Hooked Up – Issue 4

HOOKED up ISSUE 4 2015

Are We in for a Big Fish Season?

Simrad Nationals Fisheries Management Update Hiwi the Kiwi Circle Hooks www.nzsportfishing.co.nz

New Zealand Sport Fishing Council is the one of the longest serving incorporated organisation representing recreational anglers.

The NZSFC was formed around the IGFA fishing rules and ethics so that a consistent standard could be set when comparing catches.

The NZSFC offers additional records classes for New Zealand 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 Executive Profile: Bob Gutsell......................6 Executive Profile: Peter Campbell................8 Review of the Fisheries Act............................10

EDITOR / Bob Gutsell GROUP EDITOR / Colin Kennedy ART

Executive Officer Quarterly Report..............12

DIRECTOR / Jodi Olsson

Are We in for a Big Fish Season?.....................16

Phone Bob on 021 750 562 or email bob_gutsell@yahoo.com

Legasea Update............................................20

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES /

Fishing Committee Roundup......................22 Hiwi The Kiwi Update..................................25

CONTENT ENQUIRIES /

Phone Jennifer Liew on 09 522 7257 or email jenniferl@espiremedia.com ADDRESS / NZ Fisher, C/- Espire Media, PO Box 137162,

Fisheries Research.......................................26

Parnell, Auckland 1151, NZ

Fisheries Management Update....................28

www.NZsportfishing.co.nz

Simrad Nationals.........................................30 Trekker and Lazer Sharp(R) Non-Offset Circle Hooks by Eagle Claw...........................34 Sport Fishing in 2016 .............................36

WEBSITE /

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!

RICHARD LIEW

Measure Section for the 2016 Managing Director

021 123 456

www.espiremedia.com richardl@espiremedia.com

Simrad Nationals.........................................40 Simrad® Sponsors Nationals, Seeks NZ Ambassadors.........................................44

www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 3

EDITORIAL ear members and supporters, The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council Board has held its first ‘postAGM’ Board Meeting in November. I am delighted by the passion and degree of engagement that all of the people on this Board bring to the tasks ahead of us.

Our Vice Presidents, Bob Gutsell and Peter Campbell, are well known and bring invaluable commercial skillsets to the table, not to mention their quite useful angling skills. I warmly welcome Lewis Avernell representing Zone Six and the return of Wayne Bicknell representing Zone Five. We have again co-opted Richard Baker and Scott Macindoe onto our Board. Their unconditional commitment and high work rate is much appreciated.

Our subcommittees have all been filled.

This is where much of the heavy lifting happens in this Council. We are very pleased to have our Patron and member of some 57 years, John Chibnall, still keen to be a member of our Governance subcommittee. We can rely on John to keep us clear about the need to stay faithful to our constitution. Following are the members of each of these subcommittees. I encourage all members to put any questions or suggestions you might have to these people:

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1. Fishing Mark Hemingway (Chair), Phil Appleyard, Bob Gutsell, Warren Harris, Paul Batten, Mark Connor, Pete Saul and Dave Lockwood 2. Fisheries Management Peter Campbell (Chair), Wayne Bicknell, Mark Connor, Scott Macindoe, Lewis Avenell, Richard Baker 3. Governance Bob Gutsell (Chair), Kelvin Mowat, Deryk Nielsen and John Chibnall 4. Finance P Campbell (Chair), Kelvin Mowat, Deryk Nielsen and Dave Lockwood 5. Communications Bob Gutsell (Chair), Kelvin Mowat, Paul Batten, S Macindoe, Richard Baker and Dave Lockwood 6. Member Benefits Phil Appleyard (Chair), Deryk Nielsen, Wayne Bicknell, Ed Beetham and Dave Lockwood 7. Hiwi the Kiwi P Appleyard (Chair), K Mowat, Lewis Avenell, P Campbell, Richard Baker, Evan Mackay and Dave Lockwood Our Executive Officer, Dave Lockwood, brings a solid track record of generating valuable member services and benefits along with good understanding of what is required for developing successful grant applications. Working alongside our various subcommittees, I expect to see Dave deliver powerful applications and presentations to help fund the

relevant and important education, research and advocacy initiatives our Council has embraced.

I would like to thank all those clubs and members who have contributed to help fund the vital economic research project that the Marine Research Foundation Planning is well underway for the 2016 has initiated. Fundraising has been Simrad Nationals. In 2015, 1,787 tough. At the AGM, your delegates voted people once again experienced the unanimously to advance approximately joy of competing as teams, clubs and three years funding to ensure all bills individuals for the joy and respect of being are paid on time ($100,000). Please, if a top angler in New Zealand. The Simrad you have not already done so, consider sponsorship has gone from strength making a donation. It’s very easy and fully to strength with the 2017 Nationals tax deductible. You can donate here and presenting some super opportunities for help make this essential and long overdue lucky anglers to secure some useful prizes research get the big push it needs to ensure for being part of the fun. fisheries managers understand how much we contribute to the economy, and what Where else on the planet can we fish for incredible potential there is to build on eight days straight, nationwide, targeting heaps of species with the splendid facilities this economy with rebuilt abundance. that our affiliated clubs make so welcoming All the best for a safe and fun-filled summer. to all participating anglers. Please, mark up the dates in your diaries now, put a team together and celebrate this remarkable President event in the spirit our founders intended.

New Zealand Sport Fishing Council Inc The fellowship and friendships nurtured by Mobile: 027 273 0500 www.nzsportfishing.co.nz this event are cherished.

Phil Appleyard

www.nzsportfishing.co.nz â—† 5

EXECUTIVE PROFILE

Bob

Gutsell

Vice President, 6. Chair of Communications and Governance Sub committees ’m delighted and honoured to have the opportunity to serve the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council in the role of Vice President. My objectives for this role are to: • Continue reconnecting the council with its affiliated member clubs through improved communications channels and strategies • Raise the profile and increase focus of our fishing activities to actively promote sport (not sports) fishing for sustenance, a pastime, recreation and/or a competitive sport for New Zealanders • Move the board planning horizon from the here and now to a future focus to proactively meet the needs of our members clubs and help them grow 6 ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz

My earliest ‘memory’ of fishing is a photo my mother has of me on the Raglan Wharf holding a specimen of the ubiquitous yellow mullet.

Aside from that photo I have no memory of the occasion nor where my passion for fishing came from, as neither of my parents were particularly keen, and the closest thing we had to a boat was a six-foot dinghy that dad had made for us.

