NZ Fisher Issue 1

ISSUE 1 September 22

Winter Moocher Hunt //Big winter snapper from the rocks // Targeting Winter kings – The Coromandel experience Readers Photo competition // // Pitch and Switch – Making it happen with marlin

www.nzfisher.co.nz 1

THE RUM THAT INVENTED RUM www.mountgayrum.com Enjoy the adventure, drink responsibly 2 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Pg 12

6

Stalking the Moocher

Why driving rain, frozen hands and wind

22

burn are really worth it!

10

Reader Pics

Competition for Winter fishing pics.

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12

How To:

Pitch N Switch Marlin on a spinning reel

17

Recipe

Kingfish, cooked like royalty

18

Epic Success

Epic Adventures rides the wave!

20

Kayak Fishing

In the Hauraki Gulf

22

The Fin Nor Marquesa 30T

In the Hauraki Gulf

24

Regional Reviews

26

NZRFC Report

Pg 22

Pg 17

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

EDITOR / Derrick Paull ART DIRECTOR / Jodi Olsson GROUP EDITOR / Trudi Caffellffell

EDITOR

CONTENT ENQUIRIES / Phone Derrick on 021 629 327 or email derrickp@NZFisher.co.nz

idday and thanks for checking

enjoy some of our stories, start thinking

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES /

out the very first issue of NZ

about how you’ll be attacking your

Fisher magazine. The team at

local species this spring and take pity

Phone Alastair on 09 522 7257

Espire and NZ Fisher extend a warm

on those silly buggers who like to catch

welcome and invite you to enjoy what

snapper in the middle of winter!

we love to produce for you!

NZ Fisher is born of a desire to improve

Lastly, I’d like to thank a few people

or email alastairn@espiremedia.com ADDRESS / NZ Fisher, C/- Es-

who have made NZ Fisher a reality in

pire Media, PO Box 137162,

the participation and enjoyment of fish-

such a short time. The team at Espire

ing in New Zealand. Our aim is to pro-

Media, Jen, Richard & Alastair have

Parnell,Auckland 1151, NZ

vide a mid-week boost of enthusiasm,

put a huge amount of work in to the

knowhow and just a touch of envy as you

publication and are taking a punt on my

check out how the rest of the country is

enthusiasm!

getting out there and doing it.

We begin with an intro to a handfull of

Jodi, thanks for re-editing everything a million times & Trudi for all your help

our contributors and give you an insight

in getting the stories of a bunch of

to where our fishing passions begin.

fisho’s up to publication standards. To

NZ Fisher will strive to bring the latest

our advertisers who have also taken a

fishing news, views and techniques in an

leap of faith, thanks. I intend to repay

unbiased and easily understood way. The

your faith ten-fold with a very well read

NZ Fisher team is made up of mad keen

publication that will stand the test of

fishers with backgrounds in land-based,

time. And of course, Elle and Oscar –

kayak, big game, small boat, underwater,

thanks for putting up with my head in

science and photography.

my laptop for days on end – soon we’ll

Our first issue is a chance for you to

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!

be fishing again!

Happy Fishing!

Derrick

www.nzfisher.co.nz 5

feature

Stalking the Moocher 6 www.nzfisher.co.nz

// Why driving

rain, frozen hands & wind burn are really worth it!

By Derrick Paull

t’s that time of year again. The

themselves at hapless fishers, you have

sun doesn’t ever seem to rise

to think like a fish and be in the right

above the horizon, the wind’s cold

places at the right times.

and the rain comes in sheets not drops.

That’s right – it’s moocher time!

Imagine yourself like a gecko perched

It’s no secret that the coldest months - July and August trough to October -produce the very best inshore trophy

on a rock willing the sun to warm the ice

snapper fishing. Food stocks are low and

off your skin. The sea is a bit wild and

the big fellas are hungry.

has a dark foreboding look to it. You’ve

There’s been a lot written about

left your big bait out there in the wash for

catching these mighty fish and a lot

over an hour in a desperate bid to lure a

of what is said is dead on the money.

lazy moocher to your trap.

