2023 Sounds Summer Slam Spearfishing Comp
10 December 2023
The Stoned-Em Sounds Summer Slam 2023 took place over the weekend, with the weigh in proudly hosted again by Marine and Outdoors.
With a focus on variety of species over weight, species which make for great eating, and looking after the marine environment, the Summer Slam is the gold standard of spearfishing comps. The species list for 2023 included: Crayfish, Kingfish, Snapper, Butterfish, Gurnard, Squid and John Dory. Teams were also encouraged to collect ocean rubbish in order to be eligible for all the prizes on offer.
Conditions for comp weekend were tough, with poor vis reported in many places so the fish that made it to weigh in made divers work hard for their catch. While the number of fish weighed in at the end of the comp was down on last year, the ocean rubbish collected was up which is great to see. Overall 2.2 tonnes of ocean rubbish was removed from the Marlborough Sounds.
Many donated their catch, with over 70kgs of a variety of species going to Crossroads Marlborough and $1500 was raised for Sustainable Coastlines to support beach clean up efforts through merch and food sales.
The Comp Results:
1st Team
Britney Spears – Mitch Parnwell and Joshua Patterson
2nd Team
Ambitious – Mitch Neal and Scott Reed
3rd Team
Coleman Country Taxidermy – Dion Coleman and Shaun Higgins
Top Junior
Nico Bailey
Top Female
Gabby Mark
Top Master
Dave Packaman
Meritorious Fish
William Davidson – 2.78 kg snapper
Best piece of ocean rubbish
Water Wings – Craig Robertson and Dwayne Ternent
Most ocean rubbish collected
Pot Shots – Mike Ponder and Todd Neal
A huge congratulation goes to Chris McMurtrie from Dive Tours Marlborough who was the lucky winner of the $10,000 Marine and Outdoors voucher to spend in store.