My early childhood fishing was restricted to wharf fishing trips during family holidays, and my mid-teen experiences were not much more than beach fishing and trips on the Tawa and other day boats from Whangamata and Tauranga. During my late teens in the late 80’s, I hooked up with a group of guys that were doing charters with Rick Pollock from Whakatane and so began my interest in sport fishing.

Coinciding with the release of Sam Mossman’s first book Serious about Sport Fishing, a mate and I bought shares in a 12-foot dinghy that got dragged from Doubtless to Waihau bays and all points in between. We caught everything from snapper to kingfish and the occasional skippie from that and successive 12 footers.

Plenty of time was spent trolling marlin lures. To be honest, neither of us had a clue what we would have done had we hooked up! We also joined the NZ Land-Based Game Fishing Club and attended numerous rock fishing activities culminating with fishing the inaugural NZLBGC annual tournament at Waihau Bay. The group of guys I fished with on Pursuit were all members of the Hamilton Anglers Club which was freshwater fishing focussed. It was during one of our early trips to White Island that we decided we’d form a Hamilton-based Sport fishing club. A newspaper advert looking for expressions of interest and an inaugural meeting held at the Red Cross Hall in Hamilton drew an initial gathering of something like 200 keen bods, and so the Waikato Saltwater Sport fishing Club was formed.

My career took me to Los Angeles for four years from 2000, and I took the opportunity to fish long range into and beyond Mexican waters as far south as

Panama in search of my favourite sport fish, the yellowfin tuna.

Upon my return to Hamilton in 2006, I was deeply immersed in studying for an MBA, and when that was completed in 2008, I decided to get back involved with the Waikato Sport Fishing Club and lend a hand.

I turned up to the AGM, and NOBODY wanted to be president, long story short I took the job and held it for six years before stepping aside for work commitments in 2014. During that time, we grew membership by almost a 100 members, and also grew our sponsorship to support the two new tournaments we launched, and put money in our bank account.

I also took on the role of NZSFC Club Delegate in 2009 and briefly joined the NZSFC board before stepping away for a period and re-joining in 2013. My mission has been to enhance Board performance through a greater focus on business planning and enhancing the connection between the NZSFC and its affiliated clubs to establish a stronger platform for growing the Council.

These areas continue to be my main focus since taking on the role of Vice President and have been supplemented by joining the fishing committee as I’d like to see the Council more actively promoting fishing activities. Promoting fishing activities is a core business that I believe is key for our growth.◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 7

EXECUTIVE PROFILE

Peter

Campbell

Vice-President, Chair Finance and Fisheries Management committees, Director of LegaSea

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s a child, I had the occasional fishing trip with my father but it was my venture into diving in 1971 that really connected me with the sea.

Throughout the 1970’s there were many trips to Mayor Island and what was then the Tauranga Big Game Fishing Club, which was based in Southeast Bay. We spent many hours spearing kingfish at the Tuhua Reef, Mayor Island, where 30kgs+ were commonplace.

My interest in game fishing started one afternoon after we had maximised our diving time.

We went trolling around the reef with a small rapalla lure trying to entice a kingfish, but instead caught a yellowfin tuna that went 37kgs back at the weigh station.

After owning two trailer boats, I moved up to a 34 Vindex which served us very well for 13 years and game fishing became my passion.

I became a committee member of the Tauranga club in 1995 and was immediately given the task of contest organiser and presenter. In 1999, I was elected president and held this position for three years.

It was in 1995 that I went to the New Zealand Big Game Fishing council’s AGM and thus started my interest in recreational fishing rights. I have been a zone delegate and committee member since 2000.

My goal is to achieve better recreational fishing rights. To achieve this, the council must continue to submit well informed and robust submissions as fish stocks are reviewed by MPI under the Quota Management System, and to engage both publicly and with MPI where possible.

The Kahawai Legal Challenge was a step in the right directional, and it certainly made the Government aware that the Council has serious concerns about the inshore fishery around New Zealand.

The completion of the current research by the New Zealand Marine Research Foundation to establish what recreational fishing is worth to the New Zealand economy is eagerly awaited and is due out in the New Year. The results may well change how the Government views recreational fishing, and early indications are that it will deliver enough information to enhance the recreational fisher’s right to better access to the fishery. ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 9

STOP PRESS

REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES ACT The Sport Fishing Council submits for restored abundance

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n 14 December 2015 a submission supporting the review of New Zealand’s fisheries management system was jointly made by the NZ Sport Fishing Council, the NZ Angling and Casting Association and LegaSea supporters. The objective is to find solutions to ongoing issues, because ultimately we need to improve the ecological and economic outcomes from our fisheries.

View the submission here.

Creating an inshore zone free from most commercial fishing is one solution to resolving the failings of the Quota Management System. After 30 years many of inshore our fisheries are still not providing for the public’s interests and wellbeing. Increasing the abundance and productivity of inshore fisheries will generate far greater value for New Zealand, through higher catchability and increased recreational fishing opportunities.

Over time commercial interests have successfully capped research spending and increased the confidentiality around catch data. There must be more transparency in management because

the public has a right to know how its marine resources are being exploited. In Iceland all commercial landings and sale prices are posted online daily for public viewing. In New Zealand the low export value derived from fishing is embarrassing.

If we truly want to future-proof our fisheries management then legislative amendments are required to enable the fisheries Minister to make precautionary decisions, so smaller catch limits can be set without the threat of compensation claims from commercial users of the fishery.

The Ministry’s policy team will be collating all submissions and reporting to the Minister in early 2016. A formal consultation process is expected midyear when the joint submitters expect to have more input.

This submission is made possible thanks to the levies of affiliated club members as well as the growing number of LegaSea Legends and contributions from unaffiliated clubs. Together we can and will achieve restored abundance for future generations. ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 11

EXECUTIVE OFFICER QUARTERLY REPORT

NZ SPORT FISHING COUNCIL November 2015

By Dave Lockwood, Executive Officer, New Zealand Sport Fishing Council

On a positive note, we welcome to the Council the Marsden Cove Sports It has been a rather mixed year for the Fishing Club. They recently joined Council that has seen an overall drop the Council in July 2015. Based at in our membership by 800 members. the Marsden Point Marina, this club Three clubs have resigned from the of 170 members is a valued new Council, Hawkes Bay SFC, Tokoroa SFC member of the Sport Fishing Council, and Prospect FC. Hawkes Bay SFC have and we look forward to having them been a member of the Council since aboard. It is also heartening to see 1971. In recent years, they have had some financial hurdles to overcome and a number of our clubs sustaining a growth in their membership. Those have decided to stand down from the clubs that have seen considerable Council until such time that they can re-commit when their finances improve. increases in their membership include Ahipara SFC, Whangarei Deep Sea It is heartening to hear that they are committed to rejoining in the near future. Anglers and Tairua-Pauanui SFC.

