Hunting and Fishing Franklin held their annual ladies fishing night recently.

This was held instore, and featured plenty of entertainment for the many  that turned up.

There was a live fish filleting demonstration, generous prizes and, of course, wine and nibbles! The highlight of the evening was an entertaining and energetic performance by Grant from Catch, who talked about his lures, the clean and efficient alternative to smelly bait.

Maria Craig was one of many keen to learn any tips that might attract “the big one” to her hook.

After purchasing a lure, a plan was set in place to have a competition between herself, using her new tackle, and her husband Steven, using Mullet bait.

I got to go along and play referee.

Maria went for the 100g Squidwings lure, with the plan to try it out over the West Coast to catch a sizeable snapper.

However, on the morning of the anticipated husband/wife challenge, the Manukau Bar had deteriorated with an increase in the swell and chop according to Swell Map.

This wasn’t ideal conditions for Steven to cross the dangerous bar, so the captain decided a change of venue was required.

I had the sneaky feeling this was a tactical decision by Steven, as he knew that Maria’s lure would have been more suited to the deeper water and currents of the West Coast.

I stayed quiet, but at this point Steven clearly had the advantage.

Launching out from KawaKawa Bay with light sea breezes, the conditions were ideal.

Steven headed his Mclay 551 towards the Coromandel to a favourite spot that he wishes to remain anonymous - another tactical decision! I can tell you that the journey took us about 20 minutes at the speed of 20-25 mph and we anchored at about 20 metres.

Maria’s eagerness to win and show that her lure was superior, meant that she had her rod out first and was gearing up before Steven had the anchor down.

She went with a light weight rod, braid line, and a 10kg trace.

Within five minutes her line was in the water, and she had only just uttered the words “I’m gonna win,” when boom – she had a fish on the line.

This prompted Steven to quickly sort  his tackle gear and bait his line.

With a look of determination, he said: “Right, this is serious!”Maria’s first haul was a throwback, but was declared “a good sign,” and she was ecstatic to be in the lead.

Her enthusiasm dwindled, however, when Steven began reeling in sizeable snapper.

Maria’s line remained silent, and in frustration she changed her lure to another in an attempt to reclaim the lead.

This was to no avail, and while Steven continued to keep his line active, an hour later Maria cut the lure off, re kitted her line and reached for the mullet bait.

At this point Steven had this competition won, and as the weather began to change it was looking like the day was coming to an end.

Not be out done, though, a tug on her line gave Maria the advantage she needed with the catch of the day - a snapper at 52cm.

A great days’ fishing ended with Maria declaring: “It may not have been caught on the Lure, but everyone knows that size trumps quantity.

”

Steven still smiling after he admits defeat!

Maria trying out her filleting techniques.

Maria with the day’s line up.