NZ Fisher - Issue 61

ISSUE 61

July 2016

MidWinter

Marlin

Snapper on Fly:

Screaming Reels & Huge Smiles

www.nzfisher.co.nz 1

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CONTENTS 4... Editorial

ABOUT / Short and sharp, NZ Fisher is a free e-magazine delivering thought provoking and enlightening articles, and industry news and information to forwardthinking fisher people.

EDITOR / Derrick Paull GROUP EDITOR / Colin Kennedy

8... Mid Winter Marlin

ART DIRECTOR / Jodi Olsson CONTENT ENQUIRIES / Phone Derrick on 021 629 327

12... Czech Ca-ching

or email derrickp@NZ Fisher.co.nz ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES / Phone Derrick on 021 629 327 or email derrickp@NZ Fisher.co.nz

20... Welcoming Winter

ADDRESS / NZ Fisher, PO Box 47794, Ponsonby 11144

24... Trout Pictures 27... Trout Competition

WEBSITE / www.NZFisher.co.nz 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!

28... Legasea Update 30... Passion Unleashed

Cover Image: Kyle Riddling with the first marlin of the 2017 (yup, 2017!) Game fishing season

4 www.nzfisher.co.nz

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EDITORIAL

IS IT WINTER? Is it spring already? The

not in isolation. In earlier June the NZFC

fish don’t seem to know either.

had a well-attended competition based

It looks like the normal winter ‘out deep’

out of Stanmore Bay where the take was

exodus hasn’t (or might not) happen. The

extremely high with a chart-topping 13kg

anchovies and maccies are still inshore

fish taken from a typical summer spot.

in good numbers with plenty of snapper,

Offshore the fishing has been booming

kahawai and kingfish chasing them hard.

too. You may have heard of one or two

These schools normally make their way

swordfish being landed this season. It’s

offshore to deeper, warmer water and

been so full on out there it feels like

leave the inshore void of much activity

there’s been more in 2016 than the

at all. This year, however, the schools

previous five years combined.

have hung in the 20 to 25-metre range as

Some boats have been landing three plus

opposed to 50 plus metres.

a day in day-time along with solid hauls of

This seems to have added to the normal

bluenose and puka between the swords.

autumn snapper catches with solid fish

But these sword catches are not a patch

coming in from near and far. This was

on the news that Kyle Ridling has once

typified by Michael Walkley in late June

again nailed the first Marlin of the year

heading out from Takapuna for just two

(the gamefish season starts 1 July) for the

hours and anding more than 50 snapper

third year in a row. Kyle’s keen, keener

between two fishers. This would be

than anyone else it would seem, and

normal in December as the spring feed

would be the only guy off-shore chasing

up occurs, but this was in June and in all

beaks in July. With the high (17.5deg)

of 25 to 30 metres between Rakino and

water temps hanging around, Kyle hit

Tiritiri Matangi. Mike’s experiences were

the water he knows well to complete the

6 www.nzfisher.co.nz

three-peat and came up with the goods

month - if you’re not familiar with the

once again. Congratulations Kyle! How

technique yet, have a read. It takes trout

many more might be lurking out there

fly fishing from an elitist sport to very

and get snagged before the ‘new’ season

accessible as there’s no need to master

hits us in December? Might be worth a

casting before getting into hard fighting

swing wide still with a patch of very warm

(and bloody tasty!) fish.

water hanging off the Mokes at present.

Last, but very far from least, I’d like to

Tony Orton had a stripy smashing saurie

invite you all to check out the new Go

alongside the boat the last week of June,

Fish tackle store at their new address, 51

so there’s definitely a few out there.

