NZ Fisher Issue 8

ISSUE 8 May 2011

The

Landbased Pilgrimage -

Lottin

or bust//

// The new Ocean Kayak Prowler 4.3

NZFisher scores gold at NZACA Nationals// www.nzfisher.co.nz 1

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

CONTENTS Pg 20 GAMEFISHING 6

Landbased Game – The East Cape Mecca Pilgrimage

SPORTFISHING 10

The NZACA Nationals 2011

KAYAKFISHING 16

Ocean Kayak Ultra 4.3 makes a splash at the Boat show

16

BOATFISHING 18

The NZFisher competition winners report

20

How to win a National Championship

22

Fishing Video of the Month

23

Competition

THE CLUBHOUSE

6

24

The NZFisher Club est. 2011

26

Regional Reports

Pg 10

www.nzfisher.co.nz 3

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4 www.nzfisher.co.nz

175

200

225

ABOUT /

//From the

EDITOR

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.

April and May are the end of the

and great ideas could keep you busy for

Game Season and the beginning of my

a week. I took some time to check out

favourite fishing months of the year. It was

the Q-Sub, damn cool, but not much of a

May last year that I wrote what became

fishing platform! My one year old, Oscar

the headline article for NZFisher’s’ first

was completely enamoured with the Ocean

issue. May, June and July present the

Kayaks, especially the new Prowler Ultra

best and worst of fishing in NZ. The best

4.3 – or maybe that was just because of the

Phone Derrick on 021 629 327

because it’s when the big players turn

bright yellow hull and free stickers he was

or email

up across most of our bread and butter

given there. Either way I’m keen to paddle it

derrickp@NZ Fisher.co.nz

species; Kingfish on deep reefs, Snapper

soon and see if it’s really up to all the hype.

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES /

in the shallows, Hapuka and Bass come in close (well, closer) and for those really

The NZRFC is holding their 2011 annual

hardy anglers Broadbill spearfish.

conference in New Plymouth on the 1st and 2nd July. It’s shaping up to be an

EDITOR / Derrick Paull ART DIRECTOR / Jodi Olsson GROUP EDITOR / Trudi Caffell CONTENT ENQUIRIES /

Phone Richard on 09 522 7257 or email richardl@espiremedia.com

I was born on the shore and there is

important event where a number of the

ADDRESS / NZ Fisher,

nothing that excites me more than the

big issues facing the recreational fishing

C/- Espire Media, PO Box 137162,

accelerating of a clicker as a big snapper

fraternity will have an opportunity to be

Parnell,Auckland 1151, NZ

takes a big bait that’s been soaking in

discussed, argued over and perhaps,

WEBSITE / www.NZ Fisher.co.nz

amongst the kelp on a rocky shore. That

reconciled. What we’re really missing

hit of adrenaline out of no-where hooks me

here is some open, free discussion on

every time. It might not even happen every

our future. Too many times we hold our

trip – hell it might not happen every four

tongues for fear of offending or being

trips! But when it does, ye-gods I forgive

labelled one way or the other.

myself the early starts, the frozen hands, the wet feet and even the sore shoulders

What I do know is that I don’t know what

from lumping in 40kgs of bait and burley.

is best. What I want to know is if all those

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!

out there with their stakes in the ground I have two fishing friends that are 20lb

can be strong enough to pick them up, toss

virgins; one has never caught one and the

them aside and meet to look for a winning

other never from the shore. This winter

strategy, not another excuse to try and build

we’re pretty determined to break the

bigger walls, we will find a useful solution.

duck and nail them one each. I can feel the cold seeping in already!

Cover Image: Peter Michael Anyway, for the short term I’m working

taken by Aileen Michael

hard in the garden to earn some brownie The big talking point this week has been

points for the first big fish mission next

the Hutchwilco Boatshow held at Auckland

week. Bring on the moochers!

Show grounds. I’m always impressed at the breadth of the marine industry in New Zealand. The products, innovations

Happy Fishing!

Derrick

www.nzfisher.co.nz 5

gameFISHING

Landbased Game – The East Cape Mecca Pilgrimage Words and picutres by Forsyth Thompson

For LBG fishermen there are a

I got an invitation to join the boys from

more PBs. Every time he’s come fishing

few places in New Zealand which have

NZLBG down at Cape Runaway for a few

with me in the last 18 months he’s got

assumed true legend status like East

days over Easter there was no way I was

a PB of some sort, so the bar has been

Cape has.

turning that down (thanks to Ben Hall for

set pretty high but with all the legendary

that). Considering it was Easter, it sure

kingfish of East Cape just waiting to throw

pays to have an understanding wife!

themselves at us, we were both pretty

A while back in the Walk About forum on fishing.net.nz someone posted a question

confident. I’ve not had a land based PB

as to where you’d most like to fish land

With me came Andrew, my keen mate

in quite a while now (needing to beat

based. Unsurprisingly Maria van Diemen

(some of you will have seen him in Issue

21lb for snapper and 21kg for a king) but

and Great Barrier featured heavily, along

6 with an enormous grin and a pretty big

I thought this was going to be my time.

