HOOKED up ISSUE 2 2015
Why we need Marine Research NZMRF Report
LegaSea Report
Hiwi the Kiwi Just What is the Economic Value of Recreational Fishing? www.nzsportfishing.co.nz
New Zealand Sport Fishing Council is the oldest incorporated organisation representing recreational anglers. The Council was formed to be the central body for all matters relating to the sport of game fishing in New Zealand. It adopted IGFA fishing rules and ethics so that a consistent standard could be set when comparing catches. The NZSFC offers additional records classes for NZ records beyond what IGFA offer for juniors and small-fry anglers. We have refined some of the IGFA rules to make them more suitable for our contests. Our New Zealand based IGFA representatives keep a close liaison between IGFA and NZSFC and have regular input into issues that could affect New Zealand anglers. We have promoted valuable marine research that is internationally respected. This includes the game fish tagging programs for marlin, sharks, tuna and kingfish which now has a history of 17 years of information. The Council created and continues to support the NZ Marine Research Foundation (NZMRF) for the primary purpose of conducting research on fish species benefiting our membership that could not, or will not be financed by government agencies. Information from research carried out by the NZMRF has been very valuable when justifying our position in species management. All they have to do is remind themselves, that the majority of what the NZSFC does is for the benefit of individual members rather than equal benefits for each club. More fish in the sea, better access, water quality, individual legal protection, record recognition, research, advocacy, fishing data collection and dissemination are all individual benefits of belonging to the NZSFC.
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CONTENTS Editorial.....................................4 EDITOR / Bob Gutsell
Research Project .......................6
GROUP EDITOR / Colin Kennedy ART DIRECTOR / Jodi Olsson
National Survey ... ...................10 NZSFC Business Plan Update..12 Weighmasters Roundup...........14 Hiwi the Kiwi ............................18
CONTENT ENQUIRIES / Phone Bob on 021 750 562 or email bob_gutsell@yahoo.com ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES / Phone Jennifer Liew on 09 522 7257 or email jenniferl@espiremedia.com ADDRESS / NZ Fisher, C/- Espire Media, PO Box 137162, Parnell, Auckland 1151, NZ
NZSFC Update..........................20
WEBSITE / www.NZsportfishing.co.nz
Operations of the NZSFC Fishing Subcommittee..............24 2015 SIMRAD Nationals..........28
This is a GREEN MAG, created and distributed without the use of paper so it's environmentally friendly. Please think before you print. Thank you!
Update from the Board.............30 LegaSea Update 32 ...................32 The Adventures of Jill Grey......34
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EDITORIAL
ear Members, If you have read the latest Board minutes, you will see we are approaching the end of an era with the impending retirement of our trusted and loyal secretary, treasurer and Executive Officer, Roz Nelson. Roz has been a loyal and dedicated servant of the NZSFC (formally the NZBGFC) for over 30 years and is the heart of our organisation. Roz will be sorely missed by our club presidents, secretaries, managers, 4 ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz
delegates, members, previous management committees and now Board members that she has worked with over the years of dedicated service. Roz will leave behind some very large shoes to fill, not only from her role on the executive, but also as the guru behind the ‘Nationals’ which have been setting new participation records for several years. Roz has indicated that she will help out with some guidance and advice for the 2016 Nationals. Roz has formed many friendships over the years, and I am sure these will continue into her retirement.
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I would like to remind all clubs and delegates of the upcoming 2016 AGM in Christchurch to book their travel and accommodation requirements. John Bruce, president of the hosting Ashley Sport Fishing Club, has a good venue booked, with accommodation available at the AGM site and also directly across the road. I am sure there will be some good after-match functions to unwind at the end of the day. Don’t forget to have any remits for the AGM ready to go, and also nominations for Zone Reps/Board Reps lodged in the appropriate time frames. The communications committee has produced the first DLE promoting the Council and its member benefits, which some clubs have included in competition entry forms. These are a good promotional tool to encourage new members, and there are still some left from the first run, so please contact Roz or Bob Gutsell if you require more copies. The second updated DLE will be available in due course. If you have
Thank you to all who supported the ‘Nationals’ this year. A record number of anglers and good fish numbers were recorded.
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I would like to thank Roz for her outstanding service and dedication to the NZSFC (formally NZBGC) both personally, and on behalf of the Board and all of those volunteers she has supported over the years. I would also like to wish Roz and Shelton all the best for the future.
any suggestions regarding content, contact Roz or Bob.
Thank you to all who supported the ‘Nationals’ this year. A record number of anglers and good fish numbers were recorded. It was also good to see the number of fish tagged this year, proving that we are taking the sustainability of our fishery seriously.
May the Yellowfin return next year when we look forward to breaking another attendance record! A big thank you to our main sponsor of the 2015 Nationals, SIMRAD. Please show your support in any way you can. Tight lines and good luck to all.
