First Edition winners in Megafish

The First Edition, the first Semifly 45 by Dickey Boats, won the overall prize at the Napier Megafish contest.

Angler Mark Barnett's 104.8kg bigeye tuna catch played a crucial role in securing the team's victory, resulting in a $36,050 prize for the crew. The boat was equipped with ENL's advanced sonar technology, aiding in their successful fishing strategy. The win was the result of a collective effort by the whole team, top equipment, good planning and plenty of luck.

Owner David Smith provided a detailed account of the trip as follows:

"We had a strategy to target big Blues out wide, aiming for a competition win rather than settling for smaller stripies off the Cape.

"Despite challenging weather, we persisted in our plan to head out to Ritchies, trolling until late and setting up for broadbill. Our efforts were rewarded with a 94kg Big Eye tuna at 3:45 am.

"The following day, presented better weather, and yielded two more Big Eyes, a small stripey, several Albies, and a 5kg SkipJack, the latter winning us $1050 in the competition.

"On landing the 104kg Big Eye, we decided to head back, hoping it might secure a win. Despite rough weather, we continued our efforts, even targeting Snapper and Kingfish on our return, ultimately securing a total prize pool of $36,050 for the crew of First Edition. We narrowly missed the jackpot by twenty points, finishing second.

"Our total time spent motoring during the four-day venture was 54 hours, a testament to the dedication of my exceptional crew."

The First Edition's performance at the Napier Megafish contest demonstrates the effectiveness of teamwork, technology, and strategy in competitive fishing. Congratulations to Mark Barnett and the crew for their achievement, and thanks to David Smith for the detailed trip report and images.