you ride the ski to its full potential without losing the kit or your gear? Are there leashes for all add-on hardware?
  • Safety is paramount, I need to be relaxed and have confidence while fishing to get my best results! I carry a fully charged cellphone in a LifeProof case, 5 watt Handheld VHF, Personal Location Beacon (All these items are available in stock at my Jetskifishing Store). I also support Coastguard services and have membership so I can call them on my VHF when required.
  • Bait - NO dirty smelly bait! I only purchase and use Gulp soft baits, I have from day one, after being introduced to soft baiting 10 years ago, I have consistent success with a selected series of baits in the Gulp colours. Reluctantly after being gifted various other brand soft baits at times to trial and whether it has been slow fishing or inferior product, I haven't seen results to make a sudden change. Currently my 'go to' versions of Gulp are the Nemesis and Grub series baits. There is a great colour selection that our local Snapper attract to and this helps me do more catching than fishing :-)
  • Slow  jigs - with so many brands being introduced to the NZ market, it is a challenge to know what actually is the best bang for buck! I have caught nice Snapper and Kingfish on most brands, you can't go to wrong with what you are using beyond the required weight for your depth and colour that the fish are keener for on the day.
  • Navigation Light, Sounders/GPS units with thru-hull transducers and dual battery systems, all a bonus for building your ultimate fishing machine. Call me to discuss what gear we use and why specific models suit Jetskifishing more than others.

This latest adventure had me fishing areas of 60 metres deep with the Berkley Squiddo - Orange Tiger slow jigs for an 18 pound Snapper on my new Daiwa Sol3000 soft bait set.

Once catching the big one I was keen on some shallow water fishing, but couldn't believe how shallow I would be able to catch big fish in! Only a few 100 metres from the launching point I spotted some birds and bait fish working on the surface in 8 metres of water. Using the Gulp - New Penny 6" Grub, I cast a 1oz jig head about 20 metres, just to land behind the trail of the bait fish. Repeating this technique with a slow retrieve, as to not allow my hook to be snagged on the foul ground, I was striking big fish on light gear. Exciting fishing where I needed to be on my game, catching and releasing many nice fish!

 This was one of the most enjoyable fishing sessions I have had in a long time, so many different species caught and with shallow water fishing for big fish you need to be on your game. Deciding to keep a few fish to take home for friends and family, I also got the bonus of a big Kingfish from shallows.

Sounder/GPS tips

 

  • Always back up your spots to your chart card, rather than the unit

  • Off the shelf sounder units (unmodified) are at risk of getting water ingress on wet Jetskifishing days from salt water spray.

  • If your sounder/GPS powers down when starting your ski, this is because the supply voltage is going below the required level for the sounder, which can cause a voltage spike resulting in unit damage. To eliminate this inconvenience the Jetskifishing Store offers, dual battery systems installed and the other option is a DIY kit.

  • Sounder rain coats are now available from Jetskifishing, keeping your screen clean, to and from your spots... Also adding the required extra protection to your unit from salt water spray that penetrates the rear of the sounder, email andrew@jetskifishing.co.nz for further information.

Cheers, Andrew Hill

October 02, 2014


Goes Wild 6... October 2nd to 5th 2014

Jetskifishing 4 day social adventure to the top of the Coromandel and Great Barrier.

I've just arrived back from another amazing group trip to the Coromandel, where 35 Jetskifisho's ventured on a social fishing trip to the remote location of Port Charles. We experienced some challenging weather but this didn't stop us from catching more personal best fish. Check out these three fish Peter and Jenny caught while using our newly stocked Berkley Squiddos.

These trips are as much fun off the water, with many new friendships made and lots of tackle tips being shared between the guests.

Our Jetskifishing experiences are growing with popularity and your opportunity to join us on our next trip which is now open for bookings today. Check out the location where we fished, along with some added tips with which was the 'hot' colour and model slow jig which we currently have on sale at Jetskifishing.

 

Hottest fishing

  • Cape Barrier at Great Barrier Island.

  • Despite the 30 knot winds and up to 3 metre swells, we fished best in the BLUE areas with a depth of 35 to 40 metres.

  • With no anchor or drogue, we used 2 to 4 oz weights. We cast 15 metres ahead of our skis, to allow for the fast drift and so the baits could get to the fish zone.