of course, with the East Cape. So when

snapper too!), who was looking for some

Turns out one of us was right…

Launching’s a cinch when the weather gods play along 6 www.nzfisher.co.nz

gameFISHING

s with the

van Andrew E

napper

winning S

The 2 days before we left I was flat out

So, boat unloaded, berley in and pillies

river mouth in Waihau Bay and heading

at work but somehow managed to find

straight in to get our livebaits. And it was

back round Cape Runaway for some

time to check the swell and weather

all on: a couple of kahawai came straight

more new country to me. The wind had

forecast about every 15 minutes! We left

in and went straight out, then a rod

picked up from the NE and coming round

on Weds evening to drive down, ready

bent over a long way without the classic

the Cape was a little bit “interesting”

for a full day Thursday and got there to

thumps of a snapper. Sure enough, the

in a 3.49m boat. Not as interesting as

some not very exciting news: just one

first of what was to be a huge number

landing on “the fingers” was, the writer

king, weighing in at just 14kg had been

of rat kings was landed followed by a

very nearly ending up in the drink, but

landed in the previous 5 days, with some

succession of kahawai and snapper, both

all went ok in the end (alloy props are

pretty experienced fishos putting in some

in the 2-3kg range. And the day pretty

made for collecting dings as all good

serious time swimming liveys.

much stayed like that nonstop, but for a

LBG fishos know). This was going to be

mid-tide lull.

a different day and we struggled even to

Clearly we weren’t going to be put off

find a kahawai in the berley.

by that so we headed off the following

Several kings were landed over 75cm

morning in the trusty Baby Stabi for

but nothing worth keeping and certainly

Turned out that was because they were all a

a beach launch at Lottin , destination

nothing like what we’d come there for.

bit further off the point but once we found

Medway. As we drove the boat round

But the action had been great and we’d

them we had liveys out for all 3 of us. The

Lottin point and headed east we were

all had as many snapper as you could

snapper were much smaller than the day

greeted by ledge after ledge, deep

want in a day, even if there were no

before and fewer but the kahawai were

water and some of the fishiest country

bigger models to be seen. Getting back

constant all day, Andrew nailing a land-based

you could ever hope to see. I’d never

to the house that night, it turned out

PB at a creditable 3.44kg and plenty of other

seen this part of the country first-hand

we’d had the best of the fishing by some

good sized ones joining it in the livey pool.

and it was even better than I’d thought,

margin, with no big kings even sighted.

Another trip, another PB for him…

the ledge and some nice white wash

The next day we moved up the coast

As with the day before there were rat

everywhere.

a bit further, putting the Stabi in at the

kings everywhere but again no bigger

the sounder showing 30+m right off

www.nzfisher.co.nz 7

gameFISHING

Benjamin Hall with the best king of the trip at 19.4kg

ones. So Andrew switched to a 6kg set

so as the balloon was popped straight off

What followed was a great fight, the fish

with a tiny popper (maybe 70mm long!)

with no messing, I knew this was no rat.

taking lots of line in huge runs and not

and started popping horse kahawai which

showing any signs of giving in right up

was tremendous fun for him and for Ben &

Out ran line, the TLD25 making that

until Andrew hit it with a great gaff shot,

I to watch. Certainly it got heaps of action

great sound and then the line went slack.

first time ever off the rocks and right in

going in the water which we hoped might

Really slack. Winding furiously, I realised

behind the gill plate. And there we had

get the bigger kings coming but just the

the fish had turned and come straight

it, a great solid looking fish and our first

small ones kept coming, a couple around

back to the ledge and before I had even

good one from the East Cape. 2 days

10kg in the berley and a few just legal

had a fight, there it was, literally at my

of livey-swimming disappointment was

ones landed but that was our lot.

feet with 4 of its fat mates, swivel at the

forgotten and we weren’t even an hour

Right on the end of the day when my

rod tip and no gaff in sight. Before one

into the day!

livey had started doing backstroke,

of the boys could get there the 11/0

we saw a good 15-20kg king come

hook pulled (how I’ll never know) and I

The weather wasn’t getting any better

through right at our feet. It sniffed Ben’s

watched it swim away. Hooked and got

though, and the swell picked up along

popper about 1m off the rocks and then

to the ledge; if we’d had a gaffman there

with some really good squally showers

studiously ignored the fresh livey I put

it would have been all over in less than

to keep us honest. The snapper fishing

out as well as the other 2. And that was

60 seconds. Well, it was all over in 60

was slower than the first day, but then

it for the day, the light just about gone as

seconds, just not the result we wanted.

Andrew hooked up solid and landed a

we got back to the beach at Waihau Bay.

