NZ Fisher Issue 22

f sher ISSUE 22

March 2013

SOLO

MARLIN! NZFisher take on the Chesters ‘Fanatical Fishos’ Comp Rarotonga Still Delivers www.nzfisher.co.nz 1

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PAKULA

LEADING EDGE TACKLE TECHNOLOGY Pete Pakula is a legend in the field of Marlin Fishing & Lure Design. He is responsible for the design of the biggest range of lures availiable in New Zealand & his lures are responsible for a tonne of bill fish and other game species. His extensive fishing experience, constant research in fish behaviour and lure behaviour has resulted in this truely tried, tested and successful lure range.

Many are included in the “top 10 lures of all time”.

2 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Mini sprocket

Carbon solo gloves

Lure leader

Jet hea head sprocket

Deckies mate ate plie pliers ers

12

editorial

CONTENTS Pg 6

16

TRAVELFISHING 6

Rarotonga still has the Goods

SPORTFISHING 12

NZFisher at the Mokes

16

The Chesters ‘Fanatical Fishos’

competition

28

New Stuff

20

Reader Pics & competition

JETSKIFISHING 24

Just Dooing it at the Work-ups…

BOATFISHING 27

The Boat Show is Coming in May

28

Video of the month

29

Coming soon

Pg 24

www.nzfisher.co.nz 3

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4 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Scan me for a free cap!

editorial

//From the

EDITOR 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 CONTENT ENQUIRIES /

THERE’S A WEE STORM brewing in

of Sealord are receiving for their

Phone Derrick on 021 629 327

the north that may bring some rain

unsustainable fishing practices in the

or email derrickp@NZ Fisher.co.nz

but even if that does touch down

south Pacific. Fishers – our voice is

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES /

before we go to print this will go

being heard! More pressure and we

Phone Richard on 09 522 7257

down as the driest, fishiest summer I

might even see some yellow fin tune

can remember. There’s reports every

or email richardl@espiremedia.com

back in our waters.

ADDRESS / NZ Fisher,

Forsyth Thompson was lucky enough

C/- Espire Media, PO Box 137162,

to spend some time in Rarotonga

Parnell, Auckland 1151, NZ

recently & managed a PB yellow fin –

WEBSITE / www.NZ Fisher.co.nz

day of Marlin being landed on both coasts, the kingfish numbers being caught are unprecedented (if not by size anyway) and the Hauraki Gulf snapper fishery has fired back up again as the fish finish their spawning & look for a winter hide-away. If this is

something we largely don’t see here at all anymore – but at least we know there are SOME left!

the effect of climate change, I can see

Autumn is a great time to spend

why some want to deny its existence –

time in the shallows with stinky bait,

from a fishing point of view big highs

relaxing while waiting for the big

& light winds means more time on

moochers to arrive especially at

the water. Our thoughts do go out to

change of light. With the right tides

the farmers who’re suffering from the

a relaxing evening fish after-work can

drought and we do hope rain is not

be the way to go as shallow water

far away. Inner harbour snapper have

pannie snapper get hungry before

been hard to find and there’s a theory

their move. Whatever your target

that this is due to no fresh water

species, I hope the weather plays

flushing the rivers – I guess we’ll see

along and you all have a very fishy

what the rains bring!

Easter break too!

Something pleasing in the mainstream

Tight lines,

media is the coverage the likes

Derrick

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!

Main pic: “SOLO MARLIN” Angler Mike Feather, Credit: Derrick Paull Inset: “Kenepuru Snapper” Angler Bevan Middlebrook

www.nzfisher.co.nz 5

travelFISHING

Rarotonga Still Has The Goods (Even when the weather doesn’t play along)

By Forsyth Thompson

6 www.nzfisher.co.nz

travelFISHING

ering Captain Willie off od YFT Raro style.

