ISSUE 1 September 22
Winter Moocher Hunt //Big winter snapper from the rocks // Targeting Winter kings – The Coromandel experience Readers Photo competition // // Pitch and Switch – Making it happen with marlin
www.nzfisher.co.nz 1
THE RUM THAT INVENTED RUM www.mountgayrum.com Enjoy the adventure, drink responsibly 2 www.nzfisher.co.nz
Pg 12
6
Stalking the Moocher
Why driving rain, frozen hands and wind
22
burn are really worth it! 10
Reader Pics
Competition for Winter fishing pics.
6 18
12
How To:
Pitch N Switch Marlin on a spinning reel
17
Recipe
Kingfish, cooked like royalty
18
Epic Success
Epic Adventures rides the wave!
20
Kayak Fishing
In the Hauraki Gulf
22
The Fin Nor Marquesa 30T
In the Hauraki Gulf
24
Regional Reviews
26
NZRFC Report
Pg 22
Pg 17
www.nzfisher.co.nz 3
ALL NEW HP 15 HONDA it1at your
ECONOMY
Look for r local deale
Take your mates fishing for less than $4 each ! ‡
The all new Honda fuel-injected 115hp delivers class-leading performance with unparalleled fuel efficiency and reliability. • Most powerful 115hp outboard on the market – actually produces 121hp • ECOmo lean burn control gives truly amazing fuel economy • BLAST (Boosted Low Speed Torque) for phenomenal acceleration HMAR_083
• Extremely low vibration and noise levels with twin balancer shaft • NMEA 2000 compliant so all engine and fuel data can be displayed on GPS screen 2.3
5
8
10
15
20
25
30
40
50
60
75
90
115
135
150
Find your local
www.hondamarine.co.nz
dealer at:
0800 4 STROKE (0800 478 765)
* Applies to non-commercial use only. Conditional on annual service by authorised Honda Marine dealers. ‡Honda test boat did 73km on a 25 litre tote tank at 40km/hr cruising speed.
4 www.nzfisher.co.nz
175
200
225
ABOUT / Short and sharp, NZ Fisher is a free e-magazine delivering thought provoking and enlightening articles, and industry news and information to forward-thinking fisher people! EDITOR / Derrick Paull ART DIRECTOR / Jodi Olsson GROUP EDITOR / Trudi Caffellffell
EDITOR
CONTENT ENQUIRIES / Phone Derrick on 021 629 327 or email derrickp@NZFisher.co.nz
idday and thanks for checking
enjoy some of our stories, start thinking
ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES /
out the very first issue of NZ
about how you’ll be attacking your
Fisher magazine. The team at
local species this spring and take pity
Phone Alastair on 09 522 7257
Espire and NZ Fisher extend a warm
on those silly buggers who like to catch
welcome and invite you to enjoy what
snapper in the middle of winter!
we love to produce for you! NZ Fisher is born of a desire to improve
Lastly, I’d like to thank a few people
or email alastairn@espiremedia.com ADDRESS / NZ Fisher, C/- Es-
who have made NZ Fisher a reality in
pire Media, PO Box 137162,
the participation and enjoyment of fish-
such a short time. The team at Espire
ing in New Zealand. Our aim is to pro-
Media, Jen, Richard & Alastair have
Parnell,Auckland 1151, NZ
vide a mid-week boost of enthusiasm,
put a huge amount of work in to the
knowhow and just a touch of envy as you
publication and are taking a punt on my
check out how the rest of the country is
enthusiasm!
getting out there and doing it. We begin with an intro to a handfull of
Jodi, thanks for re-editing everything a million times & Trudi for all your help
our contributors and give you an insight
in getting the stories of a bunch of
to where our fishing passions begin.
fisho’s up to publication standards. To
NZ Fisher will strive to bring the latest
our advertisers who have also taken a
fishing news, views and techniques in an
leap of faith, thanks. I intend to repay
unbiased and easily understood way. The
your faith ten-fold with a very well read
NZ Fisher team is made up of mad keen
publication that will stand the test of
fishers with backgrounds in land-based,
time. And of course, Elle and Oscar –
kayak, big game, small boat, underwater,
thanks for putting up with my head in
science and photography.
my laptop for days on end – soon we’ll
Our first issue is a chance for you to
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!
be fishing again!
Happy Fishing!
