NZFisher – Issue 70

ISSUE 70

August 2017

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

EDITOR / Derrick Paull GROUP EDITOR / Colin Kennedy ART DIRECTOR / Jodi Olsson CONTENT ENQUIRIES / Phone Derrick on 021 629 327 or email derrickp@NZ Fisher.co.nz ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES / Phone Derrick on 021 629 327 or email derrickp@NZ Fisher.co.nz

4...

Editorial

ADDRESS / NZ Fisher, PO Box 47794, Ponsonby 11144

8...

Tunarific

16... The Flats between the Mountains & the Deep Blue Seas

WEBSITE / www.NZFisher.co.nz

This is a GREEN MAG, created and distributed without the use of paper so it's environmentally friendly.

Please think before you print. Thank you!

22... First for the Season The Fourpeat 26... Swords: What’s the real story?

30... Taking the Plunge: Deep South 36... In Search of Suckers 40... Legasea Update

Cover Image: Chris Hadlee with PB East Cape Snapper.

Inset: Leon Hassapladakis with a great snapper taken with his uncle while dad was in competing in the Jack Daniels BBQ Champs – great fish Leon!

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EDITORIAL

ELECTION 2017 – HOW IMPORTANT IS OUR FISHERY TO YOUR DECISION MAKING?

parks, a rewrite or review of the QMS and improved reporting on commercial and charter vessels.

Full disclosure: I’m standing as a candidate for the Outdoors Party NZ in the Maungakiekie electorate, because the outdoors environment (especially fisheries!) are a priority for me. This means that my views below are somewhat slanted against the current regime, but I’d rather be clear and open than mislead.

Unfortunately, since then the rhetoric has not been followed up by any action of note. Marlborough and Auckland rec-only fishing parks: not going to happen – the silence has been deafening. Our fisheries are again under pressure from the quota holders who share the fisheries with us – in particular Sanford’s, whose CEO Volker Kuntzsch on at least two occasions has erroneously claimed that there is no data on the recreational take in the Hauraki Gulf.

That aside, we’re a fishing magazine and you’re part of our community, so we want to look at the impact of leadership (good and poor) on our fisheries. Leadership is what’s required to see us through this current period of uncertainty and deliver a strong, healthy, abundant marine environment.

At present the National Government’s approach appears to be ‘hands off’ recreational fishing. Preceding the previous election they threw everything at the fisheries trough, including the promise of ‘recreational only’ fishing

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Kuntzsch’s claims are particularly galling when we know that there is in fact extremely good rec catch data based on research undertaken continuously

by NIWA for the last decade. NIWA senior scientist and recreational fishing activity expert Bruce Hartill has presented this data to many industry groups and the data has been repeatedly accepted as accurate by MPI, commercial representatives on steering

panels, recreational support groups and Green NGOs – so why does Mr. Kuntzsch keep saying it’s an unknown?

In 2015 Kuntzsch said “The issue we have is that around half or more of what’s taken out of the Gulf is currently unreported, meaning we have a massive hole in the information available on the health and size of the fish stocks,” which is patently untrue. The recreational catch is well documented and can be read into further here.

The issue here is that the level of information he’s actually asking for would require every fisher to land and have every fish independently measured, obviously an impossible task in the face of up to 10,000 fishers on the water on the busiest weekends. It would seem that this pressure from Mr Kuntzsch is accepted as truth, when in fact his is a lone voice in the field of fisheries management – every other voice is singing from the same song sheet: “we know what recreational fishers are catching”.

To further muddy these waters, the president of the National Party (as in our ruling political party) is a director on the board (and significant shareholder) of Sanford’s – the company Mr Kuntzsch is CEO of, NZ’s largest quota holder and the company with the greatest share of the SNA1 (Hauraki Gulf) fishery. The political

interference running here is deafening!

Despite assurances from National, I cannot believe that Mr Goodfellow can possibly not be a significant influence on the decisions made about our fisheries, especially those where Sanford’s interests are at stake. 3 more years facing us with a fisheries leadership void could well be the tipping point we most fear.

The Outdoors Party, the newest and most ‘Green/environmentally’ focussed party have a single mission – to elevate our outdoor environments above the day to day politics of parliament. Our outdoors environments are far too important to be left to career politicians to ignore for another cycle.