Mark Connor President/Zone 7 Board Rep New Zealand Sport Fishing Council Inc Mobile: 0274 327 485 www.nzsportfishing.co.nz www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 5
New Zealand Marine Research Foundation Report
Why We Need the Science The NZ Sport Fishing Council is about to embark upon one of our biggest projects ever. We will be taking on the important work of trying to find the economic benefits to the country from marine recreational fishing. In this article, I will tell you why I think marine research is so vital to the future of fishing in New Zealand. By Jeff Romeril
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It starts with a bit of history. In the eras gone, the NZ Sport Fishing Council’s main purpose was collecting records, organising the Nationals, defining angling rules and acting as a liaison to IGFA. From its founding in 1957 the Council’s growth was rather slow and included existing clubs that concentrated on deep sea species. This changed in the 1980’s, and 1990’s with small boats operating from all around New Zealand. Many new clubs joined the Council to share in the joy of having peer recognition of significant catches. It was also in this period we saw a significant increase in recognised species to include the inshore species. In the 1980’s the Council found a new and significantly important role, being involved in representing clubs on fishery management issues. The most notable of these was supporting the Bay of Island Swordfish Club’s endeavor to have striped marlin classified as a non-commercial fish due to a yearafter-year alarming drop in recreational captures. While this was an emotive representation to government officials, it was the excellent records the clubs and
Council had kept that swung the deal. The moratorium on no commercial marlin catch followed, and this was subsequently superseded by regulation. The first major victory had been achieved. The council realised that recreational fishing groups had to step up from emotional and anecdotal submissions, normally written by the President of Council, to a more scientific approach. It was more valuable to have accredited marine scientists collecting information and drafting the submission on behalf of the Council and members. We were dealing with increasingly demanding commercial fishing companies. They were able to use the money that they gained from the resource they harvested to argue for an increasing allocation of the fishing resource, or the fish you and I catch. Their scientists argued every formula for determining the maximum sustainable yield of each species so that they could catch more fish. They were acutely aware of the alleged increasing catch by recreational anglers and were constantly insisting on anglers being restrained to a catch level that fitted exactly with their allocation system. www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 7
With such a powerful lobby group pushing through the scientific errors, some big mistakes were made. Notably Orange Roughy was probably the worst, with overfishing meaning that this fishery will be closed most likely for the rest of our lifetime. To even have a presence in these species management meetings, we needed people who understood the science and had the evidence to back up their claims, as well as being accepted as peer contributors. This is where we had difficulty. Marine science comes at a cost, and the commercial fishers were again able to pay for their costs (levies) from the resource, but we 8 ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz
couldn’t. It was left to the Government to decide and pay for any science that was deemed to be non-commercial. This often didn’t suit our needs, and many of the projects that did eventuate were again highly contestable, especially if they led to an undesirable outcome for the commercial fishers. In the early 1990’s the then President of the Council, Peter Short, sought to establish a trust benefiting marine science for recreational anglers. The Trust would fund scientific research on aquatic plants and animals and interactions between people and marine ecosystems to benefit all New Zealanders.
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Our current project seeks to break the outcomes into more understandable results. What is the employment, manufacturing, tourism and tax revenue generated by recreational angling? What would change if there weren’t an abundant resource to target?
That donation continues today and is now $1 per senior member and 50c for juniors. With this, and other donations of money/boat time/equipment and expertise, we have been able to assist in the science that benefits us and the management of the species we target. To finish, I will return to my opening sentence and the economic value that recreational marine fishing provides
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Peter’s inspiration lead to the NZMRF being registered as a charitable trust with full IRD approval and a tax deduction for contributors in 1996. The Council members made an annual donation of 50c of their affiliation fees, and the foundation was then launched in 1999 after accumulating its base funding of $100,000.
for New Zealand. Government studies were done in the past but failed to convince because of the economic language used and highly contestable findings that could alter what were some staggering outcomes in our favour. Terms like ‘willingness to pay’ just didn’t wash, because it wasn’t real money. Our current project seeks to break the outcomes into more understandable results. What is the employment, manufacturing, tourism and tax revenue generated by recreational angling? What would change if there weren’t an abundant resource to target? Would we sell our boats, retire our fishing gear, eat more lamb/beef because fish are too hard to catch and expensive to buy because of depleted resource? We need the supporting science.◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 9
National Survey
Most Comprehensive
NZ Survey of Recreational
Harvest So Far
New Zealand recreational fishers caught and kept 4,553,000 snapper, 1,170,000 Kahawai and 682,500 Blue Cod in 2011 - 2012. By John Holdsworth Blue Water Marine Research
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These harvest estimates and those for many other species, along with methods used and number of fishing trips, have recently been detailed in a report published by Ministry for Primary Industries. This is the most comprehensive survey of recreational harvest so far in New Zealand. It was conducted by NRB using a door to door survey of 30,390 homes to recruit over 7,000 fishers. Data was collected using a carefully worded phone interview of all fishers at regular intervals from October 2011 to September 2012. It was important that fishers only reported what they caught, or their share of the catch if fishing as 10 â—† www.nzsportfishing.co.nz
a group using a longline or set net. This catch was scaled up to estimate total catch by New Zealand residents aged 15 years and older. The National Panel Survey, as it is called, has been reviewed and approved by international experts and will be repeated every five or six years. High quality data from a large random sample of New Zealanders can be used when scaling up data from smaller surveys, like the planned Southwick Associates project to estimate the economic contributions of marine recreational fishing in New Zealand. A boat ramp survey run concurrently provided data on the average weight
of many of the common species. For snapper in area 1 (SNA1) the average weight of fish kept was 1.06 kg, giving a total harvest that year of 3,980 t (± 7%). This compared to the independent NIWA estimate of 3,754 t (± 6%) for the same area and year using spotter planes to count the number of boats and ramp interviews to collect harvest information.
