Snapper Bonanza 2025
More Than Just a Fishing Competition
Fishing is a Family Affair
For Jasmin Patrick, a teacher at Kaitaia Intermediate and now in her fifth year competing at the Snapper Bonanza, the event is all about whānau connections and the love of fishing.
"I always enter with my partner, and we catch up with our whānau throughout the week. His dad fishes, so does mine. My brother and his partner, my brother-in-law and sister-in-law too—it’s something that brings us all together."
This year, she entered as part of a team for the first time—herself, her partner, her brother, and his partner.
"It was pretty good because it encouraged us to fish a lot harder. It didn’t give us any more tamure than usual, but we had a lot of fun trying. Seeing our team name with a few kgs next to it and knowing I contributed to it made it more special too."
Her family history with the Snapper Bonanza runs deep—her father won a car in the earlier days, and her father-in-law won a truck, making them a lucky fishing family. But for Jasmin, the real thrill is the atmosphere.
"I always enjoyed going to the weigh-ins for the social aspect, to hear all the yarns, laughs, and banter. Now I get to join in on it too!"
And when it comes to the competition itself, the start of the day is one of the most magical moments.
"I always love watching the anglers walking down to cast each day at 7 a.m. It’s quite the sight!"
A Veteran’s Perspective
For Bruce DeVorme from Te Teko, the Snapper Bonanza has played a major role in his fishing journey, bringing years of great experiences and lasting memories.
"I started about 30 years ago. I would book a caravan at the caravan park and we would travel up from Te Teko in a van. My wife and I would move into the park with our two kids, but somehow we would end up with 10 kids on board. Then my brothers and other fishing mates joined us and now we have varying numbers each year. Sometimes we stayed at the park or motels but now we stay with old mates that we met over the years here.’"
Although Bruce hasn’t competed every year since then, he has seen how the competition has evolved with new prize formats and added activities.
"I remember when the big prize used to be fifty grand, but there were fewer other prizes. Now the main prize money is less, but you have more of a chance of winning something. There are added fun activities to fill the non-fishing hours"
However, his love for fishing has never changed.
"I love fishing. It’s just... it’s so relaxing, you know. I don’t give a shit if I don’t catch nothing."
Bruce was thrilled to land a snapper on the final day, falling just 100 grams short of 5th place. And will he be back next year?
"Yes, most probably!"
Chasing a Legacy
For Jack Job, the Snapper Bonanza isn’t just about the competition—it’s about chasing a legacy. He first competed in the event when it was still the Snapper Classic, entering five times, and has only missed one Bonanza since it began. But what keeps him coming back isn’t just the fishing—it’s a goal inspired by his father, Richard Job, who won the Snapper Classic in 1996.
"My old man winning it. Yeah. I want to do the same."
Jack was a teenager when his dad took home the $53,000 grand prize—an achievement that will mark its 30-year anniversary in 2026. While winning is always the dream, Jack says the experience itself is what makes the Bonanza special—the atmosphere, the competition, and the people. But for him, the real thrill comes down to one moment.
"Every time the rod bends over, I guess. Makes your heart skip a beat every time."
Jack is part of the Far North Slayers, the team that won the 2025 team competition with a total fish weight of 50.235kg. He has been part of the team for six years, and while the lineup has changed over time, this year marked a special reunion—the original crew from when they first started was back together.
And when it comes to team rivalries, Jack acknowledges that while the Bounty Hunters have dominated over the years, it only pushes others to fish harder.
"I think there's a bit of rivalry between every team and the Bounty Hunters because they've won so much. But still, I don't knock them—they’re good fishermen. And it makes us fish hard."
Giving Back
For Kay from Karo Tree Coffee Caravan which sits near the Waipapakauri ramp, the Snapper Bonanza is more than just a busy week—it’s a major opportunity for her small business that relies on the summer traffic.
"This is my third summer here. I’ve learned a lot over these years about what the fishermen want, and this year I introduced a bacon and egg slice alongside the usual coffee and ice creams—it was a winner!"
Knowing how huge the week would be, she brought in extra help with the cooking, allowing her to keep up with the demand.
Not only did she benefit from the influx of people, but she also chose to give back. As a small sponsor, she ran a special raffle draw, where anyone who made a purchase went into the draw to win a Brass Monkey portable fridge.
Beyond the business side of things, Kay loves the atmosphere the Snapper Bonanza creates.
"I love being busy, meeting different sorts of people—lots of out of towners/foreigners too. It’s great to see the town buzzing."
The Snapper Bonanza Poker Run
Beyond the fishing, the Snapper Bonanza also provides a major boost for local businesses, especially through the Poker Run, a popular side event that gets anglers engaging with local sponsors while adding a bit of friendly competition to the mix.
The Poker Run is a scavenger-style game where participants visit five sponsor locations, including BP Awanui, Collards Sports Bar, The Vault Bar & Café, Waipapakauri Hotel, and Browns Pharmacy. At each stop, they collect a playing card, and once they have all five, they reveal their poker hand at the Rider’s Sports Caravan. The best hand wins four tyres worth $1,000, with additional lucky draw prizes, making it a fun way to mix competition with community engagement.
According to Shelley, the manager of BP Awanui, being a Poker Run stop is a significant boost for the business, as most anglers drop in for a drink, a pie, or a coffee, in addition to refuelling their vehicles during the competition.
"We love being part of the Poker Run—that initiative alone means a lot for our business. With 1200 anglers coming through, those small purchases add up."
Beyond the business impact, the Poker Run brings a fun, social element to the Bonanza.
"It brings a good vibe. We see some anglers having competitions amongst themselves to see who has the better hand, and there are even some who won’t look at their cards until they have collected them all and reveal them for the first time when they hand them over. It’s all part of the fun!"
Supporting Paparore School
One of the most significant community benefits of the Snapper Bonanza is the donation of fish caught by anglers to local groups. This year, the fish was donated to Paparore School and later auctioned at the Kaitāia Markets. Principal John Windelborn expressed his gratitude, emphasising how much the support meant to the school.
"In the present economic environment, any extra funding to support our tamariki to enhance their learning is appreciated. One of our school values is ‘Porihanga’ or Community & Partnerships, and this is our value focus currently."
This year’s fish auction raised $10,740, a massive boost for the school.
"We have not met yet to discuss where the proceeds will specifically go, but we are planning to build a shade system over our junior playground and sandpit this year, which is also used by the community outside of school hours."
What stood out most was the generosity of the anglers, who donated their catch willingly.
"Fish caught on Tuesday and Wednesday did not need to be donated, but almost every angler said, ‘Donate to the school!’ We’re overwhelmed with the attitude and generosity of the Bonanza fishing community. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!"
"We had tremendous support throughout. A huge thank you to Dave Collard, John Stewart, Toss Kitchen, Fish Jones, Shirley Williams from the Kaitāia Markets, and Brad Jackson, whose auctioneering skills made the event even more fun! We’d also like to acknowledge those who turned up on Sunday to clean up and the whānau who filleted fish caught on Saturday for our school gala, scheduled for the Saturday, 29th March 2025."
The Snapper Bonanza isn’t just about fishing—it’s an event that boosts the local economy, supports community initiatives, and brings people together. From anglers and businesses to local schools, it has a lasting impact on our wider community.
With 2026 tickets going on sale 7th of June 2025 at 9am, make sure you stay updated via the
Snapper Bonanza Facebook page or visit
snapperbonanza.co.nz.
Do you have a local story to share?
Whether you're a blogger, photographer, writer, or vlogger, we’d love to hear from you!
Share your unique perspective and help showcase the heart of our Te Hiku community.