CLUB MEMBERSHIP

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YEARBOOK The Council yearbook is on target for a December distribution to all clubs. Once again we aim to provide a quality publication that provides our membership with an up-to-date guide to all things ‘sport fishing’. As an added bonus this year we will have an electronic copy attached on the Council website.

SPONSORSHIP AND FUNDING Simrad NZ has re-committed to naming rights sponsorship of the 2016 Nationals. To have such an iconic sponsor for our cornerstone event is significant to the ongoing success of our national tournament. Once again they will provide a daily prize for the eight-day event.

The Council has traditionally relied on member affiliation fees and LegaSea donations to fund the Council operational budget. It is important that we strive to find new income streams to support Council business. Over the last two months, I have made a number of applications for funding from an array of funding organisations.

We have been lucky enough to secure the following funding: • Maritime NZ Funding to develop a new ‘Tournament Health and Safety Plan.’

• Water Safety NZ Funding to deliver the ‘Hiwi the Kiwi Goes Fishing’ to South Auckland Primary Schools • Four further applications have been made for the following projects; -- Pub Charity Board Governance Training -- Four Winds Foundation Delivery of ‘Hiwi the Kiwi Goes Fishing’ to 10 Primary Schools -- Oxford Sport Trust Purchase of fish tags and cards -- Trillian Trust Purchase of fish tags and cards Should we receive full funding for the tags, we will be able to pass on the tags to the clubs at no cost. This will provide big cost savings to clubs. We would encourage clubs to provide the tags at no cost to their membership to encourage more tagging, or alternatively donate further funds to the NZ Marine Research Foundation. www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 13

2014/15 CATCH RETURNS In 2014/15 we have seen a considerable increase in our ‘Weighed and Tagged Fish’ numbers. Our weighed numbers have gone from 11,255 in 2013/14 to 11,993 in 2014/15, an increase of 738 Fish. More significantly tagged fish numbers have risen to 2,116 from 1,300 the year before. This amounts to a staggering 61 percent increase in tagged fish.

MEMBER BENEFITS ‘Go Fuel’ and ‘Club Marine’ are the two membership benefit schemes we are currently engaged in. At the recent AGM, the Council conducted a short survey to gauge the value of our two

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major benefit schemes. It came through that both schemes were valued by the membership, but that we need to work harder to expand the programmes into our membership. Feedback will be shared with our partners to help improve the services they provide to our membership.

We are currently in discussion with other organisations that can provide benefits to our membership. These include; • Coastguard Boating Education Discounted boating courses • Pulse Energy Discounted power bills • A vehicle partner that will provide discounted new vehicles or rebates to clubs ◆

NEW RECORD

Photo: Lance Pattullo

Pending NZ 8kg Line Class

RECORD SNAPPER Angler Neil Gorringe: Another quality Snapper caught in the shipping lane, Auckland harbour.

Weighing 14.75kg and caught on 8kg mono, this is a potential NZSFC record.

WEIGHMASTER ROUNDUP

Are We in for a Big Fish Season?

By Paul Batten

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was the month before Christmas and all through the clubs it was heard ‘what will the fishing season be like?’, ‘Will there be plenty for all or will it be a hard tap, tap, tapping season full of small ones?

Most believe it will be a stronger than normal El-Nino season, some say it will be on par with the strong El-Niño season of 97/98, who can remember back that far then? Well, just as well I kept my NZ Sportfishing yearbooks year by year so let’s reminisce.

The first marlin for this season was caught on 14/12/1997 and tagged out of the Bay of Islands with the first weighed on 27/12/1997. There were 1,412 striped marlin recorded for the year with 869 of them tagged and released. There were also 11 black marlin and 81 blue marlin recorded and 1,268 yellowfin tuna recorded (this may prove to be the exception here as with cooler water the yellowfin may not get this far, unlike last season where we had an upsurge recording 198).

The winner of the Peter and Noeline Short trophy for the most tagged billfish for the season was Mr C. Reed, who tagged nine billfish for the BOISC. The heaviest gamefish for the season went to T. Harding with his blue marlin, a grander weighing in at 456.8kg, caught up near the north cape for the BOISC, the heaviest striped marlin winning the Lord Norrie Gold Cup weighed in at 172.50kg for the Whangarei Deep Sea Anglers Club.

So how do we equate this historic information into game fishing 2015/2016?

Trends and patterns, the large blue marlin, was caught on a not so live, live bait. With the cooler El-Nino waters, the smaller fish will not tolerate the temperatures as well, so bigger of most species will be more prolific than the smaller ones. With bigger fish being able to tolerate the cooler waters, trolling bigger live baits may well be the answer with the possibility of records being caught. www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 17

With the number of competitions on the coast, it will be hard to pick which ones will be rained out, which ones will produce the big fish and which ones will produce the big recordbreaking trophy fish.

were, just in time for March’s big two cash prize events; both to be fished over the same dates March 9th to 12th.

‘The Zane Grey Caribbean Boats International Tournament’ will be fished out of the Bay of Islands February will start with what I believe is Swordfish Club and is offering a the biggest ladies fishing competition $50,000 cash prize for the heaviest in NZ, let alone Australasia, the billfish weighed. This is where that big ‘Whangamata Nauti Girls’ where a blue or big black will win the dollars. possible 800 plus fishing mad anglers At the same time there will be will be out fishing over Waitangi $20,000 up for grabs at the 22nd weekend. The NZSFC Nationals will Houhora Onebase for the heaviest pave the way in later February with striped marlin, and with the El-Nino points and trophies up for grabs. Line weather and predominant westerlies, classes are the option here; the lighter the good weather window may not the line the more points. allow those who fish from the west We had 1,278 anglers fishing from coast much of an option therefore 353 teams in the 1998 Nationals, it is highly possible that the biggest with Whangaroa and Tutukaka striped marlin may come from the (Whangarei) and Counties fighting out east coast. the billfish sections coming 1st, 2nd As for the snapper fishing, reports and 3rd respectively. are coming in of good workups in Will the westerlies give the Westies the Hauraki Gulf. Past president and a window to fish in? There may be new NZSFC life member Richard fewer small striped marlin about than Baker had a great day out recently. “A normal, but better numbers of bigger personal best” in his words. Fishing ones! Big blues will be out wide where out at Great Barrier Island over the the big westerlies blow, the more weekend of November 8th, he caught tropical speedsters may not turn up. this fine snapper weighing 10.34kg Good hunting to those who take the that he caught on 4kg line; not quite opportunities as they present themselves. a NZ record but none-the-less worth 258.5 points had it been caught in The fishing over the eight days should showcase where the big fish are, or the 2016 NZSFC nationals.◆ 18 ◆ 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 ◆ 19

LEGASEA UPDATE

BUSTING THE MYTH

of ‘unknown recreational catch’

n 2015 we have a better understanding and more data than ever on recreational harvest nationwide, particularly about catches from the Hauraki Gulf. In November 2014 the Ministry for Primary Industries published a report detailing national and regional catch, by average weight per species and percentages of landed catch bags.