based fishers. On average these fish weighed 1.53 kg, giving a national harvest of 1,785 t (± 5%). Blue Cod catch was highest in the South Island (75%). Almost all catch was taken from boats using rod and line methods. The average weight nationally was 0.5 kg giving a harvest of 333 t (± 10%). Following the top three by number harvested were Gurnard (430,500), Tarakihi (361,000), Trevally (174,000), Sea Perch (160,000), Flounder and other flat fish (144,000).
The results of these two surveys have already been used in the 2013 stock assessment for SNA1 and the management review, which led to changes in the size limit and bag limit for Kingfish were 12th on the list by number recreational fishers. (64,700) but had an average weight of over 10 kg for kept fish. This put them at At the same time, the Minister also number three in the national harvest, by increased the recreational allowance in weight, with 662 t (± 11%). Most were tonnes for that area by 500 t (20%). It seems that 2010-11 and 2011-12 were caught by rod and line from boats, but land based and spearfishing methods very good years from snapper catch in the Hauraki Gulf, the largest component also feature. of the recreational fishery, and total No other recreational harvest survey can harvest has declined since then – provide national coverage of all fishing probably due to a lack of availability of methods. This new method is expensive fish in close. but based on a sound statistical design Kahawai was the second most popular species harvested. The catch was more widely spread around the country than snapper, and a third was taken by land
and large sample size it is likely to be repeated to meet the demand for recreational harvest information. The full report is online. ◆
FIND OUT MORE HERE www.bluewatermarine.co.nz www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 11
NZSFC Business Plan Update
ZSFC Board is taking a fresh approach to planning with a rolling three year A3 business plan (supported by focused A3 action plans) for key areas of activity: • Communication • Fishing Safely • Governance • Revenue • Value Proposition • The Nationals At the 2014 AGM in Gisborne we briefed the Affiliated Clubs on the business plan and actions, including the Communication and Fishing Safely action plans. 12 ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz
SIX MONTHS ON, WHERE ARE WE AT NOW? Communication Plan The Communication A3 is making good progress. The first edition of our e-zine Hooked Up has been published and we’ve also distributed NZSFC Distribution Leaflets to each of the Clubs. These leaflets talk about what the NZSFC does and the benefits of belonging to a sport fishing club affiliated to the NZSFC, for instance a ‘what’s in it for me’ for our club members. Next on the communications agenda is a revamp of the NZSFC website (due for completion in the next 6 months), plus the completion of NZSFC’s communications policy and procedures.
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Please don’t take the issue of Health and Safety lightly; it’s covered by legislation now, even for voluntary organisations.
Please don’t take the issue of Health and Safety lightly; it’s covered by Again – good progress. A draft set of legislation now, even for voluntary NZSFC Fishing Safely guidelines has organisations. Equally, we shouldn’t be been developed and distributed to the zones for comment. These will be afraid of it. By using the support material published in the NZSFC website when from NZSFC, and adopting Safe Fishing as part of your club agenda, you can it goes live. easily raise the safety awareness within Clubs can ask for these guidelines now your own ranks. if they wish, and incorporate them into their own organisations and websites GOVERNANCE PLAN (if you need a copy, please email Why a Governance Action Plan? Alistair Lane on alane@vccnz.com). FISHING SAFELY PLAN
You can easily tailor the NZSFC guidelines to your own requirements, just paste in your club log and “you’re up running”. The other big event is the advent of the Health and Safety Reform Bill, which came into force on 1 April. The New Plymouth Sportfishing and Underwater Club took the opportunity to develop their own Tournament Safety Plan. Thanks to NPSUC, we’ve been able to circulate this to all Affiliated Clubs for their reference. The NZSFC is developing a template that clubs can use to develop their own plans – this should be available in the next two months.
