NZ Fisher Issue 3

ISSUE 3 November 2010

Kayaking for Kingfish Far far north//

Big boy snapper old Skool styles

//

Scallop’s perfected – The Fish Stock //

www.nzfisher.co.nz 1

THE RUM THAT INVENTED RUM www.mountgayrum.com Enjoy the adventure, drink responsibly

2 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Pg 18

14 22

6

Old School Snapper Tactics

Out with the old, in with the new!

11

Fishing Video of the Month

Gurnard capers with Espresso

12

Name the Species

14

The Scientist & the Fish

Where do the snapper go - Part II

18

As Far North as the Eye Can See

Kayak fishing

22

Scallops, Summer’s Richest Gift

24

Where Good Tackle Proves Itself

The Inchiku Rock-G

26

The Clubhouse

North Shore Surfcasting Club

28

Regional Reviews

30

Fisheries Management News Report

14

Pg 24

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175

200

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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

EDITOR

hings are hot in just about ev-

a need for stocking fillers form the

ery fishery. Spring is here with

family – we have a look at the Inchiku

a passion and you could be mis-

Rock-G – perhaps the perfect stocking

GROUP EDITOR / Trudi Caffell CONTENT ENQUIRIES / Phone Derrick on 021 629 327 or email derrickp@NZ Fisher.co.nz ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES / Phone Alastair on 021 866 036

taken for thinking its summer already.

filler? Or just another trick in the tackle

or email

Auckland, Bay of Plenty & the upper

box for the fisher who has everything!

alastairn@espiremedia.com

north wets fisheries are producing

And since it is the season for giving

ADDRESS / NZ Fisher,

some of the best snapper fishing in

we’ve added another competition for our

C/- Espire Media, PO Box 137162,

memory (well, who really remembers

readers – see page 12 for the all new –

what it was like before the trawlers

‘Name the species’ competition. Summer

Parnell,Auckland 1151, NZ

started pillaging?) Mayor, White & the

is also scallop season, so when you’re out

Alderman’s have proved that world class

there, jump in with a mask and have a

Yellowtail Kingfish fisheries are still part

look around. Chef Chris has produced a

of the mix with the charter operators

recipe to remember in The Fish Stock –

putting people onto 30KG plus fish on

just odn’t over cook them please!!

almost daily basis.

In the world of fishing there are few

Issue three pays tribute to the good

things more satisfying than seeing your

old fashioned fishing style we all (well,

friends land their personal bests or at

most of us) grew up with – bait & burley.

least nice, big fish. While he has boated

Kurt Bennetto looks at the finer details

a better fish (mentioned in the Far North

of luring giant Snapper form the rough

Article) the cover shot of Darren Parsons

while Darren Parson takes to the high

with his best King on a jig is a doosey –

seas off the North of the north in search

nice mate! The King was landed out with

of Kayak Kingfish – again, bait is the key.

Carl Muir from Epic Adventures – hat

Christmas is nearly upon us and there’s

WEBSITE / www.NZ Fisher.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!

tip to Carl for the pic.

Happy Fishing!

Derrick

www.nzfisher.co.nz 5

boatFISHING feature

y & e l r u B ” do s t i a b big ness. i s u b e th ” 6 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Old School Snapper Tactics // Out with the new

in with the old

By Kurt Bennetto

ith the new technology

Location and Conditions

and methods such as soft

The location is paramount when

plastic fishing the days of

targeting big snapper and the shallows

stray lining the big baits with massive

is the place to find them. Anything

burley trails are fading away. Most

from three to fifteen meters of water

people you speak to on Monday at

is perfect. I look for anything from a

work about there fishing weekend or

costal point to a costal gut, through

wherever it may be always seem to

to a sunken rock just off the shore.

catch their fish on soft plastics. Howev-

Whatever it may be it needs to look

er the “old school� method produces

rocky and rugged.

BIG snapper and in certain places is

The perfect conditions for big snapper

BETTER and much more effective than

fishing are after a big onshore storm or

soft plastic fishing, in fact it is still my

blow has passed through. This generally

personal favourite.

leaves behind a nice swell pounding www.nzfisher.co.nz 7

the shore stirring everything up from sand to kina which creates a haven for big snapper. All of my best snapper fishing has occurred when there is a nice swell running.

Another big bonus for fishing in surgy conditions is that your bait stays much more active and doesn’t get snagged near as often because it continuously moving up and down in tandem with the surge. This also assists and gives you an advantage with keeping that 20 pounder up off the bottom when you’re hooked up. When you compare that to fishing a dead calm day without any water movement your bait easily sinks and gets snagged which is extremely frustrating and can get rather pricey.

Position the boat so that when you cast your bait it lands halfway between your boat and the rocks this is a good method of getting your position right which is normally not to far off the mark.