4.5kg fish, his new PB off the rocks and

As this is a fishing report I won’t go into

To say I managed some choice language

his second land-based PB in 24 hrs. The

details about the pub at Waihau except

would be an understatement. After 3

tradition continued!

to say that if you want a great night out

liveys all day for 2 days, to lose the first

and some awesome local hospitality,

strike at the rocks wasn’t what I was

The day continued much like the first,

make sure you go!

hoping for! The boys both had their

rats, pannies and kahawai in abundance

liveys out and within a minute I had

but the good kings had put in their single

Back to Medway for day 3, we figured,

another one out too. No more than 5

appearance for the day. Turns out they

so headed down to Lottin again and

minutes later it looked like Andrew was

didn’t disappear completely, Scott from

back round to the same spot as the first

about to get his first taste of landbased

NZLBGC nailing a really long fish that only

day. Again, there were kahawai there

kings but the good looking fish swam

stayed under 30kg (27.4kg) by virtue of

immediately and out went the liveys. I’d

straight past his livey without stopping.

being so lean. And Rob with a 20kg fish

just put my rod down when the sight of a

More cursing ensued, but only for a

that was the fattest king any of us had

big green back and a yellow tail coming

matter of seconds as it monstered Ben’s

ever seen, genuinely shaped like a tuna!

out of the water got my adrenaline going

livey and set off full speed for

hard out! The livey was a good 2.5kg fish

the Ranfurly’s!

8 www.nzfisher.co.nz

So Andrew and I had some serious

Andrew with his winning 3.44kg Kahawai another Personal Best for the Babi-Stabi

gameFISHING

work to do on the last day to try to

turned up. Which they didn’t, so I

the landbased boys cleaned up. Just

get the kings we’d come for, and

amused myself catching snapper after

shows, the rocks are where it’s at!

having picked a mate up off Lottin

snapper, the best of which went 4.2kg.

on the way home the night before

So we didn’t get the kings we

(saving him the walk out), his story of

The boys came back and we kept on

spent the entire journey there and

an est. 25 kg landed and 3 or 4 other

catching snapper and waiting for the

back talking about but we did have

bigger ones seen, we knew where we

big kings to show up. As the light faded

some tremendous fishing, a lot of

were going to spend our last day!

we had no choice but to accept that it

fun and some great laughs and

wasn’t going to happen and we packed

more than enough fish for us and

At the furthest part of Lottin the water

the Stabi for the last time on the trip

the families when we got home.

was a fantastic blue and the current

just giving ourselves enough time to

was pumping around the point, surely

make the prize giving and dinner at the

Big thanks to the NZLBGC boys

the kings were going to be there?? Out

justifiably-famous Waihau Bay Club.

for putting on a great trip, to the Waihau Bay Fishing Club for

came another livey set and we swam 4 liveys all day. Unfortunately that’s

Andrew, fishing the Open section, not

amazing hospitality and possibly the

all they did: swim! But we had plenty

the landbased one (there’s confidence

best fishing comp dinner ever.

of snapper to keep us busy, several in

for you!) took out both heaviest kahawai

If you’re ever thinking about a land

the 3-4+kg range and plenty of others

and heaviest snapper – 2 PBs, 2 wins

based trip to E Cape, my advice would

but that was it. So, with weigh-in for

and his first ever in a comp. Fair to

be this: a) Do it, stop thinking about

the Waihau Bay comp looming, Ben

say he was pleased! Ben, Scott and

it; b) no, really, just go; and c) get in

& Andrew shot off to weigh their fish

Rob all won prizes too taking out

touch with Jim & Sally Kemp and stay at

while I stayed on in case the kings

landbased and kingi sections, all up

Haywards Farm, you’ll be glad you did!

www.nzfisher.co.nz 9

sportFISHING

10 www.nzfisher.co.nz

sportFISHING

The NZACA Nationals

2011

NZFisher Club makes a big splash in its first outing

By Derrick Paull

Steve Rigby - Winner

I am a member of quite a few fishing

It’s been a goal of mine to run nationals

grounds man made sure the logistics were

clubs. It’s not an obsession, but I like

since about 1993 when the North Shore

in place and that the back of house work

to support the clubs that support me

committee said no to running the in ’95.

allowed for a smooth running event.

and NZFisher.

I’m not sure my mates in these clubs will

Two of these clubs are the North Shore

be too keen to do it again soon – but

The main thing we were hoping for was

what a blast!

good fishing and thankfully the gods were smiling on us! The fishing was fantastic;

Surfcasting Club and the Hibiscus Kayak fishing Club and as it turns out these

We chose to host this year’s

no real monsters, but plenty for everyone

two were the hosts of the 2011 New

championships from Orewa due to

and some truly exceptional catches in the

Zealand Angling & Casting Association

its proximity to fantastic fisheries on

mix. Most notably were a 7.72kg by junior

Nationals (I’ve been accused of being

both coasts, both sand & rocky shore

Zachery Moxam of Fielding Surfcasting

quite a strong influence on this decision,

fishing and about thirty boat ramps for

club and an 8.25kg Kingfish by Hibiscus

but I cannot comment!) and I was on the

the boaties. Barry Smith, North Shore

KFC’s Aileen Michael – her biggest and

organising committee.