The thing is though – to catch a big ‘ol

The tip of your rod moves just slightly

moocher, you need to get out of bed and

more than it did after the last swell; the tip

get on the water. The fish will be there!

continues to move down, dropping and

So before we get into the how-to, let’s

loading up. Your heart pumps just a little

look at the why.

harder at the anticipation of a bite, then all

Because they’re hungry, big snapper

hell breaks loose. The rod doubles over as

are easier to get on a hook in winter,

the well set recurve sinks home and your

but they’re never an easy prospect

quarry realises all is not well.

once hooked.

All of a sudden you move like a

So what are the essentials? First of all

teenager not a rheumy old man and

is location. You won’t expect to catch

dance across the rocks to your now

an old moocher snapper at Devonport

singing reel. In gear, load up, lift the

Wharf! They hang out in areas where

tip – it’s all on! Deep thumps from the

food is easy to find and there’s plenty of

tail and severe shakes of the head.

cover. Surprisingly big snapper are not

Your trophy heads for the deep reefs,

as shy as you might think. If there’s food

you grunt and apply just a little more

on offer they will show themselves and

pressure – you know you have to turn his

make the hunt even more exciting.

head.......

Now. What did we do to get to this

Broken reef with a lot of weed is your first goal. The more current and

point? A lot of hard work, long walks and

deepwater near by the better – you’ll

more than a few idle minutes waiting for

want the burley you’ve carried in to be

the bite. Trophy snapper don’t just throw

dispersed by the currents and to drag www.nzfisher.co.nz 7

8 www.nzfisher.co.nz

the fight (or if you accidently

them to resist. With a range of up to a

hook a little one). The sort

kilometre there is a big area for them

of baits that you’ll do best

to cover so the better your delivery

with are oily, smelly flesh

system the better your chances. This

baits like Bonito, yellow tail

often means that patience is your

and my personal favourite,

greatest virtue.

fresh kahawai fillets are easily baited with a recurve hook.

these big fish up from the depths and into the relative shallows where you cast.

Second is equipment, for these big fish I cannot recommend recurve hooks

Whereas in summer it’s best to pick up and move off when the excitement slows,

Push the recurve through

winter is definitely the time to stay put.

the flesh and a bit of tough

There’s no point in putting the effort in

(scaled) skin at the thin

just to move off when your quarry turns

end of the bait. This offers

up for dinner!

the best hook up rates and

My advice,; set the alarm, go for a

means your hook doesn’t get lost in

drive, sling your pack over a shoulder

the flesh of the bait and so deeply

and do the business. It’ll be summer

embedded that you cannot hook up.

soon and then you’ll be too busy getting

strongly enough. They offer a greater

Big snapper will travel a reasonable

hook up rate but also allow the easiest

distance for an easy feed. The smell of

and most painless release when you

your burley in the water then the offer

choose to release the fish at the end of

of a free meal is usually too much for

the run around by kingfish!

www.nzfisher.co.nz 9

competition

Captain //Reader’s Snappy issions winter m r u o y f so are hard your pic Big fish s t. u a d o n b e e S th ut there hore or of you o m the s ts o h s t be it fro ke a r, bu r and ta in winte te y a b w e e m ! n th to co Go Fish o. Get o rize from re ok to p a t it a g re in g a do e up for you’ll b – to o h p

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This month’s winner from our Facebook competition is Paul O’Donohue for his awesome Marlin caught earlier this year.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 11

sportFISHING howTO

Pitch n Switch Marlin on a spinning reel // Fine tuning techniques before summer rolls around

By Kurt Bennetto

n the first of March 2010 a

mission of the morning was to catch

successful. The up side to using live baits

mate and I headed out off

out live baits. Jack mackerel are very

is that presenting them only takes a few

Northlands’ west coast in his

good live baits for marlin however they

seconds with a simply bridle rig.