Obviously it’s not the same for every spot but I use this method as the general rule of thumb. Another important thing to get right is your position aligned with the current, here is nothing worse than the burley going up past the anchor closely followed by your line!

Bait and Burley The burley trail is the deal breaker, it is so important to be stocked with burley as you head out for your big snapper hunt. The burley trail does take a while to work, sometime up to a couple of hours. But as all serious fishermen know patients are required to achieve the results. I find homemade burley is the best, loaded with skip jack tuna and kina which create a massive oil slick on the surface. Plus making your own burley is a good way to clean that bait freezer out.

Bait presentation is also very important when targeting snapper. I cringe when

www.nzfisher.co.nz 9

A lot of people don’t realise but a just legal sized snapper will hoover back the average whole pilchard no trouble at all.

I see someone cut a pilchard onto

with a big burley trail running you will

before you get a taker for your big bait

quarters and put a cube on each hook,

have kahawai, mackerel and even trivially

but when you do its normally a good

it just looks so unnatural and wrong.

appear, take advantage of this and get

snapper. When this happens be sure to

A lot of people don’t realise but a just

some fresh bait, you cant beat it and it

let this fish swallow the bait, because the

legal sized snapper will hoover back the

will pay off. I personally like to catch a few

bait is bigger than normal give it longer

average whole pilchard no trouble at all.

mackerel in the harbour before we even

in free spool before you slam the drag

I normally start off with whole pilchards

head out. Remember it is important with

up and strike.

and as the burley trail starts working

cuts baits to have them presented well

Put the plastic away for a weekend, get

and fish start getting bigger this is the

which consists of long thin strips rather

out there and get back to the old skool

time to go for the big fresh bait such as

than a square cut which is near impossible

this method is still the best for catching

a whole butterflied mackerel or even a

for a snapper to suck back.

those big moochers in the shallows.

full length kahawai fillet split down the

Now, when lobbing that big bait down

Remember location, Burley and big

middle. Quite often when snapper fishing

the burley trail it may take a while

baits. Good luck!

10 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Gurnard capers with Espresso Want to catch Gurnard? Heres how! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX3T3YuV1M8

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competition

Name the species

ere’s a new competition for NZ Fisher Subscribers. We want to test your fish knowledge with a series of fishy pictures. If you think you know what species this is, just email Capt. Snappy at derrick@nzfisher.co.nz with your guess.

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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 #3!

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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. www.nzfisher.co.nz 13

scienceFEATURE

Areas where the tagged fish were released. Credit: NIWA

The Scientist & the Fish //Where do our Snapper go – Part II

By Darren Parsons, Fisheries Scientist, NIWA

What the tags revealed

The median distance between

with some making longer-distance

The location at which tagged snapper

release and recapture for these

movements. The most mobile of the

were recaptured was highly dependent

fish was only 690 metres, with very

fish we tagged were from the mid

on where they were originally tagged.

few fish moving greater distances.

Hauraki Gulf. The median distance

The snapper least likely to move were

Fish tagged in the inner Hauraki

between release and recapture for

those tagged in shallow rocky reef areas

Gulf were slightly more mobile. The

these fish was 18.9 km. Many of these

(in this case around the coast of Leigh

median distance between release and

fish moved long distances, often into

and Kawau Island).

recapture for these fish was 2.2 km

the Bay of Plenty. The longest distance

14 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Short Distance Movements� and “Long Distance Movements Credit: NIWA

Mel (NIWA) and fish Credit: NIWA

www.nzfisher.co.nz 15

Fishermen have known for many years that snapper are capable of undertaking long- distance movements or being resident to small areas.

movement we observed was from a

that even when the fishing in inshore

fish that was recaptured just north of

waters is poor, there are still likely

Gisborne, a total movement in excess

to be resident fish in the area. So

of 450 km!

some snapper probably will not leave

These results confirm what fishers

their usual haunts, even over spring

as the level of fishing effort in the

suspected, that both resident

when large numbers of other snapper

inner Hauraki Gulf is much higher than

‘kelpies’ and more mobile ‘school

aggregate to spawn.

at Leigh and Kawau. The most likely

fish’ are present within the same

explanation is that the population size of snapper on the rocky reefs near

only able to tag snapper from a

How fishing may affect different snapper populations

limited area within the Hauraki

The tagged snapper recaptured in this

less fishing effort can extract a greater

Gulf, it seems that snapper from

study not only helped us understand

proportion of the population). If

deeper water are more mobile and

fish movements, but also the level of

correct this implies that populations of

those from shallower waters more

extraction by fishing experienced in

resident snapper are more vulnerable

residential. The resident snapper

the different areas in which tagging

to overexploitation.