  • The best sized fish caught between the group weighed 6-8 kg in this BLUE area.

 

Fishing Location - Cape Barrier of GB Island.

Launch area, beach launching at Little Sandy and Big Sandy Bay at Port Charles.

Due to popular demand, we have arranged another Goes Wild adventure, book quickly to avoid the disappointment of missing out!

Cheers, Andrew Hill

 

 

 

 

June 26, 2014


The best way to meet likeminded people... June 26th to 29th 2014

I have been enjoying Jetskifishing for nine years and I still remember the first day I tried the “fishing off a jet-ski” concept. Never did I vision how far the sport could evolve so quickly, much because you can be addicted after catching your first fish! For those early days, the first month of Jetskifishing was purely solo missions and it inspired a waiting list in my family to join me two up  My kids were eager to experience the thrill of catching a fish off the ski, there is no turning back once they got a taste of it! To look back now, a 3 mile trip within the Hauraki Gulf, was classed as mammoth adventure back then. Now we travel up to 30 mile off shore and tow the skis to picturesque vantage points throughout NZ. Even better, we now fish with social groups, largely due to the sport now being my full-time career choice. This sport is a lifestyle for me and many others, even better, living the dream working with what I am passionate about. Nine years on for me from where it begun and with the support of fishos choosing to purchase and use my quality and tested Jetskifishing products, I continue being able to make a difference in other peoples lives with them too being able to enjoy Jetskifishing as I do. To see people enjoying my social events, active in the NZ Jetskifishing Club and sharing their experiences on the Jetskifishing Facebook page, is the bigger picture for me, with so many friendships introduced within our growing community. All this activity sees Jetskifisho’s learning more and being involved with like minded people eager to meet others and get the most out of the sport. This latest blog gives an insight into our latest winter trip, joined by twenty keen Jetskifisho’s, all eager to have some fun after being prepared and kitted out at the Jetskifishing Store. By visiting at our specialised store, they shop with confidence to achieve what inspired them to get started with the sport, doing it once and doing it right.

Most of us met for an early start on the Thursday and headed off in a group to appreciate the full social experience. Much of these trips is meeting others and we always look forward to welcoming newbies to our groups.

The destination for the Goes Wild trips is at the remote location of Port Charles in the Coromandel. Just over 3 hours journey on a lovely scenic drive.

On arrival, we check-in at the resort’s impressive main conference centre where we were allocated our lodges for our next exciting three nights stay. Couples have their own private lodges and the singles share group lodges with fisho’s with similar experience.

 The weather for this trip was a was looking like mixed bag, with periods of strong winds and a few short breaks forecasted over the four days. The first day we were lucky enough after a reasonable weather window, for a few of the group to ride over to Cape Barrier and some trophy fish being caught.

 More fish from day one, including a new personal best for one of our newbies, Brent!

After a great start to the trip, we all looked forward to a few well-deserved drinks along with an amazing meal at the resort’s restaurant.

Day two and day three had some challenging conditions. Fortunately most of my guests were all kitted out with our Jetskifishing Store winter apparel options, allowing everyone to still enjoy the day and the experience on those wet and colder days.

A bad weather window is always a good opportunity to prepare gear for the following days fishing while enjoying the odd refreshment and sharing some fishing stories.

and a few more beersies!

Dream conditions on day four allowed us a twenty minute, full throttle ride to Great Barrier Island. My favourite style bait, Gulp Nemesis enticing a big Snapper from the shallows!

Day four saw some great fish being caught, including a few of our new Jetskifisho’s catching the big ones.

These adventures are always plenty of fun, a great opportunity to learn so much more about the sport, all while having a holiday. Our next trip is October 2nd - 5th and with only 5 single spots left, you need to book fast!

You now have another reason to visit the Jetskifishing Store more regularly, not only can you purchase our trusted products on sale, we also offer a large range and selection of proven Jetskifishing soft bait tackle. Give me a call to receive an easy email order form for your monthly weekly tackle supplies that are working for me.