6.5m Fyran Pursuit targeting Marlin

were very scarce (scared to death by

To rig a dead bait whether it be a

with the intention of using the ‘pitch

hundreds of marauding marlin more

swimmer or a skip bait can take a lot

and switch’ method.

like!) and we couldn’t find any.

of preparation as most techniques

In short the pitch and switch method is

Thankfully kahawai are also fantastic

require removing gut cavities and gills

when you tease a marlin in towards the

live bait and we managed to snap up a

then stitching it back up with needle

transom of the boat with a skirted lure

few of them. Kahawai are a feisty live

and thread – not a two minute task.

and simultaneously switch it to a bait by

bait that stay alive well, are very strong

Swimming baits normally take many

dropping the bait back and retracting

and Marlin love them. We caught a

hours of practice to perfect so they

the teaser. Some of you may be thinking

couple and they were soon in the tuna

actually swim straight. As a result I prefer

“why bother? Why not just catch them

tubes ready for action.

live baits and I don’t think any thing

on lures?” The answer simply is the

I prefer to use live bait for pitch baiting

excites a marlin more that live prey!

improved hook up rate and a massive

marlin however a lot of top crews

adrenaline rush!

use dead baits rigged as “swimmers”

had to find the fish. We received help

or “skip baits” which are also very

from others who had been out the

As we departed the beach the first 12 www.nzfisher.co.nz

To put the method into practice we

previous day (and had been right in the heart of the action) who kindly obliged us the GPS coordinates.

If you don’t have direct contact, just get on the radio and listen out for news from other boats on the water – game fishing is an pretty inclusive sport and most skippers will let you know where the action is hottest.

What we had also been informed was that there were huge schools of jack mackerel being balled up -which is what the Marlin had been feeding on. A lot of boats the previous day had been getting a lot of bites on lures with very little success. One boat had over 10 marlin bites and didn’t manage to catch one!

This was because the marlin were not actually biting the lures with aggression. They were in effect swatting at the lures and becoming bill-wrapped in the leader, this makes them extremely hard to catch on lures. When they are feeding like this it results in a frustrated crew and a poor outcome if you don’t change your approach.

I believe the marlin bite differently depending on what species of bait fish they are feeding on and when they are feeding on jack mackerel they tend to use their bill’s to stun their prey before eating it. This is when the pitch

it can’t catch its prey which can result in

the marlin had taken an interest in and

an aggressive bite.

pulled 20 meters of line before I yanked

After trolling around for most of the morning looking for good baitfish

it out of his mouth (heart going crazy and adrenalin pumping!).

As I wound the

and switch method becomes your number one option.

To tease up the marlin we remove the hooks from the lures which turns a lure into teasers. The whole idea behind this is

teaser back in the

I believe the marlin bite differently depending on what species of bait fish they are feeding on and when they are feeding on jack mackerel they tend to use their bill’s to stun their prey before eating it. This is when the pitch and switch method becomes your number one option.

to raise a marlin and even if it bites the lure it will not feel the hook. This means the fish doesn’t get hurt and as a result generally comes back time after time.

This also aggravates the marlin because

fish followed it to the back of the transom with its bill slipping from side to side rattling the lure. We slowed the boat down and the angler pitched the switchbait right in front of

sign on the sounder or free-swimming

a stunningly lit up marlin. The next 30

marlin, a dorsal fin appeared behind

seconds felt like 3 hours as we waited in

one of the lures. I jumped into action

extreme anticipation for the fish to take

to try and retrieve the hookless lure

the bait. The rod tip jolted as the fish www.nzfisher.co.nz 13

14 www.nzfisher.co.nz

30 seconds felt like 3 hours as we waited in extreme anticipation for the fish to take the bait.

The rod tip jolted as the fish picked the bait up.