were also made up of both large and

occurred. Snapper from the rocky

small fish; big fish did not seem to

reef areas near Leigh and Kawau

localised areas containing resident

travel any more or less distance than

experienced the highest extraction

snapper could become depleted

small ones. Snapper in the rocky reef

rates (~5% annually) whereas snapper

regardless of what the overall

areas near Leigh and Kawau were

from the inner and mid Hauraki Gulf

snapper stock is doing. This is likely

predominantly resident, as were the

areas had annual extraction rates of

an important issue for recreational

snapper tagged in shallow muddy

around 4.3% and 3.3% respectively.

fishers, who largely fish in areas where

areas near Auckland. This suggests

This result was somewhat surprising

resident snapper are prevalent. I

snapper stock. Although we were

16 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Leigh and Kawau is small (meaning

These results therefore suggest that

Mel (NIWA) and fish

suspect it comes down to a situation

Post script note:

of having your cake and eating it.

NIWA is continuing to analyse

hearing from you, please call 09-

Healthy populations of resident

other information arising from this

375 2050. Finally, we would like to

snapper ensure easy access to good

tagging programme which will be

thank all the fishers who returned

fishing experiences, but each localised

communicated to the public in the

information on tagged snapper to us.

population will only be able to sustain

future. If you do catch a tagged

Without your cooperation this project

a certain amount of extraction.

snapper we are still interested in

would not have been possible.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 17

kayakFEATURE

As Far North As The Eye Can See

// A man and his fish Words and Pics by Daren Parsons

,

ish are where you find them,

areas where there are no boats? For

loads of beautiful places and great

but where might that be? I

a while now, I have wanted to try the

fishing too. As you head north of

guess you can look at it from

second idea out and head to a really

Kaitaia you can feel the remoteness

two perspectives. If dozens of boats

remote area targeting big snapper and

creep in around you, and I was hoping

are all anchored up in the same spot

kingfish. So with a tent, 30 packs of

this would also spell big fish. My tactic

it might be because there are a lot of

soft baits and a kayak on the roof, to

was to catch kahawai live baits, bridle

fish there. Alternatively, there might be

the top of the North Island I went.

rig them and slow troll them behind

virtually untouched fish populations in 18 www.nzfisher.co.nz

The Far North really is blessed with

the kayak along remote stretches of

ts e g id ere” M ” rywh Eve

finding a reef that looked promising and it was with great anticipation that I made my first cast. “Whack”, my bait was hit before sinking to the bottom, but the fish was not big. Two hours later my enthusiasm was waning. I had covered all of a few hundred metres, caught a bunch of snapper, but couldn’t entice anything of decent size. Moving away from the coast into slightly deeper water resulted in a few fish of slightly better size, but as I drifted out even further they stopped biting. I put my rod down and rearranged my position as something gave the line a tug. I hooked the fish, which initially didn’t pull hard, but as I came into more direct contact the fish it screamed off This is why I was soft baiting with 20 lb braid and a rod rated to 60 lb. I cranked the drag and lent into him, but he kept going and going. Feeling uneasy about applying more pressure and risking pulling the hook, there wasn’t much else I could do. The fish eventually reefed me, despite the bottom being pretty flat.

I could still feel the fish, and for the next 10 minutes I floated above trying to free it.

The water was shallow (about 10 ft deep) and I toyed with the idea of swimming down to free the line.

Eventually the line did snap however and I cursed not taking the plunge. That could have been the difference between a successful or failed trip.

When I got back to shore I decided to take advantage of the calm weather and head to a more exposed spot

northland coast. As I paddled along I

weather was perfect and the water oh

about as far north as you can go. I also

would also flick soft baits at any gnarly

so clear.

expected this to be even more remote,

looking rocks that might hold monster

On my first days fishing the sun was just

but there were a lot of people in the

snapper. This trip had been a long time

coming over the horizon as I paddled

camp site and I soon discovered that

in the planning. Furthermore, a month

down a creek next to the camp site

most of them were fishing.

of easterly winds and an unexpected

where I was staying. I pulled my kayak

Seems I was not the first person to

transaction on a house delayed my

over a sand dune and set off into the

think the far north might be a likely spot

departure. The wait was worth it, the

surf. I didn’t need to go far before

for a kingfish. Despite the numerous www.nzfisher.co.nz 19

”Onward to Surville Cliff”

land based fisho’s, I was about the only

both under 6 ft.

person fishing from some form of boat.

Catching a live-bait was not difficult.