Our outdoors environments transcend politics and need a clearer, more focussed management including the application of common sense to resource consents on conservation estate, reigning in the rapid and heavily polluting irrigation schemes being rolled out and calling for a Royal Commission of Enquiry into the mismanagement of our Fisheries and the QMS. The Outdoors Party fisheries policies can be found here.

Labour is yet to release their fisheries policy but voices behind the scenes reveal that their intentions under Jacinda Ardern are to refocus attention on poor practice, elevate

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the importance of recreational fishers and, if the sources are correct, engage in a commision of enquiry into the mismanagement of MPI in the last decade. Without the interference from in-house fisheries interest it would seem they are in a strong position to weigh the interests of the New Zealand public against the benefits of a few quota holders.

The only recent reference I could find to fisheries on their page comes from the Coromandel candidate Nathaniel Bloomfield’s bio “...preserve and protect our fisheries by looking after the interests of recreational fishers, and encouraging sustainable, environmentally-friendly commercial fishing practices...” but I suspect there’s more to come.

Unfortunately the Green voice has been lacking and there is no clear fisheries policy from the Greens.

With their recent turmoil this is no surprise, but there’s no doubt a huge chunk of the population would appreciate a more conservationfocussed approach to inshore fisheries management, and that’s where we hope for a strong green voice.

From the Green website we learn: “To maintain the viability of our fisheries for the future, the Green Party would move to an integrated fisheries

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management system, ban damaging fishing methods and expand marine reserves” – a bold and meaningful vision, but without the drive to get it there, a voice lost in the wind.

NZ First have provided us a very clear and powerful vision for the outdoors environment, stating, “New Zealand First believes in the right of all New Zealanders to responsibly hunt, shoot, fish and enjoy the great outdoors and to take food from the bush, the rivers and the seas.”

This vision is endearing, and if you believe Winston Peters has the drive to get his policies across the line.

Theirs is a powerful vision and is best explained by this policy: “...priority given to recreational and customary fishers’ allowance from maximum sustainable harvest, ahead of any commercial quota allocation.”

Whatever your political leanings or motivation, please make your way out on 23rd September and cast your vote – your voice needs to be heard and I hope it is a shout for change!

Tight lines,

Derrick

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7

GAMEFISHING

Tunarific Bluefin: Waihau Goldrush

BY Naomi Peterson

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don’t think the small seaside town of Waihau Bay knew what hit it last month. Used to a busy

I had the privilege of being able to fish for one of these tuna. My husband had to work which meant I could take his

summer season as anglers head down

spot on our mate Steve’s 770 Senator

to chase the summer tuna and billfish,

‘Chase ‘n’ Tail’ with other crew Richard

the Waihau Bay Sport Fishing Club and

and Bevan. Arriving in Waihau Bay on

local community were taken by surprise

a Saturday night, I certainly was not

as anglers inundated the town in the

prepared for what was to greet me. Boats

middle of winter.

for miles, lined up in the bay waiting to

The last week of June saw reports of the

get back on to the trailer, parked nose

Bluefin caught out from Waihau Bay.

to tail on the road side, lined up with

With some generous sharing of intel

fish hanging at the weigh station, and a

by commercial fishermen TK Walker,

packed pub and restaurant.

Ben Carey and John Lifton Jones,

Steve parked the boat for the night,

we recreational fishermen suddenly

we had a quick look at the fish at

became aware of what was possible –

the weigh station and headed in

the opportunity to catch a Southern

for a cold beer and hot meal. The

Bluefin tuna. Anglers eagerly dusted off

atmosphere was great, everyone

their game rods and lures and headed

sharing tales from the days fishing and

to the east coast.

tomorrow’s plans. To my amazement

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GAMEFISHING

boats and fish were still coming in at 9pm. Shortly after we headed back to the boat for a few hours sleep.

About lunchtime, we decided to start trolling back in, and it was in about 1000m that the reel started singing.

Oh, how we love that sound! We’d

The plan was to launch at 5am, and

already decided that if we hooked up,

I’d already heard boats heading out

we would continue trolling for a bit to

from 3.30am. We were lucky to catch

see if we managed a multiple strike.

up with Woody from Honda. He’d had

After a minute or so we decided to

success the previous day, and as we

clear the other lines and see what we’d

were unfamiliar with the ramp and

hooked. This was when we realised

bay, he told us to follow him out which

we hadn’t done our homework and

was great reassurance in the darkness

weren’t sure how to play one of these

and mayhem. We followed him out

fish. Of course, we’d watched ‘Wicked

to the 1300m line and set the lures.