The line disappeared at blinding rate... picked the bait up. The line disappeared

gear - reverse. As we settled into the fight

and prepared the fish for the release

at blinding rate - I hope we have the

and the nerves calmed we managed to

when I discovered it was bleeding

capacity on the Stella!

work the fish up and had it along side

from the gills as it was hooked deep

within 10 minutes.

in the throat. It was decided that if we

The angler flicked the bail arm over on the Stella 200000 and the rod loaded

One last burst of 50 meters from the

were to release the fish it would not

up! The fish came to the surface ‘grey

fish gave us some more entertainment as

have lived so we then dragged it over

hounding’ towards the horizon - we

it jumped away. We then had a chance

the side and into the boat. The fish

were on!

at taking the leader, I managed to get

weighed a very respectable 90.2kg (a

a glove on it as we edged it in closer to

personal best for the Stella) and a few

the boat was very quickly into reverse,

the boat. The tag shot was perfect and

cold ones were sunk in celebration.

our adrenalin levels were sky high as the

the yahoos were blasting.

The remaining teasers were cleared and

outboard was screaming in my favourite

We then settled ourselves down

Next month – Knowing when to stay in the zone.

  

Ask for the Active Duty sun and bug skin defence range at selected pharmacies and retailers throughout New Zealand or order online at www.skinshield.co.nz

“If it works for the NZ Army, it’ll work for you!”

As used by the NZ Defence Force! www.nzfisher.co.nz 15

Every issue, all NZ Fisher subscribers* go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters. To find out if you’ve won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then get in touch with our Editor before the deadline to claim your prize. Sweet as!!! *Sorry—only NZ residents eligible for prize draw.

Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winners for Issue #1!

If you’re one of the lucky NZ Fisher subscribers listed below, simply fire an email to our editor derrickp@nzfisher.co.nz before 5pm Friday 1 October 2010 to claim your prize!



Jenny Atkins of Ohaewai You’ve won an Active Duty sun and bug skin defence pack from Skinshield NZ including sunscreen, repellent, lip balm and Permethrin clothing treatment kit!

For more on the Active Duty skin defence range see www.skinshield.co.nz

Bryan Lowe of Auckland You’ve won a fantastic goodie bag courtesy of the team at down at The Bait Station and including a selection of jigs, poppers and slow jigs - don’t blame us if the fishing’s no good!

Check out some of the merchandise at www.baitstation.co.nz



Brent Hazlett of North Shore You have won a 700ml bottle of premium Mt Gay Eclipse Rum courtesy of Hancocks Wines & Spirits. Produced on the same plantation in Barbados for over 300 years, it’s a top drop!

For a list of fantastic Mt Gay Rum cocktail recipes visit www.hancocks.co.nz



The small print… Yes it seems like they won’t let you do without it, even when you’re giving stuff away. Anyway, please note that to be able to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to have been a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine as at a date no less than two working days prior to issue date (‘cos that’s when our prize winners are drawn) and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw. To be eligible to claim any prizes including, but not limited to, alcoholic beverages, travel, motor vehicle/boat usage, tattoos, sharp things or any other prize that might require you to be over than 18 years old, you must have been over 18 years of age at the time of the draw! Cheers.

16 www.nzfisher.co.nz

recipe

By Chris Burton ishing is about hanging out with mates, exploring new places, and having a great time along

Stock is here to help you in the kitchen!

Whipping up a great feed isn’t hard,

the dining table, a sure fire way to lose fans. Use fresh ingredients, present

and it’s definitely worth the effort.

food with care and, of course, have a

the way. Eating seafood should be no

Following a few simple guidelines can

drink on hand that complements the

different. Serving up an amazing fresh

turn a run of the mill dish into a winner.

dish. Fish for the future, take only what

seafood dish for a bunch of friends

You’ll have the family begging you to

you can eat fresh.

never fails to impress and is usually a

go out fishing every weekend, and

With this being the start of NZ Fisher

pre-cursor to a great evening of food,

that can’t be a bad thing! Kill your fish

I thought what better way to kick

drinks and tall fishing tales.

immediately and store on salt ice.

things off than with my favourite starter

The Fish Stock draws from my own

Always bring home some salt water

of fresh tender kingfish wrapped in

stock of ideas, hints, how to’s and

to wash your catch; tap water tends to

prosciutto, dripping with basil and

recipes about what makes for good

‘burn’ the flesh. Wash your catch well.

garlic butter. This is an easy dish that

eating. I’ll let the others tell you their

There is nothing worse than that fishy

looks the part; it’s got brownie points

secret catch spots and tips; The Fish

smell from filleting making its way to

written all over it!