Hooked up to a go

agement! advice and encour

SOME OF OUR READERS might recall

few months before I arrived, Captain

stand up with no gimbal, but I was so

last my trip report from last year’s trip

Willie had landed a 300kg+ blue

excited at the thought of getting one,

to Rarotonga when I set out to catch

marlin which was so big it had to be

I’d have used a surfcaster if he’d told

a land based GT. Standing knee deep

cut into pieces to be weighed! Willie

me to! (I did in fact do that in Aitutaki

in water trying to keep a footing on

not only has the biggest marlin for

one year for GTs but that’s a back-

coral hooked up to monster GTs with

the season but also the most landed,

breaking story for another day).

as much drag as I could hold on to is a

so if anyone was going to get an

The lures went out literally just as we

memory that will be with me forever.

unseasonable but first marlin for me,

left the harbour, including a really big

This year it was something different,

it was the Marlin Queen guys! They’re

one targeting big Blues. I’d only just

chasing yellow fin with fingers crossed

also holders of the Cook Island

finished putting out the last lure and

for a slightly out-of-season marlin. And

record Yellow fin at an impressive

was looking back at the spread when

along the way I got more up close and

85.2kg, so whenever I fish with them,

the big one went screaming off. Captain

personal with big GTs than I’d have

expectations are high!

Willie screams “it’s a big Blue” and

This year the weather was particularly

came steaming down to get the rod out

I’m lucky enough to have both family

unkind, with Cyclone Garry putting

of the holder as I started clearing the

and friends in the Cook Islands, and

in an unwelcome appearance and

rest of the gear. I could hardly believe

amongst them I count Junior Ioapa

shutting down fishing for a number of

we had hooked up to a marlin and only

and his wife Diane who run Marlin

days before and after its arrival. But

a minute or two out of the harbour,

Queen Charters. I’ve fished with them

once past, Bobbi Marie and Marlin

and had just enough time to get on

a number of times over the years but

Queen were the first boats back in

this year was the first time I’d fished

the water. The first trip with Captain

with Captain Willie who runs their

Willie was after marlin to see if he

I thought I was gutted until I saw

second boat, Bobbi Marie, a custom

could break my marlin duck. He’d

Willie’s face, he looked even more

built Stabicraft hard top. Over the last

warned me that he got his 300kg+ on

disappointed than me and he fishes

thought possible.

the wheel and think “this is too easy” before the line suddenly parted.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 7

travelFISHING

A new PB for me and not just fantastic fun but fantastic eating too.

twice a day, 6 days a week. I put the

and breaking it. Meanwhile, we put

deployed lures pretty much as soon

boat in neutral and on retrieving

out a flying fish dead bait with the

as we left the harbour as the drop off

the end of the line, the game swivel

lures and head back down towards

is so close in and fish are often taken

has pulled in half at nowhere even

home for one final look. Suddenly the

right there.

approaching its test pressure.

80W with the flying fish on it goes

Willie tells me this was a really good Blue, the big ones are apparently the ones you never see in the lures and in the short time it was connected; he called it for a good one. He’s caught not just the biggest for the season, but also the most, so I take his word for it and feel even more

off, a few clicks then a lot and then, nothing. We paid the bait back and slowed down the boat in the hope of inducing another take, but it just wasn’t going to happen and we get back a beaten up bait and head home with some great stories, but sadly no marlin this time.

Making our way down the island, we found the swell running a bit and it wasn’t long before the other 2 passengers were getting a bit green around the gills. (Top tip for tourists wanting to have a go at game fishing: if you don’t know if you get seasick or not, there’s a good chance you will. A quick trip to the pharmacy is all it takes!).

