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11 November 2022

Kids join in for good catch at Mauke fishing event

Wednesday 30 November 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National, Outer Islands

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Kids join in for good catch at Mauke fishing event
Lucia Tararo winner of the Under 10 Years Heaviest Fish in the reef fishing event and sponsor Don Beer. PC: AUNTY NAN. 22112905

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.”

Moira George and Moana Boy Rakei placed third in the Open Water Heaviest Aggregate category. PC: AUNTY NAN. 22112903.
Moira George and Moana Boy Rakei placed third in the Open Water Heaviest Aggregate category. PC: AUNTY NAN. 22112903.

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.

Poetiare Rakei was first in the Under 10 Years Reef Fishing Heaviest aggregate. PC: TAI GEORGE. 22112925
Poetiare Rakei was first in the Under 10 Years Reef Fishing Heaviest aggregate. PC: TAI GEORGE. 22112925

“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.

Mauke fishermen Nooroa Tua, Kupa Tararo and Teina Daniel in the Don Beer fishing tournament. PC: AUNTY NAN. 22112904
Mauke fishermen Nooroa Tua, Kupa Tararo and Teina Daniel in the Don Beer fishing tournament. PC: AUNTY NAN. 22112904

The Akatokamanava Don Beer Fishing Competition results are as follows.

Open Water Heaviest Fish 1st Tere Daniel 12.04kg, 2nd  Nooroa Tua  10.62kg, 3rd 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 1st Tutere Moetaua .44kg, 2nd Maggie Tararo .32kg, 3rd Tuaine Akamoeau (Mama Tu) .28kg.

Open Women’s - Moira George and Vaine Keu.

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

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