The Pania Surfcasting Club originated in 1955.
The objectives of the Club are:

• To engage in and encourage salt water angling and competitive casting in New Zealand

• To affiliate to and support the New Zealand Angling and Casting Association.

• To support and participate in marine conservation.

• To promote social activities for club members.

Club Competition

Champion of champions Angler – Trophy and Gold Badge

This contest comprising of 12 or more field weekends held from September to May. Fish caught by members on these days gain points according to weight – see the species points table. To be eligible to receive this award you must compete in one of our casting events, the angler with the most points receives the honour of being the Club Champion of Champions Angler for the season.

Within this competition there are separate fishing divisions for:

Champion Angler (Open)

Champion Lady Angler

Champion Veteran Angler (55 years and over)

Champion Golden Oldies (65 years and over)

Champion Junior Angler (under 17 years at 1 January)

Same rules as for Champion of Champions Angler apply, an angler will qualify for these awards regardless of whether they have competed in a casting event.

Other Club Trophies

Merit Cup: For the member with the most meritorious catch of the season.

Variety cup: For the member who catches the largest variety of fish on field weekends.

Family Cup: For the Family that gains the highest aggregate points during the field weekends.

Brass Monkey Trophies: Singles and Doubles, a fish together held during the winter off season.

Open Casting trophy. Open distance and accuracy dry casting event.

Veterans Casting Trophy: Veterans distance and accuracy dry casting event.

Ladies Casting Trophy: Ladies distance and accuracy dry casting event.

Junior Casting Cup: Junior distance and accuracy dry casting event.

Midget Casting Cup: Midget distance and accuracy dry casting event

Bob Porter Casting Trophy: For the winner of the accuracy event at the club casting day.

Kemsley Family Trophy; For the heaviest Kingfish caught during the season

Spence Rose Bowl: Heaviest gurnard caught during the season.

Kahawai Cup: For the heaviest kahawai caught during the season.

Snapper Cup: For the heaviest snapper caught during the season.

Trevally Cup: For the heaviest trevally caught during the season.

Blue Moki Cup: For the heaviest blue moki caught during the season.

Fish Cup: For the heaviest of any species caught during the season.

Junior Cup: For the heaviest fish caught by a Junior / Midjet during the season.

Trout Award: For the heaviest trout caught during the season.

Callum Webb Memorial Trophy: For the heaviest spotted smoothhound caught during the season.

New Member Award: For the member who in their first competitive season gains the highest aggregate points in for the year.

Alan Duncan Memorial Trophy: This is awarded annually for the most sportsmanlike act or achievement of the season. The Club Captain chooses the winner from nominations received.

Pin Awards and Merit Awards

The procedures and rules for club field days may or may not apply in respect to the catching of pin fish. Note the points below.

To qualify for a pin or merit award, fish over the specified weight must be caught within the club boundaries – Mahanga Beach and Herbertville Beach, except on an open field weekend.

Only two hooks per rod or hand line may be used to catch pin fish. This rule applies to spinners, poppers and sabiki type flies. Note: the two-hook only rule also applies should you catch a possible NZACA record fish.

On non-field days you may catch pin fish at the Iron Pot, Pandora Road etc. You may use spinners, poppers and sabiki type flies at any location, provided you state such methods on your pin application form.

Your first fish of qualifying weight of a species gains you a pin and a certificate, while your second and subsequent fish of that species gains you a merit certificate only for that club season.

Spears, traps, nets, kites, rockets, gerties, drones, Kontiki’s or long lines cannot be used to catch pin fish, or to gain merit awards, or to claim Club or New Zealand records.

All fish should be weighed on the club scales held by the Weigh-master, but please ring him/her before calling at their address, and only call during reasonable hours (7am to 9pm). If it is not possible to get to these scales, certified calibrated shop scales are acceptable – the date of the catch, species of fish and signature of the weigher are to be supplied to the Weigh-master on appropriate forms.

Trout (all species). A current New Zealand Sports Fishing Licence is required. Fish must be caught within the Hawkes Bay Region. All Sports Fishing Regulations that apply to the Hawkes Bay Region must be adhered to for any trout to be accepted at a weigh-in or to be considered for a pin, merit or heaviest trout award.

Species weights to qualify for a Pin or Merit Certificate

Terakihi 1.0kg

Spotted smoothhound 5.0 kg (trunked)

Kingfish 8.0kg

Snapper 5.5kg

Blue Moki 3.0kg

Barracuda 3.0kg

Kahawai 2.5kg

Trevally 1.5kg

Gurnard 1.0kg

Elephant Fish 3.5kg

Trout 2.0kg

John Dory 1.5kg

Excellence Pin Awards

Level 1 first 5 pin fish green pin

Level 2 another 5-pin fish blue pin

Level 3 another 15-pin fish pink pin

Level 4 another 25-pin fish black pin

NZACA Line Class Records

To claim records for a line class, check with the Weigh-master for the record weight in your line class. The weigh-master holds the up-to-date records. Do not submit an application by chance. This wastes NZACA time, and your own. Fill in the application form and submit sample mainline as specified

Procedures and Rules for Field Days

Boundaries: On a field day you may fish between the northern end of Mahanga Beach to the southern end of Herbertville Beach. The only exception to this rule is if an open field weekend has been scheduled.