Derrick
www.nzfisher.co.nz 5
feature
Stalking the Moocher 6 www.nzfisher.co.nz
// Why driving
rain, frozen hands & wind burn are really worth it! By Derrick Paull
t’s that time of year again. The
themselves at hapless fishers, you have
sun doesn’t ever seem to rise
to think like a fish and be in the right
above the horizon, the wind’s cold
places at the right times.
and the rain comes in sheets not drops. That’s right – it’s moocher time! Imagine yourself like a gecko perched
It’s no secret that the coldest months - July and August trough to October -produce the very best inshore trophy
on a rock willing the sun to warm the ice
snapper fishing. Food stocks are low and
off your skin. The sea is a bit wild and
the big fellas are hungry.
has a dark foreboding look to it. You’ve
There’s been a lot written about
left your big bait out there in the wash for
catching these mighty fish and a lot
over an hour in a desperate bid to lure a
of what is said is dead on the money.
lazy moocher to your trap.
The thing is though – to catch a big ‘ol
The tip of your rod moves just slightly
moocher, you need to get out of bed and
more than it did after the last swell; the tip
get on the water. The fish will be there!
continues to move down, dropping and
So before we get into the how-to, let’s
loading up. Your heart pumps just a little
look at the why.
harder at the anticipation of a bite, then all
Because they’re hungry, big snapper
hell breaks loose. The rod doubles over as
are easier to get on a hook in winter,
the well set recurve sinks home and your
but they’re never an easy prospect
quarry realises all is not well.
once hooked.
All of a sudden you move like a
So what are the essentials? First of all
teenager not a rheumy old man and
is location. You won’t expect to catch
dance across the rocks to your now
an old moocher snapper at Devonport
singing reel. In gear, load up, lift the
Wharf! They hang out in areas where
tip – it’s all on! Deep thumps from the
food is easy to find and there’s plenty of
tail and severe shakes of the head.
cover. Surprisingly big snapper are not
Your trophy heads for the deep reefs,
as shy as you might think. If there’s food
you grunt and apply just a little more
on offer they will show themselves and
pressure – you know you have to turn his
make the hunt even more exciting.
head....... Now. What did we do to get to this
Broken reef with a lot of weed is your first goal. The more current and
point? A lot of hard work, long walks and
deepwater near by the better – you’ll
more than a few idle minutes waiting for
want the burley you’ve carried in to be
the bite. Trophy snapper don’t just throw
dispersed by the currents and to drag www.nzfisher.co.nz 7
8 www.nzfisher.co.nz
the fight (or if you accidently
them to resist. With a range of up to a
hook a little one). The sort
kilometre there is a big area for them
of baits that you’ll do best
to cover so the better your delivery
with are oily, smelly flesh
system the better your chances. This
baits like Bonito, yellow tail
often means that patience is your
and my personal favourite,
greatest virtue.
fresh kahawai fillets are easily baited with a recurve hook.
these big fish up from the depths and into the relative shallows where you cast. Second is equipment, for these big fish I cannot recommend recurve hooks
Whereas in summer it’s best to pick up and move off when the excitement slows,
Push the recurve through
winter is definitely the time to stay put.
the flesh and a bit of tough
There’s no point in putting the effort in
(scaled) skin at the thin
just to move off when your quarry turns
end of the bait. This offers
up for dinner!
the best hook up rates and
My advice,; set the alarm, go for a
means your hook doesn’t get lost in
drive, sling your pack over a shoulder
the flesh of the bait and so deeply
and do the business. It’ll be summer
embedded that you cannot hook up.
soon and then you’ll be too busy getting
strongly enough. They offer a greater
Big snapper will travel a reasonable
hook up rate but also allow the easiest
distance for an easy feed. The smell of
and most painless release when you
your burley in the water then the offer
choose to release the fish at the end of
of a free meal is usually too much for
the run around by kingfish!
www.nzfisher.co.nz 9
competition
Captain //Reader’s Snappy issions winter m r u o y f so are hard your pic Big fish s t. u a d o n b e e S th ut there hore or of you o m the s ts o h s t be it fro ke a r, bu r and ta in winte te y a b w e e m ! n th to co Go Fish o. Get o rize from re ok to p a t it a g re in g a do e up for you’ll b – to o h p
Free casio watch
Biscayne
with every Fin-Nor rod & reel combo AHAB
valued at
15000
$
Marquesa
™
10 www.nzfisher.co.nz Ask instore for details.
www.fin-norfishing.com
This month’s winner from our Facebook competition is Paul O’Donohue for his awesome Marlin caught earlier this year.
www.nzfisher.co.nz 11
sportFISHING howTO
Pitch n Switch Marlin on a spinning reel // Fine tuning techniques before summer rolls around By Kurt Bennetto
n the first of March 2010 a
mission of the morning was to catch
successful. The up side to using live baits
mate and I headed out off
out live baits. Jack mackerel are very
is that presenting them only takes a few
Northlands’ west coast in his
good live baits for marlin however they
seconds with a simply bridle rig.