disappointed. But also excited, that’s

With another break in the weather (a

the nearest I’ve got to a marlin and

second Cyclone came near enough

Other times out there we’ve watched

I want more! We troll lures out wide

to cause rough weather!) I got a

big yellow fin coming clean out of the

and follow birds up and down the

call from Diane saying they were

water chasing bait but this morning

islands and around the FADs. Another

heading out first thing, so at 5am in

although there were birds working, we

boat hooks up a stripey then loses

the pitch black, we set out to chase

weren’t treated to this. After fishing

it when it leaps, landing on the line

some yellow fin. As ever in Raro, we

one FAD then the next along, with just

8 www.nzfisher.co.nz

travelFISHING

a single strike which failed to produce

call jigging but it bears no relation at

is always great fun and the tuna took

a hook up, we travelled back up the

all to the vertical jigging we do here

advantage of this, making life tough

island to the Panama FAD and Willie

in NZ, it’s simply a case of leaving

on me by getting deep under the

got old school on us! Traditional fishing

the rod in the holder and constantly

boat and just digging in. A couple of

involves an un-weighted baited hook,

pulling back and forth on the line

minutes into the fight, our still-pretty-

a banana leaf containing chopped up

with your hand as the lures are trolled

green-looking passenger hooked up

bait and a rock tied to it with a slip

slowly around, imparting a more

too – this always has the miraculous

knot which releases, all on the end of a

irregular action to them. And it is

effect of making people forget about

hand-line attached to a float.

absolutely more effective than trolling

their sea sickness! This fish came to

So, determine to put us onto some fish,

alone, especially on these small baits:

the boat much more easily and our

we pulled the lures in and set a couple

these guys have been catching YFT

first yellow fin around 12kg was on

of lines like this. Then the Lasers were

since just about forever, and it’s safe

ice. Meanwhile I was doing my best

swapped out for a couple of little 4

to say they know a thing or two!

impression of an absolute rookie and

inch Tsunami soft baits (swim shads) on 4/0 hooks to see if something smaller would get the fish excited.

These are fished in a way the locals

Within just a few minutes I hooked up on the lighter gear we were using and this was clearly no skipjack! In a rolling swell of 1.5+ metres, stand-up

A good day at the office wit h the Marlin Queen. And

couldn’t persuade the fish to come to the gaff as it did those long tuna circles under the boat.

The tiny 4/0 hook held on though and

that was a tough fishing day.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 9

travelFISHING

Cptn Junior supervising Cptn Willie’s work.

CI Record Yellow Fin Tun a Large

a fish around 20kg joined the first.

the island, fished all kinds of lures at 3

less than 30 seconds later the line was

While all this was going on, one of the

different FADs and Captain Willie was

ripped out of my hand and a much

baits had been hit and one of the local

still doing everything he could to put

angrier tuna went storming off. And

fishermen out there was waving his

us on more fish – these guys really do

on the little TLD I was fishing, it just

arms and offering a certain amount of

go the extra mile for you.

kept going. Man I love the sounds of

advice to us! But by the time we got back to the float the fish was gone, sharked or otherwise, so we reset it and went back to trolling. By this point we’d covered a lot of ground around

10 www.nzfisher.co.nz

The birds came in again, and out the back of the lures we saw a good sized fish leave the water chasing bait. To be honest, I couldn’t say what it was, but Willie shouted “yellow fin” and

screaming drag, there’s nothing like it to get the adrenaline going…This was clearly a much stroppier fish and a couple of times I thought I’d lost it as it ran straight at the boat faster than I

travelFISHING

could wind, even with Willie shouting encouragement, but both times the weight came back on and I could breathe again. The fight wore on and with such small hooks and relatively light leader; I had to stay on a light drag setting, so progress was slow, but so much more fun than if I’d been on the 80W. (Did I mention that in the Cooks, real men don’t use gimbals?

The bruise lasted days – I wasn’t going to look soft and ask for one!). Willie was worrying that the hook would wear loose but apparently not that a shark would have it: apparently the Cook Island sharks are well trained and normally only take much smaller tuna off the hook. More on that later…Finally we could see the fish under the boat and the circling began.

Through a lot of laughter, advice and general piss-taking I finally got the fish near enough to gaff and in it went.

Not a huge fish by record standards,

300kg+ Blue Marlin. Next time marlin, next time...

as the freshest sashimi I’ve ever had,

we’ll all be able to enjoy this kind

and then as huge char grilled pieces, I

of fishing back here in NZ again. I

was still enjoying these fantastic fish.

certainly hope so.