So as I paddled out the next morning it

What was more difficult was catching

was with some anxiety.

one small enough so that I had more of a

Aside from the open ocean, swirling

chance of hooking a reasonable kingfish,

current lines and lack of other boats to

as opposed to something that would

come to my aid if needed, I couldn’t

tow me to Australia. Eventually a nice

stop thinking that this was probably the

1.5kg kahawai was bridle rigged and

last place in the world you should really

sent behind the boat. I managed

be attaching yourself to a 2 kg kahawai

to paddle and fish about 12 miles

in a vessel with virtually no freeboard.

of coast that day. There were plenty of

Stories of people hooking gigantic

snapper up in the wash, but my biggest

sharks at this spot were firm in my mind

was only about 3.5 kg.

and as I passed around peninsulas where

I towed the kahawai behind me the

A fine fish a ny day but not – the ta rget to day The next morning I was determined the day would

the current would drag me out to sea I

whole day, and aside from a couple of

end differently, one way or another.

felt slightly uneasy. What I did have in my

very small kingfish jumping next to it,

Unfortunately, it all seemed to play out the

favour was a waterproof VHF and a call

there was no interest. After a long day

same way. I caught my live bait, I caught a

schedule with the kind folk at Far North

at the paddle I was most pleased to

bunch of ok snapper, my butt hurts again,

Radio. Not that they could really help me

set foot ashore. Mostly because I could

and still no kingfish. At least I was feeling

if I became connected to a shark. Earlier

barely move my legs after 12 hours

slightly more comfortable with being on

in the summer this had happened on a

sitting in the same position, but also

an exposed and barren stretch of coast

couple of occasions, but thankfully the

because that uneasy feeling disappeared

without a person in sight. Towards the end

sharks (mako and hammerhead) were

as I neared the beach.

of the day I had basically given up hope. I

20 www.nzfisher.co.nz

”The

battle comes to an end”

had one more peninsula to round before

to side would be a different

turning for camp, and I found myself

story, hence my reluctance

thinking, “If its going to happen it would

to apply full drag earlier in

be better here than off that exposed and

the fight. Once I got over

current ridden peninsula”

the fish there were a few

……Cue screaming ratchet……..

blistering vertical runs, but

“Slowly increase drag…..Holy heck,

nothing like the initial 1

I’m hooked up, and by the wake

mile tow.

coming off my kayak and the speed I

Eventually I could

am heading out to sea its probably a

see electric gold and

kingfish….Increase drag….Holy heck

green beneath me

×2, I am going even faster. I didn’t think

and while the speed of the

The mighty kingf ish beaten – but so was the angler

that was possible.”

fish had given me confidence it wasn’t

About 1 mile from the coast (which

a shark this was also a relief. The fish

was also about 1 mile north of New

then floated to the surface and didn’t

Zealand) I decided an emergency sea

move a fin. This allowed me to take

anchor deployment was required. Of

some self pics (not easy) and lift on the

course it was tangled and took another

fish to feel its weight.

couple of minutes to get into the water.

The pictures don’t do it justice as

By now I was nearing 2 miles north

the fish is more than a metre behind

of New Zealand in the middle of a

my head, but I estimate its weight at

gigantic current line. Fortunately the

being in excess of 22 kg. As I had no

sea was calm, but for a nano second I

ice and planned to stay in the north

did contemplate cutting the line. The

for another few days I had no other

drogue slowed my progress and I was

option but to release it.

able to push the drag up to strike, about

The rest of the trip pales in

8 kg of drag being applied through 60

comparison really, despite the white

lb line. To be honest, the fish behaved

sand dunes, crystal clear waters,

perfectly throughout the fight. Apart from

good snapper and 4.5 kg trevally that

turning towards me initially, it had run in

were all present at my next camp site.

a straight line for the entire fight. That

Overall I spent about 15 full days

Self takes are so much fun!

it was definitely worth it. Now I just

meant I was able to keep the line just off

towing kahawai behind my kayak

need to figure out a way of increasing

my bow which put all the force over the

this summer for one fish. I imagine

the catching and decreasing the

length of my kayak and kept me nice and

I paddled over dozens of trophy

paddling, otherwise I’ll be doing the

stable. A fish that size darting from side

snapper in search of that one fish but

miles again next summer. www.nzfisher.co.nz 21

theFISHstock

Scallops, Summer’s Richest Gift ello and welcome to the second installment of the Fish Stock. I hope you managed to impress a few folks with the Kingfish and Prosciutto Wraps from the first issue. If you haven’t tried them yet they will make the perfect entrée to this month’s recipe.

What can possibly be better then kicking back on a sunny summer’s afternoon with a cold beer, after gathering what would have to be one of the most sought after and succulent delicacies our coastline has to offer?

Zygochlamys delicatula, Scallops or Fresh is best (and raw they’re delicious too!)

Tipa in Maori.

Serves 4 as a main

Ingredients 20 fresh scallops

Method This is a great quick dish to whip up.

Stir the fried chili, garlic, lemon juice and rind through the noodles with a

300g soba noodles

It pays to have all of the ingredients

pinch of salt and pepper and a good

2 tsp grated ginger

cut, prepared and ready to go before

glug of olive oil. Cover and set aside.

