The Kingfishers Surfcasting Club
Early Days
The Kingfishers Surfcasting Club came into existence in October 1954 when a group of fisher folk got together at the West Auckland home of Robbie Robinson. After much discussion, an inaugural committee and a new club was formed.
A fishing programme was drawn up, two fishing trips a month with an occasional overnight trip. Muriwai was the choice area those days and most trips were scheduled with low tide at 8am.,enabling the Club to have a full days fishing over the top of the tide and follow the falling tide off the beach.
Overnight trips were a great experience, one or two cars with trailers,planks to drive the cars above high tide, and a brazier with plenty of coke so that a good fire could be maintained. These trips were very productive and some great catches were recorded , in season there was a bonus of toheroa soup on a cold night. Muriwai was not favoured by all members because it was a men only trip and not the best for families,therefore this encouraged the Club to explore other possies, on the west coast Shelley Beach,Wattle Bay,Hamilton's Gap,Piha,Bethells Beach,Karioitahi,Mairoro,Whatipu and Waikato Heads. On the East Coast,Kawakawa Bay, Orere Point,Mullet Point,Ti Point,Takatu,Goat Island,and Mangawhai Heads were all productive and all popular day trips.
When members were not fishing they were busy experimenting with Robbie's new 'Oil controlled bearing' casting reel, and rods made from split cane, bamboo and aluminium to improve casting distance at competitions between Club members and other clubs.
The Club went on to stage several Casting tournaments as well helping run some for the Angling Times and the NZ Angling and Casting Association which was formed in 1957. A Kingfisher's member Brian White gained a place in the team which represented New Zealand in the 1957 Australian Fishing and Casting Tournament, gaining the highest points of the N.Z. team in the beach fishing section.
New Zealand established itself as a casting nation and was awarded the honour of hosting the World Casting Championships in Rotorua. This Championship encompassed all types of casting, Surfcasting, Fly&Plug, Skish, Dry Fly including accuracy and distance events and attracted casters from all over the world using some very sophisticated gear seen for the first time in New Zealand.
At special meetings in January 1957 Incorporation was discussed , new rules were formulated to comply with the requirements of the Incorporated Societies Act and the Club changed it's name to The Kingfishers Surfcasting and Angling Club(Inc.) in February 1957.
The next few years became very busy with fishing trips, distance casting, and social events with new surfcasting clubs springing up around the Auckland area. Fishing trips to the East Coast became even more popular because they did not require beach transport, were within a couple of hours drive from Auckland, the family could spent a pleasant day, and usually a good catch of fish for the family and neighbours.
One of the aims of the Club was to aquire a lodge or batch were the Club could bunk down for the night within reach of good fishing and enough space to put up a few family tents. The opportunity came after becoming friendly with the Georgetti Family who then owned the farm at Takatu Peninnsula. The Club was allowed to cross the farm to the northern coast provided certain conditions were adheared to, resulting in a mutual respect between the Gorgetti Family and the Club. The Club was also allowed to rent an old batch which was dubbed "Possum Hut" because of possums that lived in the ceiling. The hut was very basic but lots of fun was had there, especially the weekend after the Wahine was sunk in Wellington when scollops were washed up on the beach , large snapper were swimming close inshore and a fish could be caught anywhere, quite a few N.Z. records were broken that weekend.
Eventually an approach was made to the Family requesting to lease a small amount of land well away from the farm houses, to the Clubs delight the request was granted. After an agreement was drawn up, a pre cut garage was constructed on a shelted spot with a hill to the South and a sandy rise to the Northern beach, it was just perfect. For several years the Kingfishers enjoyed the solitude of Takatu and it was with trepidation that the Club learnt that a developer had made an approach to purchase the property for seaside development. It was with relief when the Auckland Regional Authority realised the great potential and was successful in purchasing it with the intention of creating Tawharanui Regional Park . Thus retaining those lovely beaches and walks for all to enjoy.
Once the Park was established most of the Northern coastline was declared a Marine Park, also Liegh and Goat Island became Marine Reserves making all those area out of bounds to fishing. Surfcasting out of Auckland began a bit of a down turn, possies with good fishing, within reasonable walking distances, and unrestricted parking were hard to find. Membership dropped off, with some members turning to boat fishing and other sports, although interest in Surfcasting was retained it didn't have the same attraction as in days gone by.
The Club still keeps a watchful eye on the New Zealand Angling & Casting Assoc. and The Davy Jones Challenge Cup both of which the Club helped to create. The Club these days only meets socially and perhaps one day some one will spark an active interest and rejuvinate the great fishing interest "The Kingfishers" once had.
Possum Hut,Tawharanui (Takatu - Anchor Bay)