Serves 4 as an entrée

Kingfish and Prosciutto Wraps Ingredients

to wrap around the fish. Wrap each cube with a strip of

600g kingfish fillets

the ham; it should stick quite nicely to the fish. Place the

150g prosciutto ham

wrapped cubes onto a lightly oiled oven tray.

50g butter at room temperature

Mix the basil, garlic, butter and a pinch of salt and

3 garlic cloves crushed

pepper. Place a dollop of this mixture on the top of each

Handful of fresh basil leaves finely chopped

cube, divvy it out until it’s all used up.

Cooking oil Salt and pepper

Bake them on the middle rack in the oven for 8 minutes until just cooked through. If you’re unsure whether they are done or not - cut one open. The meat should have just

For the wraps, the key to success is to cook them hot and

turned from opaque to white in the center. Now, take chefs

fast so turn your oven to 220°c. While the oven is cranking

liberties and give it a taste test.

up, remove any red flesh from the kingfish then cut it into 4cm ‘cubes’. You should end up with about 12 cubes in total.

Cut your prosciutto into strips that are long enough

Serve the wraps straight away with a chilled bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and watch them disappear! Tight lines and empty plates! www.nzfisher.co.nz 17

boat FISHING

hen you make the decision to call your charter fishing business ‘Epic Adventures’, you set the bar high, even before the punters step on board.

Over the last four years Carl Muir of said charter business has gone about making sure that the adventures of his clients are nothing but Epic.

I have had the pleasure of fishing with Carl before and the success of this trip graced the pages of another magazine.

As we now embark on a new era with NZ Fisher, I thought it might be an idea to check out the new Epic boat, named

Epic Success

By Derrick Paull

Sanity, and skipper Toby (Tobes) Kemp, to see if Carl was simply catering to the demand or if he had really bought on someone with his ideals, commitment to big fish and same cheek that only a successful skipper can get a way with!

Sanity is Whitianga based but fishes the same water as Carl on Epic. Carl has said that he’s spent two years looking for the right guy to take the no.

2 skipper role, so once again the bar has been set quite high.

As New Zealand’s weather is want to do, it blew up a maelstrom the day we were originally booked and thankfully a second opportunity the following weekend gave Aaron and I the opportunity to get down to Whiti and get our rusty jigging shoulders back in action.

The weather was forecast to drop from an early morning 20kn to light variables in the early afternoon – how much better can it get? With the sun shining we headed out towards the Aldermans with expectations ratcheted right up. First stop was ‘Castle’ rock, a Whiti local favourite that has a record of producing nice, but not large kings – a great spot to get the arms pumped, but not too shattered before reaching the real goal – the ‘pins’ out wide of the Aldermans. The Castle didn’t produce – not even a ‘couta! So onwards towards the deep we head!

When jigging for kings is hot, it is hot in no uncertain terms. Places like the

18 www.nzfisher.co.nz

For next hour our pains turned from aches of jigging to the lactic burn from holding on to big kings and wrestling

but for its size (8m Tsunami) the fishing platform is not any bigger than Epic.

I’ll be back to hit more of the big ‘Coro

them to the boat. While no more

kings later this year – be it on Epic or

monsters were encountered some great

Sanity I know I’m going to come home

fish in the mid teens were boated on

with a smile on my dial!

various tackle including lighter ‘plastics’ gear that accounted for some very spirited 10kg rats. The best of the bunch was landed by Capt. Tobes while Three Kings can spoil a fisher. So after a handful of drops and no takes, we were quickly on to giving Tobes a deserved

a couple of our party took a rest. See here for a quick video of Tobes’ battle.

We managed a respectable total of 40 kings between four of us with

ribbing – it’s never angler error on a

the biggest pulling the scales down

charter boat!

