A former Angling Times staffer has opened what’s thought to be the most southern coarse fishing tackle shop in the world – near Wellington, the North Island capital of New Zealand!
Mark Mees, who worked on the title in the 1990s, cut the ribbon on his new Otaki Angling shop last weekend after witnessing a big rise in the coarse side of the sport in the traditionally sea and game fishing-dominated country.
“Most of my customers are English expats living out here, but I’m getting loads of mail order customers from Australia too,” said Mark.
“I’m an official stockist for brands like Preston Innovations and Guru – and I’m certainly their most distant customer!
“My shop is 11,584 miles away from the old tackle shop I used to go to as a kid – Robin’s Peg in Peterborough!”