Tuna’, but they aren’t trolling.

It was just over an hour when we heard

We slowed the boat anyway. I got

him on the VHF announcing he’d hooked harnessed up and took the rod. There up. Sweet, we knew we were in the right

didn’t seem to be a lot of response,

area. It was a pretty slow morning for us.

and it was relatively easy to wind in

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with no real weight. Bugger, surely I

It wasn’t a big fish, not compared

hadn’t lost it. But there was enough

to many of the photos we had seen,

weight to know that something was

but I was stoked. I would never have

on the end of my line, and after a few

thought I’d catch a Bluefin tuna. And

minutes, the rod tip started its familiar

on my birthday. What an incredible

twitch. There were no runs, just steady

opportunity I am so grateful for!

winding in with the line out the back.

After about 10 minutes the fish was closer to the boat and it went down.

This is where it would have been circling under the boat. We manoeuvred the boat so that I could fight it from the

Earlier this month I then had the privilege of meeting TK Walker and hearing him speak to a room packed with like minded recreational fishermen. He’s been fishing for over

side. It wasn’t much longer before we

35 years, and what he doesn’t know

could see colour and I was hoping it

about fishing for these magnificent

was a Bluefin. As it turns out, it was.

fish isn’t worth knowing. Of course,

We were pretty excited and quickly

we all picked his brains, and he was

gaffed it and brought it on board.

kind enough to share his knowledge.

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GAMEFISHING

We’d all been towing lures, and it seems

Southern Bluefin head down the west

that there had been many hits on the

coast of Australia and across to the

bigger lures. A thought around this is

bottom of the South Island. They then

that Tuna seem to assess the size of the

head up both sides of the country,

bait and calculate how much energy

feeding as they go in preparation for

they will get from it versus how much

spawning again. New Zealand is the food

energy they will expend chasing it. So it

larder for them, all that nutrient rich

made sense for them to take the bigger

water flowing up from Antarctica. And

lures. When fishing for the tuna, the

as TK said, they’re getting themselves

commercial guys will use big baits too

ready for the school ball (spawning,

– 300gm squid being a popular choice.

i.e. making themselves pretty).

So how come this year we were able to

Find the bait, and you’ll find the fish.

access this fishery we previously had

This is why we were able to have a crack

little knowledge of? After spawning

at the Bluefin this year. By using SST

in the warm water south west of Java

(Sea Surface Temperature) maps you’re

(north west of West Australia) the

able to see where the warm currents

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GAMEFISHING

(and food) are. Ben Carey has shared

These fish make amazing sashimi so

some information on this in the NZ Big

treat it with the respect it deserves.

Game Fishing Facebook group. Because

TK posted an excellent video on his

they came in relatively close to the east coast this year, they were within fishing distance for many of us. The

Facebook page on how to bleed them.

Get their tails off, guts out and into an

Bluefin like the cooler water though,

ice slurry as quickly as possible. If you

they will hang out in the cool water,

want to keep it to weigh in, at least get

move into the warm current to feed,

it into a slurry and cool it down quickly.

and head back to the cooler water.

I would like to think that most of us are sensible and would respect the fishery. Don’t take it for granted. Local iwi have a long tradition of respect for the sea, utilising resources with great care. Treat your fish properly to keep it in optimum condition.

Limit your catch and get your tag pole out, after all, it’s the norm for the marlin fishery.

So what do you do when you’re hooked

I’d like to acknowledge the Waihau Bay Sport Fishing Club who spent many hours weighing in fish for anglers and the outstanding hospitality from the Waihau Bay Lodge.

What have we learned if we get this amazing opportunity again? I know there will be many keen anglers willing to have another crack at it. I would like to think that most of us are sensible and would respect the fishery. Don’t take it for granted. Local iwi have a long tradition of respect for the sea, utilising resources with great care. Treat your fish properly to keep it in optimum condition. Limit your catch and get your tag pole out, after all, it’s the norm for the marlin fishery. Taking one fish

up? Like any fish, keep its head up, so

is enough for a feed – my ‘small’ 38kg

it comes to you. When you’ve landed

fish fed seven families. We all have a

your fish, cool it down immediately.

responsibility. Set the standard. 