I always thought that our NZ kings

On a more sober note though, it does

I’d like to take the opportunity to

were the hardest-fighting fish for their

make me think just what a terrible

thank Junior, Diane and Willie for

weight, but these two fish had been a

loss they are to us in NZ now that

being such fantastic hosts and for

much harder proposition than all but

they’ve been all but cleared out by

working so hard to put us onto fish.

the biggest kings I’d been connected

commercial fishing. It puts the work

There’s a reason that these guys

to up at the 3 Kings. With the added

that Legasea and Greenpeace are

are the busiest charter operators

bonus of stand up gear, light trace,

doing into real context when you get

on the island and catch the most,

small hooks and no gimbal, it took me

out there and experience yellow fin

and biggest fish. Check them out

a long time to stop grinning. In fact,

fishing (and eating) first hand. Perhaps

on Facebook for regular updates

when we sat down for dinner at the

if we all act together by choosing

of fishing in paradise. It’ll make you

Pacific that night, having it served first

carefully what we buy and don’t buy,

jealous, but it’s worth it!

but at “a bit over 25kg” it was a best for me and with the amount of effort we’d put in, a hugely satisfying one.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 11

sportFISHING Ariel with the first king that got the ball rolling

NZFisher at the Mokes Forbes leaves the rocks behind in search of a kingfish

By Forbes Thomson

3AM STARTS ARE few and far between for fishing trips for me but this was a bit special.

Getting to head out and fish around the Mokes (Mokohinau Islands) was definitely worth it.

This was only my second time fishing for Kingies and first time having a go at mechanical jigging.

I was really looking forward to having my arms pulled!

We left from Marsden Cove on the good ship Nimble II and settled in to a fairly lengthy journey out there through some pretty

12 www.nzfisher.co.nz

sloppy waters. Once there, we weren’t too long in finding some promising sign and everyone dropped their jigs to the bottom.

The first hook up came pretty quickly, but it turned out to be a baracouta. This looked to be the way of it with couta after couta coming aboard. Then one of the boys realised the kingies were sitting at 50m rather than on the bottom. Within a few minutes it was a bit of a frenzy as there were multiple hook ups and decent sized fish being boated. I landed

sportFISHING Diamond Fusions’ Simon Bell with his first Kingfish

Going lightweight

By Forbes Taylor

Diamond E yes for the de pths

one estimated to be about 12kgs, by no means a monster but it put up a good account for itself. I was also bust off on what was definitely going to be a PB for me [Ed: Damned couta accounted for what was easily the best hook-up of the day. The fish dealt to Forbes who did end up getting it almost all the way up before the leader knot was hit by a couta. A real shame after all Forbes’ hard work].

To make matters worse I had put in all the hard yards on him and almost had him to the boat. Never

ir toll on gear Toothy critters took the

sportFISHING

The author with his first legal kingfish

One for the bin

in! pain, no ga No kingfish

Stickbaits barely raisesd a fish even with schools of trevally circling the boat.

14 www.nzfisher.co.nz

mind there will be another time...

We did a few more drifts, but struggled to find the fish in numbers like we did on the first one. In the end, we all ended up catching a King so not a bad result. The skipper finished off the fishing with a bit of a bottom fish at Maori Rocks at the back of Fannel Island. The highlight of which (for me anyway!) was seeing a few sizeable schools of Trevally feeding on krill on the surface.

Then it was in to the long journey home which gave us ample opportunity to tell tales of the one that got away.

www.adventuresmart.org.nz

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO The Boating Safety

CODE Before you go boating on our seas, lakes and rivers, get familiar with New Zealand’s Boating Safety Code, no matter what kind of boat you use.

1

Life jackets

5 4

Take them – Wear them.

3

Skipper responsibility

to help you stay safe:

Marine weather New Zealand’s weather can be highly unpredictable. Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes.

Boats, especially ones under 6m in length, can sink very quickly. Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water.

2

simple rules

5

Avoid alcohol

The skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat. Stay within the limits of your vessel and your experience.

Safe boating and alcohol do not mix.

Things can change quickly on the water. You need to stay alert and aware.

Communications

The Water Safety

Take two separate waterproof ways of communicating so we can help you if you get into difficulties.

