Theo Pearson, 9, had a lot to celebrate this week after winning two categories in the Dawnbreakers annual Snapper Cup competition.
Theo won the awards in the junior section of Saturday night’s prizegiving ceremony – Heaviest Gurnard and Third Heaviest Snapper.
His fish weighed in at 940 grams and 6.18kg respectively.
Theo’s mum Anita says he was chuffed and surprised with the wins.
While it wasn’t the most successful day of fishing, with plenty of anglers not landing a single fish on the 4 March competition day, the handful of fish that Theo’s boat landed was enough to net the win.
Dawnbreakers competition master entered than previous years, the average size of snapper was bigger.
Theo, a Brightwater School student, nabbed two rod and reel combos and two bags full of fishing gear.
“He’s worn everything to school today,” Anita said on Monday.
The Pearson family have only just purchased a boat so are new to recreational fishing this year. It was the family’s first year joining Dawnbreakers and entering the Snapper Cup competition.
“There’s already plans for the whole family to enter next year,” Anita says.
The evening was a fundraiser for Nelson Coastguard, with $4565 being raised by clubmembers through a silent auction and ice-cream stand on weigh-in day.
The Heaviest Snapper award and the winner of the Snapper Cup Trophy for 2023 went to Keylee Reid for his snapper which weighed in at 10.14kg. It too, was one of the only fish caught on the boat on competition day.
Keylee’s snapper was just shy of the heaviest overall fish on the day which was a kingfish weighing in at 10.84kg – taking out the Heaviest Kingfish category in the adult section.
More than $30,000 in prizes were awarded throughout the night with the Dawnbreakers committee saying it would not be possible without their sponsors.
Anita says the night was enjoyed by everyone and they look forward to returning next year.
“It was amazing, a great family event and it was so well run.”
