The Whakatāne Sportfishing Club's Hubbard Contracting Winter Tuna Tournament has wrapped up after another successful season, with anglers enjoying some of the best Southern Bluefin Tuna fishing seen in recent years.

A total of 150 anglers aboard 30 boats took part in the event, which featured a new 22-day competition format. Rather than being restricted to a single weekend, skippers were able to choose the best weather window to fish, resulting in overwhelmingly positive feedback from competitors.

The fishing certainly didn't disappoint.

An impressive 82 Southern Bluefin Tuna were weighed at the Whakatāne weigh station, while a further 75 fish were recorded as catch-and-release, highlighting just how productive the season has been.

Taking out the tournament's top honours was a magnificent 135.2kg Southern Bluefin Tuna, a fish that proved the quality of this year's run.

While trolling accounted for some fish during the day, many anglers reported the bite didn't really fire until after dark.

Night-time jigging proved to be the standout technique, with crews finding the tuna far more willing to bite once the sun had gone down.

As always, the tournament produced plenty of memorable stories.

Several crews found themselves competing with hungry seals, with reports of the marine mammals helping themselves to hooked tuna before they could be landed. In some cases, the seals became so determined they reportedly followed hooked fish right alongside the boats in search of an easy meal.

One of the more unusual tales came from a skipper who accidentally watched the lid of his Cobb Grill disappear overboard into more than 100m of water. With modern electronics doing their job a little too well, the crew could follow its steady descent on the sounder all the way to the seabed.

Tournament organisers say events like this play an important role in supporting both the local fishing community and the wider Whakatāne economy. Visiting anglers require accommodation, fuel their boats and vehicles, stock up on supplies, dine at local cafés and restaurants, and support a wide range of local businesses during their stay.

The tournament also helps keep anglers engaged with the Whakatāne Sportfishing Club while promoting sustainable fishing practices through both harvest and catch-and-release categories.

A new Trailer Boat Division was also introduced this year, giving smaller vessels an opportunity to compete on a level playing field. In a fitting result, it was a trailer boat crew that landed the tournament's overall heaviest Southern Bluefin Tuna.

Following the success of this year's extended format, organisers say they plan to return with the same concept for 2027.

The club also acknowledged the outstanding support of its sponsors, volunteers, weighmasters and tournament convenors, whose efforts made the event possible.

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Hubbard Contracting Winter Tuna Tournament Results

Heaviest Southern Bluefin Tuna

1st Logan Gedson - The Electric Banana 135.2kg $10,000 + Hubbard Contracting Heaviest Tuna Trophy

2nd Kate Roberts - Recon 92.4kg $2,500

3rd Nick Roberts - Recon 87.4kg $1,000

4th Manu Rangiawha - Viking 85.5kg $1,000

5th Lincoln Reid - Sea K 81.8kg $1,000

6th Sam Jackson - Aquarius 79.6kg $1,000

7th Liam Rangiawha - Viking 77.4kg $1,000

8th Logan Gedson - The Electric Banana 76.6kg $1,000

Junior Section

1st Lincoln Reid - Sea K 81.8kg‍

2nd Liam Rangiawha - Viking 77.4kg

Smallest Tuna

• Connor Stables (Stabilizer) – 22.6kg

Red Gill Lure Grid

• Louie Taylor (Montana) – 68.6kg

Trailer Boat Section (8m & Under)

1st Logan Gedson - The Electric Banana 135.2kg $1,000

2nd Kate Roberts - Recon 92.4kg $600

3rd Nick Roberts - Recon 87.4kg $400

Average Weight Prizes

Week 1 Alan Forbes - Plan B 51.0kg $1,000

Week 2 Ryan Beeching - Cascade 54.4kg$1,000

Week 3 Alex Van der Werff - Chocolate Fish 44.2kg $1,000

Overall Average Jye Mexted - Vixen 46.4kg $10,000

Team Awards

Champion Team
Aquarius – 4042.8 points

Southern Bluefin Tuna Boat Jackpot

Aquarius – 4042.8 points – $1,190

Chocolate Fish – 3282.8 points – $340

Sea K – 996.4 points – $170

Special Awards

• Hard Luck Prize: Ghost Rider
• Cobb Grill & Cook Challenge Winner: Jamie Hathaway (Seafari)
• Cobb Grill & Cook Challenge Runner-up: Grant Moore (L.A.)

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