6.5m Fyran Pursuit targeting Marlin
were very scarce (scared to death by
To rig a dead bait whether it be a
with the intention of using the ‘pitch
hundreds of marauding marlin more
swimmer or a skip bait can take a lot
and switch’ method.
like!) and we couldn’t find any.
of preparation as most techniques
In short the pitch and switch method is
Thankfully kahawai are also fantastic
require removing gut cavities and gills
when you tease a marlin in towards the
live bait and we managed to snap up a
then stitching it back up with needle
transom of the boat with a skirted lure
few of them. Kahawai are a feisty live
and thread – not a two minute task.
and simultaneously switch it to a bait by
bait that stay alive well, are very strong
Swimming baits normally take many
dropping the bait back and retracting
and Marlin love them. We caught a
hours of practice to perfect so they
the teaser. Some of you may be thinking
couple and they were soon in the tuna
actually swim straight. As a result I prefer
“why bother? Why not just catch them
tubes ready for action.
live baits and I don’t think any thing
on lures?” The answer simply is the
I prefer to use live bait for pitch baiting
excites a marlin more that live prey!
improved hook up rate and a massive
marlin however a lot of top crews
adrenaline rush!
use dead baits rigged as “swimmers”
had to find the fish. We received help
or “skip baits” which are also very
from others who had been out the
As we departed the beach the first 12 www.nzfisher.co.nz
To put the method into practice we
previous day (and had been right in the heart of the action) who kindly obliged us the GPS coordinates. If you don’t have direct contact, just get on the radio and listen out for news from other boats on the water – game fishing is an pretty inclusive sport and most skippers will let you know where the action is hottest. What we had also been informed was that there were huge schools of jack mackerel being balled up -which is what the Marlin had been feeding on. A lot of boats the previous day had been getting a lot of bites on lures with very little success. One boat had over 10 marlin bites and didn’t manage to catch one! This was because the marlin were not actually biting the lures with aggression. They were in effect swatting at the lures and becoming bill-wrapped in the leader, this makes them extremely hard to catch on lures. When they are feeding like this it results in a frustrated crew and a poor outcome if you don’t change your approach. I believe the marlin bite differently depending on what species of bait fish they are feeding on and when they are feeding on jack mackerel they tend to use their bill’s to stun their prey before eating it. This is when the pitch
it can’t catch its prey which can result in
the marlin had taken an interest in and
an aggressive bite.
pulled 20 meters of line before I yanked
After trolling around for most of the morning looking for good baitfish
it out of his mouth (heart going crazy and adrenalin pumping!). As I wound the
and switch method becomes your number one option. To tease up the marlin we remove the hooks from the lures which turns a lure into teasers. The whole idea behind this is
teaser back in the
I believe the marlin bite differently depending on what species of bait fish they are feeding on and when they are feeding on jack mackerel they tend to use their bill’s to stun their prey before eating it. This is when the pitch and switch method becomes your number one option.
to raise a marlin and even if it bites the lure it will not feel the hook. This means the fish doesn’t get hurt and as a result generally comes back time after time. This also aggravates the marlin because
fish followed it to the back of the transom with its bill slipping from side to side rattling the lure. We slowed the boat down and the angler pitched the switchbait right in front of
sign on the sounder or free-swimming
a stunningly lit up marlin. The next 30
marlin, a dorsal fin appeared behind
seconds felt like 3 hours as we waited in
one of the lures. I jumped into action
extreme anticipation for the fish to take
to try and retrieve the hookless lure
the bait. The rod tip jolted as the fish www.nzfisher.co.nz 13
14 www.nzfisher.co.nz
30 seconds felt like 3 hours as we waited in extreme anticipation for the fish to take the bait. The rod tip jolted as the fish picked the bait up. The line disappeared at blinding rate... picked the bait up. The line disappeared
gear - reverse. As we settled into the fight
and prepared the fish for the release
at blinding rate - I hope we have the
and the nerves calmed we managed to
when I discovered it was bleeding
capacity on the Stella!