Also available:

CODE

The Outdoor Safety

CODE

For more information about safe boating education and how to prepare for your boating activity, visit www.adventuresmart.org.nz www.nzfisher.co.nz 15

Alan Radcliffe & Scott Macindoe - keeping the Chesters comp on target for 23 years

sportFISHING

landed them. This practice places a real value on the fish weighed in and anglers are not only encouraged to look after their catch better, but to bid high and handsome as all proceeds from the auction are split evenly between Titirangi Coastguard and Legasea.

So, with this knowledge in hand I hooked up with my cabinet maker friend and Chesters client (NOTE: You must be a Chesters New Lynn client to gain entry, this is not a ‘public’ competition) Brendan Jury and made a plan to win this competition! We needed a team of three so, Diamond

The Chesters ‘Fanatical Fishos’ competition

By Derrick Paul

Fusion NZ owner Simon Bell was drafted to Team NZFisher.

Despite not being a huge fan of most competitions I’ve managed to win and place in a few over the years and one thing that I always remind myself of is that you need to plan to win. It’s not often you just head out, drop a line any-old-where and you pull the winning fish. We checked out the species list and chose kingfish as our target species. While there’s always a

I’M NOT USUALLY that excited by

So it’s a real pleasure to say how

fishing competitions. With NZFisher

much I enjoyed and appreciated

it’s part of the game so we get I

the Chesters New Lynn ‘Fanatical

and support as many as we can and

Fishos’ 2013 competition held in

of course we run the Roctoberfish

late February. Alan Radcliffe has

no-where (I once came 11th with a

competition ourselves. When I do

been driving the Fanatical Fishos

9.2kg snapper in a ‘Pub’ competition,

get involved I’m always surprised

competition for all of its 23 years and

lost my fish and didn’t get a prize!)

by how much I enjoy myself and

after all that time it’s no surprise that

the way others are so buzzed by

they have ironed out the kinks.

the event and especially the prize

Instead of anglers bringing in their fish

Zealand and is not too restrictive on

giving. What’s always bugged me

and simply taking them away once

tackle. They have also learned not to

is the wastefulness of competitions;

weighed, the fish are collected by the

allow kahawai – one of the most fun

especially ones that glorify the

organisers & kept in great condition in

fish to catch, but often the easiest and

relentless culling of species like kahawai

troughs of ice, ready to be auctioned

they come in huge numbers, often just

that often end up as fertiliser.

off, often back to the very angler that

to be wasted.

16 www.nzfisher.co.nz

chance of getting skunked, if you do get a decent king they normally place well. Fighting it out over snapper can mean entering good fish but getting

The Chesters competition allows anglers to fish anywhere in New

sportFISHING

Auctioning the NZFisher winning kingfish

We are fishing from a 5 meter boat, so

fields. On our previous trip here two

nothing was interested – not even

despite the near perfect conditions we

weeks earlier it had been crawling

kahawai this day!

couldn’t get to places like the back of

with kings and trevally schooling up,

Great Barrier. The decision was made

smashing bait and producing really

and we chose Little Barrier / Simpsons

nice fish. Today – dead as a doorknob.

Rock as our target area with a shot at

That feeling of dread was starting

the Coral Patch on the way out.

to creep in. We even resorted to

Part one of the plan was to stock up

burleying up to try & get a snapper or

on livies in Omaha Bay once exiting

two but Tanagaroa was not cutting us

Whangateau Harbour but that was

any slack!

soon sidelined when the huge schools

While we were trying options Simon noticed a hammerhead shark cruising by and upon mentioning it I got the first of three follows by a pack of two or three kings. On the forth cast one hit the lure & I was hooked up solidly.

