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Belated news of a Westhaven Marina Fishing Competition held last Saturday 1st April - we were given only 3 days notice of this event!!  Free entry and food after the weigh-in at the New Zealand Yacht Squadron headquarters.

Congratulations to one of our regulars Fiona Morrissey who took out the prize for Most Fish Caught by a Lady Angler.  Fiona's prize list included a Coastguard Membership for use on her personal boat, Tickets to the Auckland Boat Show, T-shirt, Jacket, Book and "lots of fishing bits and pieces".  On a personal best level Fiona caught her biggest Snapper to date (50cms) and her first ever Trevally!  Well done Fiona from the team at NZ Fishing Safaris.

Fishing was reportedly very slow by the other boatie competitiors but Fiona was happy to report that all 10 anglers aboard MV MANTARAY with Skipper Lance at the helm, all caught their quota that morning.

Check out the New Zealand Fishing Safari's Facebook page for photos......

Skipper Lance recently was delighted to welcome aboard New Zealand born actor turned international star Karl Urban aboard MV Mantaray in January.  A very unexpected bonus for the other people aboard that day who couldn't quite believe their eyes!  One gentleman was overheard to phone his wife to check on the possibility it really was him - to have it confirmed that yes, he was in fact in town!  Karl was here to introduce the new love of his life, fellow actress Katee Sackhoff, to his family and friends in Auckland.  Karl originally found fame in locally produced TV series Shortland Street, and went on to make his name in Hollywood with roles in Startrek Into Darkness, Dredd,The Bourne Supremacy, Riddick, The Chronicles, Lord of the Rings, Ghost Ship - to name but a few. Karl chose to go out fishing with Katee to show off the beautiful Waitemata Harbour and try their hand at Snapper Fishing. When you book a trip with New Zealand Fishing Safaris you just never know who you may be rubb ...

With the upcoming Dick Smith NRL Auckland Rugby League Nines games being hosted by Auckland in 2015, Air New Zealand along with Tourism Auckland are keen to promote and encourage visitors to the beautiful City of Sails. With all 16 NRL Clubs and 288 star players competing to win over $2.6 million dollars over the one weekend this is quite an event for Auckland.  Dates being 31st January and 1st February. Air New Zealand are running a competition in which the prize winner receives complimentary tickets from Australia to Auckland for 9 friends, who will also receive prime seats at Eden Park and 9 options of experiencing Auckland Attractions and Activities during their stay. The Fishing Charter option is being offered promoting New Zealand Fishing Safaris' - a Snapper Fishing Trip for the group of 9 for a day's fishing charter aboard MV MANTARAY.   NZ Fishing Safaris will take the group on a day fishing trip from Westhaven Marina to check out the snapper fishing in the Auckland Harbour and Inn ...

The summer fun has started already with Snapper Fishing Stag Parties a great choice of activity for the boys.  Plenty of space on the 58ft Tracker II, for everyone to fish and enjoy the ambience.  Tracker II offers plenty of room to move around - travel down the harbour on the bow of the boat or relax in the comfortable roomy flying bridge or comfortable downstairs lounge with a cold beer.   Tracker doubles up as a Party Cruise option with no fishing.  Plenty of space to spread out. Great fun place to have a themed party!  These Pirates had a great harbour cruise - taking in the sights of Auckland City in the early evening - cruise beneath the Auckland Harbour Bridge, watch the Bungee Jumping, check out the Chelsea Sugar Works and Kauri Point.  head back towardsAuckland City past the Devonport Naval Base, historic Devonport Village and Pier, spot the extinct volcanoes Mount Victoria and North Head.  Cruise past the stunning North Shore beaches or take a trip over the c ...

More exciting fun with a difference this week!!  Tracker II was the Spectator Boat for the VIP crew of supporters from Vodafone and Samsung in their latest promotion.

Team Captain Jimmy Spithill of Oracle, winning boat in the America's World Cup, flew in to Auckland to take part in the recent Vodafone promotion.

The prize winner of the competition won the chance to take part in a demonstration match race with the famous skipper - remotely controlling the Vodafone yacht via Samsung cellphone from a helicopter!!

Earlier in the week the course was checking out for the 4gig coverage needed to ensure the sucess of the operation, of which Mantaray played an integral part ensuring boat to helicopter coverage.

The crew aboard Tracker were able to have great views of the competition having great viewing areas and photo opportunities.