Governance is many things to many people, but we look upon it as a way of improving “the way we work together” to achieve better outcomes for the NZSFC. With the increasing pressure on fisheries management and sustainability for the good of the wider NZ recreational fishing community, we need to further develop our strategic planning and risk management skills. To this end, we’re working closely with the NZ Institute of Directors to run a Not-for-profit Governance Workshop in November this year. The good news is that there are up to 10 spaces available in the workshop for Club attendees. More on this in the next few months. ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 13
Weighmasters Round-up
From this side
of the Scales Chasing Xiphias gladius (also know as Broadbill Swordfish) used to be the domain of large launches and nights without sleep, but nowadays we are successfully chasing during daylight hours, deep dropping and from some of the smaller trailer boats that frequently go offshore, game fishing.
The new jousting partner for the mighty Broadbill. Shona Romeril claims bragging rights.
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One of Alawai’s two Broadbill from Houhora onebase day 2, James Farley 133.6kg
hat started out as a slow Broadbill season, began to kick off at the Houhora onebase where six were weighed in two days. There were three off one trailer boat, and one off another trailer boat. Interestingly, there was no braid or Dacron used, no high spec’d new reels
yet to be seen in New Zealand shops – just good old stand up trolling tackle like 37kg nylon monofilament on Shimano reels with stand up game fishing rods, and heavy nylon trace with a large non-offset circle hook, and a couple of submersible flashing strobe lights to a bait tail, tied to the hook with a breakaway weight tied to its nose. www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 15
“Muriwai’s Broadbill” off the boat Adrenalin, with skipper Des Green and angler Rod Lang with 118.okg broadbill weighed at Ahipara.
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This could well be our best season ever for Broadbill.
The bait used was two Muriwai mullet, a couple of jack mackerel stuffed into a shell squid lure and a Skippy or two. The major difference was that four were caught off trailer boats.
and almost breathless Jeff Romeril (past president NZBGFC): “Guess what Shona has caught? A Broadbill and she is weighing it at Tutukaka in 30 minutes!”.
Over this Easter, Broadbill were caught from the Manukau on the west coast around the top down to the waters around Mayor Island, whilst others have been weighed in during this season at these weigh stations; Manukau Sports, Hokianga, Ahipara, Houhora, Doubtless Bay, Whangaroa, Bay of Islands, Tutukaka, Warkworth, Tairua, Whangamata, Tauranga, Whakatane, and Waihau Bay that I know of. This could well be our best season ever for Broadbill.
Too bad I was over an hour and a half away, then, “Oh no, what has she done to the boys and me? She may have the biggest gamefish for a Romeril. Better start planning a mission of our own to win the bragging rights back.” Well said Jeff (go to www.nzsportfishing.co.nz/ newsletters and find issue April 8th, 2015 for a better Broadbill rundown).
I got a phone call from a very excited
Only time and the scales will tell. ◆
WHERE TO FROM HERE? Well, the cold snap just gone seemed to Hot spots up north that are producing have reduced the effort and interest on well are the ‘Garden Patch’ and the the Broadbill front, yet there is still some ‘Trench’ behind the Poor Knights Islands. good fishing left in this season. The A lot of fish have been coming from question is, which weigh-station will end waters around 400 metres in depth; just up weighing the biggest? Will it be from off to the sides of the high spots. a launch or a trailer boat?
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Hiwi the Kiwi
Hiwi the Kiwi aims to tick off 1000 shows by year end
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he Hiwi the Kiwi Goes Fishing Show is now entering its sixth year on the road, visiting every town in the country annually. It’s as popular as ever and has evolved into a fabulously successful programme loved by teachers and kids alike. Mark and Chrissy De Lacy (aka The Minstrel) say that the marvellous support from Kilwell (over 900 rods donated so far) and NZ Fishing News, is on-going, and makes the job of selling the show to schools a breeze. “Intermediate Schools were added to the programme last year. The shows at these schools are more sophisticated,
which is in line with the age group, and the older kids are devouring the messages about sustainability and water safety with enthusiasm.” Especially gratifying this year is the involvement of fishing clubs. Mercury Bay, Clevedon and Hokianga Clubs have all organised shows and contributed to the costs. It has been a huge success because involving schools with their local clubs is a great idea. Mark and Chrissy say that they are looking forward to ticking off 1,000 schools (300,000 kids) by the end of this year, 2015. ◆
FIND OUT MORE HERE www.hiwithekiwi.co.nz www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 19
NZFSC Update
Management Investment Paying Off Our Fisheries Management team is encouraged by the increasing funding support and public awareness that LegaSea is generating for the Council’s ongoing advocacy, research and education initiatives.
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MANAGEMENT INPUT Since the start of 2015 the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council has been represented at two Northern Inshore Working Group meetings, one Marine Amateur Fisheries Working Group meeting, three Snapper 1 Strategy Group meetings and one Hauraki Gulf Sea Change meeting. Reports have been filed for all attendances. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is keen to proceed with a large-scale tagging study in Snapper 1. Industry is less enthusiastic due to concerns about costs that could be up to $9M, depending on the study design. The Council continues to advocate for fisheries independent research such as the tagging programme, where possible.
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The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is keen to proceed with a large-scale tagging study in Snapper 1. Industry is less enthusiastic due to concerns about costs that could be up to $9M, depending on the study design.