We had come across Carl on Epic with a couple of Aussies testing themselves

to almost 40lb. Not a bad day out in anyone’s books. The ride home included a mingle with some unusually friendly

against the Coro beasts and they were into a few good fish. We kept bouncing out lead for a few more uneventful drifts before Aaron broke the duck, hooking a freight train with no intent on stopping.

While Aaron and his Saragossa couldn’t stop that one it was the catalyst needed to bring the kings on strike!

common dolphins, not fishing, just enjoying the stunning day.

Tobes and Sanity complement Epic but not in a sycophantic way. Tobes is an accomplished fisher in his own right, he has his own spots, and a different approach to Carl. The boat is well set up,

Kayak Fishing Range Because one kayak won’t suit everyone

PROWLER ULTRA 4.7 Image courtesy of Rob Fort – Coromandel Kayak Adventures

Some fishing kayaks may excel in one or two areas, the Prowler Ultra 4.7 excels across the board, with an inpressive range of features making it the benchmark when it comes to design and performance.

“This boat is the benchmark in kayak fishing design” Rob Fort - Coromandel Kayaks

K AYA K F I S H I N G R A N G E

Scrambler 11

For more information and to find your local dealer visit:

Prowler Elite 4.1

Prowler Elite 4.5

Prowler Ultra 4.7

www.oceankayak.co.nz

Torque

Designed in NZ, made in NZ & exported around the world www.nzfisher.co.nz 19

// ‘GT’ explores the Hauraki Gulf Plastic Fantastic

By Greg Theunissen, President of the Hibiscus Kayak Fishing Club

hat is it about fishing?

a hook and a match stick as a float. I

Ever since I nabbed my

have been hooked since day one.

first perch some, oooh,

“We don’t know how lucky we are”!

I have heard this time and again and it

Having worked my way up through a

is true. From the northern reaches of

45 years ago in a subtropical Northern

club and league team in coarse fishing,

the North Island to the Coromandel

Transvaal dam I’ve had it in my blood.

with the occasional trip to the sea

Peninsula, fishing opportunities

Back then we used the end piece of

thrown in over the years, I now find

unrivalled in most countries are available.

a fishing rod with a bit of line tied to

myself living in the real fishing heaven!

20 www.nzfisher.co.nz

In our very own back yard, we have

Our region is also blessed with many different boating, kayaking and surfcasting clubs for those who are inclined to be involved in such activities. some of the best places imaginable.

on the table is from my fishing kayak.

fish, global warming and all the other

The ‘Rangi channel, the Whangaparaoa

Having been there done that with

stuff going on, we are still able to

Peninsula and within an hour’s drive

a tinny, this new-fangled idea

catch many fish. In fact there are some

north, Lang’s Beach, Leigh, Jones Bay

appealed to me immediately. After

very good fish within a stone’s throw

and Mahurangi can be considered our

trialling a few models and different rigs,

of where I live here on the northern

‘local’ stomping grounds.

I can now virtually guarantee a feed

reaches of Auckland City. I will be

every time I go out!

gleefully reporting on all the latest

Many different aspects of fishing can be enjoyed here. From casting a line

Our region is also blessed with

action in the greater Auckland Area

from local wharves and piers, to the

many different boating, kayaking and

over the coming months and hope to

many rock and beach spots in-between

surfcasting clubs for those who are

see many of you out there enjoying it!

and the many boat launching ramps

inclined to be involved in such activities

Episode Two: Find out from weekend

which are readily available. There is no

with like minded individuals. Despite all

warrior boaties what they are getting,

shortage of ways to get your line wet.

the doom and gloom about depleted

profile Sullivans and the Nationals. Also

My favourite way of getting a feed

fish stocks, foreigners catching all our

general report from the area.

BIG FISH

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tackleTALK

22 www.nzfisher.co.nz

// In the Deep End at the Three Kings

By John Callander

in Nor has the distinction of

fisher and sub-par tackle in the past but

holding more IGFA World

they provide arguably the best yellowtail

Records than any other brand,

kingfish fishing in the world. Where

suited my style of jigging with its 6.1

better to test the Marquesa?

to 1 ratio. I noted the handle allowed

“

IS ‘Legendary tackle since 1933’ and

with more than 380 IGFA records and

In Johns words:

counting it really is the stuff of legends.