Cheers, Andrew Hill

April 13, 2014


King of Jetskifishing # 9... April 13th 2014

After much anticipation it was time to see who would earn the title of the newest King of Jetskifishing. With this being the ninth King of Jetskifishing and a bi-annual event, we always have a diverse field of keen Jetskifisho’s attending. The start format is our ever popular amazing race format, which sees all anglers starting at a convenient one base carpark start. All entrants were required to attend the early start briefing with their skis at Lloyd Elsmore Park, East Auckland. On registration at the Jetskifishing tent, entrants receive their complimentary King of Jetskifishing Tournament bag with our sponsor’s goodies.

It has become a King of Jetskifishing tradition, where we catch up the night before for a few drinks and dinner, and meet up with our out of town Jetskifisho’s attending the comp. It was another great night and was a social build up to Sunday’s comp day.

Once again we were fortunate with the weather and had a great turnout with seventy five registered anglers. The competition is continuing to attract nationwide interest. With anglers travelling from as far as the Hawkes Bay, Whangarei and Taranaki, making the most of it and meeting others involved in the fun sport. After the early morning briefing, each Jetskifisho would set off and give it their best at the generous $10,000 prize pool.

Also up for grabs were some great additional prizes, sponsored by the team at Logitech. These new Logitech Mini Boom’s, are a water-resistant wireless speaker and were a cool prize that many had their eyes set on winning. All entrants were in for a chance to win these with various challenges which we had included with their registration pack. The first opportunity for winning a Logitech Mini Boom recognised the angler who had the most courageous and productive strategy, catching a legal fish while travelling the longest distance! Each entrant had to take a photo with a local landmark, showing where they travelled to within the eight and a half hour fishing window from Auckland.

The winner of the challenge was Peter Jacobsen, who successfully caught fish with his massive road trip to Tairua and returning in comfortable time, back in Auckland before the 3:30pm weigh-in cut off.

With the growth of the sport and a large following of our FaceBook page, it made good sense to take the comp to the next level. The weigh in and price giving was held at JFK’s Powersports allowing us to host all the activities under one roof, including a casting competition, wheel changing competition, CanAm Spyder demo rides and kid’s bouncy castle. There was ample parking with the opportunity for public to be able to admire the skis along with a covered area out of the sun for the public weigh-in.

We once again we hosted a casting competition and also introduced a new activity being a wheel changing competition, with the spectators enjoying it just as much as the participants.

There was no shortage of fish to be weighed in, our most successful day yet! Fifty seven of the anglers weighed in their catches, with many having a few different species. We had a few people fishing two up, including fathers and sons, husband and wives, and also a mum and son. The comp has a great feel about it with it still based on a fun spirit, yet with a competitive edge involving the whole family.

The BBQ was cranking all afternoon, with Mad Butcher sausages and steak, a great way to enjoy the afternoon, topped with a few much deserved ice cold Asahi and NZ Pure beers and of course for our younger participants some LOL Fruit Drink with fizz for kids.

We have plenty more pics on the Jetskifishing Facebook Page, here is just a few of the weigh-in, with the elevated stage so the spectators could admire the fish on display.

An amazing range of fish were weighed in and I received plenty of feedback with how much people enjoyed being part of the event. The ongoing comments I hear from people who are involved with my events is that the enthusiasm is contagious, which is a credit to the sport and the growing community. I have a great team that help with my events and without their passion and time for Jetskifishing, it would not be possible for other Jetskifisho’s to learn more and meet other like-minded people.

Thanks again to our sponsors, having long-term sponsors is a big part of growing the sport and achieving a positive return for their input. Our sponsors are active with the comp by participating on the water, or networking with the entrants at the weigh-in/prize giving which they appreciated being part of the event.

We look forward to seeing you included in King of Jetskifishing 10, scheduled for Sunday November 16th 2014.

FOR UPCOMING SPONSORSHIP AVAILABILITY, PLEASE EMAIL andrew@jetskifishing.co.nz to express interest.