½ cup of good Sauvignon Blanc

cranking up the pan; things need to cook

or Pinot Gris

in unison to stay hot and fresh.

1 fresh red chili finely chopped

First of all, bring a pot of water to the

Pour a bit more oil to the hot pan, add the scallops and fry for a minute on each side.

Keep the heat up and bit by bit pour the

Rind of one lemon finely chopped

boil and cook the noodles for about 5-6

wine and ginger mix over the scallops. Let it

Juice of one lemon

minutes before removing and rinsing in

reduce and deglaze all the goodness off the

3 cloves garlic finely chopped

cold water. While these are cooking; in a

pan onto your scallops for another minute.

200g rocket

fry pan add some olive oil and lightly fry

Olive oil

the garlic and chili, remove from the pan

scallops, a side of rocket and serve with

Salt and Pepper

and set aside (keep the pan on the heat).

a fresh glass of Pinot Gris.

Mix together the ginger with the wine.

22 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Plate up the noodles with a share of the

Tight lines and empty plates!

BIG FISH

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Torque

Designed in NZ, made in NZ & exported around the world www.nzfisher.co.nz 23

theWORKface

Where good tackle proves itself // The Inchiku

Rock-G

By Grant ‘Espresso’ Bittle

ou know, there’s nothing like

their flutter in water works wonders on fish

when fishing was average at best, you

shiny sparkling new and fasci-

from Mackerel through to Marlin and pretty

know the ones, moon not right, not a

nating looking fishing tackle

much everything in between. In addition

lot of current - a good test in fact. The

to try right? After-all doing the same

the Rock-G has a holographic style shiny

moment I plopped this little jig in the

ol’ same ol’, can get a little staid and

scale-like weighted body, eyes, razor sharp

water and gave it a twitch, I just knew

it is possible to gradually diminish the

hook…things that do the fish catching trick,

this would work. The angled darting,

all-important aspect of discovery, chal-

so what about all of this in combo?

panicked, fleeting motion of the jig is

lenge and the delight of finding a new

Other aspects that captured my

excellent. It moves just like a fleeing,

successful technique to hunt fish with.

attention about this particular jig when

perhaps injured little baitfish – the very

When you’re out on the water and

I first gazed upon it was the offset…

prey that so many fish are after. In the

perhaps looking at a bit of coastline

everything. Offset shaped weighted

wash, down the face of deep drop offs,

and thinking “that looks fishy”…here’s

body, offset hook attachment, all about it

darting in and out of weedy areas and

something that might just tick all the

seemed out of alignment and angled, out

out over expanses of sand…a ‘oh hell

right boxes.

of balance almost. But that offset nature

I’m in the wrong place’ kind of motion

is exactly why this jig imparts its own

is exactly what this Rock-G jig screams.

unique and tempting action in the water.

The neat sideways and seemingly

Having more than just one or two methods delivering a knockout punch to fish on the boat is essential in my books,

So even before tying it on the end

random drastic escaping swim action is

not every day is the same, and if it was,

of my lightweight soft plastic rod and

certainly enough to entice both feeding

fishing could become rather dull now and

reel setup out drifting around in the

and predatory strikes from Snapper and

then. Now looking at this new little jig

big salty puddle I was excited about

other fish species no doubt.

(new to me anyway) perked my intrigue

the possibilities being conjured up in

straight away – after all it has some very

my mind. I started to develop a plan, a

and jigging arsenal of tackle prevalent

good looking time honoured components

cunning plan, time to be lured in Mr. and

in mine and many other keen fishers

like the little luminous bead, a well known

Mrs. Snapper!

tackle bags. With retrieval action similar

attractant for many fish, especially New Zealand Snapper. The colourful skirts – well 24 www.nzfisher.co.nz

A great accompaniment to the soft bait

With only limited knowledge about

to both styles its ideal to use on your

how this could work, I set out on a day

lighter setups with braided line, and

fish) you need more than one approach,

eventually get eaten, but if you give it

the more options the better.

some motion showing signs of (failing)

While still occasionally venturing out with bait and burley my personal

often than not by the bigger fish, not just

preference has turned towards the more

tiny pickers. That why jigs work, action,

clinical approach. Clinical in terms of

flutter, attraction = a call to action!

reducing the clean up time, smell and

ck Paull

Credit: Derri

old John “Even stealthy Rock-G” Dory love the

life, it’ll get hit far more often, and more

Remember fish don’t have thumbs, the

mess aboard my trailer boat, simplicity

only true way to check if something is

if you like increasing both success rates

edible is to bite at it, the more attractive

and reducing the ‘work’ associated with

the action, the more attention, the more

fishing. My boat these days is being

bites and hookups. The Rock G has a

transformed into a clinical fish hunting

very attractive action in the water not

machine. Fast, smell free, clean and

only to fishers, but to the fish.