President and Orewa Primary School

first King from the Yak. Aileen’s fish was

www.nzfisher.co.nz 11

sportFISHING

The flag raising

Peter Froggatt casting his way to First place, 200M plus takes a lot of effort!

12 www.nzfisher.co.nz

sportFISHING

The National Championships are about more than just one fish. To succeed at the Nationals you need to catch a ‘bag’ of fish across a specified number of species, maximising points.

the second heaviest overall, just behind fellow Hibiscus member, Dave Brown who weighed in an 8.46kg Snapper.

These are great fish, but the National Championships are about more than just one fish. To succeed at the Nationals you need to catch a ‘bag’ of fish across a specified number of species, maximising points. The champs are broken down into three divisions, Boat, Shore and for the first time this year – Kayak.

While there’s no official ‘Over-all Fishing Champion’ the last two years and now 2011 have seen a kayaker score the highest out of all competitors. This year’s Kayak champion & overall highest scorer, Steve Rigby, is another Hibiscus local who put his knowledge of the area to good use & landed a very impressive ‘bag’ of fish paddling out of Leigh Harbour. Steve’s total points of 338 were well ahead of second place Derrick Paulls 284. www.nzfisher.co.nz 13

gameFISHING

The Casting Kit

One thing that always impresses me is the

There were some hic-ups and there always

& East coasts to provide the best

enthusiasm & exceptional results of the

will be but there is no doubt the fishing,

opportunity for great fishing. Their

Auckland Lady Anglers club. Once again

casting & prize giving were great and

casting venue is none other than the

they dominated the ladies section and

thoroughly enjoyable.

world famous Manfield race track with

took out the Club Boat Section, ahead of

a near perfect casting court for the

all other clubs. Not only do they fish and

Next year’s Nationals are being hosted

best of the best to heave their stuff.

cast well, but these ladies show the rest

by the Fielding Surfcasting Club, based

NZFisher club will be there – we have

of us smelly, boring fisho’s how to have a

from Fielding and including enormous

some trophies to defend!

good time at the prize giving too.

boundaries including West, South

14 www.nzfisher.co.nz

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

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

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

kayakFISHING

Ocean Kayak Ultra 4.3 makes a splash

Elite, Ultra and then...?

By Reagan Ashton

The ultra 4.3 is latest in a line of five

fishing kayak.

front storage with locking easy ac-

ocean kayak fishing kayaks manufac-

At 4.3 meters the boat retains very good

cess hatch.

tured in New Zealand over the last 6

hull speed, but delivers good stability

years. It is combination of knowledge

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lows multiple foot positions for the

learnt from the above and Ocean

comfort of different size paddlers

kayak NZ.s consistent innovation and

The new features include:

determination to build the ultimate

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16 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Adjustable foot track system – al-

The click seal hatch- water proof

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Press in foam seat – comfortable backside support

kayakFISHING

•

Adjustable back rest- three position

The ultra 4.3 retains the standard

This boat has been designed with input

adjustable back rest.

features the ocean kayak range is re-

from New Zealand’s top kayak fisherman

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Molded in rod holders behind the seat.

nowned for.

and hull designers with the sole aim of

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making the world’s best fishing kayak.

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For further information on the Ultra 4.3

the center of the boat.

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and the ocean kayak range go to

Multi fit transducer scupper.

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www.oceankayak.co.nz

•

www.nzfisher.co.nz 17

boatFISHING

The NZFisher Competition Winners Report

After one cancellation due to weather the trip I won via NZ Fisher (online mag - look it up if you haven’t subscribed) out with Carl on Epic was finally on last Wednesday. A slightly late 4.50am start from Rotorua meant some quick times across the Waikato to pull into Tairua with 5 minutes to spare at 6.55.

By Shane Cameron See this article and comments online at fishing.net.nz

Unfortunately the rest of the crew - Derrick (NZ Fisher mag), Jai and Paul had been held up as an accident was cleared off h way 27 and were still an hour behind. No worries though - this gave Carl time to wander up to the bakery for some brekkie and allowed us to put another 5 or 6 liveys in the tank.

Once the boys arrived with arm loads of rods and gear we were off to make it across a slightly lumpy looking bar before it was a no go.

Finding more liveys in the soupy looking water inshore of Slipper proved fruitless so the call was made and Carl headed us out to the north of the Aldy’s. After a bit of a slow start to the jigging and with a brand new zest tail weighted on I finally hooked into something with weight on my poor old terminator 400 and Duel Speedy 20. lift, crank.

Lose line, lift, crank, get a bit of line back, lose line again. and then, crack. Should have replaced that line really aye.

No worries - this means I got to play with Carl’s bling.

Jai the fired into life after looking a bit green on the trip out and proceeded to land three or four solid fish over the day in amongst the rats. He had the magic touch for the day and seemed to be able to do no wrong on the jigs or liveys.