work the fish up and had it along side
from the gills as it was hooked deep
within 10 minutes.
in the throat. It was decided that if we
The angler flicked the bail arm over on the Stella 200000 and the rod loaded
One last burst of 50 meters from the
were to release the fish it would not
up! The fish came to the surface ‘grey
fish gave us some more entertainment as
have lived so we then dragged it over
hounding’ towards the horizon - we
it jumped away. We then had a chance
the side and into the boat. The fish
were on!
at taking the leader, I managed to get
weighed a very respectable 90.2kg (a
a glove on it as we edged it in closer to
personal best for the Stella) and a few
the boat was very quickly into reverse,
the boat. The tag shot was perfect and
cold ones were sunk in celebration.
our adrenalin levels were sky high as the
the yahoos were blasting.
The remaining teasers were cleared and
outboard was screaming in my favourite
We then settled ourselves down
Next month – Knowing when to stay in the zone.
Ask for the Active Duty sun and bug skin defence range at selected pharmacies and retailers throughout New Zealand or order online at www.skinshield.co.nz
“If it works for the NZ Army, it’ll work for you!”
As used by the NZ Defence Force! www.nzfisher.co.nz 15
Every issue, all NZ Fisher subscribers* go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters. To find out if you’ve won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then get in touch with our Editor before the deadline to claim your prize. Sweet as!!! *Sorry—only NZ residents eligible for prize draw.
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winners for Issue #1! If you’re one of the lucky NZ Fisher subscribers listed below, simply fire an email to our editor derrickp@nzfisher.co.nz before 5pm Friday 1 October 2010 to claim your prize!
Jenny Atkins of Ohaewai You’ve won an Active Duty sun and bug skin defence pack from Skinshield NZ including sunscreen, repellent, lip balm and Permethrin clothing treatment kit! For more on the Active Duty skin defence range see www.skinshield.co.nz
Bryan Lowe of Auckland You’ve won a fantastic goodie bag courtesy of the team at down at The Bait Station and including a selection of jigs, poppers and slow jigs - don’t blame us if the fishing’s no good! Check out some of the merchandise at www.baitstation.co.nz
Brent Hazlett of North Shore You have won a 700ml bottle of premium Mt Gay Eclipse Rum courtesy of Hancocks Wines & Spirits. Produced on the same plantation in Barbados for over 300 years, it’s a top drop! For a list of fantastic Mt Gay Rum cocktail recipes visit www.hancocks.co.nz
The small print… Yes it seems like they won’t let you do without it, even when you’re giving stuff away. Anyway, please note that to be able to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to have been a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine as at a date no less than two working days prior to issue date (‘cos that’s when our prize winners are drawn) and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw. To be eligible to claim any prizes including, but not limited to, alcoholic beverages, travel, motor vehicle/boat usage, tattoos, sharp things or any other prize that might require you to be over than 18 years old, you must have been over 18 years of age at the time of the draw! Cheers. 16 www.nzfisher.co.nz
recipe
By Chris Burton ishing is about hanging out with mates, exploring new places, and having a great time along
Stock is here to help you in the kitchen! Whipping up a great feed isn’t hard,
the dining table, a sure fire way to lose fans. Use fresh ingredients, present
and it’s definitely worth the effort.
food with care and, of course, have a
the way. Eating seafood should be no
Following a few simple guidelines can
drink on hand that complements the
different. Serving up an amazing fresh
turn a run of the mill dish into a winner.
dish. Fish for the future, take only what
seafood dish for a bunch of friends
You’ll have the family begging you to
you can eat fresh.
never fails to impress and is usually a
go out fishing every weekend, and
With this being the start of NZ Fisher
pre-cursor to a great evening of food,
that can’t be a bad thing! Kill your fish
I thought what better way to kick
drinks and tall fishing tales.
immediately and store on salt ice.
things off than with my favourite starter
The Fish Stock draws from my own
Always bring home some salt water
of fresh tender kingfish wrapped in
stock of ideas, hints, how to’s and
to wash your catch; tap water tends to
prosciutto, dripping with basil and
recipes about what makes for good
‘burn’ the flesh. Wash your catch well.
garlic butter. This is an easy dish that
eating. I’ll let the others tell you their
There is nothing worse than that fishy
looks the part; it’s got brownie points
secret catch spots and tips; The Fish
smell from filleting making its way to
written all over it!