14 www.nzfisher.co.nz

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TROPICALFISHING

The

Flats between

the Mountains & the Deep Blue Seas

16 www.nzfisher.co.nz

had set my sights on Yellowfin tuna on this trip to Rarotonga - once I’d caught my fish I

Junior and his mates are mostly landbased but use a wide variety of methods, including a casting

started getting itchy feet, and the

method I’d like to try at home

lure of the lagoon was strong.

on kings, involving a half filled

There’s no doubt getting out on

bubble float above the lure.

Marlin Queen was a trip highlight,

Now, I’m not going to tell you Raro

but there’s more to Raro than just

is an angler’s Eldorado, it’s fishy, but

game fishing (although you have

there’s been a fair bit of pressure

to do it while you’re there!).

over the years - this sadly includes

I’d taken a couple of light sets,

reef damage too, both from the

but the fly rod was the one I most wanted to get tested on.

The weather was a pain in the ass with strong wind, squalls and a fairly decent swell hammering the reef from both the South East and South West. It was a family holiday, but when there are fish to be caught, I’m pretty hard to contain!

I began near where we were staying, a few flicks in the shallows produced a handful of mini-Bluefin trevs but nothing substantial.

I wandered around a bit and came across a very helpful and knowledgeable man by the name of Junior Matiou who’s as keen (if not keener!) fisho than me.

land use runoff and direct walking on the reef too. This has had an impact on the fish populations, but there’s still a wealth of fish if you want to look for them.

I was keen to get some decent trevs on the fly and the best times of day appeared to be dawn and dusk, from what I could see from the mid-lagoon bust-ups.

I made a plan to hit the water predawn, set my alarm and got my kit together in expectation of a quick start and hit the water. Then I hit the duty-free and managed to sleep through the alarm.

Thankfully that didn’t matter, even at 9am, there were bust-ups and a

He chased the small bluefin trevs

few within walking distance too.

too, as they had the lowest risk

I had been using a piper pattern

of the neurotoxin, ciguatera.

Matt von Sturmer made for me for

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TROPICALFISHING

After the excitement of the first fish passed a few more came and I began to wander out on the reef to flick amongst the coral heads and seek out new species. While nothing big was forthcoming, kings a few years ago. It was great and looked a lot like the mullet

the range and colours, breeds and sheer weirdness of the fish was cool.

I saw the trevs casing, but there

The most successful flies I was

was no interest so I tried a good

using were the small Klauser and

old grey ghost and first cast in the

shrimp patterns that snapper love

right direction and I was on!

here in Auckland. Some species

This was the first fish of note on the flats and had me prancing around in the shallows, then waist deep as it ran me around a small bommy in the bay before getting it to shore and

(especially the cod species) could not help themselves, with more than one fish fighting for the fly as I often putted it along the surface to keep it away from snags.

showing it off to the growing crowd.

Late in our trip when the swell

So, not a massive fish by anyone’s

dropped, I managed a few hours on

standards, but a world of fun on the

the reef entrances. There the reef

fly gear and a bit of a triumph for a

drops to 30m+ deep and modern

novice fly flinger like me. The fish

sea monsters still pass within

was (I’m told) a side-bar trevally and

spitting distance of your feet.

one which (if you believe the locals)

The inner lagoon visibility was

is an edible trev from the lagoon.

However, I released it and enjoyed it swimming away hard and vigorous.

terrible, and the normal GT spots in Muri lagoon were devoid of fish, so I was forced to get to the outer

These trevs, much like our own silver

reef. I was well set up with a saltiga/

trevally are hard, dogged fighters, but

carpenter combo and 115lb braid

the speed they show in the shallows

but try as I may I couldn’t get a

is phenomenal - I have never had my

GT to stay connected. I hooked

fly line singing and causing a bow

five for five bust offs with the best

wave like it did on the Raro trevs.

lasting about one minute. When

18 www.nzfisher.co.nz

TROPICALFISHING

you’re balancing on a coral head

reef one evening with Junior, and

in a knee-to-waist deep swell or

he showed me things I’d completely

wash, that’s pretty exciting stuff.

missed when out by myself. There’s

I’m all about kingfish and love their pull on topwater and jig, but these GT’s are a whole new world. It would be a significant understatement to say I’m hooked - I need that buzz again!

The upside of GT fishing is there are a few cool by-catches like Long Toms and my favourite, the reef grouper or cod. This purple spotted one was such a beautiful fish. I think it’s my favourite from the trip.

