Tauranga Sport Fishing Club's annual ‘Take A Kid Fishing' competition tomorrow is not just a fun family day out, and is hoped to spark a lifetime love of fishing amongst youngsters.

'Pardon the pun,” says club manager Barry Brown 'but we really hope to get more kids ‘hooked' on the pastime”.

'We expect to get kids entering who will catch a fish for the very first time. The beauty of this tournament is that every entrant goes home with a prize of some description.”

Eight-year-old Oscar Monks is excited to get out on the water.

'I like going fishing because I get to go on my friend Lee's big boat and we catch lots of fish.”

There are rods, reels and tackle-boxes up for grabs as prizes for the heaviest fish in each category.

'Off the rocks or the piers, they might catch kahawai, spotties or mackerel – and if they go out on a boat deep sea fishing with mum and dad, they may land a snapper or trevally,” says Barry. 'It's that unknown factor that appeals to me – you never know what you're going to reel in.”

First Mortgage Trust is the event's main sponsor. 'They've jumped on board to support the tournament because they can see the value in teaching kids how to fish,” says Barry.

'They may lose interest for a few years when other interests catch their attention, but hopefully they'll come back to fishing in the future. It's great for kids and adults to get rid of stress with the serenity of the water.”

The competition doesn't have a pre-comp briefing – just get fishing from 7.30am to 2pm on July 16 – either on land or boat – and aim for Kahawai, Mackerel, Snapper, Spotties and Trevally.

Weigh-in is 2pm-3.30pm at Tauranga Sport Fishing Club, 66 Keith Allen Drive, Sulphur Point. Age-groups are three-five years, six-nine years, and 10-13 years, with each angler able to enter one fish per species; and two species per angler. Entry is $10 per angler.

Barry says at weigh-in kids will get something to eat at the club and can have fun dressing up as pirates, with lucky draws and spot prizes on offer. Prizegiving begins 4.30pm.

'Our Take a Kid Fishing event is family focussed, so we'd love to get at least 100 kids entered with their mums, dads, caregivers along for the day. We're relaxed about how much the parents help the kids. It's just a fun day out and after all, who doesn't love dressing up as a pirate!”

Find out more at: tsfc.co.nz