Serves 4 as an entrée
Kingfish and Prosciutto Wraps Ingredients
to wrap around the fish. Wrap each cube with a strip of
600g kingfish fillets
the ham; it should stick quite nicely to the fish. Place the
150g prosciutto ham
wrapped cubes onto a lightly oiled oven tray.
50g butter at room temperature
Mix the basil, garlic, butter and a pinch of salt and
3 garlic cloves crushed
pepper. Place a dollop of this mixture on the top of each
Handful of fresh basil leaves finely chopped
cube, divvy it out until it’s all used up.
Cooking oil Salt and pepper
Bake them on the middle rack in the oven for 8 minutes until just cooked through. If you’re unsure whether they are done or not - cut one open. The meat should have just
For the wraps, the key to success is to cook them hot and
turned from opaque to white in the center. Now, take chefs
fast so turn your oven to 220°c. While the oven is cranking
liberties and give it a taste test.
up, remove any red flesh from the kingfish then cut it into 4cm ‘cubes’. You should end up with about 12 cubes in total. Cut your prosciutto into strips that are long enough
Serve the wraps straight away with a chilled bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and watch them disappear! Tight lines and empty plates! www.nzfisher.co.nz 17
boat FISHING
hen you make the decision to call your charter fishing business ‘Epic Adventures’, you set the bar high, even before the punters step on board. Over the last four years Carl Muir of said charter business has gone about making sure that the adventures of his clients are nothing but Epic. I have had the pleasure of fishing with Carl before and the success of this trip graced the pages of another magazine. As we now embark on a new era with NZ Fisher, I thought it might be an idea to check out the new Epic boat, named
Epic Success By Derrick Paull
Sanity, and skipper Toby (Tobes) Kemp, to see if Carl was simply catering to the demand or if he had really bought on someone with his ideals, commitment to big fish and same cheek that only a successful skipper can get a way with! Sanity is Whitianga based but fishes the same water as Carl on Epic. Carl has said that he’s spent two years looking for the right guy to take the no. 2 skipper role, so once again the bar has been set quite high. As New Zealand’s weather is want to do, it blew up a maelstrom the day we were originally booked and thankfully a second opportunity the following weekend gave Aaron and I the opportunity to get down to Whiti and get our rusty jigging shoulders back in action. The weather was forecast to drop from an early morning 20kn to light variables in the early afternoon – how much better can it get? With the sun shining we headed out towards the Aldermans with expectations ratcheted right up. First stop was ‘Castle’ rock, a Whiti local favourite that has a record of producing nice, but not large kings – a great spot to get the arms pumped, but not too shattered before reaching the real goal – the ‘pins’ out wide of the Aldermans. The Castle didn’t produce – not even a ‘couta! So onwards towards the deep we head! When jigging for kings is hot, it is hot in no uncertain terms. Places like the
18 www.nzfisher.co.nz
For next hour our pains turned from aches of jigging to the lactic burn from holding on to big kings and wrestling
but for its size (8m Tsunami) the fishing platform is not any bigger than Epic. I’ll be back to hit more of the big ‘Coro
them to the boat. While no more
kings later this year – be it on Epic or
monsters were encountered some great
Sanity I know I’m going to come home
fish in the mid teens were boated on
with a smile on my dial!
various tackle including lighter ‘plastics’ gear that accounted for some very spirited 10kg rats. The best of the bunch was landed by Capt. Tobes while Three Kings can spoil a fisher. So after a handful of drops and no takes, we were quickly on to giving Tobes a deserved
a couple of our party took a rest. See here for a quick video of Tobes’ battle. We managed a respectable total of 40 kings between four of us with
ribbing – it’s never angler error on a
the biggest pulling the scales down
charter boat! We had come across Carl on Epic with a couple of Aussies testing themselves
to almost 40lb. Not a bad day out in anyone’s books. The ride home included a mingle with some unusually friendly
against the Coro beasts and they were into a few good fish. We kept bouncing out lead for a few more uneventful drifts before Aaron broke the duck, hooking a freight train with no intent on stopping. While Aaron and his Saragossa couldn’t stop that one it was the catalyst needed to bring the kings on strike!