The king had taken an Orion Bigfoot stick bait (one of my favourites) and

The decision was made to cut

very kindly it headed to deeper

Simpsons from the plan and focus

water, following the boat as Brendan

on a few spots at Little Barrier that

motored us away from the rocks. I

Step two was a jig for kings on Leigh

had produced well in the past. The

was using the Okuma Salina II stick

reef. While I haven’t personally landed

first was a very popular haunt for

bait combo on loan from Composite

any large kings here, there’s no doubt

fishos on the north western corner

Developments. It’s a nice set-up,

they frequent the reef. We were there

of the island; a rugged reef that

especially for the price ($499 RRP!) but

on about high tide so with little water

comes up from 20 meters and causes

I had no idea how much hurt I could

movement it was a tad on the slow

the current to build as it passes by.

put on the fish; it dug in and made

side (one hit & subsequent drop). This

The sea was very calm and the sun

a few deep runs, trying to get to the

trip wasn’t panning out so well at all!

beating down, it was feeling less &

bottom. With real fear of losing the

Next to try was the coral patch, a 35m

less fishy all the time. We drifted past

fish I ratcheted up the drag and the

reef that comes out of 50meters and

a couple of times jigging & tossing

Salina responded beautifully, lifting

covers an area of about two football

stick-baits into the white water but

the fish and getting line back. Simon

we encountered refused to take anything we offered up.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 17

sportFISHING

gfish Derrick’s Winning Kin

The Chesters ‘Fanatical Fishos’ Snapper winner & his winning cheque

mentioned a few times the presence

The weigh-station at Chesters was

of now two hammerheads so we

manned by Scott Macindoe & Paul

worked hard to get the king to the

Barnes, scarred old warriors of the

boat before it became dinner for the

Option4 & Legasea recreational

sharks. Brendan did the gaff-work (his

fisheries management lobby groups.

first time on the gaff) and we had our

Scott tells me he’s been at as many

first king (around 15kgs, a nice start).

of the Chesters competitions as Alan,

We measured the fish and put it on ice – although on ice is a bit misleading as

so I’d say this relationship has been cemented for a very long time.

the fish was far from fitting inside the

The weigh-in, auction & prize-giving

chilly bin!

ran like clockwork. After twenty two

We had a few more casts around the reef but failed to raise another fish. On advice from a young ‘old salt’ Alastair at Go Fish we headed to the south western corner of Little Barrier, a spot I’d never fished before. Alastair’s advice paid off as

Scott Macindoe on the value of the Chesters - Legasea relationship

previous events it’s no surprise they have it down pat. Our 15.68kg kingfish took out the top kingfish prize and cost us a satisfying $150 to buy back in the charity auction. I did learn that snapper is the ‘trophy’ fish at the Chesters comp, so maybe we’ll target them next time.

another 8 or so kingfish were landed,

So, as a better educated fisher

none bigger than what we already

with some ideas to translate to the

had so all were released – but it felt

RoctoberFish competition I thank

good to get into numbers of fish

Grant Chester, Alan Radcliffe and the

after such a hard day. We anchored

rest of the team for a really fun, family

up for a quick snapper fish before

orientated competition. I’m looking

heading back in for the weigh-in and

forward to getting involved

prize-giving.

next year!

Brendan with on e of the

18 www.nzfisher.co.nz

hard fought snap per

NEWstuff

Tackle Tests

As tested by NZFisher

Tackle-it ‘Odour Eliminator’’ Tackle it: 179a Archers rd, Glenfield After more than 15 years research & development Tackle-it has established itself as a suit of eco-friendly, effective cleaning products virtually unparalleled in

We have been provided two products

was tear-jerkingly bad. Once the

to use; the Tackle-it ‘Revive-it’ and

offending macks had been removed

Tackle-it ‘Odour Eliminator/Sanitizer’.

& the tank bleached it still stank to

I have seen too many ‘wonder knife’ infomercials to be easily swayed by a product that claims to be everything to everyone but tried the Odour

the heavens so we tested the Odour Eliminator/Sanitizer’ once again and it has (four days later) removed the smell to at most a ‘whiff’ of fishiness.

Eliminator/Sanitizer immediately on

We’re I the testing stages of the

our bench-top compost bin that had

Revive-it on the NZFisher boat &

been ripening in the summer sun.

we’ll report back next month. But if

The results were pretty surprising. It

you’d like to try Tackle-it yourself,

actually worked! That brief trial was

click here to leave your details on

a good start but after Forbes forgot

our Facebook Event page and go

In an age of real environmental

to take three mackerel out of the

into the draw to win one of two

awareness Tackle-it is a beacon of

live-bait tank 7 the boat sat outside

packs of Tackle-it Odour Eliminator

common sense and practicality.

for three days I the sun the stench

and Revive-it.

