f sher ISSUE 14
January 2012
October Landbased Magic Top spot No. 3: The Bay of Plenty www.nzfisher.co.nz 1
CONTENTS Pg 4
8
12
SPORTFISHING 4
R’oktober Fish 2011
8
A Nooby’s View:
Rocktober Fish 2011
KAYAKFISHING 10
My First Ever Kingfish
12
Reader Pics
13
Fishing Video of the Month &
Jetski Fishing
FISHINGSPOTS
2 www.nzfisher.co.nz
14
The Bay of Plenty
18
Regional Reviews
Pg 14
editorial
//From the
EDITOR
The wind blows and the rain falls.
stunning 375kg Black Marlin landed
Not an ancient Chinese mantra but a
by Beni Hafoka aboard ‘Jans
modern fishers lament. We’ve been so
Decision’ out of Tauranga. Big Black
spoilt now for the last five or six years
Marlin are not very common in NZ
the weather has been patchy at worst,
and this one was even more out of
but generally there have been some
character, taking a towed lure not a
extended fine spells allowing us time
livebait which they’re known for.
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
to wet a line; this year however it’s been rain and wind at every turn. That
There’s a new Recreational Fisheries
ART DIRECTOR / Jodi Olsson
is not to say that plenty of fish have
management fundraising machine
GROUP EDITOR / Trudi Caffell
not been caught or that there are not
making its presence known called
more resilient types out there anyways!
LegaSea (“Bringing back the bite to ADVOCACY, RESEARCH,
I trust you have all still had ample
EDUCATION & working TOGETHER)
chance to relax and spend time with
and they’re officially launching on the
your families over the Christmas &
9th of February. For more info see
New Year break – earning plenty of
www.legasea.co.nz.
brownie points for later on when you’ll need them when it’s really
The NZFisher Boat is progressing &
fishing season!
we are looking forward to getting her wet for the first time early next
This month we have a report from
month. The team at Sportcraft Boats
new Kiwi Forbes Taylor, another
have been awesome, making the
recent Scottish émigré with a growing
changes we’re looking for & guiding
passion for fishing. Forbes answered
us on the best options for what we’re
the call for keen fishos to join us on the
after – watch this space!
CONTENT ENQUIRIES / Phone Derrick on 021 629 327 or email derrickp@NZ Fisher.co.nz ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES / Phone Richard on 09 522 7257 or email richardl@espiremedia.com ADDRESS / NZ Fisher, C/- Espire Media, PO Box 137162, Parnell, Auckland 1151, NZ WEBSITE / www.NZ Fisher.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!
R’Ocktober fish weekend & his story of the successes he had embodies just
All going well we’ll have some great fish
what NZFisher is all about.
and even better stories to tell from the new boat, but in the mean time enjoy
As I complete the copy for January
issue one of 2012!
there are Marlin & even Yellow Fin Tuna showing up at weigh stations
Tight lines,
around the country including a
Derrick
Cover Image: Main image: Saul Harman graces our cover for the second time with a 10kg plus snapper caught & released at Cape Karikari Inset: Forsyth Thompson with a released snapper – estimated 20lbs
www.nzfisher.co.nz 3
sportFISHING
R’Ocktober Fish 2011
The after affect of a near death experience for Saul & Scot
Those who like to target big
best landbased territory in the north
snapper from the rocks in the
and the comfort of the Whatuwhiwhi
upper north know that there is no
Top 10 motor camp (by comfort we
better month to chase monsters
mean the best filleting facility this side
from the rocks than October. These
of anywhere....)
Hardcore Landbased
big fish come into the reefs prior
Story by Derrick Paull
to spawning to feed up & in some
The weather gods frowned upon us as
Photos by Scott & Saul Harman,
cases take up residency. Their pre-
the wind was forecast out of the only
Forsyth Thompson
spawning feed-up plays right into
corner that cramped the options and
our hands as we lob big smelly baits
in the week leading up, the forecast
to their waiting mouths – or at least
sou-easter looked ominous.
that was the theory! Fifteen hardy rock-hoppers headed NZFisher contributor Forsyth T of
north on the last Friday of October,
Digital Hothouse came up with the
despite of the forecast. There was
plan to head north & we spun a plan
excitement before we even arrived
to introduce NZFisher’s’ first ever
with a couple of the crew tangling
competition – R’Ocktober fish. We
with a truck outside of Kawakawa.
chose Whatuwhiwhi on Cape Karikari
Thankfully there was no serious injury
as the base due to its access to the
but the truck was a right off
sportFISHING
er rau shallows] s from the Toke ap sn p m co eir of pr Scott with a pa
To make up for their poor fortune
bests & bust-offs on a regular basis
Scott & Saul headed out for a pre-
and the cameras took a hammering.
comp softbait fish and came back with
The only one not setting new
a couple of very healthy Doubtless
standards was me!