Prohibited Areas: No fishing is allowed in the area known as the Iron Pot at Ahuriri, extending inland from a line marked by Perfume Point. No fishing is allowed from the Napier breakwater or from any of the harbour wharves. No fishing is allowed in the Te Angiangi Marine Reserve between Aramoana and Blackhead.

River mouth fishing

When fishing at a river mouth you must cast in a seaward direction.

Tidal estuary fishing on field weekends

Fishing within the tidal estuary will be permitted at the club captains’ discretion.

Should the weather be such that fishing may be dangerous or restrictive to the majority of club members the club caption may open up tidal estuaries on field weekends.

Conditions: Open field days will not be cancelled due to weather and sea conditions.

Fishing time: You may begin fishing at the designated time, and you must reach the weigh in at Napier by the specified weigh in time on Sunday. If you are late for a weigh in, your fish will not be counted for the competition unless the reason for lateness is accepted by the committee. The reason must be exceptional. Members are expected to allow for routine delays.

Rods: An angler may use a maximum of two rods or hand lines. A third rod may be used for catching bait, but any weighable fish caught on this rod will not be eligible for points.

Hooks: Only two hooks per rod or hand line may be used. Note a keeper hook and a main hook are counted as two hooks. There is no restriction on the number of hooks you may use on the third rod used only for catching bait.

Bait and Lures: Fresh bait, artificial fly type lures, spinners and poppers are permissible on field days. Note when using any artificial lure with a skirt of trailing material, no more than two single hooks may be attached to the line, leader, trace, spinner, or lure.

Casting: Lines must be cast in a conventional manner, no kites, rockets, gerties, drones, kontikis etc. Experienced anglers may cast for inexperienced anglers but can only assist the angler to land a fish with the use of a gaff.

Species Points: Refer to the table of points awarded to different species of fish. All club minimum lengths comply with or exceed those set by the Ministry of Fisheries.

Maximum Bags: Club rules specify a maximum of five kahawai, five sharks, three spotted smoothhounds and ten of all other species, but you must also comply with Ministry of Fisheries daily bag limits – some of these are less than ten. A maximum of 30 fish total weighed on any Field Weekend per angler.

Etiquette: When fishing with a companion, please keep your fish in your own chilly bin or container to avoid confusion before or at the weigh in.

Disallowed Catches: Fish that do not meet minimum sizes (see chart). Putrid fish will not be accepted. Ensure that your catch is kept in acceptable condition. You may freeze fish you wish to eat later. You may gut your fish, but the weigh-master will not accept fish that have been filleted. Put the gut contents into a plastic bag that can be weighed with the fish.

Access: Access to fishing areas is to be by dry land only. Boats, planes and helicopters cannot be used to gain access.

Trout (all species): A current New Zealand sports Fishing Licence is required. Fish must be caught within the Hawkes Bay Region. All Sports Fishing Regulations that apply to the Hawkes Bay Region must be adhered to for any trout to be weighed-in or to be considered for a pin, merit or heaviest trout award. Trout do not qualify for points.

Sharks (all species except spotted smoothhounds) sharks no longer qualify for pin awards, they still qualify for points (50) regardless of size and species recognition. Proof of size (over a metre) to be done by way of a video on a mat, sent to the weighmaster. Sharks should only be brought to the weigh in if you think they will gain a club record.

Variation to Rules and Procedures: With the approval of the committee, the Club Captain has the right to alter any of the above rules and procedures as he considers necessary.

Club Administration

Subscriptions

Fees are set at the first committee meeting after the AGM, and must be paid no later than 3 months after the AGM. Non-financial members may not participate in the club events. Members joining the Club later in the season are requested to pay their fees within 14 days from the date of their acceptance into the Club.

Club Meetings

Meeting dates and venue will be advised, commencing at 7.00pm. The exception is July (AGM). After discussion of club business there is time to socialise. Guests or members may be invited to speak on fishing topics.

Annual General Meeting

The AGM is held in July each year. At this meeting officers and committee members are elected. It is very important that all members attend in order that full support can be obtained in electing the Clubs leaders. This is your chance to have a voice in the affairs of your Club.

NZ Angling & Casting Association

The Club is affiliated to the NZ Angling & Casting Association, which enables our members to compete for various trophies and New Zealand Records. The association is the voice of all amateur fishers and we as an affiliated club support the association when and where we can. The Club automatically pays your affiliation fee to the NZACA from your subscription.