Blind Fisher Hauls in Gold Medal at New Zealand Master Games

Blind Fisher Hauls in Gold Medal at New Zealand Master Games

Roger Kan is 81 and blind but that did not deter this keen fisher from taking part in the Salt Water Fishing competition at the Southern Trust New Zealand Master Games in Dunedin yesterday nor was it an obstacle in landing the biggest fish that day, a 4.08 kilo salmon.

The salmon was caught just near Pulling Point, on the Aramoana side of the Otago Harbour. Roger thought he had a barracoutta on the line until someone on board saw the fish and let Roger know it was a salmon. Roger played the fish for about ten minutes before the skipper of the boat Grant Hutton netted it.

Roger Khan, who goes fishing whenever he can, says, “Fishing is all about technique, being blind is just a nuisance.”

It was particularly fitting that it was a salmon that Roger snared as he was one of the inaugural members of the Dunedin Community Salmon Trust that set up the Salmon Hatchery at Sawyers Bay and is still involved with the Trust. The hatchery which, is going from strength to strength released 15,000 salmon smolt two years ago but this year will release 280,000. Dunedin is only one of two cities in the world, the other being Vancouver, where salmon can be caught off the city’s wharf.

Roger’s gold medal was joined by his bronze for the third largest barracoutta caught.

Albert Sue landed the heaviest barracoutta (2.415 kilo). Kevin Macleod won Gold for both his Blue Cod (3.165 kilo) and Trumpeter (1.9kilo).

The Salt Water Fishing Competition attracted 39 competitors aged over 35years.

The New Zealand Masters Games is in its third day of competition and continues until Sunday 9 February.

2014 Southern Trust New Zealand Masters Games

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