Bay snaps for tea for the crew. At around 11 Forsyth decided it The first day started very early with one
was time for a break. He biffed out
team hitting the water an hour before
monster mackerel bait and headed
dawn and heading north to seek their
up the rocks to get a bite to eat. As
fortunes around the Cape Islands.
nature will have it, that was when the fish of the day hit. The water was
I headed to the more sheltered (but
deep and relatively clear of snags
it felt very exposed) southern side
but Forsyth’s fish had no intention
of the peninsula with Forsyth and
of making things easy. The big swell
Ian in the Baby Stabi. The conditions
and lack of lateral movement saw him
were not ideal & we were limited to
clamouring & stretching to keep his
access points.
line off the rocks.
The fishing started off well and
Once beaten, it was up to novice
continued to improve throughout
gaff-man Karl (who had previous
the morning. There were personal
bait landed his new PB of 10 odd
“Those who like to target big snapper from the rocks in the upper north know that there is no better month to chase monsters from the rocks than October.” www.nzfisher.co.nz 5
sportFISHING
Forsyth’s 20
6 www.nzfisher.co.nz
sportFISHING
pounds!) to dodge the swells & net
A few beers and rums later though
weather was worsening and we spent
the fish. He did a stellar job and a
and the truth came out. Saul Harman
less time on the rocks than we’d have
hefty 78cm Snapper was hoisted up
(NZF issue 9 ‘coverboy’) had landed
liked. It really is incredible what a
for photographing & release. As the
yet another Northland monster that
difference a day can make.
R’Ocktober Fish rules allowed for
measured in excess of the rulers 75 cm
both released (once length measured
at close to 85cm. The boys weighed it
Over all the competition was a
& photographed) Forsyth chose to
at 10kg+ and sent it on its way. At well
success. Weather withstanding
release his fish. It is likely that it was
over 80cm this was easily the best fish
the results from day one were
over 20lbs, but that’s the beauty of
of the day and sadly no kingfish were
outstanding. I heard of many
catch & release – he’s pretty coy, but
weighed at all.
personal bests and tall stories from
you just know some times.
all quarters. What was interesting For more info on Saul’s fish check out
was that on both days the fishing
The fishing barely slowed for the
his write up on the NZ Landbased
was the same for all groups,
rest of the day. While the sizes were
game website.
regardless of terrain or location –
generally smaller the average was
hard hits, lots of fish and good sizes.
probably still around five pounds. A
After cleaning up our fish, Forsyth
Day two was the opposite and no
few flirtations fly by’s from a pack of
and I headed out for a quick softbait
one had anything like the fishing of
bored kings kept the enthusiasm high
session before dinner. We only
the day before – puzzling.
but by five we were ready and happy
needed a couple for dinner & were
to head back.
back at the beach in no time – gotta
As a competition we learned a few
love this place!
things, especially about how to run a
We learned back at Camp that the
catch & release competition and we’re
fishing had been similar for everyone
Day two was a much slower start –
keen to run more – keep an eye out &
and the other guys were all coy about
probably due to the excess of rums,
join in if you get the chance!
their results.
but that’s no real excuse. Sadly the fishing matched out moods, slow. The
www.nzfisher.co.nz 7
sportFISHING Etienne & fine BOP King
A Nooby’s View: Rocktober Fish 2011 By Forbes Taylor
The R’Ocktober fish competition was a first the first landbased fishing for me in NZ. I’ve only been in the country about 18 months so I was really excited to get amongst it. I have invested in a kayak for fishing in the Waitemata and bought it up to access the rocks. On day one I was given a lift out by Forsyth on his ‘Baby Stabi’. I’ve only ever walked in to rock fishing spots, so getting taken in to some fairly inaccessible ledges on the baby Stabi was exciting in itself. I felt a bit like an intrepid explorer! I was dropped off with Ariel & we got set up in a fairly short time as most of the fiddling about had been done the night before over a few beers. I got taught some new fishing knots on the spot by Ariel and the first bait was soon in the water. Next was the burley, in to the onion sack and hung down the rocks to bash itself around in the swell and do its thing. Then, as with most trips, we waited in anticipation. It didn’t take long before the Kahawai turned up in the burley Ariel’s first blood from the shallows Credit: Forbes Taylor
8 www.nzfisher.co.nz
sportFISHING
trail. I rigged up my second set
deal with it. Turned out it was
with a small silver lure and flicked it
an under-sized snapper that
out. First cast nothing. Second cast,
got it within 5m of the rock
bang! All on just like that! I then
before the water behind it
tried to wind it in, only to find out
just exploded!! The kingi was
the reel was buggered and wouldn’t
back and trying to monster
wind in at all. I ended up hand lining
the snapper.
the fish in but it was good to be on the board early on and have some
It then caught sight of Ariel’s
fresh bait to use.