successful fish hunts are the order of stealthy lighter leader (the bite and

the day, much appreciated by kids (zero

hookup is well back from the line so

bait smell helps reduce sea sickness),

little chance of bite-offs). What a great

and those that don’t like the smell of

option to have on the boat, carrying a

bait or soft bait liquids in their fingers

few different weighted Rock-Gs, always

after fishing – and these little jigs tick

at hand, clean and simple, no smell or

lots of boxes.

mess, goo or gunk, and no deterioration,

With successful catching being the

instantly ready and most importantly,

number 1 priority, I’ve found that using

they catch fish!

rod/reel, and line weights at least

Perfect to have in the tackle box to

roughly designed for what I’m doing

increase the options and a truly fun way

adds not only to the ability to detect

to come home with the goods, especially

and secure hookups, but to the pleasure

if you like jigging. Over the recent years

in achieving a successful days fishing.

of fishing I have tried a lot of different

Various styles of jigs have been around

approaches to catching fish, enjoying

a long, long time and will continue

each and every one for their own process

to be as they are an effective way of

to hunt down and capture my targeted

hooking fish. Why they work is simple

prey. Through interest and necessity I

– fish are more often than not attracted

now have increased the options available

to bite something with correct visual

and approaches used to catch fish. After

stimulation/attraction. Even when using

all to be successful each time, avoiding

a whole real Pilchard for instance, if it’s

the disappointment of a skunking (no

just lying there on the sea floor, it will

Credit: Grant Bittle

“Snapper find the Inchiku irresistable.”

www.nzfisher.co.nz 25

theCLUBHOUSE

North Shore Surfcasting Club

26 www.nzfisher.co.nz

// Over Forty Years catching the best The NSSC Committee

or over forty years the North

The Club’s beginnings were strongly in

Ray’s humorous story telling skills are

Shore Surfcasting Club has

the hands of founding member and North

renowned and Ron’s exceptional memory

been leading the way with

Shore Fishing legend Stu Hunt . The

of the clubs history is priceless.

monster Snapper, Kingfish, Kahawai

early club members found that our type

and Trevally. Records for all three spe-

of Rock and landbased fishing was well

and local interclub competition is envied

cies have at one time or another been

suited to the use of Alvey fishing reels.

by most of the National Body. The club

held by NSSC members, the Kahawai

A large number of the clubs greatest

has produced Open, mens, Junior and

record still stands, as do the Kingfish

catches have been recorded on Alvey

team wins at the NZAand CA’s national

and Snapper from the rocks.

reels, their simple, robust design has

champs in 5 of the last ten competitions

been credited with many fine catches

and missed overall wins in 2004 and 2006

founded in 1968. Over the years it has

over the years. These fine catches include

by miniscule margins, often beating the

grown from a ‘small handful’ of die-hard

Trevor Savory’s TWO 30lb plus snappers!

boaties outright. The club fishes against

The North Shore Surfcasting Club was

fishermen to its present day status - a

Stu was an exceptional fisherman and a

The club’s record at both Nationals

other Auckland and Northland clubs each

highly popular, family-oriented club

great mate of many of the clubs past and

year for the Davy Jones Challenge and

that boasts more NZ Fishing Records

present members. The club was formed

Stu Hunt Memorial challenge. These are

(both Junior and Senior) than any other

by a group of die hard fisho’s with the

currently held by Rodney Fishing Club

land-base club in the country. We’ve

intention of getting out and catching

after they won it back from NSSC in 2006.

also taken won the NZACA Nationals

the best fish they could with their Mates.

on many occasions in Senior Mens and

Other founding members Sue and Ray

competition in Maunganui (Doubtless

Women’s as well as juniors!

NSSC and Doubtless Bay fish an annual

‘Cat-weasel’ MacIntyre and Ron Cross (all

Bay) over the Queens Birthday weekend

Currently there are 10 Life-members in

now based in Tairua) regularly commute

each year. This fish is usually the most

the club including former NZ angling and

to Auckland to remain involved with the

popular competition of the year with

casting past presidents Frank King and

club. The last such trip was for the 2006

up to 90 members from both clubs

Ted Audain.

prize giving at the clubrooms in Milford.

competing for excellent prizes.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 27

regionalREVIEWS

BOP ell the fishing has been

has been out of Tauranga that has stood

turned up big time. Day one saw some

nothing short of amazing

out. Some days the bite will last all day with

good fish landed up to around 20kg but

out of Tauranga over the

fish busting up on the surface everywhere,

it was day two that stood out with the fish

past month, the run of juvenile squid

other days it has been more difficult but

biting their heads off all day. We never

have arrived and with that the kingfish

you still get a bite at some stage.

