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