stickbait and bang! He was hooked. A 5 minute tussle
After that it was a pretty constant
ensued, but at no point was
flow of respectable fish coming
Ariel in charge of the fish,
in, just not the monsters we were
blistering runs and heaps of
there for. Maybe 2 hours in Ariel’s
line out. Then he got
reel started screaming and line was
reefed and the kingi
peeling off at a great rate. Finally
was away. Once we
in to a good sized fish! A couple of
calmed down it was
runs later the fish is alongside the
back to business as
rocks and I am in charge of the long
usual.
handled gaff. I’ve never used one before, so was bloody nervous as I’ve
I rigged up one of the
heard this is where it can go horribly
mullet, but it looked
wrong. Strangely enough I handled
like it wasn’t going to
it like a pro and it was high fives and
make it. So I decided
whoops all round.
to drop it in the water
Forbes New PB
to see if it would The fishing went really quite for about
swim at all. Watched
90 mins over slack tide, so when
it sink slowly to the
a load of bait fish turned up in the
bottom twitching its
burley trail I got the sabikis out and
death throes. Just as
hooked in to a few yellow eyed mullet
it’s about to hit the
to use as live baits.
bottom, a big snapper comes floating out of the kelp and
As I’m fishing for the mullet,
spies my mullet. Just to tease me, he
all of a sudden they all sod off
makes a couple of lazy passes before
really quickly. Then I see right
deciding to munch on it. By this time
at the back of them, a massive
I am screaming like a girl watching this
kingfish. Ariel called it for 20kg
all unfold.
easily – I thought it was f**king enormous! Unfortunately we didn’t
Using as much composure as I can
have the kingi gear ready, so he was
muster, I let the snapper munch on
gone as quickly as he arrived. Ariel
it, swallow it, then swim slowly away
got his stickbaiting gear set up and
then - Strike! All on, but the snapper
was chucking that in the water like
doesn’t even really seem to realise that
it was going out of fashion. His bait
he’s hooked yet and keeps swimming
rod then started twitching, so he
off towards the kelp, a couple of twists
handed it to me and asked me to
of the drag and he suddenly wakes
up and he’s off down the gut towards the open sea, a couple of respectable runs later, he was mine. I got him to the surface and brought him over to the rocks. Ariel had the gaff and at this point I thought I was going to lose the fish (no wonder gaff-men get sooo much grief!). Ariel took 8 attempts before he actually managed to get it in properly. Cue much shouting and high fives. A personal best snapper for me. It went 64cms long and was a real dark kelpy coloured fish. Beautiful!
www.nzfisher.co.nz 9
kayakFISHING
My First Ever Kingfish By Roelof Du Plessis
My first Kingi - and on soft baits!
I find kayak fishing highly
for the weekend was simple: Catch my
rewarding – even a slow day’s fishing is
first legal-sized kingie from the kayak.
worth the effort after a good paddle, a
I had the right gear this time round,
I spent the rest of Saturday trying out
beautiful sunrise, and some “my-time”
and was in a very positive frame of
various jigs, poppers and lures, but
in nature. Don’t get me wrong; off
mind. Being mentally triggered is a
got no kingfish-action.
course it is better if you come home
good thing – that’s usually a good
with fresh fish to feed the troops…
starting point to any fishing trip…
The pristine waters in the Bay Of
My first cast early Saturday morning
beautiful day was breaking. The
Islands offer so many opportunities
landed me a nice kahawai, and in
kahawai were cunning as ever, and I
for a great day on the water, and
less than a minute it was blissfully
just couldn’t manage to keep one on
my mates are well aware that it’s my
back in the water – this time under a
the line long enough to land it in the
favourite fishing grounds.
shimmering pink party balloon which
boat. The snapper was taking really
I scored from my 8-year-old daughter
well on soft-bait, but my mind was set
the previous day…
on the hot-spot where I got busted
of it being eaten by the taxman.
Sunday morning most of us had our lines in the water by sunrise – another
Last year something big picked up my soft-bait on a 6 kg spinning setup, took
last year. However, that was about
off like a hot rod and smashed my rod.
While the kahawai was doing its thing,
30 minutes’ paddle further off-shore,
Because of all the rat kingies in the
I landed some good-sized snapper
and the south-westerly was picking
water, I made up my mind that it must
and my mates were all doing great on
up. Since we were planning to vacate
have been a good sized kingie, and I
the snapper and trevally. After about
our accommodation around midday,
was determined to go back, prepared
an hour, the kahawai just gave a short
I gave up on the idea, and by 9 a.m.
to take the hooligan square on…
krrrrrr on the bait-runner, but a quick
I started the 2 km paddle back to the
check revealed only the balloon, now
beach. As usual I casted out a line
So early in November this year I
sporting a totally frayed 200 lb leader…
behind me to trawl a soft-bait.