This report has been useful in busting the myth of ‘unknown recreational catch’.

Science providers have told us they have better data on recreational harvest 20 ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz

than any other sector because there are uncertain levels of customary harvest, commercial discards and poaching.

The national survey is the most comprehensive study of recreational harvest undertaken in New Zealand. A concurrent boat ramp survey provided data on the average weight of many of the common species.

For snapper on the northeast coast of the North Island, in SNA1, the average weight of fish kept was 1.03kg. The total recreational harvest of snapper in SNA1, during 2011-12, was estimated to be just under 3,800 tonnes.

These survey results were used in the 2013 SNA1 management review, which led to changes in the minimum size limit (27 to 30cm) and lower bag limit (9 to 7) for recreational fishers. In his 2013 decision, the Minister increased the overall recreational allowance by 500 tonnes, to 3050 t.

It seems that 2010-11 and 201112 were very good years for snapper catch in the Hauraki Gulf, where most snapper fishing occurs.

Ongoing NIWA surveys show total recreational harvest has declined in all three sub-areas of SNA1, probably due to fish movement and a lack of fish in close since 2011-12. Estimated catch has declined around 18% in East Northland, more than 50% in the Hauraki Gulf and around 47% in the Bay of Plenty.

These declines are occurring in the same sub-areas where commercial fishers report too many snapper are getting in their way of catching other species, particularly in the Hauraki Gulf.

Comparing trawl catch with rod and

reel fishing is clearly a waste of time, especially when the commercial minimum size limit remains at 25cm and a 30cm MLS applies to recreational snapper catch.

WHAT NEXT? The next Panel survey is due in 201617, but that depends on the Minister allocating sufficient funds.

LegaSea wants Nathan Guy to see the value in repeating the survey to validate current results because recreational fishing is important.

Recreational fishing contributes to our social and cultural wellbeing, and supports a vast range of industries. And for many of us, fishing to feed our family and friends defines who we are and what it means to be a Kiwi. â—†

CALL US 0800 LEGASEA or EMAIL US pieter@legasea.co.nz

www.nzsportfishing.co.nz â—† 21

FISHING COMMITTEE ROUNDUP

CIRCLE HOOKS

for Billfish, tag pole length and kingfish policy

SIMRAD NATIONALS The NZSFC Nationals Committee are pleased to announce that Simrad has once again generously come on board with the NZSFC Nationals as the major sponsor for 2016.

In recognition, the NZSFC Nationals Committee encourage all participating clubs or catch reporting headquarters to name their bases the ‘Simrad Nationals Base’ for the duration of the tournament; this ensures deserved reward for the on-going generosity and support Simrad have given to NZSFC members.

With more than 1,600 sportfishing 22 ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz

anglers representing around 60 clubs nationwide, competing for 13 species sections, New Zealand Champion Angler and Line Class Sections and Inter-Zone and Interclub rivalries, the Simrad Nationals is by far New Zealand’s largest recreational fishing tournament.

The dates are set for 20th to 27th February 2016, be sure to look out for entry forms in your club rooms or newsletters.

All information in regards to the Simrad Nationals can be found on the NZSFC website or speak to one of your NZSFC club delegates.

NON-OFFSET CIRCLE HOOKS For many years, it has been an accepted practise for New Zealand sport fishermen to use whatever hook they deemed necessary when it came to live or dead bait fishing for billfish. However, a hot topic for discussion at the recent NZSFC AGM, held in Christchurch, has completely changed this.

Many US-based tournaments are now fished exclusively with nonoffset circle hooks with outstanding success. Experience the thrill of releasing a live, healthy billfish to fight another day! Catch-andrelease fishing has become a widely used conservation tool for these magnificent creatures. Learning how to release your billfish healthy and unharmed helps to ensure that recreational billfishing can continue for generations to come.

The now newly introduced rule of mandatory use of ‘Non-Offset Circle Hooks’ when bait fishing for billfish during The NZSFC Board are currently the up-coming 2016 Simrad Nationals compiling a list of non-offset circle will no doubt cast different views of hooks readily available from most opinion amongst competing anglers. tackle stores that comply with the new NZSFC club delegates felt that for 2016 Simrad Nationals rule. a catch-and-release fishery to be successful in helping to conserve a TAG POLE LENGTH fish, it is important that anglers do all that is possible to minimise postAnother HOT topic for discussion release mortality. at this year’s NZSFC AGM was tag Studies have shown that the use of non-offset circle hooks with natural baits in place of the more traditional J-hooks can dramatically increase a fish’s chance of survival.

For years, the Billfish Foundation (an American established organisation founded in 1986 with a mission of conserving billfish worldwide) has been promoting the sole use of nonoffset circle hooks as a means of fishing responsibly.

pole length.

It was decided by the delegates present to accept the motion to reduce the maximum tag pole length from 3.6576m (12ft) to the same of that as a maximum gaff length of 2.44m (8ft). It is felt this bring uniformity to the two measurements and enables anglers to then use the length of an 8ft tag pole to better estimate the weight (90kg) of striped marlin as they are being tagged. www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 23

REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL ANGLING RULES AND REGULATIONS The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) has indicated to the NZSFC Board that there will be a gathering of interested countries to review the International Angling Rules and Regulations sometime in 2016.

NZSFC has long lobbied IGFA for a change to some of the rules to better 24 â—† www.nzsportfishing.co.nz

reflect modern-day fishing methods being adopted worldwide, in particular the introduction of braid top shotting or backing.

NZSFC are looking forward to working alongside other countries in helping develop fair and practical modifications to the International Angling Rules and Regulations that enable these modern methods to be better catered for.