common dolphins, not fishing, just enjoying the stunning day. Tobes and Sanity complement Epic but not in a sycophantic way. Tobes is an accomplished fisher in his own right, he has his own spots, and a different approach to Carl. The boat is well set up,
Kayak Fishing Range Because one kayak won’t suit everyone
PROWLER ULTRA 4.7 Image courtesy of Rob Fort – Coromandel Kayak Adventures
Some fishing kayaks may excel in one or two areas, the Prowler Ultra 4.7 excels across the board, with an inpressive range of features making it the benchmark when it comes to design and performance. “This boat is the benchmark in kayak fishing design” Rob Fort - Coromandel Kayaks
K AYA K F I S H I N G R A N G E
Scrambler 11
For more information and to find your local dealer visit:
Prowler Elite 4.1
Prowler Elite 4.5
Prowler Ultra 4.7
www.oceankayak.co.nz
Torque
Designed in NZ, made in NZ & exported around the world www.nzfisher.co.nz 19
// ‘GT’ explores the Hauraki Gulf Plastic Fantastic By Greg Theunissen, President of the Hibiscus Kayak Fishing Club
hat is it about fishing?
a hook and a match stick as a float. I
Ever since I nabbed my
have been hooked since day one.
first perch some, oooh,
“We don’t know how lucky we are”! I have heard this time and again and it
Having worked my way up through a
is true. From the northern reaches of
45 years ago in a subtropical Northern
club and league team in coarse fishing,
the North Island to the Coromandel
Transvaal dam I’ve had it in my blood.
with the occasional trip to the sea
Peninsula, fishing opportunities
Back then we used the end piece of
thrown in over the years, I now find
unrivalled in most countries are available.
a fishing rod with a bit of line tied to
myself living in the real fishing heaven!
20 www.nzfisher.co.nz
In our very own back yard, we have
Our region is also blessed with many different boating, kayaking and surfcasting clubs for those who are inclined to be involved in such activities. some of the best places imaginable.
on the table is from my fishing kayak.
fish, global warming and all the other
The ‘Rangi channel, the Whangaparaoa
Having been there done that with
stuff going on, we are still able to
Peninsula and within an hour’s drive
a tinny, this new-fangled idea
catch many fish. In fact there are some
north, Lang’s Beach, Leigh, Jones Bay
appealed to me immediately. After
very good fish within a stone’s throw
and Mahurangi can be considered our
trialling a few models and different rigs,
of where I live here on the northern
‘local’ stomping grounds.
I can now virtually guarantee a feed
reaches of Auckland City. I will be
every time I go out!
gleefully reporting on all the latest
Many different aspects of fishing can be enjoyed here. From casting a line
Our region is also blessed with
action in the greater Auckland Area
from local wharves and piers, to the
many different boating, kayaking and
over the coming months and hope to
many rock and beach spots in-between
surfcasting clubs for those who are
see many of you out there enjoying it!
and the many boat launching ramps
inclined to be involved in such activities
Episode Two: Find out from weekend
which are readily available. There is no
with like minded individuals. Despite all
warrior boaties what they are getting,
shortage of ways to get your line wet.
the doom and gloom about depleted
profile Sullivans and the Nationals. Also
My favourite way of getting a feed
fish stocks, foreigners catching all our
general report from the area.
BIG FISH
SMALL REELS
The new Accurate BX/BX2 Range
The Boss Extreme BX & BX2 range of Accurate reels are now in stock at all serious tackle stores nationwide. Made from 6061T6 aircraft aluminium these reels are in a league of there own, a must for all serious fisherman. Availiable in wide or narrow spool. • Patented Twin Drag System pushing out 15kg of drag. • Seven Class 5 ABEC stainless steel bearings. • Greased AccuDrag system • Titanium friction washers. • Stainless steel gears • Boss reel bag • One year free service • Life time manufactures warranty.
For more info check out the Accurate website www.accuratefishing.com Freephone: 0508 545 545 Email: kane@decoro.co.nz Tel: 07 575 5130 149 Totara St Fax: 07 575 5914 PO Box 4138, Mt Maunganui Check out our new website www.decoro.co.nz Become a member now! www.nzfisher.co.nz 21
tackleTALK
22 www.nzfisher.co.nz
// In the Deep End at the Three Kings By John Callander
in Nor has the distinction of
fisher and sub-par tackle in the past but
holding more IGFA World
they provide arguably the best yellowtail
Records than any other brand,
kingfish fishing in the world. Where
suited my style of jigging with its 6.1
better to test the Marquesa?
to 1 ratio. I noted the handle allowed
“
IS ‘Legendary tackle since 1933’ and
with more than 380 IGFA records and
In Johns words:
counting it really is the stuff of legends.