pulled together 6 good mates and
nothing else. So sharks were also
headed off to the same beach. They
operating in the area, and I knew that
At 9:05 I stopped briefly in 17 metres
were all well aware that snapper was
if I was going to get hooked up on a
of water to adjust my sounder... “Nek
secondary on my agenda – my plan
kingfish, there was a very good chance
minnit”… all hell broke loose behind
10 www.nzfisher.co.nz
kayakFISHING
Nearly there
What a feeling! Latched on
me. I grabbed the 8kg spinning rod
for. The fish was steadily making
At that moment the next rush of
out of the holder, and so began the
way towards the island, and when I
adrenaline kicked in, as I realised
fish-fight of my life. The line was
reached the 7-metre mark, my worst
that any sharks in the neighbourhood
peeling off my brand new Penn
fear was confirmed: I could feel that
would be calling in any minute to
Conquer 5000 at an alarming rate, but
sickening vibration on the rod of
check out the commotion under the
I knew the drag was set just right for
the braid being wrapped around
water, and demand their share.
the rod, so couldn’t dare fiddle with it.
structure. The sounder still showed a sandy bottom, so I felt pretty
Another good friend, Arnold, was
The braid was running low on the
confident that I was wrapped up in
also close by the whole time, and
reel, and the kayak was on a steady
kelp. I backed off the drag slightly,
took some photos. It took another 20
pace towards an island which was
allowing the fish to peel off even
minutes, and 3 attempts with the gaff,
behind me until about a minute
more line, and my plan worked: the
before I had the fish on my lap. What
before. The fish changed direction a
braid cut through the kelp, and soon
a relief!! I got on the VHF and asked
couple of times with me reeling like
a huge bush of kelp popped to the
the rest of the boys: “How do you
mad, retrieving almost all the line in
surface. I turned the drag back on,
iki a kingfish??” The answer over the
a matter of seconds, only to head off
but knew that I had to get out of the
airwaves was more of a “Yeeehaaa!!”
straight pass me, every time peeling
shallows, as the rocks were looming
than anything else. I ended up not
off more braid than before. I kept the
just 50 metres away... That’s when I
dispatching the fish, since after it gave
rod pointing towards the bow of my
asked my good mate Dave, who was
me exactly an hour of the best fight of
kayak, which kept the boat following
close by all the way, to hook a line on
my life; it was even more wasted than
the fish in every direction.
my boat and paddle us out of there.
I was. I put the fish in the back of my
He managed to tow me to about the
‘yak, opened a cold Coke, and started
15-metre mark. Thanks Dave!
the paddle back to the beach.
deploy the drogue without getting
About 40 minutes had passed when
The kingie weighed in at 15.2 kg.
spooled completely. At that stage I
the fish started to surface, and for
I received a crash-course on “how
had no idea what was at the end of
the first time we could see the silver
to fillet a kingie” and it fed 6 big
the line, but off course all the time
beauty with the yellow tail glow in the
families… What an awesome ending
hoping that it was that kingie I came
sunlight. “It’s a kingie!!”
to a great weekend.
After about 10 minutes I was slowing down, and felt confident that I could
www.nzfisher.co.nz 11
READERpics
Espire Media founder Richard with his best snapper to date. To be fair, he’s definitely not a fisho – but we can see room for improvement!
Jesse proves that you don’t need a flash boat or flash gear to get into some stunning Mahi-mahi – this one was caught off a commercial (not a fishing boat) boat travelling between NZ & Aussie. They were 30 feet in the air & best of all – it was caught on a hand line!
Ocky Blignaut of the Hibiscus Kayak Fishing Club landed this monster snapper at Moturoa Island, Kawau Bay
This is Nine year old Andy Marmont, with a 5.27kg Snapper he nailed while rock fishing with his dad Geoff in the Bay of Islands
Here’s a couple of pics from
whenever you get into some nice fish
keen readers with a passion for the
(or if you have any funny pics you think
sport! Please send us in your photos
we’d like to put out into the world!)
12 www.nzfisher.co.nz
Click here to email your photos
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month Wow –this is possibly the most
WaveRunner. Check
beautifully shot underwater video I
out more videos from
have yet seen on the web. Check out
Andrew at
this incredible video of Marlin (&
www.jetskifishing.co.nz
other species) destroying a bait ball off Southern Baja.
And for the inshore fishers, check out
In response to the positive feedback
this local clip – a 25lb
on issue 13’s Jet Ski special, here’s
Snapper on softbaits
a link from JetSkiFishingchannel
just 30 minutes from
on setting up a jet ski. And for a
downtown Auckland. It’s
bit of snapper nailing action, check
not the most exciting of
out Andrew Hill of Jetskifishing.
videos, but really shows
co.nz latching on to a solid
how amazing NZ’s inshore fisheries
Northland snapper from his Yamaha
really are!