Watch this space! â—†

HIWI THE KIWI UPDATE

Great 2015 Ends as Good Start to 2016 Looms

Hiwi G

oes Fi

shing

Hiwi th e And fo Kiwi went fi sh o He cau d for his fam ing for fun ily and ght a s everyo n That fi apper ne sh o The sn was so sma n his fishing ll Hiwi apper ro th said “H In fact ought d iw I’ “ Think m too tiny to i, not big big It ’s a cod” of c I’m wee Please my mummy ook wee if Hiwi le t me off I’m in your tu mmy the ho ok”

he Hiwi the Kiwi Programme is winding down for the year with just 11 schools to go. We will hit our 1000th school sometime in March, and bookings are great for the first term 2016.

the cause as these people have introduced the programme to the Sea Week organisation, which promotes all things to do with the sea to schools throughout New Zealand.

I have given them a draft copy of the words to the song and they are delighted. It has already helped

The introduction of the new material will not impact at all on the content around sustainability and water safety.◆

Sea Week happens in the first term every year and they are in discussions Southern Seabirds and Forest and Bird have paid me to introduce a song with schools in South Auckland and five minute blurb about protecting (possible subsidies) to have our show visit during Sea Week 2016. seabirds when fishing, into the show.

www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 25

FISHERIES RESEARCH

STRIPED MARLIN: The only marine fish that is truly ours

By Jeff Romeril

heck the NZ Sports Fishing Council line weight records for striped marlin and all but two are also world records.

coming game fishing season and, in particular, striped marlin.

Makes you want to know more doesn’t it? Before I continue, let me pass on that results from the value of recreational fishing project are not far away. And by the time the next edition of this e-zine comes out, it will likely be well and truly aired by various media.

marlin spend their summers here, so anything we did to manage the species would at least give them some management before they departed to the high seas. However, we didn’t know for sure.

New Zealand is the home of the best striped marlin in the world. We are fortunate because of geography, What is it about the striped marlin that oceanography, climate and the early we catch here that gives us such a pioneers that fished here, keeping good distinctive and privileged position? The two records we don’t have are in the very records plus an active club structure that embraced and strived to protect light categories, and all the heavy line what we had. classes are all ours including the alltackle record of a 224.1 kg fish.

It was commonly thought that striped

We can review all this next edition, and perhaps speculate what it all means.

But for this edition let’s anticipate the 26 ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz

We have convinced the decision makers of the importance of the fish to recreational anglers and enjoyed a regulation that now that protects them

for any form of commercial capture. Any by-catch by commercial fishers must be returned to the sea dead or alive. The one exception is that a fish with a tag may be brought in for research purposes.

the water column even though they occasional dive to depths of plus 300m. So you’re not wasting your time trolling on the surface.

Marlin appear to navigate on sea floor structure, as lines of migration roughly This regulation of recreational-only catch followed ridge lines such as the Colville is exceptional and to date has not been Ridge. They would forage and rest in repeated on any other marine species; localised areas associated with the high so we felt we had to do more to ensure it likelihood of a food supply, and at other was maintained. times beeline it as quickly as they could, covering large distances in a day for The NZ Marine Research Foundation several days. was only in its infancy, but we spent huge resources in our quest to find out more on striped marlin. The greatest of these projects was the satellite tagging programme that spanned six years in three different phases from 2003-2009.

One fact that I found a little unusual was that, on average, each fish spent only four percent of its time in range of where we could catch them i.e. within 30nm of our coastline, although that The first two phases were exploratory and dramatically increased to 71 percent of the time of tracked information inside proof of concept that we could actually track striped marlin and their daily habits. NZ 200nm EEZ. Technology improved and by the third and These are only a sample of the final phase we had set some world firsts information gathered, but we are on in tracking marlin. I will leave it to the the right track. The Pacific Islands and scientist to dwell on the detail, but some open seas offer little in the way of interesting facts came to light. management (protection), so what we A total of 34 fish were tagged, and all but two responded in some manner.

Striped marlin obviously survived the tagging experience. Previous returns on conventional tags were only two percent, so that destroyed the line of thinking that Marlin didn’t handle the catch and release well.

Striped marlin spend 72 percent of their time in the top five metres of

do here is important.

The fish don’t spawn here but do grow and breed. The information gained is used in New Zealand management and international highly migratory species meetings. The more we know, the better we can advocate, and with it go our chances of adding to the many world records of striped marlin we have.◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 27

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT UPDATE

MPI PLANNING PUBLIC CONSULTATION IN 2016

By Peter Campbell

FISHERIES SYSTEM REVIEW

SNAPPER 1 MANAGEMENT PLAN

In late October, our fisheries team had a positive meeting with Ministry officials to discuss the fisheries system review. Comprehensive comments on a range of issues will be submitted by the 11 December deadline. MPI is planning a public consultation process next year, and that will be an opportunity to promote the NZSFC’s views and gather public support. Other organisations whose members have an interest in the marine environment will be given the opportunity to consider, endorse, or adopt our submission.

After two years work the last three ‘Snapper 1’ planning meetings have focused on what details need to be included in the plan. Our team is working on meaningful recommendations and actions to achieve a rebuilt fishery.

MPI will assist chair Sir Ian Barker to complete the plan after the last meeting on 26 November. Sir Ian will then submit the plan to Nathan Guy for his review. The Minister will decide the plan’s future, whether it goes out for public consultation or if there are any institutional or legislative changes required.

28 ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz

SNAPPER MORTALITY After several enquiries, a formal Official Information Act request has been submitted asking MPI for the raw data on snapper mortality in FMA1. We want to do our own analysis to validate Ministry and commercial interests’ claims that there is an average of 3.3 percent of undersize fish, by weight, for all methods combined.

supporting research and conservation of fish stocks important to our summer fisheries.

BLUE COD The Minister has announced a mixed bag of measures to manage the Marlborough Sounds Blue Cod fishery.

Many of these measures align with our joint submission sent to MPI in

Following several reports of dead fish slicks due to commercial fishing a second OIA application has been made requesting details.

June. The controversial ‘slot’ and

Given the importance of snapper and our Council’s investment, we need to better understand mortality rates in SNA1 and the quantities and species of fish reported as ‘accidental loss’.

are online at here.

GAMEFISH The Council and clubs provide excellent service for members, by purchasing and distributing gamefish tags, recording, and reporting catch details. Blue Water Marine Research has been working on an overview of the tagging results. This report will include all releases and recaptures since the tagging programme started in 1975, with some new graphics and highlights. NZ Fishing News will be featuring and promoting tagging in upcoming editions as a way of

‘transit’ rules have been abolished.

A new 33cm minimum legal size limit applies from 20th December. Details

HAWKE BAY Discussions amongst LegaSea Hawkes Bay, the Ministry and Area 2 commercial interests are ongoing. All parties have agreed on the objective of improving the recreational fishing experience in the Hawke Bay. No agreement has yet been reached on measures to achieve that outcome.