“
no mean feat. The Fin Nor tag-line
Marquesa handled it comfortably.
I found the Marquesa winding action
me to avoid scrapes on my knuckles as some other reels I have used
have done – they don’t have enough
The question we had was, can Fin Nor
I was using a Fin nor Marquesa 30 reel
clearance within the shape of the
stand up to the rigours of modern
and 37kg braid & Xzoga custom rod on
handle and can have a tendency to
Jig fishing. Scott Taylor at Thompson
board Pursuit at the Three Kings Islands
skin knuckles while madly reeling in.
Walker didn’t blink and handed over
in May this year. I used the Marquesa for
the all new Fin Nor Marquesa.
mechanical jigging with jigs varying from
consistent and easy to operate. The
300g to 500g in 100 to 200 metres deep .
proof is in the catch! The Marquesa
It’s not a bad looking reel but doesn’t quite have the eye-candy appeal of a
The Marquesa handled the conditions
Trinidad or Avet – but it’s fast, tight and
well and caught at least 10 kingfish
very strong.
varying in weight from 15kg to 28kg.
The Three Kings Islands have been the downfall of many an under-prepared
I was also extremely happy to land a 28kg Hapuka on a jig too, again the
I found the Marquesa the drag
does the job, it’s very well priced and therefore great value for money.
www.finnorfishing.com/Marquesa.html
www.nzfisher.co.nz 23
regionalREVIEWS
Inner Hauraki Gulf Source: Hibiscus Kayak Fishing Club:
s spring arrives we are expect-
September – so watch the club site
ing an increase of fat healthy
for info on how we fared. We will be
snapper and have not been
taking on the North Shore Surfcasting
disappointed with the early season
Club on Sunday the 10th of Octo-
results! Our annual September mission
ber to contest the Rock-Yak Trophy.
to Whatuwhiwhi produced scores of
We’ve held it for the last two events
10lb plus snapper and a few 30lb plus
and don’t want to give it up now. The
Kingfish for those live-baiting or jig-
Rock-Yak Trophy is Kayak versus Rock
ging. The winter moochers were ever
fishing & is a great day with awesome
present this year with Pete & Aileen
prizes. New members are encouraged
Michael both scoring 8kg plus fish form
to come along! See the web-site for
our local haunts (Langs & Takatu). We
more info www.hibiscuskayakfishing-
are off to Oakura on the 18th / 19th
club.org
Coromandel / BOP Source: Epic Adventures
he Kingfish are acting like it’s
some solid 20kg kingfish from all three
delivering the fish of the day on a
spring already and the water
locations. Check that report out here
consistent basis, the jigging has been
temp is just starting to rise. How-
(http://www.epicadventures.co.nz/3D
going well. Over the last week we’ve
ever over the last two weeks the inshore
ayFishingCharterMayorIslandCuvierA
predominantly been jigging, with most
kingfish have now thinned out, and so
ldermenMercuryIslands.html). Water
trips being all people after their first
the deep reefs and pins from Cuvier to
temps are three degrees higher at the
ever kingfish. One of those was 14 year
the Aldies and Mayor are where it is at
moment than this time last year and
old Travis Clark pictured here, visiting
on the kingi front. We recently did a
with plenty of bait showing the kingi’s
with Ozzie TV Show Mark Bergs Fishing
three day trip fishing the extent of the
are feasting up and in good condition.
Addiction. They pulled some really solid
Eastern Coromandel and pulled awe-
While live-baits are probably still
kings to the 20kg mark.
Taranaki
Source: AMF Leader – Duncan McIvor
24 www.nzfisher.co.nz
eather has played a major
such kayak trip the yakker’s fish-finders
part in the fishing this
showed the bottom coming up from
month but those who have
50m to les than 30, they dropped
made it out have returned with some
lines thinking it was a new reef they’re
very good catches. Unfortunately the
found but were pleasantly surprised by
sharks are there too, but if you can get
a double header of healthy 5lb snap-
through them the Gurnard & snapper
per! October can be a great month
are very hungry. Best results have been
if you can avoid the horrid weather –
coming form the 20m marks over the
burley & big smelly baits will see some
low reefs and too the south there have
anglers getting into 20lb +_ snaps this
been great returns from 60m +/-. One
month – get into it!