Jet Ski Fishing Check out Andrew’s latest report here. As always the guys on the skis are having a ball, but the results are even better than down in their Respectable Far north Snapper on New Penny Grub
normal hunting grounds in the gulf.
www.nzfisher.co.nz 13
fishingSPOTS
The Bay of Plenty By Derrick Paull
The stunning Bay of Plenty as seen from Mount Maunganui. Credit: Tourism Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty was such named
situated at South
by Captain James Cook in 1770, but
East Bay, Mayor
has been home to Maori for much
Island from 1953
longer (Est. 1290AD). The Maori name
until 1991. There
for the Bay is Te Moana-a-Toi (The
are a number of
sea of Toi), in reference to an early
fishing clubs in the
Maori explorer, Toi-te-Huatahi. Captain
bay including the
Cook’s naming of the area refers to
largest fishing club
the abundance of food and wealth
(by membership) in
experienced by his crew on arriving
New Zealand, the
from the Hawke’s Bay where he had
Whakatane Sport
noted a lack of such abundance (Hence
Fishing Club. This
he named it Poverty Bay).
concentration of fishing attention
The Bay of Plenty stretches on from
may seem high, but
Coromandel to East Cape on the
the City of Tauranga
Eastern side of the North Island. It’s
boasts a population
a very large area extending almost
of just over
250km from north to west and
100,000 residents.
encompasses some of New Zealand’s
By international
from 1000lb Blue Marlin to humble
finest near shore game fisheries.
standards the Pay of Plenty is remote
Blue cod, the bay’s geography
and virtually un-populated!
offers scope for almost all types of
The fishing history of the bay is rich
fishing. In spring and summer the
& colourful; the original Tauranga
Almost all recreational target fish
fish population swells as Kahawai,
Game Fishing Clubrooms were
species can be caught in the Bay,
skippies & snapper move in and
14 www.nzfisher.co.nz
fishingSPOTS
south from their winter hideouts.
One of NZFisher’s favourite local
Maunganui. Sadly Motiti Island is only
Many national and world records
haunts is Mayor (Tuhua) Island.
few miles away from the stranded
have been claimed here, such as
I’ve experienced kingfish fishing
Rena and may have been impacted
this 442.8kg Blue Marlin caught
here like nowhere else – even the
by the oil & debris that Rena has
from a trailer boat out of Waihau
Thee kings Islands didn’t deliver
spilled over the last four months. We
Bay. While not a national record, the
the kind of action that Mark from
live in hope.
375kg Black Marlin landed aboard
Extreme Sportfishing Adventures
Jans Decision this week is another
put us onto at Mayor island. Pack
example of the great fish attracted
attached of 50 kingfish chasing stick
to the Bay.
baits here is not unheard of. If you have the time & finances we highly
Internationally the Bay of Plenty is
recommend a day aboard with Mark
most recognised for its amazing
or down at White Island with Rick
yellowtail kingfish fishery. Historically
Pollock on board Pursuit.
focussing on White Island & surrounds the kingfish fishery is now
Fishing in the bay isn’t just about
established from East Cape right up
monsters. The staple fisheries are
to the Alderman Islands off Tairua in
tarakihi & snapper, both of which
the North. (Technically Coromandel).
are seasonal and complement each
Both all tackle world records for
other – as one wanes the other
Kingfish (Yes there are two fish
comes on the bite. The snapper
weighed at exactly the same weight
fishery is not recognised for its
– 52.00 kg or 114 pounds!) have
monsters, but the Bay of Plenty
been landed from the Bay of Plenty,
is home of the largest weighed
testament to some amazing fishing
snapper ever landed on rod & reel.
that thousands of Kiwis head to the bay annually to chase.
This 17.2kg (37.8 pounds) monster was landed by NZ Sport Fishing
Tag & release fishing is the norm
Council Vice President Mark
now for large gamefish with over
Hemmingway in the shallows off
50% of the Bays large gamefish
Motiti Island just a few miles off Mt
“Almost all recreational target fish species can be caught in the Bay, from 1000lb Blue Marlin to humble Blue cod, the bay’s geography offers scope for almost all types of fishing.”
being released each year, but the numbers of kingfish released is a staggering 80%. Charter stalwarts like Rick Pollock have been preaching the catch & release ethos for many years but it is now virtually expected by most that the majority of their fish will be released.
fish 50kg king uit with a rs u P m o Zane fr
www.nzfisher.co.nz 15
fishingSPOTS
Motiti Isla nd
If you’re looking for a spot to go
wide range of marine plants thrive and
marine volcano. White Island is
with the Family the Bay of Plenty
there is a great diversity of fish. Walking
estimated to be between 100,000 and
also offers more than just fishing and
tracks around the island provide access
200,000 years old and is a hissing,
diving. Check out Tourism Bay of
to points of interest. This is a privately
steaming and roaring ecological
Plenty’s website for some great local
owned island contact Tuhua Trust Board
wonder. The surface of the island is
attractions and accommodation.