Meanwhile, Colin Murray and the Hawke’s Bay SFC will continue the boat ramp survey, monitoring recreational landings, for the 10th year. This survey is the longest time-series of recreational harvest in the Bay and represents a most valuable resource.◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 29

SIMRAD NATIONALS

NON-OFFSET CIRCLE HOOKS ONLY FOR NZSFC NATIONALS

The Billfish Foundation has endorsed (from left) Eagle Claw, Mustad Demon and Trokar branded non-offset circle hooks, and these have been adopted for the NZSFC’s Simrad Nationals.

n a move that aligns the NZ Sport Fishing Council with the rest of the world’s commitment to good conservation practices, only nonoffset circle hooks will be allowed when bait fishing for billfish during the upcoming Simrad Nationals.

non-offset circle hooks for billfish bait fishing during the Simrad Nationals, fished the third week in February each year, was passed at the meeting.

Before this, a motion banning all but

recreational brand).

President Phil Appleyard, a fishing tackle retailer, contacted all the hook distributors and IGFA and found only three were available in New At the recent NZSFC’s Christchurch AGM, Zealand with Billfish Foundation and subsequent IGFA endorsement.

Waihau Bay Club delegates asked the management team to investigate which They are: Eagle Claw (available for hooks available on the New Zealand commercial purposes), Mustad Demon market complied.

Ultra Point, and Trokar (Eagle Claw’s

30 ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz

A typical circle hook rig for billfish – in this instance a dead pitch bait as used by the crew on Arenui

The Black Magic Wasabi circle hooks meet the criteria, too, but have not been endorsed by the Billfish Foundation.

“The VMC and Owner hook [versions], not readily available in New Zealand, also pass muster,” Phil says.

aspect that ensures the hook point angle, length, gape, front length and all other parameters are the same throughout the entire range of sizes.

“The Demon hook also features a modified point design with an optimal Circle hooks are proven to greatly reduce 96-degree angle that ensures a high percentage of lip and jaw hook-ups,” the possibility of gut-hooking a fish. Gut John says. hooking severely reduces the survival chances of released fish. When fished Kilwell Sports imports Eagle Claw’s properly, circle hooks roll into the corner Trokar and Lazer Sharp range, and of a fish’s mouth. representative Tony Dunn says under John Elliott, speaking on behalf of New Zealand’s Mustad distributor Brittain Wynyard and Co Ltd, says the Demon circle hook was developed in consultation with fisheries experts, long-range charter skippers and the Billfish Foundation.

The Mustad brand features ‘precision proportions’, a revolutionary design

that brand there are several nonoffset hook options endorsed by the Billfish Foundation that comply with the new tournament regulations. He says the main feature of the Trokar hook is its penetration.

“The durability and strength of the Trokar’s Q741 wire and unparalleled tempering process is a backdrop to www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 31

Anglers targeting billfish in the NZSFC’s Simrad Nationals must use non-offset circle hooks when bait fishing.

its three-sided, surgically-precise and scalpel-sharp point.”

There are two hook-style options in the Trokar range, and two under the Lazer Sharp brand. Black Magic has had nonoffset Wasabi circle hooks for many years, and these have featured on their pre-rigged billfish traces. They are also available un-rigged.

All three hook distributors applaud the NZSFC’s move, which represents a positive outcome for billfish while not being punitive to recreational anglers.

“By setting a precedent with the Simrad Nationals, we are hoping the clubs will make the use of non-offset circle hooks a condition of their own tournaments,” Phil says.

Two of New Zealand’s prominent charter skippers, Geoff Lamond and 32 ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz

Tony Orton, wholeheartedly endorse the council’s move. They say the circle hooks are a ’win-win’ for the fish and the fishermen, and encourage anglers to use this style of hooks not only for billfish, but other species regularly targeted by recreational anglers.

“The move brings New Zealand sportfishing practices up to speed with the rest of the world,” Geoff says.

Tony uses only circle hooks in his day-today chartering operation, as his clients tend to release the majority of their fish.

“With the circles consistently hooking up in the corner of the fish’s mouth, it makes releasing them much safer for both the crew and the fish.”

Tony believes that when anglers use the right technique, hook-up rates improve over the old fashioned J-hook. ◆

Demon Perfect Circle Hook: The World’s Only Proportionally Correct Circle Hook Range Working closely with fisheries experts, charter and long range captains, Mustad® hook designers set out to create a new circle hook range that combines Mustad’s legendary strength with important new features to enhance performance. The new Demon® Perfect Circle Hooks are the only circle hooks with Precision Proportions™. This revolutionary design aspect means the point angle and length, gap, front length and all other parameters have the same proportions across the entire size range for maximum effectiveness. The range also boasts a new modified point design with a 96º angle which is optimum for insuring a high percentage of lip and jaw hooking.

ENDORSED BY THE BILLFISH FOUNDATION AND THE NZ SPORT FISHING COUNCIL* During the course of hook design development, representatives of The Billfish Foundation were kept apprised of hook design goals, testing and development progress. Upon review of the final design, the organization has endorsed the new in-line Demon Perfect Circle Hooks because they are conservation compatible. The Billfish Foundation (TBF) is the only non-profit organization dedicated solely to conserving and enhancing billfish populations around the world. TBF’s comprehensive network of members and supporters includes anglers, captains, mates, tournament directors, clubs and sportfishing businesses. By coordinating efforts and speaking with one voice, we are able to work for solutions that are good for billfish and not punitive to recreational anglers. * Using non-offset circle hooks, will be compulsory for live or dead baiting for Billfish in NZSFC SIMRAD nationals and most club competitions.

Endorsed by

TREKKERAND LAZER SHARP(R) NON-OFFSET CIRCLE HOOKS BY EAGLE CLAW

Hooks Meet and Exceed New Billfish Foundation/IGFA Recommendations

he 2016 SIMRAD NZSFC Nationals fishing tournament participants using live or dead bait will be limited to using only Billfish Foundation endorsed non-offset circle hooks. It will be mandatory for the 2016 NZSFC SIMRAD Nationals plus it is a ruling that most clubs will adopt for the current tournament season.

Gut hooking greatly reduces the chance of survival for fish that are to be released. Using large non-offset circle hooks will minimise gut hooking and 34 â—† www.nzsportfishing.co.nz

also reduce catching of undersize fish.

Eagle Claw offer several options of nonoffset circle hooks that are endorsed by the Billfish Foundation that comply with tournament regulations, under the Trokar and Lazer Sharp brands.