Barrys Point Road, Takapuna. Greg and

If you’re keen, the trout are really getting

Will have moved all the stock across and

hot in the Taupo streams. There’s been

fitted out the new space brilliantly. Greg

more water than cold snaps but last year’s specialises in importing the hard to find brands from across the world, especially big sizes and high numbers look like they might be at risk of being outdone

Japan and the USA. Between Go Fish &

in 2016. Czech nymphing is once again

Rod and Reel, I’m constantly broke but

doing the greatest damage.

have outstanding tackle ;-)

Markus from Rod & Reel has put

Derrick

together a follow-up on his piece last

www.nzfisher.co.nz 7

GAMEFISHING

Mid Winter Marlin Season First Hat-Trick for Kyle Ridling

BY Naomi Peterson & Kyle Ridling

8 www.nzfisher.co.nz

In Kyle’s words:

HAT TRICK! Kyle Ridling is one of those anglers who puts in the hard yards and is appropriately rewarded for his efforts. In 2014 he took out the title for First Tagged Marlin for the 2014/2015 season, awarded by the New Zealand Sports Fishing Council.

He was to repeat this in the 2015/2016 season, once again tagging and releasing the first Marlin for the season on the 1st of July. Yet again, Kyle has taken the honours for the first tagged and released Marin for the 2016/2017 season, catching an estimated 115kg Striped Marlin out from Tutukaka on 3 July, 2016.

We wrote about Kyle’s achievements in our January issue, and what makes this achievement just that bit more impressive, is that this Marlin was caught solo. However, Kyle is no stranger to catching Marlin Solo, participating in the Solo Marlin Challenge earlier this year and smashing it by tagging Three huge Solo Marlin est 110Kg, 120Kg and 105Kg, earning him first runner up in the competition.

Congratulations to Kyle on his hat trick of First Marlin for the season.

Naomi

After tagging the first Marlin for the second year in a row last July, I had to try to do it again and make it three years in a row. I knew I would have a good chance again with the number of Marlin around this year and some of the highest water temps on record for this time of year.

With the weather forecast looking perfect for the first weekend of July and the new calendar season, I checked the SST charts and the best-looking water was out behind the Poor Knights Islands - an area I’m very familiar.

Everything was falling into place.

Saturday morning I launched from Tutukaka boat ramp. I was out behind the Knights before the sunrise and got set up to start trolling. It didn’t take long before I had my first skipjack tuna which I rigged and set out swimming off the outrigger.

Just after midday I had my first bite but unlucky for me no hook-up and my live bait was gone. I did not see what had taken my bait, but when I wound my line in my brand new trace had clear signs of a Marlin bill marks on it. Damn!

So I started trolling lures again hoping to pick up another bait.

After four hours of working the area, I saw skippie’s jumping out of the water so I turned towards them and managed to pick one up. I rigged it up and started towing it back to where I had my bite earlier. I towed it till just after 6pm by which stage the sun had well and truly

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GAMEFISHING

set and it was getting cold so I pulled it in and headed home to fuel up for the next day. Sunday morning same drill. I was out behind the Knights setting my gear while the sun was starting to rise. The water temp today was 17.5 degrees. Once again I found skippie’s and managed to catch one and rig it up and get it swimming.

About an hour later it got eaten by a shark which bit through the trace so it was back to trolling lures once again.

Just after lunchtime I had a double hookup on skipjack tuna and managed to land both. I set both off my bamboo outriggers, the first one I set long about 30 metres back and the second one I set very close to the boat to avoid them crossing over each other.

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I was in 157 metres of water at the back of the Knights when about 40 minutes later the close bait was ripped out of the outrigger and the Marlin that ate it was dancing across the surface. I was hooked up! Quickly I pulled the other bait in. The marlin had taken the line and gone deep.

I played it cautiously and didn’t put too much drag on the fish hoping it would come to the surface so I could chase it down, but it stayed deep. It took just under 40 minutes to get boat side tag, remove the hook and release. I estimated this fish at 115kg.

I have a GoPro camera mounted on my tag pole set to time lapse mode to take a photo every half a second. Once the fish is tagged I place the tag pole into a rod holder mounted on the back of my boat to get a few shots of the fish before releasing it.