I did manage to get out onto the

20 www.nzfisher.co.nz

fish life everywhere - octopus in cracks, eels everywhere, lobster in the deep guts and incredible fish like bright blue parrotfish and ‘black snapper’ in the reef wash as each swell breaks and washes in.

The diversity, the sheer number of species and their colours were incredible, and I’m blessed to have had the time and excellent guide to open my eyes to the opportunities. Thanks mate!

We’ll be back again soon. 

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www.nzfisher.co.nz 21

LUREFISHING

First for the Season The Fourpeat

BY Kyle Ridling & Chris Riley

n May, I caught a ride to the boat show

we might fish in July. The next week I

with Chris. He asked if I was going marlin fishing in July to try to catch the

got wind some marlin were seen feeding around the back of the Poor Knights

first marlin of the season for the fourth year

Islands, which is where I’d caught them

in a row. My response was that I didn’t want

the previous two years in July. This gave

to. I’d already achieved my goal of three

us a couple of options, and the plan was

years in a row, so I thought it’s only fair to

to fish wherever the weather looked best.

let someone else have a crack at it. I said I’d

We planned to go on the first weekend

only go if someone else were keen to be the angler, which he replied he was.

of July which happened to be the first and second of July. As we got closer to

With reports of m arlin been caught up

the date, the weather forecast didn’t

Whangaroa all through June, I went up

look suitable for us to go fishing, so we

there on June 16 by myself, headed out

made the call to put it off until the next

in my Honda BF60 powered Surtees 4.85

weekend. I kept an eye on the forecast

Workmate and saw a couple landed. I

towards the end of the week, and it was

even had one on for about 30 seconds in

looking better around the Poor Knights

the afternoon, but after a j um p it won

- under 14 knots and dropping off in the

its freedom. So I had an idea of where

afternoon, so the decision was made that’s

22 www.nzfisher.co.nz

where we will fish.

Saturday morning we left Tutukaka boat ramp in the darkness and got out to the area we were going to fish as the sun was coming up. We managed to catch a skipjack tuna easily and ran it as a live bait first thing, only to have a seal attack it. We caught another one an hour or so later but lost that one to a Mako shark. We put the lures back out - two marlin lures off the outriggers and two skippy lures off the corners. The main goal at this point was to catch our third live bait for the day.

later we tagged and had hold of the fish swimming nicely beside the boat. I had my GoPro’s set on time-lapse mode, so they took heaps of photos, and Chris made the call to release the fish. It was chunky

Then out of nowhere, a marlin snatched

but not overly long, so I estimated it at

the Bonze Angel off the long rigger, and

around 100 kg. If we had of kept it, and

we were hooked up! I cleared the other

it only went 89.9 kg it wouldn’t have

three lines from the water while Chris

counted for the NZSFC, so I feel Chris

got clipped into the Tiagra 80w that was

made the right call.

screaming out line. Chris had caught a

For me, it all pretty much started a

marlin with me a couple of years ago,

few years ago when Kyle jacked up to

which with some aggressive driving and

take me out for a marlin fish, where

fast winding by Chris saw us with a nice

we managed to bag my first marlin

striped marlin beside the boat tagged and

effortlessly within a couple of hours

ready for release in around 10 minutes.

of being out. Everything went right to

This time was different though. This was

Kyle’s plan, which made my years worth

potentially the first marlin for the new

of attempts seem like a waste of time.

season, so we played it safe and steady.

Kyle has always been an advocate for

The fish had taken a fair bit of line on

tagging and releasing marlin. This was my

its first run, and we had no idea how or

first experience with a marlin, and I could

where it was hooked, so Chris didn’t put

see exactly why he was such a strong

too much drag on the fish as we didn’t

believer in it. I have found myself hooked

want to risk pulling the hooks. 40 minutes

on releasing fish, getting more of a buzz

www.nzfisher.co.nz 23

LUREFISHING

from holding the fish next to the boat

too much line before it dove down. Then

then watching it swim away free again.

it was just a matter of keeping the boat

Over the next few years, Kyle and I started

positioned right while we took our time

fishing together more and more. I was

getting its head up and bringing it to the

in close tabs with him as he managed to

surface. When we had sight of the fish

tag the first marlin for the season the last

right beneath the boat, Kyle said it was my

three years in a row, and watched him turn

call what we did. As he grabbed the leader,

heads proving it could not only be done in

I continued on our tradition and reached

winter but that he could also do it solo.

for the tag pole. I placed a perfect tag shot

We had a bit of a rough season this past year, missing fish, having outboard break downs and also having to tow other boats back to shore, killing a lot of our days. It was good to be out there again having a crack at it.