 

FULL RESULTS KING JETSKIFISHING # 9

 

LOL Heaviest Kids Snapper

1st Sophie Hawes (Sea-Doo GTX), Prize & Trophy - Pflueger rod/reel combo & LOL pack. Weight – 2.1kg

2nd Kodie Hesketh (Sea-Doo GTi), Prize – Berkley soft pouch & LOL pack. Weight – 1.6kg

3rd Cooper Hill (Sea-Doo GTX), Prize – Sharkskin Beanie & LOL pack. Weight – 1.5kg

 

Attwoods Packaging Heaviest Kahawai

1st Peter Todorov (Sea-Doo GTX), Prize & Trophy – Daiwa soft bait rod/reel combo. Weight – 2.7kg

2nd Matt Maclean (Sea-Doo GTX), Prize - Sharkskin SPF50 Top. Weight – 2.15kg

3rd Garth Nicolay (Sea-Doo GTX), Prize – Cock & Bull Voucher. Weight – 2.15kg

 

DAIWA Heaviest “other species”

1st Mark Greenfield (Yamaha FX HO),Prize & Trophy–Daiwa rod/reel combo. Weight – 3.75kg (Skipjack Tuna)

2nd Quinn Barnes (Yamaha FX HO), Prize – Sharkskin SPF50 Top. Weight – 2.7kg (Skipjack Tuna)

3rd Mike Barnes (Yamaha FX HO), Prize – Cock & Bull Voucher. Weight – 2.6kg (Skipjack Tuna)

 

Bradley Smoker Heaviest Kingfish

1st Peter Todorov (Sea-Doo GTX), Prize & Trophy – Bradley Smoker package. Weight – 12.15kg

2nd Peter Jacobsen (Yamaha FX HO), Prize – Sharkskin SPF50 Top. Weight – 11.75kg

3rd Daniel Michev (Sea-Doo GTX), Prize – Cock & Bull Voucher. Weight – 11.75kg

 

Berkley Average Snapper

1st Stu McMillan (Yamaha FX HO), Prize & Trophy - $500 CASH. Weight – 1.09kg

 

Catch, Team of Jetskifishing

1st Peter Todorov & Daniel Michev Team Name – Team Sea-Doo’s (Sea-Doo GTX’s)

Prize - $200 CASH & 2 x Catch slow jig packs. Weight (Combined prize winning fish) – 26.6kg

 

Catch, Best dressed, Team of Jetskifishing

Mark Greenfield & David Johnson - The Net Minnits (Yamaha) Prize – Catch slow jig packs

New Zealand Jetskifishing Club, Legend of Jetskifishing

1st Peter Todorov (Sea-Doo GTX), Prize & Trophy - $400 CASH. Weight – 15.9kg (3 species)

 

JFK’s King of Jetskifishing in association with Sea-Doo

Heaviest Weight Snapper

1st Quinn Barnes (Yamaha FX HO), Prize & Trophy - $1,000 CASH. Weight – 5kg

2nd Ian Charlton (Sea-Doo RXT), Prize – Penn rod and reel combo. Weight – 4.45kg

3rd Mike Barnes (Yamaha FX HO), Prize – Berkley Tackle Bag. Weight – 4.45kg

4th Steve Manuel (Sea-Doo GTX), Prize – SavePhace Jetskifishing Mask. Weight – 4kg

5th Richard Scown (Sea-Doo GTX Wake), Prize – Cock & Bull Voucher. Weight – 3.95kg

It was great to see a familiar face to the sport taking out the King of Jetskifishing. Quinn our winner has been fishing the comp over the last five years with his Dad, fantastic to see him win first place. As history proves, all entrants have as good a chance as each other on the day, you only need to be in to win and it always surprises us what weight wins on the day.

I hope to be seeing you more frequently as I now stock major brands of fishing equipment and can continue helping you set up and enjoy the sport to its true potential.

 My full range of recommended Jetskifishing tackle is also available at JFK’s Powersports. Please note, the Jetskifishing Store has moved from Top Catch at Half Moon Bay... I am available by appointment at my office/workshop in Bucklands Beach to discuss with you personalizing your next ski package and any advise regarding the full range of fishing accessories I use and now offer for sale.

Be sure to share your pics of your experiences on our FaceBook page, our fans love seeing people hooked on Jetskifishing.

 

Cheers, Andrew Hill

March 20, 2014


Goes Wild 4, big seas and big fish... 20th to 23rd of March 2014

It is always exciting times venturing away on these social trips, especially with the warm weather still hanging around. Any opportunity to get out on the water with likeminded people, is just a couple of reasons why these trips are so popular. This particular adventure was the Coromandel overnight social experience which I organise, away for three nights in luxury. I often hear from the crew that join us that they learn just as much off the water as they do on it. As a bonus, they get to fish with other guests with a similar skill set, improving each other’s knowledge of the sport. This adventure had over thirty eight Jetskifisho’s meeting at various locations in the North Island making their way to our destination the Kiwi Retreat.