I also have a GoPro strapped to my head which I used to film the release and the call I made to Mary at Tutukaka game

COASTAL FISHING CHARTERS Day Trips to Ranfurly Banks 1 hour from Hicks Bay

base to tell her the good news. This is also used for proof of the time and date for New Zealand Sport Fishing Council, after all, most people give up chasing Marlin in May. I guess everyone gets caught up in the Broadbill hype and forgets about the Marlin. ď Ź

www.nzfisher.co.nz 11

TROUTFISHING

Czech Ca-ching

Getting tuned up for silver bullets BY Markus Church - Rod & Reel, Newmarket

12 www.nzfisher.co.nz

WINTER NYMPHING IS probably the most widely recognised form of fishing on our well-known rivers in the Taupo region. As we all know it can certainly be a tricky technique to master. You are contending with things such water flow, water depth, line drag, and ‘contact’ just to name a few areas.

Typical nymphing rigs which are used on rivers such as the Tongariro, TaurangaTaupo, Waitahanui, etc. involve the use of very heavy ‘bomb’ style nymphs, where very heavy tungsten beaded flies are used (and may also include lead in the body as well) in conjunction with a lighter egg or natural style nymph. These ‘bombs’ are obviously required to get your flies down, into the zone where the fish are holding.

This is especially important in the winter months when the spawning fish are moving up the rivers. Essentially, if you’re not bouncing the bottom, you probably won’t be catching!

Yes, most of us have at some stage have tried, or are fishing this technique, and for all of us, it can bring varying degrees of success. This article is going to look at some pointers in your overall set-up, that might help improve your success this winter, with your winter nymph fishing (especially indicator style fishing). Let’s look at some simple tips to turn your fishing into catching:

1.

Fish as short a leader as possible, relative to the depth of water you are fishing. This is specifically related to indicator fishing.

Too often we start with a 9 to 12ft leader and continue with this no matter what depth we are fishing. This is fine in seven to eight feet of water, but not so good in four feet. Fishing a leader length up to, or just under 1.5 times the depth of the water you are fishing (as there is always some drag which must be allowed for) means that you will have much better ‘contact’ with your flies, and ultimately any takes.

A leader set to the depth you are fishing will also mean you will have less ‘drag’ by your flies, therefore less hang up’s on the bottom, during your drift and better ‘contact’ when fish take your flies. So if you are fishing water that is 8ft deep, you would want to be running a leader that is up to 12ft long (you will also need to take into account, the speed of the current, and weight/size of the flies you are fishing).

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TROUTFISHING

2.

“Do you need to fish a tapered leader in winter? Not if you are fishing bomb style rigs.”

Do you need to fish a tapered leader in winter? Not if you are fishing bomb style rigs. Tapered leaders are designed to help ‘turn over’ flies such as dry flies and smaller nymphs. Your heavily weighted flies will do that for themselves. The other reason for not needing a tapered leader is that due to the difference in diameter of the leader (thicker at the top and skinnier at the bottom) it will essentially create a bow in the line as it drifts, due to the

14 www.nzfisher.co.nz

increased water resistance on the leader from the bottom upwards.

A leader that is one weight/thickness all the way through e.g. 8lb, will greatly reduce drag created through water resistance. With this, you can add a lighter section of leader to the bottom if you want or need to. But ultimately the majority of your leader will be the same thickness throughout, so therefore water resistance will be equal throughout.

3.

Fluorocarbon vs Monofilament. This is always a hotly debated topic and here are a few points that you may or may not know;

Fluorocarbon i. Naturally sinks in water – so suited to Nymphing techniques (not dryfly techniques) ii. Has higher abrasion resistance than monofilament. So when nymphs are bouncing around rocks, boulders and logs, this may improve the overall robustness of your line. iii. Only really stretches when first loaded, then has a minimal stretch from there onwards. Can be an advantage when fishing longer leaders as you have better ‘contact’ due to decreased stretch. Also, means that there is less ‘shock absorbency’ in your setup, though, so may lead to more lost fish if you are going quite hard on them, or fishing in fast currents.

Monofilament i.

Naturally, floats in water – suited to dry fly fishing. Ultimately has an element of buoyancy, so could affect sink rates of your flies.

ii. Has a lower abrasion resistance than fluorocarbon. iii. Can stretch up to 20% of its length, repeatedly. This means that it can act as a very good ‘shock absorber’ in your set-up. It can also mean that the longer your leader, the more stretch there is when trying to set the hook. iv. Has a higher refractive index than water. So is essentially more visible in water than fluorocarbon. Not really an issue early and late in the day or if there is colour in the water. v. Quite soft. Easy to tie knots and ‘presents’ lighter flies very well.