Shane makes the honours board too 18 www.nzfisher.co.nz

2

2

boatFISHING

1

2

which resulted in........ 1)

On the road just after 6 - a detour up the

and a jig caught king.... 2)

Thames coast to drop some firewood to the

Paul got in on the action too..... 3)

in-laws batch and home to collapse in bed

and after a long day the rain finally came in

just after 10. Waaaay better than working!

and the last few drops were done in the wet

After 2 hours in the dish washer the final

A wicked day with a skipper who went the

product came out looking like this:

extra mile to find us fish and didn’t once laugh at my spastic imitation stick-insect

HUGE THANKS TO DERRICK AND CARL

jigging style. Carl had us on the go all day

FOR THE DAY!! Can’t wait to do it again

and didn’t get us back into the harbour un-

sometime. (So no one else enter any of

til after 5. He certainly does the hard yards!

their comps!)

3

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boatFISHING

How to win a National Championship The NZACA National Champ’s words

By Steve Rigby

This is my account of Regan and

At 07.30 we pulled our anchors and

drop resulted in a nice snapper of about

Steve’s Nationals experience.

paddled out to our first deep water

3kg, ok this was good.

spot. Upon arrival we found some good Regan and I left Leigh boat ramp

looking sign on the sounder. Except

A few minutes later my lure got hit very

early with a plan to anchor near Cape

for a few gentle tugs and a couple of

aggressively on the way down by what

Rodney to catch a few yellow tail for

chewed softbaits we had no good bites

was obviously a better fish. After a few

livebaits and stray line for snapper.

though. We had stayed on our first spot

long runs and big headshakes the fish

We found a likely looking spot and

a bit too long and by now the tide had

started to come up and soon enough was

started fishing at about 05.15, just after

slackened off a bit and the snapper had

on the surface. I reached for my gaff, but

lines-down.

stopped feeding. Undeterred we kept

realised to my horror that I had left it in

trying, for another hour or so, largely

the ute, Bugger!

Straight away we started catching kaha-

unsuccessfully apart for a large barra-

wai; they were so abundant that I could

couta for me.

not get a bait past them, nor could I get any yellow tail for bait.

I could see that the fish was only hooked in the skin of its top lip so just lifting it out of

By about 9 am I was close to giving up

the water was not an option, after a bit of

on this spot so I called Regan to tell him

careful manoeuvring I managed to get my

Regan did considerably better than me

that I was going to try somewhere else, he

fingers into its gills and lifted it aboard.

and got his limit of 5 kahawai and two

told me that he had just caught a snapper

When I went to Iki this fish it started to thrash

nice snapper very early, one of which

and was getting bites again, things were

around on my lap and in order not to let go

was around 4.5 kg. I landed 4 weighable

looking up! Encouraged by this news I

I stuck my thumb further in to get a better

kahawai, a few blue mao mao, and a

paddled towards him a few metres and

hold. Bad idea! I then discovered with how

couple of throwback snapper.

found some likely looking sign. The first

much pressure a 5 kg snapper can bite with

20 www.nzfisher.co.nz

its back teeth and how much it hurts. With a

forts and several changes of lure I could

throbbing thumb I started fishing again

not tempt them to bite.

boatFISHING

and caught a few smaller snapper in the 1 to 1.5 kg range which I released (

As I got nearer to Leigh Reef I started to

Regan paddled over to me at this spot

I would regret this later) , another nice

see more and more sign on the sounder

and we did a few more drifts through

one of about 2.5 kg and a trevally of

but despite stopping and dropping

this area where I caught another trevally

about 2kg.

lures down I got no bites. The tide was

and another couple of snapper one of

so strong that each time I tried this I

which was my best one of the day at 7.5

drifted back quite a long way.

kg. Regan got another couple of snap-

By now we were getting fewer bites and seeing less sign on the sounder

per but no trevs.

so we decided to move. By this time

Eventually I reached the area which I want-

Regan had 7 snapper and 5 kahawai on

ed to fish and found a good school of fish

We paddled around this area for a while

board and I had 4 kahawai, 3 snapper

which looked like they might have been

looking for likely kingfish sign until I

and a trevally.

kingies. I wasted no time in dropping a

found a nice densely packed school of

200 gram jig down to them . The first drop

baitfish with a few bigger fish around

We headed back towards the Leigh reef

resulted in a hook up, it didn’t feel like a

the edges. We dropped jigs here and

against a pretty strong tide, progress

kingie though, no strong runs just constant

caught a few rat kingies each before

was slow, and about 5km/h was all I

weight and that tell tale nodding of the rod

calling it a day and heading home.

could manage. I noticed some birds

tip I suspected that this was a Trevally so I

working further out to sea so I headed

backed the drag off a bit and gently lifted

Paddling back was hard work with very

out towards them trolling a fly, while

the fish up through the water.

heavily loaded fish wells and tired arms.

Regan chose to paddle a more direct route towards the reef.

We had been on the water for over 10 I landed this fish which was indeed a

hours and had covered 24kms.

trevally without too much trouble and Upon reaching the birds I could see

paddled back up to the school. This time

What a day it had been, near perfect

several small schools of skipjack tuna

I dropped soft bait down and it got hit on

weather and plenty of hungry fish. We

on the surface but despite my best ef-

the drop by another trevally.

had been fishing mainly in water that was

Steve’s bag of fish weighed in ahead of all others at the Nationals and for the third year in a row the Hibiscus Kayak Fishing club topped the tables. Well done Steve!

