Persistence produced piscine prize

Mornington man Peter Takens holds his prize-winning salmon. PHOTO: GEOFF MUIR
Mornington man Peter Takens holds his prize-winning salmon. PHOTO: GEOFF MUIR
Catching a prize fish is all about patience, Mornington man Peter Takens says.

The fisherman was awarded $500 this week by the Otago Salmon Anglers Association for his 5.86kg haul.

The prize replaced the association's usual fishing competition, which was cancelled this year, after Port Otago closed the X/Y and Leith wharves on Fryatt St to the public, on safety grounds.

The prize was for any salmon caught before March 31.

Mr Takens said the winning catch was reeled in on February 7, from Fryatt St's concrete wharf.

The previous night he caught a 5.24kg salmon at the same spot.

The prize fish was "a baby" compared with an almost 11kg salmon he had caught in the past, he said.

The big catch was about perseverance.

"You could be anywhere in the water and catch a fish. You've just got to be lucky."

He had won the competition "a couple of times", he said.

Only six fish, from three anglers, were entered, down from the 300 entrants who would typically enter the tournament.

Otago Salmon Anglers Association president Colin Williams said it was "disappointing", because the fish heads were sent away for research to provide information on their age and source.

The association would work with Port Otago to try to hold the competition next year, he said.

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