Allows them to move naturally. vi. Absorbs water over time which

iv. Has a similar refractive index to water, so almost invisible to fish (important when the water is clear, or the sun is on the water).

decreases its overall strength.

v. Quite stiff. Can be more difficult to tie knots and may not ‘present’ lighter flies quite as well as monofilament.

strength. So if you fish the same

Monofilament can absorb up to 20% water over time, which negatively affects knots and overall leader leader all day, it can become weaker as that day progresses.

“Fluorocarbon vs Monofilament.

This is always a hotly debated topic” www.nzfisher.co.nz 15

TROUTFISHING

4.

‘Truck and Trailer’ vs ‘Dropper’ rigs.

Truck and Trailer rigs (fly tied on a short length of leader and attached the shank of your bomb fly) are great for getting your flies down and keeping them down as you know that your other flies will always be down behind your bomb. One

16 www.nzfisher.co.nz

disadvantage to this rig is that your other flies drift will always be dictated by that of your bomb (as they are always behind it). It can also mean that a ‘take’ has to transfer through your bomb and up your leader before it is detected and if there is any slack in that system (which can happen from bomb to fly) it may be missed.

Dropper rigs (fly tied on a dropper above the bomb) will allow you to vary the depth of flies and also may allow more natural movement

of your flies as they drift. Where this can really make a difference is during daylight or sunny periods where the insect life can become more active. This system will also relate straight up your leader when there is a ‘take’ as both flies are independent of each other.

Hopefully, some of the info here has given a bit of food for thought and might even help in your success this winter. We always hear that old adage ‘10% of the fisherman catch 90% of the fish’. Well, there’s a reason that adage exists and it’s

www.nzfisher.co.nz 17

“10% of the fisherman catch 90% of the fish’.

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ultimately all add up, thus creating them

the fish are definitely on the move.

more success.

So hopefully you all get the chance to

The aim of this article was to

get out there and enjoy the amazing

hopefully add a few ideas, or spark

winter fishing our country has to offer

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SPORTFISHING

Welcoming Winter Making your time on the water count this winter BY Michael Walkley - NZSFC contributor

20 www.nzfisher.co.nz

WINTER IS A TIME when many

Cruising the shallows the weed lines

put away their gear and spend

twist and turn hugging close to

time after time questioning

the rock walls and rubble patches.

their logic of is it worth it to

Targeting these areas is the key to

fish today? I assure you it is.

success as the fish tend to hold in

The winter months more often

these areas, a lightly presented soft

than not have a lot more calm patches and allow you to venture

bait will be considered, but persistence is key. The lighter the jig head you can

to secluded spots which hold

use the better.

great numbers of prime table

By slowing the drop speed of your soft

fish, the approach changes and

bait you keep it in the strike zone (which

the challenge of targeting them

is limited in such shallow water) for

becomes a pleasure of its own.

longer. As the water temperature drops

Soft baiting the shallows can be

the fish’s metabolism slows, reducing

fantastic, some of the best shallow

the need to feed and increasing the

water fishing happens in these skinny

frustration when they don’t bite.

stalking grounds where the structure

Check your sounder, get shallow - 10

is key, it holds the balance of food and

metres or less and survey the area

shelter, it’s the homestead for these

looking for the contour lines, areas

wintery Warriors. This is your war

of foul and likely ambush areas. The

zone where tide swept rocks and vast

contour lines identify the highways

weedy jungles are the enemies lines.

along which the fish cruise along

It’s time to take the battle to them.

looking for their prey. Once you’ve

www.nzfisher.co.nz 21

SPORTFISHING

“Keep a close eye on these winged wonders, they see more than we do.”

22 www.nzfisher.co.nz

“So, rounding up: Cast ahead of your drift, target the guts between the structure, use minimal weight and allow plenty of sink time this time of the year as snappers metabolism slows down.” found some gutters, find the bait. This time of the year the pilchards are making their move up the gulf, their presence is usually well marked by the eyes in the sky.