Our drive from Auckland to our base takes just over three hours.

With some amazing scenery along the way, it sure makes for a great experience and feels like a real holiday doing what we enjoy.

The whole package for each guest includes all meals, shared lodges and facilities to really relax on our stay.  

We had four days of weather-challenged fishing and it ranged from sheltered in close missions, to some more adventurous rides to Great Barrier Island and Cuvier Island. Check out some of the great fish with a few of the crew landing personal bests.

Plenty of fun to and from our spots!

 

 

Here is some feedback from just a few of our guests, you too can be involved with future events, uploaded at our Jetskifishing Facebook Page or the events calendar at http://www.jetskifishing.co.nz/pages/jetski-fishing-events

 

 

 

November 15, 2013


Be prepared for the unexpected... 15th of November 2013

We have been experiencing some lovely weather over the last few weeks in NZ and that is enough encouragement for me to go enjoy Jetskifishing. This trip had the company of one of my customers Darren Williams who has become a good friend after being introduced to our sport earlier in the year when visiting my shop. As he has been building plenty of hours experience now out on the jet-ski, I decided it was time to for him to hit the water and come along with me on an exciting adventure to the area between Little Barrier and Great Barrier Island.

We launched at the well maintained Omaha ramp on first light but with the days getting longer this means it is now 5am!

The ride from Omaha to Horn Rock was a comfortable thirty minutes with the glass conditions that had been served for us on this trip! Living up to our expectations, on arrival the area was literally boiling with fish life. The water visibility was so amazingly clear, allowing us to admire the fish swimming beneath. It wasn’t long before Darren was enjoying some softbait action!

Darren and I were both enjoying the mornings fishing and we decided we will nip over to Great Barrier Island being that the weather was perfect. We both knew our heading and I set off, looking forward to fishing some new territory. After a few minutes ride, I was checking behind to see if Darren was on course and could no longer spot him… I stopped and checked to see if I could raise him on the phone. Having limited cell coverage, I decided to ride back via my track on my Raymarine GPS and found him exactly at our previous stop. His ski wouldn’t start and had taken on some water, so much so it was causing the starter motor to have too much moisture to operate. Fortunately with level heads there was no panic. We couldn’t see any obvious signs of where the water was coming on-board, so water needed to be bailed. We notified Coastguard to let them know we may possibly need assistance and in the meantime with some Kiwi ingenuity bailed the ski with an empty “Gulp Packet”. Believe it or not, it worked and 30 minutes later with the water level eventually below the starter motor wiring!

Patiently waiting for all too dry out and one hour later the ski fired in to life! Darren played it safe and headed back to land. After Darren making it back to land and a quick service at JFK’s Jet-skis it was good news…It was something as simple as the bilge system hosing not sitting in the right location for quite some time, but now after being repositioned, is now back to being a sweet runner. A learning curve which we all learn from and the second example this month with how quickly things can go wrong, read further below from one of our Australian Jetskifishos after heading out on his Yamaha FXHO for a quick fishing session. To finish off our action packed morning, I stayed out for another hour to catch a feed. The work-ups had been insane all in viewing distance from our mishap, was some serious fishing pain watching all out of drifting reach. As you will see from my vid, the day was one we dream about and I fortunately got a taste of the action.

As much as I enjoy sharing my fishing adventures, we have to keep it real and safety is paramount! The following experience is from one of our Jetskifisho’s from Perth in Australia, an experienced Jetskifisho and fortunately the outcome wasn’t fatal with his Yamaha FX HO nearly sinking!