“

no mean feat. The Fin Nor tag-line

Marquesa handled it comfortably.

I found the Marquesa winding action

me to avoid scrapes on my knuckles as some other reels I have used

have done – they don’t have enough

The question we had was, can Fin Nor

I was using a Fin nor Marquesa 30 reel

clearance within the shape of the

stand up to the rigours of modern

and 37kg braid & Xzoga custom rod on

handle and can have a tendency to

Jig fishing. Scott Taylor at Thompson

board Pursuit at the Three Kings Islands

skin knuckles while madly reeling in.

Walker didn’t blink and handed over

in May this year. I used the Marquesa for

the all new Fin Nor Marquesa.

mechanical jigging with jigs varying from

consistent and easy to operate. The

300g to 500g in 100 to 200 metres deep .

proof is in the catch! The Marquesa

It’s not a bad looking reel but doesn’t quite have the eye-candy appeal of a

The Marquesa handled the conditions

Trinidad or Avet – but it’s fast, tight and

well and caught at least 10 kingfish

very strong.

varying in weight from 15kg to 28kg.

The Three Kings Islands have been the downfall of many an under-prepared

I was also extremely happy to land a 28kg Hapuka on a jig too, again the

I found the Marquesa the drag

does the job, it’s very well priced and therefore great value for money.

www.finnorfishing.com/Marquesa.html

www.nzfisher.co.nz 23

regionalREVIEWS

Inner Hauraki Gulf Source: Hibiscus Kayak Fishing Club:

s spring arrives we are expect-

September – so watch the club site

ing an increase of fat healthy

for info on how we fared. We will be

snapper and have not been

taking on the North Shore Surfcasting

disappointed with the early season

Club on Sunday the 10th of Octo-

results! Our annual September mission

ber to contest the Rock-Yak Trophy.

to Whatuwhiwhi produced scores of

We’ve held it for the last two events

10lb plus snapper and a few 30lb plus

and don’t want to give it up now. The

Kingfish for those live-baiting or jig-

Rock-Yak Trophy is Kayak versus Rock

ging. The winter moochers were ever

fishing & is a great day with awesome

present this year with Pete & Aileen

prizes. New members are encouraged

Michael both scoring 8kg plus fish form

to come along! See the web-site for

our local haunts (Langs & Takatu). We

more info www.hibiscuskayakfishing-

are off to Oakura on the 18th / 19th

club.org

Coromandel / BOP Source: Epic Adventures

he Kingfish are acting like it’s

some solid 20kg kingfish from all three

delivering the fish of the day on a

spring already and the water

locations. Check that report out here

consistent basis, the jigging has been

temp is just starting to rise. How-

(http://www.epicadventures.co.nz/3D

going well. Over the last week we’ve

ever over the last two weeks the inshore

ayFishingCharterMayorIslandCuvierA

predominantly been jigging, with most

kingfish have now thinned out, and so

ldermenMercuryIslands.html). Water

trips being all people after their first

the deep reefs and pins from Cuvier to

temps are three degrees higher at the

ever kingfish. One of those was 14 year

the Aldies and Mayor are where it is at

moment than this time last year and

old Travis Clark pictured here, visiting

on the kingi front. We recently did a

with plenty of bait showing the kingi’s

with Ozzie TV Show Mark Bergs Fishing

three day trip fishing the extent of the

are feasting up and in good condition.

Addiction. They pulled some really solid

Eastern Coromandel and pulled awe-

While live-baits are probably still

kings to the 20kg mark.