Keep a close eye on these winged wonders, they see more than we do. As you prospect, keep an eye on the bait around you and match the hatch as best you can; snapper are optimistic predators and will often snap up a fleeing baitfish or small prawn darting in front of them.

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

So, rounding up: Cast ahead of your drift, target the guts between the structure, use minimal weight and allow plenty of sink time this time of the year as snappers metabolism slows down. Allow longer sink times and greater pauses giving the snapper a chance to move in and assess your bait. Small natural soft baits are perfect in these situations where the fish are more timid. Even through winter these fish feed, but finding them and targeting them is what will allow you to succeed and put food on the table.

Get out there, cast a line and outsmart your prey, you may soon find winter is just a name in this aquatic world. 

www.nzfisher.co.nz 23

TROUTPICS

Trout 6.5lb Brownie - Ngongotaha

Izak Wilson 24 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Pics

Andrew Peering with a huge Golden Dorado.

9lb Big Mouth Bass California Delta - Andrew Peering.

Winner! Brenton Cumberpatch

Brett Rigby

Kase Wilson

Kelvin Chak

Shirley Wu

Michael Walkley www.nzfisher.co.nz 25

Trey Blackmore

TROUTPICS

Winner!

PB Brownie 8lb.

✦

Nate Wilson

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Enter by posting a Trout or Salt Water Fly photo on the NZFisher Facebook page or sending to: Derrickp@nzfisher.co.nz Major prize drawn 30th September 2016. Winner advised by email 2nd October.

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www.nzfisher.co.nz 27

PROTECTINGOURFISHERIES

CollapsedFisheriesNeed CarefulManagement Bold move by Minister applauded, but is it enough?

Update by Trish Rea, Legasea

THE SCALLOP FISHERY AT the top

Bluenose has all the characteristics

of the South Island is at its lowest

of an overexploited stock in need

recorded level, it continues to decline,

of rebuilding. We submitted that

and there are doubts about the future

commercial catch reductions

growth of young scallops. Nathan

must not be deferred again, as

Guy’s recent decision to close part of

they were in 2013/14. Aggressive

Southern scallops to all fishing for the

reductions are required to restore

upcoming season may enable some

the population and allow older

regrowth, but is only the first step

fish to become more common.

towards rebuild this important fishery.

The Paua 7 fishery around the top of

In our latest scallop submission, we

the South Island has been below the

highlighted the fishery’s collapse and

target stock size for nearly 20 years

advocated for its closure until abundance

and low abundance has impacted

improved. When numbers increase the

on recreational harvest. Our

Minister can allow a staged resumption

submission supported MPI and the

of harvest, for non-commercial use first

paua industry in advocating for cuts

then commercial harvest.

to commercial harvesting, to enable

In October, the Ministry for Primary

the stock to rebuild.

Industries (MPI) will consult on new

Snapper 7 is rebuilding but is still

management proposals for the 2017

below the default management target

scallop season. LegaSea will keep you

after being overfished in the 1970s

informed of any developments.

and 80s. Commercial fishers now want

In July MPI also invited submissions

a Total Allowable Commercial Catch

on the future management of bluenose

(TACC) limit increase to cover their

nationally, and paua, snapper, john dory

snapper ‘bycatch’, taken while trawling

and jack mackerel in the central region.

for other species.

28 www.nzfisher.co.nz

“Aggressive reductions are required to restore the population and allow older fish to become more common.”

We urge the Minister to maintain the

provide a critical link in the food chain

current snapper TACC and adjust the

between plankton and larger predators.

recreational allowance to take account

We support the Ministry’s proposal to

of improved recreational catch.

halve commercial catch limits.

The John dory 7 fishery is showing

Also, Chilean jack mackerel must be

signs of overfishing in Tasman and

managed as a separate species to enable

Golden Bays. We submitted it would

better management of New Zealand jack

be unreasonable to increase the TACC.

mackerel. The Minister’s decision for

More precautionary management and

these reviews is expected before October.

annual stock monitoring is required.

Digital Updates - sign up online at

In southern waters, jack mackerel

www.legasea.co.nz. 