Having recently taken out South Africa's superstar Cricketer, Jonty Rhodes, this time we were involved in a Media Promotion for the New Zealand Cricket Team. TV1's Breakfast Show featured New Zealand Cricket Stars Chris Harris and Kyle Mills, along with ex legend Mark Greatbach - playing cricket with local children from Waiheke Island out in the beautiful Hauraki Gulf. A stunning day for the shoot - clear blue skies - showing off Waiheke Wharf and surrounding views of the Island. Tracker II with crew Ray, Lance and Sue, collected Kyle from the Pier after having the honour of the stunning World Cup Trophy itself on the boat (the "minder" keeping a very close eye!!).  The fishing was great - Kyle is a keen fisherman, having fished for many years from his home beach of Bucklands Beach in East Auckland.  Some great shots of Tracker II departing Waiheke Island from the camera crew on the boat and a drone following the boat.  Some great footage of the fishing which will be used to p ...

Winter Auckland Snapper Fishing Trip numbers were well up over the winter months with Mantaray and Auckland's top Fishing Guide Lance never failing to come up with the goods and bring some very happy people back to Westhaven with lovely Snapper of very respectable sizes.  "If Lance can't find 'em, the fish simply aren't there!!".  The day trips have been bringing in some great fish.  Lance is able to blast out on Mantaray to where the fish have been hanging out at this time of the year - much further out, but no problem aboard this speedy purpose built fishing boat. Just this week two very happy American visitors brought home some superb Snapper on their Private Charter aboard  MV Mantaray.   Husband and wife Jane and Matt were thrilled to experience Snapperfishing in the Hauraki Gulf at it's best on their first visit to New Zealand - a somewhat flukey hot Auckland morning with clear blue skies set the scene as they blasted away from the City if Sails and out to the sparkli ...

The crew at New Zealand Fishing Safaris are busy preparing for the upcoming surge of bookings for the Summer Season. Day Fishing Charter dates are filling up rapidly with our regular faces re-booking their Christmas Fishing Trips, Corporate Fishing and Cruising Events, Summer Birthday Party Cruises. Then of course it is Wedding Season - and Stag Party and Hen Party organisers are intent on coming up with innovative ideas for memorable pre-Wedding celebrations. Themed Parties for the Stags and Hens are always fun - and here at New Zealand Fishing Safaris the crew are here to help with suggestions to tailor your special event.  From a 3 to 4 hour evening Auckland Harbour Cruise taking in the stunning sunset, viewing spectacular Auckland City from the water by night.  Cruise under the Harbour Bridge and take in Chelsea Sugar Refinery and historic Kauri Point.  Cruise past our Naval Base past quaint Devonport and on around North Head to the beautiful sandy North Shore Beaches.  Moor up an ...

Sunday 28th September marks the beginning of New Zealand Daylight Saving.  The Great News is this marks the beginning of New Zealand Fishing Safaris' summer season "Twilight" Fishing Trips. Commencing Saturday 4th October, Mantaray will be running two trips daily.  Our ever popular 8am till 2pm trip - the six hour day fishing experience, suitable for the experienced or beginner anglers.  Ever helpful top Fishing Guide Lance will be there to make your day memorable.  These run year round.  Now the 3pm, 4 hour, Snapper Fishing trips are in full swing during the New Zealand Daylight Saving months. You have tried the rest?  Now come to the best!!  Our boats depart Z Pier, Westhaven Marina, Central Auckland. Our Daylight Saving season starts next weekend so do the 3pm till 7pm snapper fishing trips. Four hours of fun on this fast popular stable fishing vessel - getting you to where the fish are faster.  Book any Twilight Trip for any date in October and get the Early ...

A great many changes and improvements are being seen down around Z Pier, our main Charter Base at Westhaven Marina in Auckland City, and the surrounding private mooring piers. Only a couple of years ago there was a new ablution block added in the main carpark at Z Pier.  This offers our fishing guests the opportunity to shower after their big fishing day out and head off to the bright lights of Auckland City and experience the tastes and smells of multi-cultural Auckland's huge selection of Restaurants and Bars, in walking distance in the Wynyard Quarter and Viaduct Basin. The construction of a new walkway allows for a relaxing stroll taking in the many beautiful yachts and pleasure craft moored in this, Auckland's most popular Marina. The organisers of the inaugral Z Pier Fishing Classic contest last March have recently announced this will be an Annual Event for the Fishing calendar, and the date to put in your diary this year is 22nd March 2015. The format due to be advised to us by the crew at ...