The Council has reviewed NIWA’s results from the new method of estimating recreational harvest and fisher effort for Snapper 1 in years between major surveys. Draft results support the Council’s previous view that the Snapper 1 recreational catch was unusually high during the surveys in 2011-12, and it is important that the most recent, lower catch and effort rates are acknowledged.
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Preliminary stock assessments are available for a number of stocks of interest such as Kahawai 1, Trevally 7 and Snapper 7. These will be reviewed at Stakeholder Plenary meetings in May, in Wellington. The Fisheries Management team recommends a Council representative attends, at a minimum, the Plenaries for these stocks.
The final results should be published soon and will be included in the May Plenary Report.
There have been 14 meetings of the Snapper 1 Strategy Group, working toward a new strategic plan. It is frustrating that the meeting discussions are confidential and cannot be reported publicly. The NZSFC continues to promote the need to rebuild Snapper 1 to B40 within 20 years. The finished report will be provided to the Minister in August this year. The 14-member Hauraki Gulf Sea Change Stakeholder Working Group is currently developing a marine spatial plan, due out in July 2015. Indicators are there will be a push for more marine protection, marine reserves and less www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 21
ChameleonsEye / Shutterstock.com
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fishing in the Gulf, particularly the inner Gulf. Any outcomes from the plan will need to be implemented by the agency responsible, that is, fisheries issues will need to be addressed by MPI. We have no update on the new legislation that will make the Ministries of fisheries, conservation and environment jointly responsible for the future management of the marine environment. We will advise when we receive any further information. FISH STOCKS Crayfish and Marlborough Sounds Blue cod have been our main focus lately. The annual crayfish review process commenced on 20 January with the release of the proposals for the future management of five stocks. The Council submitted on 18 February and the Minister’s decision was released on 19 March. More details are online at http://nzsportfishing.org.nz/ index.cfm/pageid/432/ViewPage/ Crayfish-2015
Administration of Marlborough Sounds Blue cod has been fraught for many years, with local recreational fishers bearing the brunt of various management controls. A review is underway with submissions due by 15 June, but earlier submissions are requested to take advantage of the opportunity to shape the management options in the official proposal paper (expected around May). A coalition of Marlborough and Wellington groups, the NZ Angling and Casting Association and NZSFC has developed a set of recommendations and published them seeking public support and early submissions. http://www.legasea. co.nz/bluecod.php Feedback - Your ongoing support, comments or questions are appreciated ◆
CALL US 0800 LEGASEA or EMAIL US pieter@legasea.co.nz
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Operations of the NZSFC Fishing Subcommittee
Opening the Rule Book
This subcommittee attends to the operational procedures of recreational and sustenance fishing. The NZSFC promotes ethical fishing in every aspect, fishing under IGFA, and NZSFC rules and regulations. By John R Chibnall
he Fishing subcommittee’s duties are to attend to club members concerns with IGFA and NZSFC angling rules and fishing regulations along with any fishing laws the Government have made or bring in.
of the subcommittee’s most import duties is the ‘Nationals’ tournament, with its complicated fishing rules and regulations, the large tackle range, all the different areas that are fished in and all the species fished.
They attend to the proposed changes from the membership that must at all times be within the IGFA, and NZSFC fishing rules and regulations that are set down in our Constitution. All the fishing rules and regulations are updated by this subcommittee every year.
There are many other NZSFC awards each year that this subcommittee adjudicates. The general fishing rules and regulations, the tournament rules and fishing related bylaws are reviewed each year. All these rules and regulations are printed in the Council’s yearbook for the members’ perusal. Most members’ enquiries are covered in this publication.
The requests from the membership are considered, as long as they meet NZSFC and membership approval. One 24 ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz
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We urge members to read them before asking about rules or other concerns they may have, as it is very rare any question asked is not answered in the yearbook.
stage, they are considering reviewing all the fishing rules by an appointed international committee, as they say these rules were made 75 years ago and need to be brought up to date.
This year we have been working on the shark problems within the ‘Nationals’. We are trying to make the limited taking of these species acceptable to those who can catch them as their only real game fish, and at the same time consider their conservation. The sub-committee is always trying to improve the rules and regulations to make them better for our members.
The Minutes of the Fishing Subcommittee meetings are available through the Zone’s club delegates. All the fishing rules and regulations along with catch records are on the website, along with most other information about the NZSFC.
There is usually a fishing meeting before each meeting of the Board, Presently Bob Gutsell and John Chibnall followed by their approval of the Minutes. Any changes that need are trying to get the IGFA to allow the members’ approval are presented to a top shoting method to be judged on general meeting or the AGM to be voted the weaker of the two lines used, and not the heaviest, as it is now. At this on by the membership. ◆ 26 ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz
WE CANNOT EXIST WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT
PROMOTING F IS H IN G R E S E A R C H FOR FU T U R E A N G L IN G . www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 27
2015 SIMRAD Nationals
Another Great ‘Nationals’, Another Great Catch By Roz Nelson
A record number of anglers participated in the SIMRAD Nationals (so named for our new sponsor) – 1,667 from 40 Clubs and 479 teams in all.