Call 0800 LEGASEA (534 273)

Subscribe at www.legasea.co.nz

Email us info@legasea.co.nz

Read more at www.facebook.com/legasea

SALTWATERFLY

Passion Unleashed Who knew a 30cm snapper could pull so hard? BY Derrick Paull

30 www.nzfisher.co.nz

I’VE TALKED ABOUT saltwater fly before;

riding, stable and very spacious fly fishing

but before I spoke about this act of

hedonism. Loaded with a Minnkota

fishing that was just another way to catch

upfront and gutsy 60hp 4-stroke on the

fish. Now, under the guidance of Hauraki

back, it’s a pleasure to fish from. What

Gulf SWF legend Matt Von Sturmer, I

makes it remarkable is its absolute silence

transitioned from a fly fisher to a true

in super skinny water.

believer. Finally, I understood. Snapper are everywhere and they love well presented man-made flies.

We were able to rustle up behind reefs and drop wee shrimp and squid pattern clousers right on the noses

Matto had told me about the shallow

of many, many pannie snapper. The

water he targeted winter snapper in

remarkable thing was that despite the

and while I’d believed him, I didn’t really

shallows and the closeness of the boat

believe. Not the way I do now.

these fish were still hitting flies like

Matto’s boat, the mighty SaltyFly is a

steam trains and heading deeper in an

Revo polyethylene masterpiece of soft

effort to get away.

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SALTWATERFLY

32 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Matto had begun the day with a quick run-down on the basics of fly casting, his short, succinct lesson focuses on getting maximum benefit from each cast or false cast and ensuring that when speed and distance are required, even the weakest (read ‘Derrick’) caster can fling a fly in the face of a marauding kingfish. There’s no denying the Sage gear Matto’s fitted out the boat with makes the learning, the casting and the catching that much easier.

Launching from Matiatia Bay on Waiheke Island (Where Matto is a resident), we headed south through Sargent’s channel to some ‘flats’ Matto has been picking up nice fish throughout the summer. It was a breezy day but right up in the bays we were in the wind shadow of the hills and an easy drift took us past some shallow reefs.

As if on queue Matto says ‘I’ll just have a quick flick in there and see if the snaps are on the chew’ and within 15 seconds of his fly landing he was lifting a 20cm snap to the boat. Now don’t get me wrong, 20cm is not a fish to boast about but he had just cast into under a metre of water. Over neptune’s necklace reef. In a bay. Where people were walking their dogs. 30 metres away. I called Fluke.

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SALTWATERFLY

34 www.nzfisher.co.nz

“It’s not often I get genuinely excited by snapper fishing these days. They’re strong fighters but the gear we use is often set up too heavily in our favour, but with fly, holy sh*t, it’s a fair fight again! ” So instead of proving me wrong he

It’s not often I get genuinely excited by

shrugged and passed me the rod. Three

snapper fishing these days. They’re strong

false casts, a messed up roll cast and a few

fighters but the gear we use is often set

seconds of disbelief that my fly ended up

up too heavily in our favour, but with fly,

closer to the reef than me, and I too was

holy sh*t, it’s a fair fight again!

hooked up. The 32cm fish fought like a

We landed many many more wee

demon. I had visions of a 30kg kingfish

snapper (up to about 45cm) and I had a

dragging me into a brick as I leant back

ball. I ‘accidently’ missed my ferry back

on the spaghetti-like Sage Saltwater fly

to Auckland to get another hours fishing

rod the fish finally turned and I got some

and by the end of the day, I could not

line back. It had actually swum about

stop smiling. Matto’s a fantastic host and

30 metres in an arc around the boat,

I cannot recommend his guiding services

causing me great difficulty and Matto

enough, but if you’re after a cheaper

great humour as I had to keep the tip up

thrill grab a fly rod and start exploring

and the fish away from the exposed rocks.

the bays and reefs around your local

But patience and great angling won the

area. This kind of fishing is not restricted

battle (Thanks to the Sage rod no doubt!)

to Waiheke and the gulf Islands- there’s

and my first skinny water saltwater fly

many fish amongst the shallow reefs and

snapper was landed. And I was ecstatic.

they’re firecrackers! 

www.nzfisher.co.nz 35

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