Nelson Marlborough / Underwater Source: Mark Roden
he weather, that’s what’s hap-
we often see kingies blasting along near
to get a hammering from spearos and set
pening!
the bottom, sometimes they will come up
netters alike, hoping to see a recovery in
Last good day out was in
to check us out, but when they in ‘bottom
numbers of this underated table fish.
August, nice run up the east side of
blasting’ mode they are unlikely to come
Durville Island out of French Pass but
all the way to the surface for a lure. The
the ban area. Everyone seems to
most of the trips planned have been
silver lining to the bad weather cloud
have views on the ‘reopening’ of the
cancelled due to the weather.
has meant that fishing pressure has been
Marlborough Sounds blue cod fishery
Line fishers have discovered that
Blue cod are under pressure outside
relatively light, so the rare days out have
but until we see the results of the
there are good numbers of kingfish and
been very fishy, good numbers of terakihi
abundance report due out soon we’re all
snapper lurking in deeper water around
spotted although mostly small. Butterfish
shooting in the dark – realistically: does
Stephens Island and some big boys from
are making a comeback in areas where
anyone think that a species can rebuild
both camps have been landed. Jigging
netting pressure has been reduced
in a few short years?
seems to be the technique, be interesting
although the biggest threat to these
to see if the jigging carries on working
and many other fish is the loss of habitat
into the summer as both species move
as the weed belts are being reduced in
into shallower water.
area possibly due to explosions in kina
Mark Roden
numbers. The poor old blue moki seems
Nelson Underwater Club
When we are spearfishing in the summer
‘Roll on’ summer and ‘roll in’ the clear blue water.
Open 7 Days! 23 Westhaven Drive Westhaven Marina Auckland NZ
Bar and Restaurant
Serving New Zealand’s Best Seafood For Over 13 years! If you love seafood you’ll love Swashbucklers Bar and Restaurant! Located at Westhaven Marina on the edge of the shores of the magnificent ‘City of Sails’, pop in for lunch or dinner seven days a week or enjoy a cold ale in our Boatshed Bar. Phone 09 307 5979 for bookings or just come on down. Open ‘til late! Proud to support the launch of NZ Fisher e-Magazine!
Check out our fantastic menu at www.swashbucklers.co.nz www.nzfisher.co.nz 25
nzfcREPORT
The Picture of a Fishing Future is Being Drawn
// NZRFC Goals •
To encourage government and MFish to perform their statutory duty to ensure that fisheries are sufficiently abundant at local levels “to enable people to provide for their social, economic, and cultural wellbeing” in all coastal communities.
• s New Zealanders we hold the bounty of the oceans as a part of our cultural heri-
fisheries.
4 and NZ Sportfishing Council also aid
economic pressures and an insatiable
more selective areas. The RFC aims to
demand internationally for fresh fish
represent all amateur fishers in whatever
means our local resources are continu-
fishery they can and to keep New
ally under pressure from commercial
Zealand fisheries viable for the future.
The New Zealand Recreational Fishing
management of New Zealand’s
Other organisations such as Option in this representation, but focus on a
operators.
recreational fishers in the
Zealand amateur fishers to parliament.
tage, a resource available to all. Sadly
•
•
begin reclaiming the oceans for the
include some remarkable changes in the
enjoyment of all New Zealanders.
thinking of the decision makers when
Today the NZRFC is recognised at the
considering how we best utilise the
mandated body to represent New
resources available.
To maintain and where possible improve recreational fishers ability to catch a feed.
a reputation for achieving wins for New Zealand fishers, these achievements
To protect and enhance marine biodiversity and habitats.
Over the last 25 year the RFC has built
Council was founded in the 1980’s to
To promote the interests of
•
To participate through consultation in an effective partnership to manage New Zealand’s marine fisheries resources.
If you wish to know more or feel you would like to be involved please e-mail nzrfcsheryl@actrix.co.nz or visit www.recfish.co.nz
26 www.nzfisher.co.nz
// In the next issue of NZ Fisher‌ Hapuka secrets Where do Snapper travel? Getting the most from your burley trail Next edition out 20/10/2010
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher? It’s free!
Simply visit www.nzfisher.co.nz to get a copy of NZ Fisher delivered straight to your inbox every fourth Wednesday!
www.nzfisher.co.nz 27