As we were heading to pick up our third skippy, I was sitting relaxing watching the lures, talking shit with Kyle as we do.

All of a sudden, I spotted a dark shape in behind our long rigger, then what looked like a rubbish bag started thrashing

right below the dorsal fin, ditched the rod and gimble and Kyle got the fish under control. I leaned over the side of the boat and grabbed the fish by the bill. I knew right then and there that we’d completed our goal, first tagged marlin four years in a row for the boat.

When people ask why we waste time catching and letting marlin go, it’s this very moment that I wish they could all experience for themselves. It’s not the anticipation of waiting for the strike, it’s not the fight, it’s certainly not killing the

about.... HOLY SHIT we’re on... Marlin

fish. For me, it’s the moment when you

in the gear!!! By the time I stood up,

have that fish in your hands swimming

and Kyle turned around, the marlin had

calmly next to the boat.

taken our Bonze Angel and was making its way for open water.

Witnessing something that not a lot of people get to in their lifetime. The

I picked up the rod and got stuck into

feeling of accomplishment and then

it, watching the fish still get airborne as

being able to stand back and watch that

it peeled out line. Kyle made sure I was

fish swim off free to carry on its life.

happy, and all set in then turned the boat

This is what drives me to spend endless

and started to chase the fish down. We

numbers of days out on the water.

managed to keep the fish from taking

Once again none of this would’ve been

24 www.nzfisher.co.nz

possible without a great friend like Kyle and his years of knowledge. ď Ź

www.nzfisher.co.nz 25

BIG GAMEFISHING

Swords:

What’s the real story?

BY Naomi Peterson & Jed Radaly

26 www.nzfisher.co.nz

atching a broadbill swordfish would have to be something that many anglers aspire to.

might not fish structure like the recreational angler, but rather currents and thermoclines and temperature

It’s that ultimate billfish on ‘bucket

breaks. They also know how to catch

lists’ and one that is well worth the

them on the surface at night. The

effort put in to catch. Seeing photos

recreational angler tends to fish tiny

on our Facebook feeds or watching

drop-offs and valleys. There are only

anglers on fishing programmes on TV

a handful of spots which recreational

catch them only inspires us more.

fishermen access and this means a

Jed Radaly is one guy who seems to

higher potential for these to easily be

be pretty successful in hooking (and

overfished. One example of this is the

landing) swordfish, whether he’s

Garden Patch in Northland. Where a

on the rod himself or putting other

few years ago you would hear of 10 to

anglers onto the fish. This wasn’t

12 swordies being caught per day, now

always the case, but he’s put in the

you’re only hearing of one or two”.

hard yards to become the fisherman

Broadbill swordfish are not related

he is today. My initial idea of this

to marlin or any other billfish.

article was a ‘how to’ catch these

Although they are classed within the

magnificent fish, sharing some of Jed’s

billfish category, they are the sole

(and other successful angler’s) tips

member of their species. The fish

and knowledge. But after talking with

reaches maturity at about four to five

Jed, I have quite a different outlook.

years with a 9 to 10-year life span.

“We all want to catch a fish, but what

They are solitary migratory fish.

you don’t know about a fish is what

“During the day swordfish usually live

is harmful to the fishery. If you don’t

and hunt in 400m+ of water. This is

know about the species, you just go

where light is lost, and they can avoid

out to catch and kill it for sport” (even

the predatory Mako shark”. They can

if you do end up taking it for food).

sometimes be seen sunning themselves

Ask any recreational or commercial

on the surface, and will also spawn

fisherman for their swordfish spots,

there. The swordfish has a unique

and you’ll find that they are reluctant

adaptation to allow it to function in

to share. Commercial fishermen

these depths and temperatures. They

particularly because “they understand

have special organs right next to their

the patterns of a swordfish, and when

eyes for warming both their eyes and

you do understand this, there becomes

brains. The ability to heat their eyes

the potential to overfish a spot. They

improves the quality of their vision

www.nzfisher.co.nz 27

BIG GAMEFISHING

28 www.nzfisher.co.nz

and therefore increases their ability to

the same. It’s also been noted that

hunt. “During the night where there is

they will deliberately charge your

little light for the mako to see them,

boat, intentionally attacking you

they can move up through the water

with that dangerous bill. Many

columns to feed. While swordfish are

boats bear the scars of bill attacks.

