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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 ...

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 ...

The ever-popular Auckland Fishing Charter Boat MV Mantaray, with Skipper Lance at the helm, was once again a feature of a worldwide promotion showcasing Z Pier, Westhaven Marina in Auckland City, as a top destination for Snapper Fishing Trips to our overseas tourists. New Zealand is becoming an ever increasingly popular choice for sporting events.  In conjunction with Tourism New Zealand, this latest production was aimed at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 target audience. For airing on South African TV's "Hooked on Cricket", the South African Film Crew accompanied SA Cricketing Legend Jonty (Jonathon) Rhodes, who first of all was introduced to our own New Zealand Cricket Team before embarking on a promotional ski-ing trip in the South Island, taking in Christchurch and Queenstown.  The choice of Auckland activity was a saltwater Snapper Fishing Trip on the Auckland Harbour and Inner Hauraki Gulf.  Despite increment weather conditions during the week, the Auckland weather typically changed ...

You just never know who may book a Fishing Charter in Auckland! Welcome aboard Tracker II to His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces and Special Advisor to the President of the UAE. Crew of Ray and Sue were able to show these Royal Visitors to Auckland, the very best our great city has to offer.  The weather blessed us with beautiful blue skies and warm temperatures making for a stunning trip down the Auckland Harbour along the waterfront and out into the Hauraki Gulf.  The added bonus too of some really exciting fishing!  We were able to showcase some of the many fish species prevelant in these waters with some great size snapper caught.  Even the dolphins joined in the fun and gave us a great display playing around the boat! Our royal Guest and entourage enjoyed a typical kiwi barbecue lunch of burgers, sausages and salads whilst moored off Waiheke Island.  New Zeala ...

Not having any expectations of extra business during the Rugby World Cup despite the hype - NZ Fishing Safaris kicked off to a real fun start on the opening night.