for permission to visit. Ring +64 7 577
similar to a scene out of a ‘Star Wars’
There are several islands
0942 or ericar@xtra.co.nz. For more
movie with craters, sheer cliff faces
located within a short distance
information contact the Department of
and cracks and tunnels in the surface
from the coast that offer
Conservation (DOC) on +64 7 578 7677.
with steam hissing out of them like a
more than just fishing.
kettle at boiling point. New Zealand’s only active marine
Tuhua (Mayor Island) has had the
volcano, Whakaari (White Island) is
Motiti Island is located 15 kilometres
conservation status of a wildlife refuge
an amazing natural phenomenon.
from the coastal areas in the region.
since 1953. A marine reserve was
Located off the coast of Whakatane,
It’s a largely flat island that covers
created off the northern end of the
the volcano offers a once in a lifetime
nearly 10 square kilometres of land
island in 1993. The water clarity means a
experience of walking on an active
and has very few residents. The island
16 www.nzfisher.co.nz
fishingSPOTS
White Island
kg rsuit with a 50 Zane from Pu
o: Rick Pollack Kingfish Phot The Rena
is mainly used for agriculture, though there are private beaches to explore. Popular for a great surf break, Matakana Island is 20 kilometres long. The majority of the island is forest, and most of the roads are privately owned. The only transportation to the island is a barge, which leaves either from Sulphur Point in Tauranga or Omokoroa. Although a quiet, beautiful island, there are no accommodation options available, and only a small village of residents. Permits are required to use the roads.
www.nzfisher.co.nz 17
regionalREVIEWS
Hauraki Gulf Source: Espresso www.catch.org.nz Whoa– slow down, Dancer, Prancer
depth, not far out at all.
how did that happen? Christmas –
line down and hang on there’s often some target species hanging with the
again so soon?! Yes it’s that great
The juvenile kingfish are stunning to
big boy. If you have a live mackerel,
time of year when everything about
look at and a blast to do battle with
send it down for a recon’.
going fishing can be so easily justified,
– look after them carefully with a net
with weather on the improve (even if
and put gently back they’re good to go
Kahawai – these fish never cease
slowly), school holidays, time off work,
but don’t hold up by the tail –this can
to amaze with their sheer strength
sunshine, enjoying the summer sun out
dislocate their vertebrae apparently.
and pure low down grunt all the way
on the water and around the beaches.
to the boat, they never give up. A
Not to mention the snapper schools
Kingfish are everywhere there’s a
good looking streamlined fish when
ever so closer within reach of everyone,
workup (or surface kahawai school) so
streaking around the boat as you try in
land-based to mega launch, it’s all
throw down the gauntlet like a big jig,
vain to slow them down. Many people
good really so bring on the summer.
or a small/medium kahawai livie, or a
mistakenly deride kahawai, me - I think
mackerel…well everything will nail that!
they are brilliant and worth treating
The past few weeks out in the Hauraki
You will have no idea what you might
with respect like every other fish out
Gulf have seen mako’s flipping
hook up…a mako, a thresher, a
there (O.K. apart from ‘couta, but
out, orcas hunting, brydes whales
snapper, a kingfish…who knows but
there has to be a bad guy right).
enveloping great swathes of baitfish,
when the action is hot it’s blistering!
Great to see the bigger kahawai
dolphins surfing, snapper kingfish
Just north of the Noises and directly
around, aggressively feeding at times
hungry-as, and then in an instant,
east of Tiri outside the No Fishing Zone
from surface to sea floor, and to be
absolutely nothing ______ same day.
has been a go-to for a few weeks now,
honest they are particularly good
The range of action on any day is
and should continue to be successful
to make smoked fish pie and pate’
anywhere from enjoying a leisurely
for many boats in the 5m range on the
extraordinaire for the pre-BBQ beer
coffee ‘cos there’s not much else to
good weather days.The Catch Piper on
accompaniment. Worth catching
do to absolute fishing mayhem with
fast retrieve nailed this kingi on nice ‘n
and keeping a few, icing-down
everyone hooked up battling big hard
light 6lb tackle last week.
immediately helps maintain the best
charging fish.
flavour. Big schools of them surface
King Hits
feeding just off southern Flat Rock and
Western shores of the gulf are
Yes the kingfish are quite prolific
just east of the Ahaa’s lately.
providing some XL snapper around the
around the bait schools in the gulf and
shorelines, just beyond the breakers
a ‘by catch’ when fishing away from a
It Ain’t Half Hot
of beaches, on the sand and shallower
workup, by away I mean say several
Hot as hell fishing on most days
reefy areas like Tarapunga rock/Kawau.
hundred metres. Often the key to
this past month and the bin-filling
5-10m is holding well – let evening
catching bigger fish and more variety
possibilities have been numerous.
stealth be your friend as these guys are
is to let workups move away from you.
