The Otago Salmon Anglers Association’s annual fishing competition began at midnight last night and will run until late tomorrow afternoon.
About 200 people were expected to take part and set up their camp, complete with chilly bins, air mattresses, and fishing rods, along the wharf.
Among the fishers was Daniel Scorringe, of Dunedin, who eagerly pitched his tent on the Fryatt St wharf at 10am yesterday.
He already had a line in the water while he waited for the competition to start.
‘‘I won’t be doing much sleeping,’’ he said.
Mr Scorringe had taken part in the competition since the 1980s, when his father took him along, and liked to get in early to secure a prime fishing spot.
Association member Gavin Cameron said about 200 tickets had been sold for this year’s event.
There was up to $10,000 in prizes and the top prize would go to the fisher who caught the heaviest salmon.
The winner, who would take home about $250 and new fishing equipment, would be picked about 4pm tomorrow.