SIMRAD offered us great product, which we chose to give away as daily prizes for all those entered at the time over the first seven days.
The prizes and winners were: Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7
Handheld VHF valued at $368 Handheld VHF valued at $368 NSS9 Evo2 valued at $3,899 NSS7 Evo 2 valued at $2,499 NSS9 Evo 2 valued at $3,899 NSS7 Evo 2 valued at $2,499 NSS12 Evo 2 valued at $4,950
These were greatly appreciated and I am sure had a lot to do with the increase in numbers, along with the great weather of course and a large number of fish. It was great to record 28 ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz
Grant Greenville Gerry McDonnell Helena Williams Huck Mato Ben Avison Simon Morley Alec Muir
Mercury Bay Mt Maunganui New Plymouth Waihau Bay Counties Counties Waihau Bay
15 yellowfin, the highest number in a very long time. Broadbill numbers were also up with eight recorded compared to just one last year.
Fish Fishing Club Inc., the 9.220kg Snapper on 2kg by Linda McKenzie of the NZ Land Based Gamefishing Club Inc., and of course the Wellington There are 16 different sections, all scoring Surfcasting and Angling Club Inc. guys who took out a bunch of prizes, as did differently and some sections have subthe New Plymouth, Napier, Whakatane sections within them. I guess the Varta and Waihau Bay anglers. In fact, 36 of Cup is one of the most prized trophies, which is for the most points from the top the Clubs taking part had anglers who three scoring fish. This year the trophy caught fish. Please forgive me if I haven’t was won, yet again, by the Houhora mentioned you, but there were so Big Game & Sports Fishing Club Inc. many good catches and results and The Team Champions are also limited space! There must just be interesting (as are all sections, so I enough room though to mention the need to be careful what I say) and Juniors who did exceptionally well with the Striped Marlin Section – John amazing results – good on you Celine, Hough Memorial Trophy winners – were Diesel from the Counties Sports Christian, Declan, Jack, Emily, Georgia, Marley, Baily, Cory, Macka, Mason and Fishing Club Inc. Ella. Well done to you all, and to any The heaviest fish caught during the others who fished but weren’t lucky Tournament was a 290.80kg Blue enough to be named in the first three Marlin by Brian Stanbridge from the – you still did awesomely. Tauranga Sport Fishing Club Inc. The fish with the most points goes to Dave But all this goes to show that the SIMRAD Nationals had something Kahlenberg from the Houhora Big Game & Sports Fishing Club Inc. with for everyone – from land-based to a 55kg shark on a 1kg line, giving him fishing from a boat and 13 different species as well. 5,500 points. But let’s not forget other species – like The NZ Sport Fishing Council Inc. once again congratulates all the the 9.920kg Snapper on a 10kg line winners, but special thanks all those by Denise Le Prou from Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club Inc., or the 6.780kg who took part. We think it is an amazing tournament and we hope all Trevally on 10kg by Graham Poole of our clubs will want to be part of it in the Warkworth Gamefish Club Inc. 2016 – wouldn’t it be great to have all Then there is the 9.040kg Snapper our 59 clubs involved? ◆ on 6kg by Alwin Haagner of the Big Overall, 661 fish were weighed and 490 tagged and released. All the sections are hotly contested and it is always hard when people ask: “Who won?”.
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Update from the Board
Welcome Napier Fishing Club & Ahipara Gamefish Club he Board met at 8.30 am on Saturday April 11th and, after the president welcomed everyone, got stuck straight into basic matters like when membership fees are due and how those who would like to join us can do so. 30 ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz
Council’s year runs from 1st July to 30th June each year, and fees are due by the end of December. It was agreed there would be some criteria put in place to cover those who hadn’t paid by the end of December and agreed that un-financial members aren’t entitled to reciprocal rights from other clubs.
To join the Council, it is as simple as contacting the secretary at secretary@ nzsportfishing.org.nz, who will send out the criteria and an application form.
be arranged. While gamefish tags are to continue to be sold to clubs’ at cost, it was agreed that for non-members they will be double the price.
Moving on, we officially acknowledged our two newest clubs – Napier Fishing Club and Ahipara Gamefish Club, which joined on the 22nd & 27th of January respectively. Wayne Bicknell was presented with an engraved plaque, signifying the Napier Fishing Club is now a member. Wayne, while a delegate for the club, was present as the Zone 5 substitute.
Reports were given on Fisheries Management and LegaSea, and you can read about what they are up to in other parts of the magazine. LegaSea has been commissioned by the NZ Marine Research Foundation to find funding for the ‘Economic Value of Recreational Fishing’ which is seen to be one of the biggest things ever to be done.
Discussion was held on unincorporated clubs, noting they have input into the Council up to Zone level only and can only attend our AGM if invited.