130 to 140 feet deep and were using 1oz

was already about 15 knots. The sea was

three barely weighable snapper (I should

jig heads to get down to the fish. Most of

already quite rough when we reached

have kept some of the ones I released

the snapper were caught on 4 inch gulp

the end of the reef (despite the wind and

on Thursday). Regan already had his

jigging grubs whereas the trevally seemed

tide being from the same direction). With

limit of snapper so he released the ones

to prefer 5 inch jerk shads.

sea anchors out we were drifting along at

he caught. By 9.30 the wind was increas-

2.5km/h and paddling back against the

ing and rainclouds were gathering so

As the weather forecast for Friday was

wind we only managed 3.5km/h, this was

we decided enough was enough and

less than ideal, 20knot north easterlies

hard work. We found little in the way of

headed home.

developing in the morning we decided

kingfish sign, just a few bait schools. We

to make Friday’s trip a short one, the

did catch a couple of rat kings on jigs

ED: Steve’s bag of fish weighed in

plan was to try for a kingie at Leigh reef

and one on a soft bait.

ahead of all others at the Nationals and for the third year in a row the Hi-

before the wind got too strong. We left the boat ramp at about 6.30 and as we

Regan and I both caught a trevally on

biscus Kayak Fishing club topped the

got to the harbour entrance the wind

softbaits and I caught a kahawai and

tables. Well done Steve! www.nzfisher.co.nz 21

FISHINGvideo

Fishing Video of the Month

I can’t say too much about this

See www.youtube.com/

month’s Fishing Video, but can confirm

watch?v=lNM7pB5etz8 to watch this video

no sharks were killed in the making of this film.

For Espresso’s awesome video on catching big snapper on stupidly light line,

22 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Please be aware, it is a little bit bloody,

click here. Be sure to follow Espresso on

but there’s a happy ending!

The Fishing Website .

competition

The Kayaker’s Eldorado Our very own Jai Sanders of Hibiscus

We have secured one copy of this great

to send an email to Editor Derrick to

Kayak Fishing Club had a once in a

DVD to give away to a lucky NZFisher

enter the draw. To get a second entry,

lifetime opportunity to fish with legend-

reader, but wait – that’s not all – our

go to our NZFisher face book page

ary Jim Sammons on Jims recent trip to

copy is even signed by Jai himself!

[Hyperlink: http://www.facebook.com/

New Zealand. Yes, Jai’s an accomplished

NZFisherMagazine] & tell us who you’d

fisho in his own right, but fishing with

To win this disc, simply click here

Jim was an extraordinary experience.

[Hyperlink : derrickp@nzfisher.co.nz ]

really like the disc signed by!

www.nzfisher.co.nz 23

THEclubhouse

The NZFisher Club est. 2011

The Newest champions on the block!

As of the 30th May, the NZFisher club

fishing but master casting member, Neil

their own personal bests and running an

has a total membership of 4 people.

Angus rounded out a spectacular debut

annual ‘sweep’ for the best fish in the

Despite this small number, we four

nabbing a second placing in the hard

following species; Kingfish, Snapper,

managed to win two sections at the

fought casting competition.

Kahawai, Blue Cod & Gurnard.

We began the NZFisher club with the

Unlike so many of our fellow clubs

intention of offering a web-based club to

we don’t have clubrooms per-se,

The 2011 Championships coincided with

any anglers & casters who wish to join a

but you can find our ‘Clubhouse’

the beginnings of the NZFisher Club and

club that will probably only meet once a

at www.nzfisher.co.nz/clubhouse

were the perfect platform to kick start

year, have no finances to worry about &

in a couple of months.

the clubs being. An old fishing buddy of

will offer full access to IGFA, NZ Records,

mine teamed up with NZACA Masters

trophies and merit awards by joining

The plan is to get some teams together

champ Scott Tindale to compete in

the NZACA. As we have the intention of

to fish the likes of the Furuno’s, the

the men’s teams division which they

receiving no funds on behalf of the club

Nationals (Both NZACA & Sport Fishing

managed to pip the opposition and take

membership is set at just $10 for an adult

if they’ll let us!) and some regional

out first place.

– all of which is paid to the NZACA.

comps – I’m very keen to get on the

NZACA Nationals and come second and third in two others.

water nationwide!

I fished in the boat section & also

NZFisher has always been about

managed first place. Scott, in his capacity

promoting fishing as a recreation in New

If you’re keen to join or simply want

as an individual also placed third in the

Zealand and the club will reflect this

more info, please drop me an email at

men’s boat section and our fourth, non-

desire by rewarding anglers who submit

derrickp@nzfisher.co.nz.

