(Editor Note: The Orton Series in NZ is BIG! Justin Orton shares a bit here, as an intro. Please note the term "Fisho's" Justin uses regularly. I think this is a NZ term that combines 'fishermen' and 'sickos,' and is quite appropriate for most of us, myself included- Bushy)

My wife introduced me to kayaks and paddling nearly 10 years ago (she used to paddle out my contiki fishing line for me!). I caught the kayak fishing bug and became a self-taught kayak fisho, gathering advice and tips through the years from the many talented and experienced kayak fisherman I met along the way. Not a professional by any means, I go fishing for the love of it and I’m still learning heaps through personal experience and through fishing and chatting with other keen fishos.

The idea for a “kayak only” fishing competition came up after throwing a few ideas around with a mate. There were already many land-based and boat comps running in NZ. In June 2011, I held the first competition based out of Whangarei, Northland, as a one-off to see if anyone would be interested. I got a fantastic response.! This was when the Orton Events NZ Kayak Fishing Series was born.

The Orton Events NZ Kayak Fishing Series is New Zealand’s premier kayak fishing competition exclusively for kayakers. The series itself includes five rounds of spectacular fishing located around the North Island of New Zealand, showing off some of the most beautiful and varied coastline and excellent fishing grounds that our country has to offer. Competitors can enter and fish individual events, or enter the Series where they need to fish a minimum three out of the five events. Points are accumulated and then added up at the end to determine the Series champion.

We have an awesome prize pool for each of the events and for the Series itself, made possible through sponsorship by various kayak and fishing related brands. Some have supported me from the very beginning and others are new, but have seen the potential in this series of competitions – for this I am very grateful.

The Orton Series has grown from four events to five events this year with competitor numbers growing each year. Currently, I am just looking at making sure the events run efficiently and successfully, and are attracting both male and female competitors. We also continue to offer a great range of prizes and value for entry, and of course a great time!

For the future I am looking at creating an “Orton Events NZ Kayak Fishing Invitational,” where I invite four member teams from around the world to come and compete here in New Zealand against the ‘Black Yaks’ and other New Zealand kayak fishing teams, an Australian group has already taken part in the last three competitions so there is interest there. I will just have to see how the idea pans out.

For more information people can take a look at the Orton Events NZ website, www.ortoneventsnz.co.nz. I have also created an Orton Events NZ Kayak Fishing Forum where fishos can post anything kayak fishing related, share ideas or post photos etc. There is even a section, ‘Yak Attack’ for overseas fishos to share what they get up to out on the water www.ortoneventsnz.co.nz/forum .

So feel free to post! And if you are ever over this side of the world and you need the hook ups with a boat etc. to taste what New Zealand has to offer, definitely contact me, Justin Orton, on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and I’ll be happy to help you out.