New Zealand. The tackle-it range includes products as diverse as lake & pond cleaners to deodorisers and metal cleaners and just about everything in between.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 19

READERpics

:Alan McKinvens crew of Brad, Kimbo, Scott & Millie ands their bag of fish from Channel Island.

Big Azza with a spring schoolie

Aaron McDonald got into the workup action with this pair of Hauraki snapper 20 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Dianne Thompson with her first snapper off the beach.

READERpics

Murray Kee & friends grabbed this haul in a one day mission to Great Barrier via Anchorite

Bevan Middlebrook proving there are great snapper in the South Island. This beauty was pulled form Kenepuru Sound

Pa A

www.nzfisher.co.nz 21

Not the desired result for Azza!

READERpics

Steve with a great inner Gulf Puka - thats right, INNER GULF!.

Steve’s best snapper for the season, not shabby at all!

This month’s winner of the ReelWear tee is Dianne Thompson for her first snapper from the beach. Dianne wins a Reel Adventures ReelWear Tee-Shirt. The OKUMA Hoody goes to Bevan Middlebrook for that stunning Kenepuru Sound Snapper. Bevan & Dianne, drop us a line to arrange your size & delivery details.

Win this Reel Wear tee shirt next month by sending in your fishy pics to Facebook

22 www.nzfisher.co.nz

COMPETITION

Win a Rod & Reel with OKUMA & NZFisher!

Built-in StructureScan® HD sonar imaging, plus award-winning Broadband Sounder® with DownScan Overlay™ and TrackBack™ feature. The ultimate fish-and structure-finding display. www.lowrance.com/find

Personalised or optional Navionics® charts. View both at once in 3D perspective view, plus StructureMap™ and Broadband Radar™ capability. www.lowrance.com/navigate

JUST POST A pic of you with a fish to our Facebook page and you’re in the draw to win an Okuma Salina II Rod and Reel combo plus tackle

New super-bright widescreen displays in 7, 9 and 12-inch sizes with touchscreen control. Dominate your time on the water with greater command and control that’s now easier to learn and customize. www.lowrance.com/dominate

worth $750.00.

Not only that but every month we’ll give away an Okuma Hoody and ReelWear T-shirt between now and

PREVIEW THE NEW HDS GEN2 TOUCH AT LO W R A N C E . C O M

June 2013. Every image you enter has a chance to win each month and also the big prize. The more and sooner you enter, the better your chances so get fishing and posting those images to Facebook!

www.enl.co.nz

www.nzfisher.co.nz 23

jetskiFISHING

Just Dooing it at the Work-ups‌

By Andrew Hill

WITH THE WEATHER in New Zealand gifting us with some late summer heat, it is encouraging us to spend our time enjoying Jetskifishing. This session, being a mid week fish between obligations of work and preparations for the Sea-Doo King of Jetskifishing in association with Woodbine Marine Competition. I invited one of our gfish Feisty kin

event sponsors to come out with me on his Sea-Doo GTX to see what we could find on local fishing adventure.

Not much encouragement needed, Ian was all over it knowing he was in for the X factor of Jetskifishing!

We headed for our destination with my leisurely speed of fully tapped ;-) to Flat Rock area, with Ian eagerly keeping up with the pace. First stop was some Kingfish jigging which only

24 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Ian’s first drop pr oduced a chunky 19lb snap per

jetskiFISHING

Doubtless Bay Pannie

raised some rats, for those new to fishing “rats” are undersized or close to legal Kingfish.

My wingman couldn’t complain, his first drop was the bonus of this nineteen pound Snapper on the jig!

The heat was getting the better of us on a glorious day on the Gulf so I opted for a cool down ride in search of work-ups. If you can find them, it is the most exciting atmosphere for Jetskifishing! The more intense work-ups involve, Gannets diving from above, while Dolphins are rounding the bait fish with other predators of the food chain beneath.