Trokar and Lazer Sharp tournament approved hooks are less likely to gut hook a fish compared to an offset design hook. The non-offset design of this hook style makes it perfect for live or dead bait and also trolling in a lure.

“

“

The penetrability of the Trokar hooks is downright unbelievable and fascinating to witness. Never has there been a hook that offers anglers such an advantage when hooking up with targeted species.

The penetrability of the Trokar hooks is downright unbelievable and fascinating to witness. Never has there been a hook that offers anglers such an advantage when hooking up with targeted species.

The durability and strength of the Trokar’s Q741 wire and unparalleled tempering process merely lay as a backdrop for its three-sided, surgically precise and scalpel sharp point.

The Lazer Sharp L2045 Circle Sea nonoffset big game hook is made from forged heavy gauge wire and has quickly become a favourite of Billfish anglers for its advanced strength and durability.

Available sizes; 18/0, 20/0

The Lazer Sharp L2004EL is a light wire, non-offset circle suitable for small gamefish. This model hook was first manufactured in 2006 and is the The Trokar TK619Hi Magnum Circle non- original non-offset circle hook that all others are based on. Accept no offset hook is aimed at those anglers substitutes! Available sizes; 1/0 to 10/0. looking for a beefier and more robust circle hook when using the heaviest gear Eagle Claw is committed to the on big game. conservation of fish species and is dedicated to working with those The Trokar TK4 Lancet Circle non-offset who share these beliefs. These new regulations will help the conservation hook is the perfect hook for smaller of Billfish and ensure their existence for game species from kahawai through to the smaller tuna species. Available sizes; future generations.

7/0, 8/0, 9/0. The Trokar hook is a must Trokar and Lazer Sharp hooks are made in the U.S.A. by Eagle Claw. ◆ have for any serious angler.

Available sizes; 10/0, 12/0.

For more information visit www.kilwell.co.nz www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 35

SPORT FISHING IN 2016

AN EL NINO YEAR

What does it mean for you?

e have been told to expect an unusually strong El Nino weather pattern this summer. El Nino conditions occur when sea surface temperatures (SST) in the eastern Pacific Ocean are higher than average. This year they are very warm.

In most El Nino years, sea surface temperatures around New Zealand are lower than average, although this does not always hold true. Science still has a fair bit to learn about the drivers and effects of El Nino.

What are the implications for the game fishing season? If you are a farmer as well as a fisher, you will know that drought is a very real possibility, especially on the east coast. Part of the reason for this is that westerly quarter winds will dominate. It is normal for El Nino to cause strong south-westerlies 36 â—† www.nzsportfishing.co.nz

in Spring and Autumn, with westerlies predominant in Summer. This might reduce fishing days on the west coast, but make it calmer and with less swell on the east coast. There is a sting in the tail for the east coasters, though.

Sea surface temperatures are likely to be down on the long-term average, and this has obvious implications for many of the visiting blue water species much anticipated by anglers.

Looking back at past El Nino events, there were strong ones in 1972/73, 1982/83, 1994/95 and 1997/98. A quick check of fishing success in those years might give us a clue as to what we can expect this summer.

There are a number of sources of useful information about game fish catches in New Zealand. These include the catch records of the New Zealand Sport

Figure 1: Striped marlin catch per boat day averaged over the whole season for core vessels in East Northland recreational fishery. Data from the Three Kings fishery is not included.

Fishing Council (NZSFC) itself, which show broad trends in catch numbers.

Since the late 1970’s we also have more detailed catch per unit of effort (CPUE) data from the striped marlin fishery off the north-east coast of the North Island.

This CPUE data takes into account the amount of fishing effort and expresses the catch in fish per day (or days per fish!) so that it provides a much better way of comparing how good fishing was in any particular year. For example, suppose that in two fishing seasons, the number of striped marlin caught was 1500 and 1900 respectively.

On the face of it the second year would seem to have been better for fishing.

However, CPUE figures might show

that the first year had a much higher catch rate when days fished per marlin were calculated. Factors like weather conditions might have reduced the number of days fished, but when boats were able to get out there, the fishing may have been very good.

Since 2006, the Billfish Logbook Scheme, funded by the Ministry for Primary Industries, has provided a whole new level of excellent data on billfish CPUE by recruiting voluntary skippers from all billfish areas to keep a record of their marlin fishing. A subset of this information can be added to the 30plus year time series of CPUE for East Northland billfish fishing days from charter vessels (Figure 1).

“

“

El Nino years have been good for yellowfin in the past, so perhaps we can anticipate another improvement in yellowfin abundance this summer.

Wouldn’t that be nice?

This shows trends in fishing success for striped before and after the billfish moratorium and regulations that made marlins non-commercial species in 1987/88.

So, what do the records show? Some El Nino years were below average for striped marlin catches. This may well be associated with lower SSTs, but in the last strong El Nino (1997-98) SSTs were not as low as expected in an El Nino year. Striped marlin catches were still well down that season.

The following year, however (199899) was a La Nina year and was an excellent year for striped marlin. On the other hand, a weak to moderate El Nino prevailed for a long period from about 1989 through until 1995.

Striped marlin catches were very low in 1991 and 1992, yet had risen steadily by 1995 to almost record levels. It seems that El Nino is not necessarily bad for striped marlin fishing.

One gleam of light over the last two seasons has been the slight resurgence in yellowfin tuna. A few 38 ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz

surprise (but very welcome) individuals in 2013-14 were followed by quite a few more in 2014-15, with a size distribution ranging from a few very large tuna to the almost normal sight of school yellowfin from 10 to 30kg.

El Nino years have been good for yellowfin in the past, so perhaps we can anticipate another improvement in yellowfin abundance this summer.

Wouldn’t that be nice?

The opposite of El Nino is La Nina. La Nina years are typified by constant easterly winds and warmer SST. In the past, they have often been associated with higher than average catches of striped marlin with a smaller average size. In other words, in warm years there may be more small marlin around.

On the down side, La Nina years may be uncomfortably rough much of the time on the east coast where most of the fishing effort takes place. There were strong ones in 1998/99, 2008/09, and 2011/12.

In conclusion, the past shows that SSTs

“

Perhaps other factors in the environment such as food abundance, changes in currents from year to year and fluctuations in the population of a fast-growing and relatively short-lived species, together with weather conditions, have more influence on fishing success than we give them credit for.

Sometimes as anglers we obsess over SST despite the fact that in May and June every year a small number of very keen anglers continue to encounter and catch striped marlin when nearly everyone else has given up, and the SST is as low as 15ºC – far below the accepted optimal temperature.

