Northcote Tavern's Fishing Club has grown legs of its own over the past 25- plus years. Tavern owner Billy Milne and two local regulars Des Slater and Billy Lidgard (known as Billy the fish) loved fishing. In the early 1990s they instigated the inaugural Northcote Tavern fishing competition that was a great success. Lots of fish were caught, even enough to give some away to the local rest homes. So the Northcote Tavern Fishing Club was formed. Fundraising raffles are held every Sunday afternoon in Callan’s Sports Bar, with money going towards prizes for regular competitions. Channel Mag’s Aidan Bennett went along on a Sunday afternoon in mid-July to talk with current club President Dave Hogg.
AIDAN BENNETT: How did the Northcote Tavern Fishing Club start?
DAVE HOGG: It was started by Billy Milne, Des Slater and Billy Lidgard. In those early days it essentially involved a bunch of guys who loved to go for a Saturday morning snapper fish. Eventually others joined in and the fishing was spread over Saturdays and Sundays with the weigh-in and prizegiving held at the tavern on Sunday afternoons. We now have about 60 members with about 40 of those being active fishers.
AB: What species of fish do members win prizes for?
DH: Initially it was just snapper, but these days there are also prizes for kingfish, kahawai, trevally and John Dory.
AB: You obviously enjoy having a drink at the tavern, what’s your favourite tipple?
DH: I enioy a Macs Gold beer while Glenis loves a Lindauer bubbly.
AB: The food’s pretty popular as well. When you eat here what do you choose?
DH: We love their great Sunday roasts, we usually can’t go passed one of them. If we do have a change it would be for the Lamb Shanks, they go down a treat. If we are here and want just a snack we usually choose something like the wedges.
AB: How often does the Northcote Tavern Fishing Club have competitions?
DH: We have seven a year – once a month over seven mainly warmer months. The entry fee for these also covers a meal and a beer back at the tavern. We fish in the area covered by chart 532, which is really the Hauraki Gulf. Once a year we have a go anywhere competition. Often our fishing days are followed by a family barbecue back at the tavern.
AB: I understand the Des Slater Memorial Trophy competition is a favourite of members?
DH: When Des Slater passed away it was decided to have a memorial tournament in his honour. We hold that tournament every year in February. It is an inner harbour Sunday-only one-day fish with teams of four for snapper. We have a toast to him with port at the prize-giving.
AB: What do you like about the Northcote Tavern?
DH: We love coming down every Sunday, doing the raffles and seeing all the familiar faces. It’s a nice place, the people are very friendly and we enjoy mixing with others like the (Northcote) rugby club folk.
The club's mid-winter fishing competition was held in late July with its annual Ice Breaker Tournament scheduled for September. You can find out more by searching the Northcote Tavern Fishing Club on Facebook or email Dave and Glenis Hogg at daveandglenis@hotmail.com.
Northcote Tavern: 37 Queen Street, Northcote Point, Auckland 0627, New Zealand. Phone 480 7707 or email: hello@northcotetavern.co.nz