All going well we usually find easy fishing amongst the work-up activity with good sized Snapper.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 25

Two snapper pon one jig - thats just greedy!

r y snappe of health ty n it le p s e s There er mak the weath & r e a e id y tw is ou m th chase the perfect to

Lots of nice sized Snapper with the

If you’d like to get started with Jet

day finishing with another fish just

Ski fishing come see Andrew Hill

over fifteen pounds after the cameras

at the Jetskifishing Store. You can

stopped. The video link shows how

follow Andrew’s adventures here on

great the day was and I am sure that

Facebook.

those that have experienced it before can relate to our enjoyment.

LEADERS IN BOAT TRAILER DESIGN & PERFORMANCE ‘Superbly Built’ ‘The boat goes on and off the trailer like a dream’ ‘it tows like a breeze!’

Matt Watson, ITM Fishing Show

Used by

Trade in your existing boat trailer for a new Voyager, and receive minimum 10% DISCOUNT on the value of your new replacement trailer • We service, repair and re-galvanise any boat trailer • Parts, servicing, multi-roller and tandem conversion

26 www.nzfisher.co.nz

www.voyagertrailers.co.nz

FN4718

6 Kaimiro St, Pukete Industrial Estate, Hamilton – Ph 07 849 3158

boatFISHING

By Derrick Paull

The Boat Show is Coming in May Get in early to win

Visitors to the 2013 Hutchwilco

The ‘early bird’ prize package also

number of other great prizes, too.

New Zealand Boat Show who book

includes an amazing array of practical

These include the incredible $100,000

their tickets online before May 8 will

extras designed to further enhance

Stabicraft/Yamaha prize package, two

go into the draw to win a spectacular

the fishing and kayaking experience.

$2000 Viking kayaks each day (8 in

$3,000 Viking Profish 440 Evolution IV

These include a Hutchwilco multi-fit

total) and a trip for two to Sipidan in

fishing kayak package.

safety vest, deluxe fisherman seat,

Malaysia to the world’s only dive rig.

The Viking Profish 440 Evolution IV

Propelz speed paddle, insulated fish

The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat

is a top of the line fishing kayak with

bag, running rig and drift chute, two

Show is New Zealand’s longest-

incredible stability in all conditions.

Railblaza rod holders, paddle leash

running, largest and most popular

This makes it the ideal kayak from

and two rod leashes, C Tug kayak

boat show. It will be held at the ASB

which to fish safely either off the coast

trolley, safety flag, fish stringer and

Showgrounds, in Greenlane Auckland

or in calmer, harbour waters.

Propelz deluxe seat cushion.

on May 16-19, 2013. Hours are 10am

The Viking Profish 440 Evolution IV

Tickets to the 2013 Hutchwilco New

until 6pm daily, with a single late night,

is also an incredibly practical fishing

Zealand Boat Show are now available

on Friday May 17, when the show will

by clicking the ‘Buy Tickets’ tab at

be open until 9pm. Admission is just

www.boatshow.co.nz.

$20 for adults and there is no charge

kayak with an unprecedented number of places to safely stow everything from cell phones and refreshments to

Those attending the show will also

bait and the catch.

have the chance to win a large

for children 16 and under.

More at www.boatshow.co.nz

www.nzfisher.co.nz 27

VIDEO

Fishing Video of the Month We might not be the country music loving type like they are in the USA, but this track from Trace Atkins is a universal take on the father daughter / son fishing trips we take (well, some of us take – and some will hopefully get the chance to one day too).

Just Fishin’ But on a fishier note, here’s something to get the heart pumping!

Day one, two and three of Stefano’s Far North Jetski adventure in February 2013.

And from the very far north, I think this might be the very first time a GoPro has been attached to a wild fish & retrieved – check out ‘HallibutCam’!

28 www.nzfisher.co.nz

NEXTmonth regionalREVIEWS

In next months issue: - West Coast Marlin Madness - East Cape LBG Mission - Take a kid fishing tips

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

www.nzfisher.co.nz 29