 

The engine cut about 2 mins after I posted my FaceBook status, hull completely filled with water and tipped me off due to the instability. I spent the next 3 hours in the water, paddling backwards against the wind and chop dragging the water filled ski in one hand with me. Let off two orange smoke flares when I first went in, as there was a boat about a kilometre away but they failed to see them. I decided to save my two glowing hand flares for when it got darker and have a better chance of them getting spotted. I let off my first hand flare just as the sun disappeared, as I knew there would have been people taking photos of the sunset from Long Point and looking out to the ocean in my direction. A boat anchored at the tyre wreck quite a few miles away saw the glow and upped anchor. I turned around to see the boat a couple hundred metres away and let off another flare to pin point my location as light was fading. The boys picked me up and tied the ski up and just as we started to motor off a shark fin sliced through the water 60m out the back heading right for where I was, must have been homing in on my splashing. The boys spun the boat around to have a look and the shark surfaced a couple more times before it disappeared as we got closer. Very grateful and lucky to be alive in all honesty. My mind was wigging out most of the time, the thoughts and little things that start going through your mind is something I really can’t explain. I'm proud of myself for not giving up, keeping calm and making some head-smart decisions regarding the flares. I’m definitely feeling it today though I’m just happy to be on dry land for now. Thanks again guys.
November 16 at 12:33pm
There are four hoses that enter just under the motor, one of the clamps failed and due to the water pressure running through the hose it popped off the connection and pumped water into the hull.

 

Beau in Perth

 

If we can all learn something from these experiences and always be prepared for the unexpected on the water. Come see me at the Jetskifishing Store for my free advice and tips with what I use for my adventures.

November 03, 2013


King of Jetskifishing # 8... 3rd of November 2013

After much anticipation it was time to see who would earn the title of the newest King of Jetskifishing. With this being the eighth King of Jetskifishing and a bi-annual event, we always have a diverse field of keen Jetskifisho’s attending. The start format is our ever popular amazing race format, which sees all anglers starting at a convenient one base car park start. All entrants were required to attend the early start with their skis at the new Andrew Simms Experience Centre. On registration at the Sea-Doo tent, entrants receive their complimentary King of Jetskifishing Tournament bag with our sponsor’s goodies.

It has become a King of Jetskifishing tradition, where we catch up the night before for a few drinks and dinner and meet up our out of town Jetskifisho’s attending the comp. This year we had the pleasure of our fun personality King of Jetskifishing # 7 coming in theme. It was another great night and was a nice build up to Sunday’s comp day.

Once again we were fortunate with the weather and had a great turnout with over sixty registered anglers. The competition is continuing to attract nationwide interest with anglers travelling from as far as the Hawkes Bay and Taranaki, making the most of meeting others involved in the fun sport. After the early morning briefing, each Jetskifisho would set off and give it their best at the generous $8,000 prize pool.

Also up for grabs were some great additional prizes, sponsored by the team at Logitech. We had three of the cool new Logitech Boom’s, a water-resistant wireless speaker up for grabs. Entrants were in for a chance to win these with various challenges which we had included with their registration pack. The first opportunity for winning recognised the angler who had the most courageous and productive strategy, catching a legal fish while traveling the longest distance! Each entrant had to take a pic with a local landmark, showing where they traveled to within the eight and a half hour fishing window from Auckland.

The winner of the challenge was Peter Jacobsen, who successfully caught fish with his massive road trip to Tairua and returning in comfortable time, back in Auckland before the 3:30pm weigh-in cut off.

With the growth of the sport and large following which we have at the Jetskifshing Store along with our thriving FaceBook page, it made good sense to take the comp to the next level. The latest venue allowed us to host all the activities under one roof, including a casting competition, CanAm Spyder demo rides and kid’s bouncy castle. There was ample parking, so public could admire the skis along with a covered area out of the sun for the public weigh-in.

Our casting competition was a big hit with the anglers, with the spectators enjoying it just as much also!

There was no shortage of fish to be weighed in, our most successful day yet! We also had a few people fishing two up, including fathers and sons, husband and wife, also a mum and son. The comp has a great feel about it with it still based on a fun spirit, yet with a competitive edge involving the whole family.

The Autosure BBQ was cranking all day, with sausages and steak being a nice way to enjoy the afternoon, topped with a few much deserved coldies.

We have plenty more pics on the Jetskifishing Facebook Page, here is just a few at the weigh-in, with the elevated stage so the spectators could admire the fish on display.

An amazing range of fish were weighed in and I received plenty of feedback of how much people enjoyed being part of the event. The ongoing comments I hear from people who are involved with my events is that the enthusiasm is contagious, which is a credit to the sport and the growing community. I have a great team that help with my events and without their passion and time for Jetskifishing, it would not be possible for other Jetskifisho’s to learn more and meet other like-minded people.