Our member benefit schemes were discussed, and we encourage everyone to take up a PL Fuel Card and to take insurance with Club Marine. We will be starting to look for advertisers soon for the 2016 yearbook, which is due out in November – with the plan to have the yearbook online when the new website is up and running.
Next up was the business plan, which you can read about elsewhere in this mag. As well as this Ezine, the Comms Subcommittee has produced a DLE that has been well received, so it was agreed a further 10,000 will be printed; some the same, and others will be updated. It was also agreed that the Council needs to update their website, and this will be given priority over an APP, so watch this space. Bob agreed to write a report for the AGM, which will be a follow-up on the BBG report.
The Fishing Subcommittee reported on their meeting the previous day and have a few recommendations for the AGM. They agreed to a new section in the ‘Nationals’ being a Line Weight Section for Tagged fish.
Finally, a subcommittee was set up to find a replacement for Roz, as she will be Another meeting is still planned with MPI leaving at the end of July. The meeting in the near future, but the date is still to closed at 3.18 pm ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 31
LegaSea Update 32
Opportunity Lost in Crayfish Review
There are two outcomes from the recent crayfish management review process; both are bad news for non-commercial interests. Firstly, the Minister followed industry advice to maintain or increase commercial catch limits, and secondly that under the
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current regime we are unlikely to see a rebuild of crayfish numbers along our coastline any time soon. Amongst the 51 submissions sent to the Ministry for Primary Industries in February this year were heartfelt letters from people concerned about the depletion of crayfish in their local area.
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT PAYING OFF Originally the concession was established to allow the Increasingly people are highlighting commercial harvest of immature the numbers of commercial craypots crayfish for bottling. Times have encircling local headlands and islands where recreational divers used to target changed; the bottling is over, and we now understand more about crayfish. Stories of success have been the value to the ecosystem of replaced by sighs of despair for many maintaining a broad range of age local fishers. classes of all marine creatures, If crayfish stocks are this bad now what including our precious crayfish. are they going to be like in five, 10 or 15 years time when our kids are old enough Nathan Guy is well aware of our objections to the ongoing use of to forage for that special occasion? concessions in three stocks, in Otago, Five stocks between Northland and Gisborne, and Southland. Southland were reviewed this year. If there are not enough legal sized Commercial catch increases were crayfish in any of these areas to provide proposed for two stocks and decreases for a viable commercial stock, then there for another two stocks. isn’t a fishery! On March 19 Nathan Guy, the Minister, announced no decreases would apply, and the commercial LEGASEA WANTS ACTION catch limit in the Otago region would LegaSea supports the Council’s be increased by 48%. submission calling for a reduction in the This decision, in particular, has created a wave of objections because the concession enabling the commercial harvest of undersized crayfish remains in place. In February, the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council submitted it would be unreasonable for the Minister to increase the Otago commercial catch limit while the concession exists.
exploitation rate in depleted stocks. This means we have to stop taking so many crayfish out of the water. This may require a hefty reduction in commercial catch rates. It may also mean reducing the recreational allowance, but while the concessions remain, and conflict exists the opportunity for finding an agreed solution is slowing drifting away. ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 33
Portrait of a Patron
The Adventures of Jill Grey
Jill Grey’s story begins, in a way, in probably the best book every written on gamefishing in New Zealand.
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love fishing; anything to do with fishing – even reading any, if not all, books written on New Zealand saltwater fishing. I was once given what I now know to be the best book ever written on game fishing in NZ; the book is called “Fighting Fins” written by Neil Illingworth and first published in 1961 (it’s older than me). The book has all the history, anecdotes and more. It was through this book that I learned of the early history of the clubs that formed the New Zealand Big Game Fishing Council (now known as The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council); the fish that made the then kiwi male go out and try to catch one of those big ones, and the ones that got away too.
would listen, trying to glean a little local knowledge; these actions did not go unnoticed and at times we would chat, just passing the time, yet fish and fishing would often be the theme of more decent discussions. A personal highlight for me during the 2014 Tauranga Sportfishing Club’s Onebase was when I got to work with Jill Grey on the morning shift in the radio room. Once it started, it was amazing to hear Jill’s knowledge flow forth, from knowing all the boats skippers to boat history and the best catches from seasons past.