counted the fish but we all guessed that

have become almost suicidal when

Derrick & the team from NZ Fisher

the final tally would have been over 100

presented with a quality stick bait.

headed out in Early October and were

and all of these fish were caught on top

Jigs have been accounting for a large

treated to an unbelievable day on the

water lures. I dropped one jig and it got

number of fish and the biggest in recent

surface gear, while they didn’t hit any

nailed straight away by a barracuda so

trips tipped the scales at the magical 50

monsters the fish were constant all

needless to say the jig rod spent the rest

pound mark. But the bigger fish on jigs

day. In all they nailed over 100 fish that

of the day hidden away.

have been hard to come by as the little

averaged 12-15kg. Aaron McDonald

kingies have been charging in before

topped the day with a 23kg fish taken on

trips out lately with some great fishing,

they even get a chance.

top water gear.

I would like to thank everybody who

We have had some really memorable

Top water has been where it’s at and the

We had Malcolm and Chris from Sydney

whole Bay of Plenty has been on fire from

out recently on a trip organised by Ocean

thoroughly enjoyed your company.

Waihau Bay to Cuvier Island but for us it

Blue Fishing Adventures and the fish

www.extremesportfishing.co.nz

Coromandel

has come out with us recently I have

Source: Carl Muir/Epic Adventures

t has been a pretty special week at

The snapper have well and truly played

the Aldermen Islands out of Tairua

ball this week as well with Ian Du Plessis

All the snapper are out deep at present

this week, good crews on Epic with dif-

caught on the Jigstart spiral wrap.

pictured here with a nice snapper taken

and a long line of big snapper caught on

ferent day trips every day getting to some

on a livebait. Tobez has had a couple

livebaits and softbaits this week was the

quality fishing action.

of monster days on Sanity this week,

result, like this nice 9kg fish to Peter.

Fish of the week on Epic was this monster 33kg kingfish - a solid fish going 1.35m - to

livebaiting the Aldermen Islands.

There has been a patch of XOS

The conditions have been just superb over the last week and the fishing out of Tairua

Andrew Foreman from Waiheke Island who

mackeral in the Bay which has made for

came out on a Boulder Guiding trip with

a healthy livebait tank and you know

us to check out some of his rods and reels.

what they say - big bait - big fish, that

2 degrees to be pushing 18 degrees so it

The kingfish took the biggest livie we had in

rang true and they accounted for some

isn’t long before the marlin and tuna turn up.

the tank, it has been fair to say the kingfish

very nice 20-30kg kingfish. The following

For more choice pics from the week on

have been proprtional to the size of the

day saw a couple of big kings again to

livebaits you’ve stuck down this week.

Gazza pictured opposite with a 30 kegger

28 www.nzfisher.co.nz

and Whitianga has just been awesome.

The water temp has also spung up a good

Epic check the full report www.epicadventures.co.nz

Outer Gulf Source: Grant Bittle ‘Espresso’

he middle Hauraki Gulf, eastern

right workups, because there’re workups

Tiri, southern Whangaparaoa

and there are workups…but that’s an

peninsula, the Firth of Thames,

entire study in itself (basics are covered

southern Kawau through to Orewa have all been invaded by baitfish, and big bait

in the Catch Snapper DVD).

Most forms of terminal tackle have

West Coast/ Taranaki Things are definitely hot on the West coast with most anglers heading out to the 40-60m marks & nailing prime fish.

There have been many reports coming

schools remain out wider. O.K. so we

been working well, but those that

aren’t out there targeting tiny baitfish

emulate a wounded Pilchard have been

back form the Raglan locals that it’s

for dinner on even tinier sabikis – but

the best. While swimming literally in a

easier to catch a 15-20 pound fish than a

where there’s baitfish, the bigger preda-

bait-ball the other day the underwater

pannie! NZFisher contributor Ian Biddick

tors lurk, and there are some big ones

roundup is a majestic thing to see – and

was lured down to Raglan by the lure

in amongst the schooling fish. Many

it’s going on out there on a daily basis,

of his first 20lb + snapper (the boat had

Snapper in the 15lb+ mark (and a few

usually more than once a day too. The

landed three the day before) and came

20lbers) are being caught close by the

condition of the Snapper, Kingfish,

a way happy, but not that happy with a

bait-schools, nice legal sized Kingfish

Gurnard, Dory is simply superb with

new PB of nearly 8kgs. Rule of thumb,

too, and keep an eye out for the odd

early spawning season vitality. When

deep ids good & smelly bait is the only

toothy Mako showing off their nice shiny

it’s on, it’s on, when it’s not – well it’s

suits. Over just the past couple of weeks

probably on somewhere else! Move to

the baitfish have been hounded relent-

find the fish as they can swim around a

lessly right into the shallows of places

lot or change your tactics if there are

like Army Bay, Karepiro Bay and along

fish under your boat but not biting e.g.

the North Shore Bays for instance.

using a slow retrieve of a soft plastic

The aerial bombardment has been

for instance has been filling the bins for

way to go!