one of the fastest fish in the ocean,

If you think that you still want to catch

they are still prey for makos, who will chomp off their tails to disable them”.

a broadbill, “you need to work for your reward. Live it and breath it and

Agreeably, the broadbill swordfish

think ‘how can I improve’. Tune your

is one of those ‘bucket list’ fish, the

fishing, mentally take note of where

Everest of all swordfish. But you can’t

your bait was bitten and change your

just expect to go out there and catch

rigging if necessary. Present your hook

one. Jed believes it’s a progression to

properly, use an inline circle hook

catching a sword. It took him three

to ensure a mouth rather than gut

years, finding out what worked and

hook. This gives the fish a much better

didn’t, tuning his rigs and techniques,

chance of being able to be released

experience and a lot of trial and

without injury if you choose to do so.

error. “In a year of first targeting

Educate yourself, it’s about fish care”.

broadbill, you might land one and

There are times where, with the best of

drop 25 as you refine your practices”.

intentions to release your swordfish,

Broadbill swordfish are a determined

this isn’t always possible for various

fish with a whole lot of power and

reasons. “If you can’t release your

stamina. If you’re thinking of landing

fish, you can still respect your catch

one, you’re going to need to have

through eating or mounting it”. 

www.nzfisher.co.nz 29

FISHINGLOCAL

Taking

the Plunge: Deep South

BY Jordan Putt

he deep, blue, cold waters around Dunedin hold bounties of which I could have never expected.

Moving here from Taranaki, I knew I was in for a change. My bread and butter of snapper fishing was no more; new adventures awaited.

a full or new moon, in gumboots, and returning to the car with them dry, so Dunedin had a lot to live up to.

Little did I know that it was about to surpass anything I could’ve imagined. It takes little more than a 10-minute drive to get to several dive locations. With

Free diving was something I have

these come paua the size of your head,

always wanted to do, so I decided to

butterfish that are large and plentiful,

finally bite the bullet and pay for the

and the opportunity to spear blue cod

gear I needed as I knew that I would

in only seven metres of water. Venture

be able to get great, fresh kaimoana

a little further up or down the coast

for little ongoing cost. Coming from

and the species list increases, with large

Taranaki, a limit on paua can occur on

crayfish, blue moki, trumpeter and

almost any day of the week surrounding terikihi being targets.

30 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Cloudy bay on a sunny day

Cockles are also in many of the

right to the beach. One thing I have

estuaries en route to dive locations

noticed is the large population of sea

and add an extra something to each

lions, always in my favourite spots with

trip. As a beginner diver and having the

the best diving. Are the sea lions there

opportunity to access such a great fishery

because of the mass of fish? Or is the

is incredible. Paua are often more than

mass of fish there because the sea lions

150mm, and on a good day, your whole

stop many from entering?

catch bag won’t contain a paua that isn’t

Either way, I have had several run-ins

the legal length, widthwise.

with these large animals, and they are

There are numerous locations in

certainly not afraid to show you that

which paua cover the sea floor, with

you are in their playground. Gathering

thousands in an area. What is amazing

seafood has never been so easy, to the

is that there are so many places to

point where my flatmates and I will

dive that are completely public access,

eat fresh paua, fish, or crayfish several

and many of which you can even drive

times each week, for little more than

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FISHINGLOCAL

32 www.nzfisher.co.nz

MASSIVE Paua

Mean haul, just minutes from home

World class clams

the cost of diesel. Not only is free diving

and in my opinion, one of the better

a sport and hobby, but it sustains a flat

eating fish we have in New Zealand.

of six hungry boys, which leaves a smile

Surrounding these cod are blankets of

on all our faces.

sea perch, schools of barracuda, and

A short trip in the boat will get you

the odd spiny dogfish. Still taunting

to 100m deep, and only 10 minutes

me is the prospect of my first hapuku

further and you can be in areas of the

or bluenose, and knowing either one

Cape Saunders Trench ranging from

could come up with the next drop is

300-500 metres. With these deep

an exciting thought. There is so much

waters come blue cod the more than

exploring left for me to do, but already I

50cm, and weighing up to 7lb. Jaws

have found seafood so plentiful. Is it the

stong enough to bend hooks, and runs

lower population, the cold waters? I’m

that manage to pull line. Pulling these

not sure, but this part of the country is

up from 130 metres deep is great fun,

utterly breathtaking.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 33

FISHINGLOCAL Rare in the North, Copper Moki is delicous

Eat with your eyes

clams done well

Who said Scarfies can't cook!?!?!

