This Saturday's weather is looking pretty good, so why not take part in the Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club first tournament for 2014.

Troy Wheeler Contracting Icebreaker Fishing Tournament returns for its 13th year and anglers will drop lines at 6am.

Paul Barrett with a 17.880kg Hapuku caught by Charlie Jones during the 2012 Troy Wheeler Contracting Icebreaker Fishing Tournament. Photo: MBGFC

There's still time to get your registrations in, says Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club president John Cowey, just head over to their website.

Late entries can also be done on the day by visiting either the Whitianga Sports Centre, Longshore Marine, The Stunned Mullet and the club's clubrooms, from 6.30am.

'There's been a lot of interest for this year's tournament and we're expecting more registrations to come in right up until the event starts.”

John says the area where anglers can fish is from the top of Great Barrier Island to the bottom of Mayor Island and out to well over the 1000 metre line.

Due to the shocking weather the region's experienced in the last few months John believes that most of the club's members 'haven't really gotten into fishing mode yet.”

But good weather has been forecasted for Saturday so he's expecting it will help lure members out onto the water.

'We've looked closely at the forecast and it looks much better than that horrible Saturday we had last weekend.

'At the moment it's Norwest, developing in the morning and rising to 25 knots in the afternoon. The good fish will get caught early morning when it is fairly calm.”

If postponed due to bad weather the tournament will take place the Saturday of the following weekend.

Sponsor Troy Wheeler has put up a total of $3,000 in cash prizes for the tournament.

First, second and third place getters for heaviest snapper, kingfish, hapuku and trevally will all be in the money.

John also adds the angler whose catch is nearest to the average fish weight of all fish weighed in the competition will win $1,500.

Anglers will have until 4pm to land the big one, with weigh then taking place up till 6pm.

Prize giving will be held at the Mercury Bay Game Fishing clubrooms from 7.30pm where food and beverages will also be available.

'It would be great to see as many members as possible down here for the tournament to support the club and the tournament sponsor Troy Wheeler.

'They'll have a good days fishing and then a good evenings cheer at the clubrooms.”

The Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club's Troy Wheeler Contracting Icebreaker Tournament takes place Saturday, November 22.

Registration costs $25 per angler and all participants must be a member of MBGFC or a club affiliated to NZSFC. Non-members need day memberships at $15 per day.

For more information visit the club's website at www.gamebase.co.nz

A very pleased Charlie Jones inspecting the hapuku he caught during the 2012 Troy Wheeler Contracting Icebreaker Fishing Tournament. Photo: MBGFC