Things around the Naki are also on the improve with numerous 25+ snapper being weighed and solid reports of bag limits within the hour. The northern reaches (Mokau & White Cliffs) seem to

readily visible from land without

many even when the bite has gone off,

be the best bet while the weather allows

binoculars so searching for workups has

subtle enticing motion is the key.

and the southern haunts have been ‘ok’ without records being broken. Game fish

been as easy as looking seaward from

When you’re out in deeper water –

the beach. In fact 10m depth all round

here’s some helpful tips on increasing

are only a couple of months away – get

the place has been the place to be after

your success with Snapper, 3 minutes

that tackle serviced & make sure your

work most weekday evenings, within fast

is all you need www.youtube.com/

Gamefish club memberships’ up to date!

and easy reach - pannie Snapper city.

watch?v=vXsILZIH-3A

The water temperature struggles

There are number of huge Whales

upwards, but with it the Snapper and

in the Gulf at the moment, in fact a

Kingfish have been swarming in on their

rare Blue Whale was graciously giving

So from the biggest to the smallest

prey, the baitfish. Worthwhile workups

a display along with a Brydes mother

of species out there it’s all on – hey

have been out in the middle, out wide

and her calf just north of Flat Rock one

speaking of smaller fish here’s a bit of

and in close, with the right sort of

afternoon recently, what a wonderful

fun, catch some Gurnard – here’s how

workup and the right attitude prolific

sight to unfold before me, just me and a

with the softly softly approach www.

pickings are an almost certainty. I say the

few Whales having a swim, breathtaking.

youtube.com/watch?v=qX3T3YuV1M8

www.nzfisher.co.nz 29

FisheriesManagementnewsREPORT

Option 4 - the ‘other’ team More fish in the water

the same or better quality of rights

has evolved into providing service to

option4 is a diverse group of people from

while preventing fish conserved for

representative organisations seeking to

around Aotearoa who rallied in mid-

recreational use being given to the

achieve “more fish in the water/kia maha

2000 in response to the government’s

commercial sector.

atu nga ika ki roto i te wai”. The Hokianga

Soundings policy, which sought to confine

4. No licensing of recreational fishers.

Council have received much service.

every New Zealander’s right to fish.

In addition to limiting access, the

Accord and the New Zealand Sport Fishing

By the submission deadline a record

The Hokianga Accord encompasses

bureaucrats also proposed that

60,000 Kiwis had rejected Sounding’s

the non-commercial fishing interests of

fishermen be licensed, irrespective if you

options one, two and three. Clearly

the mid north iwi of Ngapuhi and Ngati

were fishing for food or pleasure.

New Zealanders valued their traditional

Whatua, hapu and whanau, option4, the

right to fish in the sea. A website www.

NZ Sport Fishing Council and a number

Principles

option4.co.nz was established to

of environmental organisations.

Led by Paul Barnes, option4’s Project

provide hard-to-source information and

After fourteen overnight hui with

leader, a team of dedicated people

a contact point for people who wanted

many people contributing a good

travelled thousands of kilometers talking

to stay abreast of important access,

understanding of each other’s aspirations

at fishing clubs and public meetings.

management and policy issues.

and mutual concerns has developed.

Today a team of experienced writers,

Overwhelming support was given for option4’s principles:

Public awareness

policy analysts, fisheries management

1. A priority right over commercial

option4 was also an integral part of

specialists and legal advisors respond

fishers for free access to a

the four-year Kahawai Legal Challenge,

to a variety of proposals and seek to

reasonable daily bag limit to be

which concluded with the Supreme

offer regular updates and insight on the

written into legislation.

Court decision in May 2009. The

complex topics of fisheries management

outcome was mostly positive for non-

and the allocation of public resources

2. The ability to exclude commercial methods that deplete recreationally

commercial interests. However, recent

important areas.

management decisions have poorly

to call or email either Trish Rea (09 8186205,

reflected the Court’s rulings.

trish@option4.co.nz ) or Scott Macindoe

3. The ability to devise plans to ensure future generations enjoy

Over the past five years option4

For more information please don’t hesitate

(021 622463, scott@wilmac.co.nz ).

Free casio watch

Biscayne

with every Fin-Nor rod & reel combo AHAB

valued at

15000

$

Marquesa

™

If you wish to know more please visit www.nzsportfishing.co.nz.

30 www.nzfisher.co.nz Ask instore for details.

www.fin-norfishing.com

// In the next issue of NZ Fisher…

• Big Snapper ‘old skool styles’ • We test the Power Jig Rock G Inchiku 15 gram • The conclusion to “where do the Snapper go?"

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 31