Founding and History of the

Opotiki Surf Fishing Club

1955-2016

AGM meeting called by the business people in Opotiki,  Held at St John Ambulance Hall, saw the beginning of this Club. On the 17th October 1955 they nominated President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, and Six Committee members.

Subscriptions be Seniors 10/- Juniors 16 under 5/- From the year 1955  1st September to 31st August 1956.   Bank Account opened with BNZ. Officers as follows: President- Lew Allen, Vice President- D.Geraghty,   Sec/Tres- Cliff P Gandy, Committee – J.Shove,  Mr B Ball, Mr Dick, Mr Scott, Mr R.Booth  Mr Fred Wrigley. Club Patron to be Mr Oscar Reeve.


1957-1958 Held the 1st NZACA competition on Tirohanga Beach, with help of Rotorua Fishing and casting club member Mr Con Voss also that same year a casting competition be held at Memorial Park, between Rotorua, Opotiki, Tauranga, Te Puke and Gisborne.

The President Norman Reeve ended up as casting Champion for NZ, and also World Champion casting 300 yards plus, in 1959.


In 1963 saw more of the recreational fishing people join the club, a very strong fishing club, which worked together with Rotorua fishing club. The two clubs shared Championships within the NZACA at the time. But in 1973 the Club went into recess with Herbie Parkinson as President.


Then in 1979/80 Tom and Kath Riri called a public meeting with Herbie Parkinson and Tim Hickey Jnr, with their support the club got going again with great success.

Tom was voted in as Chairperson of the Club and Kath as Secretary, Herbie Parkinson as Life-member plus treasurer.

The club grew in numbers, a membership of 120 till 1990,  The cost of living dropped our numbers off by half.

The club then joined the New Zealand Angling and Casting Association (NZACA) and did very well in the annual championships. With our Club members holding NZACA casting records, which Betty Edwards still holds today. With Kath holding the 1kg fish records.

In the 1990’s our club held the NZACA championships here in Opotiki twice with great success.

Our club also held Fishing Contests yearly until about 2008. The club has restarted to run them again as of 2016.

Our membership is growing slowly, so we look forward to new members joining the club.