24 www.nzfisher.co.nz www.nzfisher.co.nz

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regionalREVIEWS

The Far North Source: Rick Pollock www.Pursuit.co.nz

Another big wind day followed

sword of 149 kilos on 60k tackle – a

Water temp and quality plummeted

by three beauts – not a bad ratio.

fitting catch to what may be the

despite little or favourable

Quite a few boats taking advantage

conclusion of a brilliant inaugural

(northerly) wind. Must be the act of

of nice weather inshore, predictably

start – well done. Otherwise a

sinister currents at work here which

far fewer further afield. Listening

few marlin seen here behind lures

we’ve seen so often, despite a kind

to the radio most everyone on the

or feeding on saurie but more

moon phase. Otherwise kingis and

water sounds cheerful and happy in

landed. Bottom fishing has taken

bottom fish have cooperated as per

their work – and why wouldn’t they

an abundant turn and suddenly

usual as have the bronzies if (when)

be in such glorious conditions.

become much harder after being

you outstay your welcome in any

quite vibrant over the last couple

one posse!

Doubtless Bay – Cape Karikari

months. Water remains warm at 19

Status quo. Water has cleaned

degrees C.

up considerably from last week’s

King Bank Similar here. After a decent marlin

deluges but this doesn’t seem to

North Cape – The Hook –

bite here only days ago, one visiting

affect the fishing one iota.

Compass Rose

boat could only muster two bites

A few skippies have turned up

and one fish for its troubles. That

Great Exhibition Bay

around here along with nice water

fish, at 97kgs, was decidedly taking

Also very similar to last week’s

but no marlin seen of late. Here,

advantage of the rich bounty there

report. A distinct lack of skippies, a

too, bottomfishing has fallen off

with five whole, maximum sized

very few marlin and seemingly nice

quite dramatically for no apparent

mao mao distending its stomach to

plump snapper everywhere.

reason. Back inshore, however,

capacity! Water had dropped a full

snapper are biting their heads off

degree (obviously still good enough)

Garden Patch

with some excellent quality amongst

with a decidedly green tinge to it.

Renewed interest and effort put into

the numbers. Also an influx of

Kingis and bass still keen to make up

the sword fishing there, both day and

decent trevally are testing anglers

the difference.

night propositions with success at

and providing good sashimi.

both. Veteran angler Guy Jacobsen

Newsflash

has had another couple chances at

Three Kings – Princes Group

On Wednesday afternoon May 11th

more coveted records with the last,

While koheru are still relatively easy to

charter boat “Enchanter” while

an unsuccessful bid on 10 kilo tackle

come by in Norwest Bay, using them

passing North Cape enrooted to the

ended after five hours of toil.

has been far more difficult. An influx of

Three Kings made an unexpected

On a more positive note, young

cold water (14-15 around the islands)

but spectacular catch. Mt

Bevan Beauchamp in his first year

may be the damper on kingfish feeding

Maunganui angler Mike Holdaway

behind the wheel of “Harlequin”

with difficult times of late – particularly

landed an All Tackle World Record

has had a cracker in every regard.

with anything artificial.

claim shortbill spearfish landed in a mere 130m water in less than

Landing more billfish than most any other boat this year, he’s still making

Middlesex Bank

outstanding water quality the

the most of his somewhat limited

After a brilliant spree which saw one

38.75kg fish surprised everyone.

opportunities at this time of year.

boat land five stripies over a two day

After being weighed in at Houhora

period and another manage three

the crew continued on with the big

out of a quadruple strike, things

fish mounted by Kevin Flute

have cooled (literally) considerably.

Rick

Girlfriend Olivia Woolston successfully boated a national record

26 www.nzfisher.co.nz

regionalREVIEWS

Coromandel Source: Carl Muir www.EpicAdventures.co.nz Hi all, this time of year takes a lot of

fishermen in the water had to rub his eyes

Out wide most of the structure around

beating. The Eastern Coromandel is

in disbelief as a striped marlin swum right

the Aldermen Islands is holding good

packed at the moment with fish and they

in to the transom of his boat. Looking at

kingfish. Scott Stonex fishing from his

are feeding up large. You don’t have to

the STT chart for Easter weekend (that will

little Surtees centre console reported

have a large boat to get into it either, as

teach me to look at it after the fact and

catching an est. 30kg fish quite a way

soon as you are a 100m or so from port

leave the marlin gear at home!) it is pretty

south of the Aldies at Easter on jig and

you will spot birds, fish and the hardest

evident to see why, a nice patch of warm

another which just dusted him big time

part will be choosing where to go and

water coming in from the south, pushing

(and Scott can stop most of them....)

what to chase.

21 degrees in places between the Aldies

Our livebait catching activities have often

and the Mayor.

The Mercury Pins have fired up big time.