When the fish are feeding they are absolutely ravenous. Workups are still
pretty wary and quite cunning. You will catch less kahawai as they
short lived and fast moving due to the
Many schoolies of the 40-50cm kind
tend to feed right in the middle and
inability of the predators to round up
are spread around most of the gulf
some bigger snapper say around
and hold the various baitschools. But
now, the snapper seem to be moving
15lbs are hanging back along with
no matter any surface action spotted,
around a lot along with the various
schools of kingfish.
stop drop and roll as they say.
For example the yellow tailed
If you see a whale surface, take care
Anything sitting on the surface like
mackerel schools have been getting
and move over to the general area
any type of bird - drop a soft plastic
hounded by kingfish in the 35m
quietly, turn your sounder off, drop a
like the little Catch Anchovy and get
bait schools.
18 www.nzfisher.co.nz
regionalREVIEWS ready, it’s amazing how many times
marlin is officially landed in the next
ready and waiting for the 12ftrs to
this works when the vhf is crackling
few days and many of us get our
get right in amongst, nice and close
with grumblings of the fish not biting,
Christmas wish of monster marlin boat
to downtown and North Shore,
or try a flasher rig with a whole
side over summer.
some good catches reported off the
anchovy bait. Match the hatch holds
Devonport wharf too!
true. So when it’s all ‘not happening’
Maybe even one from the Hauraki
the drift and everything is slow,
Gulf this year? Let’s hope the Skipjack
While the water has struggled to get
tuna survive the trawler gauntlet
up to temp, an 18 degrees it finally is,
I tend to go to my little spin reel and
and make it into the gulf again this
the breeding has just started by the
a ½ to 1oz Torpedo hook with a small
summer, time will tell.
looks and feeding habits of the snapper,
Anchovy or Glow Squid...let it waft
lots of bites/scuff marks on them and
down the water column to the fish
More Good News
their hunger is intermittent, so when
hugging the bottom – presentation
The inner channels around Rangi have
it’s on it is ALL ON, the feeding frenzy
is the key and a gentle tug at the
been slow to fill with fish, but just this
is ferocious. Similarly when the feeding
line to show ebbing life and struggle
past week with the easterly winds
is off, it makes for very picky fish with
means CHOMP! Surprisingly how big
and warmer water creeping into the
other things on their mind.
the snapper are that annihilate the
volcano environs the fish have picked
little anchovies – the better and more
up the pace and just announced
And finally those inspirational YouTube
realistic the presentation, the bigger
their arrival both sides of Rangi, the
clips from this past year for when
and more fish.
Motuihe Channel and in towards
you’re not out fishing enjoy.
the bridge. Good sized snapper are
www.catch.org.nz
Clean and easy peasy…oh and a helluva fight too! Check the bite time, use your eyes to scout surface activity and sounder (if you have one) and if there are lazy gannets, birds and dolphins in the area, don’t leave they
Coromandel Source: Carl Muir www.EpicAdventures.co.nz What and EPIC start to the year!
and it certainly produced some fine
Not only some awesome kingfish
fish during their trip.
Big flappy lures like the Glowing
jigging but we managed to bag a
Livebaits are easy to get at the
Gecko and Red Cray (or whole real
56kg bass today!
moment right up and down the
know something you don’t.
coast and are producing some
pilchard baits) are the choice when snapper are biting well, you’ll tend
Hobbie from Sydney was the lucky
quality fish, like this 24kg specimen
to get the bigger fish in this situation
angler and nailed it on a JMPE10
with expat Kiwi Hunty who was back
when you use them. When it’s all gone
reel with 100lb braid and an
from Singapore for Xmas and nailed
quiet change out to a little Catch
Amberjack Sniper JM rod. He was
a nice new PB kingfish yesterday.
anchovy, you can even add Secret
seriously railed on this fish needing
Sauce into the special body cavity flap
close to 30kg of drag to keep it from
Along the coast with the baits
of the soft plastics if you wish.
the reef. We caught the fish out the
schools there is some good
back of Red Merc.
stickbaiting and top water kingfish
Gamers
We’ve had some keen crews out
opportunities and we’ve been
Yes the big game guys are chomping
over the last week, including a gun
having some fun catching kingfish in
at the leader – the tuna and marlin
crew of Japanese jiggers who slayed
the shallows in the morning before
swim ever closer to within reach of
it on the jigs with fish to 25kg taking
heading out wide jigging.
the recreational fisho, great news for
jigs and a few broken rods thrown in
For a full report from the last two
those of us afflicted with the big game
for good measure!
weeks and plenty more cool pics click on our full report from on
virus. This year should be good again looking at the sea currents already,
These Japanese anglers sure know
here’s hoping the first recreational
how to jig; a very different action
board Epic here.