Perhaps other factors in the environment such as food abundance, changes in currents from year to year and fluctuations in the population of a fast-growing and relatively shortlived species, together with weather conditions, have more influence on fishing success than we give them credit for.

There’s an old saying that you can’t catch fish in the clubhouse, and it’s true. In many cases, catch totals for a season may well be driven by fishing effort more than anything else. One thing is for sure. We will all know how

“

and catches vary from year to year. La Nina years tend to be productive but rough, while El Nino years are often less successful, but not always so.

good or bad the fishing was in six month’s time.

We would like to thank all the skippers who have provided their catch details over the years and acknowledge New Zealand Sport Fishing Council and New Zealand Marine Research Foundation for their support. The Billfish Logbook Scheme is funded by the Ministry for Primary Industries. A detailed report is here.

JOIN THE BILLFISH LOGBOOK PROJECT We would like more volunteer skippers who fish for marlin for ten days or more in a season to record their catch and fishing effort for the Billfish Logbook Programme.

Free tags are supplied to participants, and a programme shirt is given when the annual logbook is received. For details, please contact Blue Water Marine Research at: john@bluewatermarine.co.nz or petesaul@xtra.co.nz ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 39

SIMRAD NATIONALS

MEASURE SECTION for the 2016 Simrad Nationals

016 is the second year for a new measure and release category in the Simrad Nationals (20 to 27 February 2016).

the New Zealand Sportfishing Council.

“The measure and release section gives competitors in the Nationals an option to release those big fish and still have them recognised.”

“The Council places huge emphasis on the sustainability of our recreational Every team that registers to compete fishery,” says Phil Appleyard, President of in the 2016 Simrad Nationals or prior 40 ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz

midnight on Sunday 7th February 2016 will receive a free NZ Fishing Competition fish measure worth $20 with compliments of Simrad and the DB Export NZ Fishing Competition.

Any eligible catches made by anglers fishing the Nationals will also be eligible for The DB Export NZ Fishing Competition prize-pool which this season is valued at $40,000!

To enter this section, the catch must comply with IGFA rules, be photographed on an approved measure under the same guidelines as The DB Export NZ Fishing Competition, and released.

Eligible species for measure and release will be albacore, kahawai, snapper, skipjack, trevally and yellowtail.

“The new website is designed to work on all devices, so now it’s a simple matter to upload your catch with

Anglers will be able to then submit their catch on-line via the DB Export NZ Fishing Competition website for the duration of the Nationals.

www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 41

“

It means that trophy fish that may have been killed and brought back to the weigh-station for a place on the leaderboard in the past can now be released to breed and rebuild our fisheries around the country...

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a smartphone,” says Grant Blair, designer of the DB Export NZ Fishing Competition. “As soon as you have an internet connection just point the phone’s browser to www.fishingcomp. co.nz and follow the easy to use instructions”. Registration is free with the code ‘DB Export’.

As an added bonus your entry will automatically be loaded to any leaderboards it’s eligible for. “The system is smart,” says Blair. “If your catch is OK for The Nationals, the DB Export Fishing Comp leaderboard, and say, another private leaderboard you are running on the system with a few mates, it will automatically load it to all of them from a single upload.

“This is an important development for our National competition,” says 42 ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz

Appleyard. ”It means that trophy fish that may have been killed and brought back to the weigh-station for a place on the leaderboard in the past can now be released to breed and rebuild our fisheries around the country, and we look forward to as many teams as possible.

NZSFC LENGTH RECORDS Any fish entered during the Nationals that exceeds the current record will also automatically be eligible for an New Zealand record and a place on the species leaderboards. ◆

To enter a team in the 2016 Simrad Nationals, please contact your NZSFC affiliated club for an entry form and make sure you get you entry in before Sunday 7th February 2016 to receive your free measure.

www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 43

2016 SIMRAD® NATIONALS

Simrad Sponsors Nationals, Seeks NZ Ambassadors ®

imrad Yachting is proud to return as the naming sponsor for the NZ Sport Fishing Council’s 2016 SIMRAD Nationals.

angler, with 2015’s event offering 16 categories targeting 13 species from land and by boat.

The 2015 SIMRAD Nationals proved a great success, drawing a total of 1,667 anglers, across 479 teams, representing 40 clubs. A total of 661 fish were weighed, with 490 tagged and released. Catches ranged from a scaletopping 290.8-kilogram blue marlin to a point-topping 55-kilogram shark skillfully reeled in on a one-kilo line.

The 2016 SIMRAD Nationals will see a fantastic range of SIMRAD marine electronics up for grabs, to a total retail value of NZ$20,000. This includes five NSS evo2 multifunction displays with built-in GPS, fish-finding sonar and StructureScan® HD sonar imaging, plus a pair of HH36 handheld VHF marine radios with Class D DSC and built-in GPS.

It’s no wonder the Nationals bring in so many entrants; the nationwide weeklong tournament has an angle for every

Though a global company, Simrad Yachting has a strong New Zealand connection through its Auckland-based

44 ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz

research and development hub. Many SIMRAD innovations were born in New Zealand and tested on local waters by local staff – including, for example, the revolutionary new Halo™ radar: a world-first in bringing advanced new radar technology within reach of sport fishing enthusiasts and other recreational boaters.

SIMRAD Pro Staff serve as advisors and brand ambassadors at events like fishing tournaments, club nights, and boat shows. Pro Staff are paid for their work at those events and receive a generous discount on SIMRAD products. However, we choose people that go above and beyond those planned events.

As part of our commitment to the local boating community, Simrad Yachting works with New Zealand ‘Pro Staff’ to help SIMRAD users around the country get the most from their marine electronics. Whether that means tuning their echosounder to best highlight the species they’re angling for, using the free Insight Genesis™ service to create and share their custom charts, or getting the most out of SIMRAD’s industry leading Autopilot systems as an extra pair of hands for trolling, or en route to maximise fuel efficiency.

Our Pro Staff are engaged members of local fishing communities, and active on social media. They’re the sort who’ll help out their fellow boaters – both online and down at the local marina – just to see them have a better day on the water.

If that sounds like you, we’re looking for new brand ambassadors to join our New Zealand Pro Staff for 2016. If you’re a dedicated SIMRAD user with knowledge to share, and you don’t currently work for a Navico dealer, we’d love to hear from you – please email Navico’s Liam McIlveen for details. ◆ www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 45

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR

from all of us at the NZSFC

www.nzsportfishing.co.nz ◆ 46