Olliver Pask celebrates after landing an 18kg yellowfin tuna on an 8kg line, setting a new world record in the process. Photo: Supplied

It’s school holidays and Olliver Pask is fishing when we track him down to discuss his record-breaking year on the end of a fishing rod.

By Dan Hutchinson

The 18-year-old is New Zealand Sport Fishing Council’s (NZSFC) Junior Angler of the Year, and he has a swag of other achievements from a year of fresh and saltwater fishing, including a world record.

That’s not a bad effort for someone who lives two hours’ drive from the ocean, commuting regularly from Taupō to Whakatane for his seawater fix.

It’s been a standout season for Olliver, including the International Game Fishing Association world record for landing an 18kg Yellowfin Tuna on an 8kg line.

He also achieved the NZSFC record for landing a kahawai on a 10kg Fly Tippett.

He is a member of both the Taupō Fishing Club and the Whakatane Sportfishing Club.

Olliver says he enjoys landing big fish on lightweight line because it gives the fish the advantage.

"So, it makes it more sporting rather than just going out and getting fish for dinner and just pulling them up. It puts a lot of the fight into it."

It has not been all plain sailing this year though. Olliver hooked what was estimated to be a 300kg black marlin on kingfish gear. He fought the fish for six hours before it broke the line.

For the Taupō Fishing Club, Olliver has the heaviest junior trout, heaviest brown trout overall, heaviest snapper, heaviest tuna, heaviest kingfish, heaviest fish on saltwater fly and heaviest catch and release shark.

For the Whakatane Sportfishing Club he has the heaviest tuna on 8kg line, and the record for the heaviest snapper (1.985kg) on a 1kg line and heaviest kingfish (12kg) on a 4kg line.

The appeal is simply chasing big, hard-fighting fish and the “thrill of the hunt”.

He has been fishing since he was 3 years old, heading out regularly with his father, who shares the passion.

The family boat is called Nauti Buoys, and they make the trip to Whakatāne whenever weather, work, and school allow.

He aged out of the junior category at the end of June, turning 18, so is now firmly focused on open competition.

The secret to success is quite simple.

“Persistence. If the success doesn't come immediately, you've just got to keep heading out, keep doing it, and making sure you're doing the right things — rather than just giving up as soon as you come home without any fish."

He is the Black Magic Tackle Youth Ambassador, representing and promoting fishing to new anglers to the sport, and other youth. He can be found on Instagram @nautibuoysfishing and on Black Magic Tackle’s social media pages.

He is also involved in several New Zealand Sport Fishing Council committees and is passionate about the future of the sport.