Crackerjack reef in particular (where we

been relegated to the wharf in the dark

So, they are still there it’s just a matter of

released 100kingis in a day on jigs last

early hours of the morning as once the

putting some time in. May last year we

year) has been firing back up, if you really

sun is up; there is that much carnage

had a stripey smashing up saurie next to

want to have your arms stretched big time

from the kahawai, snapper and kingfish

us while we were catching kingfish. June

this is the time of year to do it....with a lot

that the bait is too scary and flighty to

last year one of our fishos had a makka

of the kingfish moving out of the Gulf this

be caught. Here’s a bit of a run down on

livebait destined for a kingfish stolen by

spot holds a good congregations of these

what is on offer at the moment:

a marlin. There’s still some marlin to be

fish before they fan out back along the

caught yet we reckon.....

coast. The average size is not huge but

MARLIN

there a big numbers of fish and still some

While there are not that many captures

KINGFISH

to report over the last month, they are

The inshore kingfish are starting to show

still there, it is more a factor of no one

up in better size and we’ve had a couple

SNAPPER

out targeting them. Thames fisho Drew

of great stickbaiting sessions in close

Softbaiting in around the kahawai schools

Edwards proved this two weeks ago,

lately out from Tairua. The exception

along the coast, you can’t go wrong, the

venturing out in a 4.5m Stabicraft on

to the lack of catchable bait mentioned

10-20m mark is loaded with respectable

two glassy days in row and bagging a

above is when the kingis are in residence

sized snapper. Great fishing for those

marlin both days, the biggest a healthy

and in hunting mode, a big densely

in skis’ kayaks and small boats close

140kg specimen.

packed bait ball generally is a sign of

to home. Most of our snapper fishing

kingfish in numbers and this is when the

though has been in the deep while we’re

inshore stickbaiting really fires up for us.

targeting kingfish with livebaits and fresh

April has seen the jigging produce some

bait producing nice lines of snapper to

really good action, over the first week

top off some awesome kingi fishing.

Both of Drew’s marlin were caught on livebaited skippies (not that Drew would be seen dead trolling a lure!) on nice glassy days, one reasonably close to the 100m line where the bait was caught, the other right on top of the Hook.

Another boat Black Jack caught a stripey in similar conditions a few days later amongst the bait, birds and dolphins south of Red Merc, again on a livebaited skipjack.

of April anything in orange was the hot colour and loads of fish in the 15-20kg mark were caught on jigs. Since then the fish have switched a little more to livebaits and we’ve seen all day bites and sounders just loaded with good schools of kingfish. These fish are fighting hard

Only this last Easter weekend Tairua

and an awesome average size. Plenty of

spearo Rick Turner was at Stingray rock

solid 20kg ++ fish taking baits.

south of the Aldermens with spear

big ones amongst them.

Now, we just need this easterly to blow out of steam and enjoy it! If you’re keen to get amongst the action and maybe learn a trick or two we have plenty of spots coming up over May and June. Check out of calendar here and let us know if you’re keen to get amongst it. www.epicadventures.co.nz/ availability.html Cheers Carl and Tobes www.nzfisher.co.nz 27

regionalREVIEWS

Bay of Plenty Source: Mark Armishaw www.extremesportfishing.co.nz I know it has just been far too

big buggers just did not look up to

and even put some of the gear

long since my last report, not that

smash our lures.

away. Not me though, this is the

things haven’t been happening but

time to get out there and into

its more just a matter of getting

Out on the banks the jigging was

some of the best kingfish action

down in front of the computer to

fantastic with two days of steady

the bay of Plenty offers.

write it all down.

action and great weather, lots of fish

in the 20kg class and plenty of mid to

The next couple of months will be

3 Kings

late twenties as well.

full of solid jigging action as the

We have just got back from an

fish start to school up again on

exhausting and successful trip to

I will be doing some more detailed

the reefs and then just around the

the Three Kings islands, this year

reports for the bay fisher and Modern

corner it will be top water time.

we ventured up on the reliable

fishing for all you Australians out there.

vessel cascade.

I simply cannot wait for those huge

After this trip a few of the guys

schools of fish to turn up and start

This is my third trip on Cascade

have already banged their names

smashing surface lures, there is simply

and I have to say I am always blown

down for a trip to Ranfurly banks

no better way to catch a big king.

away by the level of service these

in December, for those of you who

guys give.

think you can handle giant kings

For myself I am off to New Caledonia

slamming jigs all day long and may

on an Ocean Blue fishing trip soon to

Mike Boswell is a great skipper and

want to join us then let me know

tangle with some GTs and then when

gave his all to give our guys the best

ASAP because this one is already

I get back I hope to give the Swords

opportunity to get stuck into the

half full.

a hard time during the day, this will

fish. The top water action just did

all be in between chasing mega kings

not happen for us on this trip, after

Local fishing

and trying out some new techniques

last year’s impressive effort I was

As we head into winter everybody

that I assure you will be something to

hoping for much the same but the

starts to complain about the fishing

look out for.

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Biscayne

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New Plymouth Sportfishing & Underwater Club, New Plymouth Register online at www.recfish.co.nz or contact Secretary, Sheryl Hart 07 8258867 www.nzfisher.co.nz 29

NEXTmonth

In the next issue of NZ Fisher…

• A week at the Three Kings • Broadbill season warms up • The Prowler Ultra 4.3 Paddled

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30 www.nzfisher.co.nz