Paua Fritters - The South rocks

PUTTYS PAUA FRITTERS •

10 Dunedin sized Paua (150mm plus)

•

2 large onions finely diced

•

1 1/2 cups grated tasty cheese

•

4 eggs

•

6 tablespoons flour

•

Salt and pepper

Mince your paua, add the rest of the ingredients, stir, and fry. Simple, Delicious, Enjoy! 

34 www.nzfisher.co.nz

www.nzfisher.co.nz 35

SQUIDFISHING

In Search of Suckers

BY Rudee Lim

36 www.nzfisher.co.nz

quid are on the bite again, so we decided to head up north to target these creatures in numbers.

We prospected a few locations, mainly looking for shallow sea beds with a lot of weed amongst them and planning the tide well depending on the location.

The technique used on these squid is called Eging, where the angler whips the rod, giving the lure a darting action through the water column and letting it sit/sink to the bottom for a small period of time to give the squid a chance to

grab/reach for the jig. The day went fast with cast after cast getting squid. I even had to have a break in between to rest the arm.

Evening came, and we knew it was prime time for the big ones to make an appearance, so jigs kept changing till we hit the right one, colour after colour, squid after squid and bam! I struck the big one. Line was peeling like no tomorrow. It was a short fight but at the crucial moment, everything was in check for no error.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 37

SQUIDFISHING

The gaff came out and words like “ holy…” came out left, right and centre of us when we saw the squid!

Up the squid came and photos to follow. All and all it was the best squid by far. weighing in at 1.5kg, you can’t complain at all. finished the day with a total of 24 that day and all ranging from 150g-600g.

We had sashimi for dinner, and beer battered rings for lunch! 

Massive (Bait or dinner?) Squid

38 www.nzfisher.co.nz

www.nzfisher.co.nz 39

FISHERIESMANAGEMENT FISHERIES

Legasea

Update

The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council releases recreational fishing Manifesto

new approach to managing New Zealand’s fisheries is needed urgently The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council has released its

regarding stewardship of New Zealand’s fisheries, and that consultation has formed the basis of the Manifesto.

Manifesto and calls on New Zealand’s

Spokesman Scott Macindoe says

political parties to consider a new

New Zealand’s fisheries are owned

approach to setting policy.

by the public of New Zealand, yet

The Council has consulted with its

all too often that is forgotten in

members over what they want to see

the rush to commercialisation.

40 www.nzfisher.co.nz

“These fish belong to all New Zealanders and attempts to change public access to fish amounts to privatisation by stealth. With this Manifesto we want New Zealand political parties to fully embrace the entirety of the fisheries issues, not just the short-term commercial gain that might be there for the few.”

The Manifesto includes five major policy requirements.

Those policies are: 1. Establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry into fisheries management and the Quota Management System.

2. Amend the Fisheries Act 1996 to

“We call on all New Zealand’s political parties to take this issue seriously.

Recreational fishers know the current model is untenable – we want to ensure there are fish left in the sea for future generations to enjoy. We have already seen an end to plentiful crayfish, gurnard and trevally in many areas, and said goodbye to John dory and hapuku.

The current focus on exporting so much of our precious inshore fish for less than $3.00 per kilo when Kiwis cannot buy it for anywhere near that price has to stop. We will be advising our members according to which party supports that view.” 

include an Allocation Principle.

3. Remove industrial fishing methods such as trawling, seining and

Call 0800 LEGASEA (534 273)

dredging from the inshore zone.

Email us info@legasea.co.nz

4. Establish a separate, well-resourced Ministry of Fisheries.

Subscribe at www.legasea.co.nz Read more at www.facebook.com/legasea

5. Amend section 13 of the Fisheries Act to deliver a minimum biomass target of 50%, in line with international best practice.

“The challenges facing New Zealand’s fisheries are broad and complex and merely tinkering with the detail of the current system simply won’t work.

We face a tipping point for many overfished stocks and if we don’t act now we may not have a fishery to

LegaSea is a public outreach initiative of the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council. The Council has an experienced fisheries management, science, policy and legal team. On behalf of the Council, LegaSea raises funds and provides public-friendly information about a variety of processes that are important to restoring abundance in our fisheries for future generations.

protect in years to come.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 41

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