Bob Grey is one of the founders of the sport in Tauranga. The book details a story from his time as the skipper of ‘Rarangi’ about his daughter Jill catching a daytime broadbill off ‘Herbie’s hole’:
We got to talking about old local place names, and all of a sudden I had my big chart out and was watching her hand glide over the chart, pointing out reefs and other structures not shown. It was a true learning experience. Jill showed me what lines she used to fish and why, local currents and seasonal variances…
I first met charter boat skipper Jill Grey in the 1995-1996 game season when I fished the then Tauranga Game Fish Clubs Onebase. She was ‘a someone’ I had read about. At subsequent Onebases, I watched Jill weigh in gamefish and bring the fishing party’s into the club for a chat and a drink. I
The notes I took will be cherished, and one day I will fish them with one of her hand-crafted local lures that she gave me. Jill assured me will catch the big one (one tip that she gave me was if you want to avoid the mako, don’t run their favourite lure. In Jill’s words: “Makos love purple and black 5.5 Zukers.”). www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 35
JILL’S STORY My first gamefish was a mako shark caught when the family were fishing for table fish. We had drifted the bait out on a balloon away from the small fishing hole we were anchored off, off the hole in the wall corner. All hell let loose when it struck; it put up a great fight with some amazing leaps clear of the water. It weighed in at 390 pounds in SE Bay. I have a great respect for this species – one of the most intelligent of the shark species, they have been known to land in the cockpit of some boats. JILL GREY – AUTOBIOGRAPHY 2014 Introduction: Jill Grey was one of three women in the fishing charter business in the early seventies and is an accomplished skipper and angler with over 50 years of contributing to the fishing industry and game fishing club. She has assisted many anglers achieve success and has accumulated a wealth of knowledge, experience and trophies herself. History: I first went to Mayor Island at age eight, and I am still going there. We contracted to the Ministry of Works to take men and machinery (batteries) to service marine beacons at Mayor Motiti Islands from the late 1960’s with my father, and later myself until solar 36 ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz
power was installed in 1988. We visited every 12 weeks and were on-call if the lights went out in the winter months. We worked in with the Game Club and would take stores to the island, as we needed to use the club tractor and dinghy to get 16 batteries in large boxes up to the battery box. The Motiti lights only had seven batteries, and we worked in with the August family, using their tractor and trailer, which took an hour each way. Neil Mockett would do extra work for the club while we were there – one time we lifted the fresh water pump for servicing. In the 1970’s, I skippered the family boat ‘Rarangi’ before and after father’s death in 1975, until 1978. Later I skippered ‘Sabra’, ‘Maui’, Tia Marino’, ‘Sierra’ (1987/88) and ‘Dolphin 5’, Albatross (1990). Most recently I skippered ‘M.G.Sportfisher’ from 1992 until 2011. We made fishing lures, and we purchased a lure business from Leith Toner, after helping polish the lures. Many fish have been caught on our own lures. I have been a member of the club committee from 1975 to 1991, including President for three years from 1983 to 1986; Life Member, Honorary Life Member and now Patron.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: SKIPPER FOR MANY ANGLER RECORDS;
1981-82 Season world record striped marlin – Lord Norrie Gold Cup for Bruce Jenkenson – 206.50kg on Maui. 1985 Team with most points for marlin – Nationals Tournament – Air NZ Trophy – Maui. Team Maui were also runners up the year before with just 48 points behind the top team. 1986
Heaviest black marlin 315.25 for Laurie Hunt on Maui.
1986
Heaviest kingfish 27kg (skipper).
1988 Most Marlin – Deluxa Trophy equal - ‘Sierra’ Jill Gray skipper / ‘Sabra’ John Appleton. 1990
Most Marlin – Deluxa Trophy – ‘Albatross.’
1991-2011 S kippered a team in every TSFC One Base tournament on board either Maui or MG Sportfisher. 1994
Heaviest Billfish – MG Sportfisher.
1994
Most billfish tagged & released (3) MG Sportfisher.
1995
Most billfish tagged & released (4) MG Sportfisher.
1995 Three marlin in one day! Skipper for 1 marlin caught (John Disher) and 2 tagged & released Hector Egan/Buss Clothia. 2000-2001 Most Marlin – Deluxa Trophy MG Sportfisher. 2001-2002 Most Billfish T&R MG Sportfisher. 2005 T&R Three marlin in one day – Trevor Eason x 2, Tony Easton x 1, 2005 T&R a double strike Brett & Mark Flavell and 1 caught a shortbill spearfish Tony Easton in one day during One Base tournament. 2011
NZ Record bass 71.70kg – Jill Gray (10th September).
I caught a marlin for each year I was Club President in the eighties. My first was the largest and is still on the club’s record board. In 1984, Ladies heaviest striped marlin 154kg, 1985 Deluxa Trophy for most marlin x 5 onboard Maui, 1987 Deluxa Trophy for most billfish x 5 onboard Sierra. STORY - MAN OVERBOARD One angler went overboard from Maui while playing a Kingfish in the bait pond. We had a Marlin carcass hanging at the back of the boat from the day before, for burley. He was able to grab that and was
pulled back on board and still held on to the fishing rod. He landed the Kingfish. Off the Maori Chief, another time on Dolphin 5, we hooked into a Kingfish while we were anchored and it managed to get round some kelp. So we launched the dinghy and tried to free the fish. I said if this breaks, we will end up in the water. Next minute we were in the water. The angler held onto the rod, and I looked after the oars, and we managed to get the dinghy full of water back to the boat. That’s how I got the wooden spoon award that year. ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 37
Calling fishing a hobby is like calling brain surgery a job.� Paul Schullery
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