Taranaki

Source: AMF Leader – Duncan McIvor

24 www.nzfisher.co.nz

eather has played a major

such kayak trip the yakker’s fish-finders

part in the fishing this

showed the bottom coming up from

month but those who have

50m to les than 30, they dropped

made it out have returned with some

lines thinking it was a new reef they’re

very good catches. Unfortunately the

found but were pleasantly surprised by

sharks are there too, but if you can get

a double header of healthy 5lb snap-

through them the Gurnard & snapper

per! October can be a great month

are very hungry. Best results have been

if you can avoid the horrid weather –

coming form the 20m marks over the

burley & big smelly baits will see some

low reefs and too the south there have

anglers getting into 20lb +_ snaps this

been great returns from 60m +/-. One

month – get into it!

Nelson Marlborough / Underwater Source: Mark Roden

he weather, that’s what’s hap-

we often see kingies blasting along near

to get a hammering from spearos and set

pening!

the bottom, sometimes they will come up

netters alike, hoping to see a recovery in

Last good day out was in

to check us out, but when they in ‘bottom

numbers of this underated table fish.

August, nice run up the east side of

blasting’ mode they are unlikely to come

Durville Island out of French Pass but

all the way to the surface for a lure. The

the ban area. Everyone seems to

most of the trips planned have been

silver lining to the bad weather cloud

have views on the ‘reopening’ of the

cancelled due to the weather.

has meant that fishing pressure has been

Marlborough Sounds blue cod fishery

Line fishers have discovered that

Blue cod are under pressure outside

relatively light, so the rare days out have

but until we see the results of the

there are good numbers of kingfish and

been very fishy, good numbers of terakihi

abundance report due out soon we’re all

snapper lurking in deeper water around

spotted although mostly small. Butterfish

shooting in the dark – realistically: does

Stephens Island and some big boys from

are making a comeback in areas where

anyone think that a species can rebuild

both camps have been landed. Jigging

netting pressure has been reduced

in a few short years?

seems to be the technique, be interesting

although the biggest threat to these

to see if the jigging carries on working

and many other fish is the loss of habitat

into the summer as both species move

as the weed belts are being reduced in

into shallower water.

area possibly due to explosions in kina

Mark Roden

numbers. The poor old blue moki seems

Nelson Underwater Club

When we are spearfishing in the summer

‘Roll on’ summer and ‘roll in’ the clear blue water.

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nzfcREPORT

The Picture of a Fishing Future is Being Drawn

// NZRFC Goals •

To encourage government and MFish to perform their statutory duty to ensure that fisheries are sufficiently abundant at local levels “to enable people to provide for their social, economic, and cultural wellbeing” in all coastal communities.

• s New Zealanders we hold the bounty of the oceans as a part of our cultural heri-

fisheries.

4 and NZ Sportfishing Council also aid

economic pressures and an insatiable

more selective areas. The RFC aims to

demand internationally for fresh fish

represent all amateur fishers in whatever

means our local resources are continu-

fishery they can and to keep New

ally under pressure from commercial

Zealand fisheries viable for the future.

The New Zealand Recreational Fishing

management of New Zealand’s

Other organisations such as Option in this representation, but focus on a

operators.

recreational fishers in the

Zealand amateur fishers to parliament.

tage, a resource available to all. Sadly

•

•

begin reclaiming the oceans for the

include some remarkable changes in the

enjoyment of all New Zealanders.

thinking of the decision makers when

Today the NZRFC is recognised at the

considering how we best utilise the

mandated body to represent New

resources available.

To maintain and where possible improve recreational fishers ability to catch a feed.

a reputation for achieving wins for New Zealand fishers, these achievements

To protect and enhance marine biodiversity and habitats.

Over the last 25 year the RFC has built

Council was founded in the 1980’s to

To promote the interests of

•

To participate through consultation in an effective partnership to manage New Zealand’s marine fisheries resources.

If you wish to know more or feel you would like to be involved please e-mail nzrfcsheryl@actrix.co.nz or visit www.recfish.co.nz

26 www.nzfisher.co.nz

// In the next issue of NZ Fisher‌ Hapuka secrets Where do Snapper travel?

Getting the most from your burley trail Next edition out 20/10/2010

Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher? It’s free!

Simply visit www.nzfisher.co.nz to get a copy of NZ Fisher delivered straight to your inbox every fourth Wednesday!

www.nzfisher.co.nz 27