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regionalREVIEWS
Far North
Source: Rick Pollock www.Pursuit.co.nz Looks like summer, feels like summer, acts like summer, and smells like summer – not quite summer yet! Many manifestations of the warm months are upon us in so many ways yet we are still lacking the main ingredient – pelagic gamefish! Plenty of precursory imitations (albies/ skippies) are about, it must be meaningful. Still no cigar but can’t be far away. Otherwise there’s everything we could want available most everywhere else, and plenty of. Inshore After the brilliant spring we’ve experienced, things have gone off the boil over the past few weeks. Still some decent catches are coming in with most everyone getting that all important “feed” to justify the day out but things are comparatively lacklustre. Snapper still the main goal for most anglers although more turning to terakihi and gurnard to supply the goods. Crays moving into the shallows for divers, some in ridiculously (waist deep) shallow water this time of year. Offshore Talk about heating up, some aspects are on fire – including the island! Still plenty of nauseous stain provoking gas being emitted from the lake less crater now. Visiting boats beware, you won’t like the result of even an hour spent in the less if the island, let along overnight – quite a price t pay for some good fishing! If you can’t get over that malady then all you need to do is enjoy! Kingfish are biting as well, or better, than they have all season with some brilliant sessions over the past week. Jigs are still out of favour but bait, any kind of bait, is doing the trick. Unlike the early season which saw smaller fish on average, the reverse is now in vogue. While no monsters succumbed this week (largest a credible 28 kilos) the average size has stepped up considerably with many fish over 20kgs and numerous in the mid 20’s. Would appear they are now in full spawning mode, something that should continue for another few weeks if
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not longer. Expect some brilliant surface action as fish move into the shallows wholesale. Otherwise there’s nothing wrong with the other fisheries, thank you very much. Deepwater continues to pump out the catches with a pleasing mixture of bluenose, hapuka, bass and bluenose. While most of these fish are of modest size (sub 10 kilos), there are just enough over 20 and even 30kgs to test anglers and make things interesting. Long may this situation last as its retrieved fishing we once had but thought was long gone. For those that don’t care to plumb the depths we have plenty to offer you in the shallows starting with trevally. Large shoals of krill feeding trevs can now be seen each day in a number of areas around the island. Just because you can see them, however, doesn’t mean you can catch em! Matching the hatch doesn’t always work as sometimes you need to think outside the square to initiate a hookup! Water colour and temps are screaming summer; blue (nearly purple in places) with quite a few skippies moving in to join the pre existing albacore ranks. Plenty to do out there but still scope for improvement. Plenty of mako sharks have appeared among the skippies and albies. Ranfurly Bank The superlative fishing we have seen here over the past months just keeps going. Bottom fishing, in particular, continues to excel. Hapuka, bass, trumpeter and king terakihi are all biting well at numerous posies across the bank. Puka of mixed size are arriving at the surface in doubleheader proportions. While most are small (6-8kgs) to medium (15k’s) average, some beaut bass are present and available. A good example was father and son team Warrick and Sam Moore. On one drift Warrick struggled to land his largest fish ever with a nuggety, grumpy 34k bass. While he was celebrating his capture son Sam hooked what appeared to be the bottom on the very next drift.
After quite a battle he watched his over inflated beach ball of a bass float to the surface. At 48k’s the Moore’s had themselves two fine fish to cap off their trip. Kingis, while still offering great action, were not as prolific. With some nice fish landed just over 30k’s, the average size was far smaller. Unlike White Island, jigs are working exceedingly well – even surpassing the efficacy of live bait! While water quality is a mixed bag, there’s far more blue and warm stuff than the cold, green counterpart. Skippies, and to a lesser extent, albacore, are thick. They both require much larger lures or even lures out of the water if you think you’re going anywhere! They are in great abundance from 50 metres of water off Lottin Point all the way through to Ranfurly in all depths from 80 to over 1000 metres. Getting the drift? – There’s a lot out there!!
Summary As we pass Christmas, zero in on New Years and focus on summer ahead there’s plenty to be joyous about in every regard. Great to see so many on the water on Boxing Day utilising their new toys – locals and holiday makers alike. Weather has been kind with more of the same expected at least on the short term. Bring it on to everyone’s benefit, except maybe the fish! With the first marlin landed (on the West Coast of all places!), others seen in the western BOP and decent chances at tuna of two different varieties it’s all on with prospects improving literally by the day. On a sad note we must report the passing of a grand gentleman named Mick Ellwood. Mick was “Mr Whitianga” whom everyone knew and loved. He saw and did a lot during his long life and it was very fitting to see him land such a fantastic blue marlin last season and very rightfully take out the “Old Man of the Sea” trophy. His presence will be sadly missed by all on the water with the utmost condolences to Dulcie and the rest of the family. Won’t be back with another report for a wee while – till then
NEXTmonth
f sher
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