FULL RESULTS KING JETSKIFISHING # 8

 

LOL Heaviest Kids Snapper

 

1st   Trent Way (Sea-Doo GTi), Prize & Trophy - Daiwa rod/reel combo & LOL pack.        Weight- 4.96kg

2nd  Jack Walker (Sea-Doo GTi), Prize - Sharkskin SPF50 Top & LOL pack.                      Weight– 3.26kg

3rd  Caleb Brooke (Yamaha FX HO Cruiser), Prize - Jetskifishing cap & LOL pack.            Weight – 1.2kg

                     

TOP CATCH Heaviest Kahawai

     

1st   Lloyd Selby-Brown (Yamaha FX HO), Prize & Trophy – Daiwa soft bait rod/reel combo.   Weight – 2.5kg 

2nd   David Bennett (Yamaha FX HO), Prize - Sharkskin SPF50 Top.                                  Weight – 2.28kg

3rd  Eddie Braun (Sea-Doo Wake), Prize – Cock & Bull Voucher.                                        Weight – 1.9kg

      

 DAIWA Heaviest “other species” 

 

1st   Kerry Rowe (Yamaha FX HO), Prize & Trophy – Daiwa rod/reel combo.            Weight – 3.5kg (John Dory) 

2nd  Iain Robertson (Yamaha FX HO Cruiser), Prize – Sharkskin SPF50 Top.           Weight– .66kg (Gurnard)

3rd  David Johnson (Yamaha FX HO), Prize – Cock & Bull Voucher.                      Weight – .44kg (Gurnard)

 

 RAYMARINE Heaviest Kingfish 

 

1st    Peter Jacobsen (Yamaha FX HO), Prize & Trophy – $500 Raymarine Voucher.     Weight – 10.18kg 

2nd  Peter Todorov (Sea-Doo GTX), Prize – Sharkskin SPF50 Top.                                Weight– 7.6kg

3rd  Daniel Michev (Sea-Doo GTX), Prize – Cock & Bull Voucher.                                 Weight– 6.58kg

  

JFK’s Average Snapper

 

 1st  Mike Barnes (Yamaha FX HO), Prize & Trophy - $500 CASH.                                 Weight – 1.2kg

    

    JitterBug, Team of Jetskifishing 

 

1st   Peter Todorov & Daniel Michev Team Name – Two Sea-Doo’s(Sea-Doo GTX’s)

Prize - $200 CASH & 2 x Jitterbug Packs.                          Weight (Combined prize winning fish) – 16.9kg

 

Best dressed, Team of Jetskifishing

 

Richard Scown & Grant Ramsdale - The Beached Boys (Sea-Doo) Prize – JitterBug Pack

 

New Zealand Jetskifishing Club, Legend of Jetskifishing

 

1st Peter Jacobsen (Yamaha), Prize & Trophy - $400 CASH. Weight – 14.72kg (2 species) 

   

Sea-Doo King of Jetskifishing in association with JFK’s Jet-skis

Heaviest Weight Snapper

 

1st   Craig Falconer (Yamaha SHO), Prize & Trophy - $1,000 CASH.                           Weight– 6.12kg

2nd  Peter Jacobsen (Yamaha FX HO), Prize – Berkley rod & Pflueger reel combo.     Weight– 4.54kg

3rd  Johann de Beer (Yamaha SHO), Prize – Berkley Tackle Bag.                                 Weight – 3.56kg 

4th  David Johnson (Yamaha FX HO), Prize – SavePhace Jetskifishing Mask.              Weight– 3.52kg

5th  Daniel Michev (Sea-Doo GTX), Prize – Cock & Bull Voucher.                                 Weight – 2.72kg

Great to see another newbie to the sport taking out the King of Jetskifishing. Craig our winner is only new to the sport, lives in the Hawkes bay and setup for Jetskifishing at the Jetskifishing Store in Auckland. Only two weeks prior, had he caught his first fish on the ski, at our “Goes Wild 3” Jetskifishing Experience! As history proves, all entrants have as good a chance as each other on the day, you need to be in to win.

I look forward to seeing you this summer at the Jetskifishing Store, where I can help you set up and enjoy the sport to its true potential.

Be sure to share your pics of your experiences on our FaceBook page, our fans love seeing people hooked on Jetskifishing.