f sher ISSUE 22
March 2013
SOLO
MARLIN! NZFisher take on the Chesters ‘Fanatical Fishos’ Comp Rarotonga Still Delivers www.nzfisher.co.nz 1
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2 www.nzfisher.co.nz
Mini sprocket
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12
editorial
CONTENTS Pg 6
16
TRAVELFISHING 6
Rarotonga still has the Goods
SPORTFISHING 12
NZFisher at the Mokes
16
The Chesters ‘Fanatical Fishos’
competition
28
New Stuff
20
Reader Pics & competition
JETSKIFISHING 24
Just Dooing it at the Work-ups…
BOATFISHING 27
The Boat Show is Coming in May
28
Video of the month
29
Coming soon
Pg 24
www.nzfisher.co.nz 3
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4 www.nzfisher.co.nz
Scan me for a free cap!
editorial
//From the
EDITOR 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 CONTENT ENQUIRIES /
THERE’S A WEE STORM brewing in
of Sealord are receiving for their
Phone Derrick on 021 629 327
the north that may bring some rain
unsustainable fishing practices in the
or email derrickp@NZ Fisher.co.nz
but even if that does touch down
south Pacific. Fishers – our voice is
ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES /
before we go to print this will go
being heard! More pressure and we
Phone Richard on 09 522 7257
down as the driest, fishiest summer I
might even see some yellow fin tune
can remember. There’s reports every
or email richardl@espiremedia.com
back in our waters.
ADDRESS / NZ Fisher,
Forsyth Thompson was lucky enough
C/- Espire Media, PO Box 137162,
to spend some time in Rarotonga
Parnell, Auckland 1151, NZ
recently & managed a PB yellow fin –
WEBSITE / www.NZ Fisher.co.nz
day of Marlin being landed on both coasts, the kingfish numbers being caught are unprecedented (if not by size anyway) and the Hauraki Gulf snapper fishery has fired back up again as the fish finish their spawning & look for a winter hide-away. If this is
something we largely don’t see here at all anymore – but at least we know there are SOME left!
the effect of climate change, I can see
Autumn is a great time to spend
why some want to deny its existence –
time in the shallows with stinky bait,
from a fishing point of view big highs
relaxing while waiting for the big
& light winds means more time on
moochers to arrive especially at
the water. Our thoughts do go out to
change of light. With the right tides
the farmers who’re suffering from the
a relaxing evening fish after-work can
drought and we do hope rain is not
be the way to go as shallow water
far away. Inner harbour snapper have
pannie snapper get hungry before
been hard to find and there’s a theory
their move. Whatever your target
that this is due to no fresh water
species, I hope the weather plays
flushing the rivers – I guess we’ll see
along and you all have a very fishy
what the rains bring!
Easter break too!
Something pleasing in the mainstream
Tight lines,
media is the coverage the likes
Derrick
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!
Main pic: “SOLO MARLIN” Angler Mike Feather, Credit: Derrick Paull Inset: “Kenepuru Snapper” Angler Bevan Middlebrook
www.nzfisher.co.nz 5
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Rarotonga Still Has The Goods (Even when the weather doesn’t play along) By Forsyth Thompson
6 www.nzfisher.co.nz
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ering Captain Willie off od YFT Raro style. Hooked up to a go
agement! advice and encour
SOME OF OUR READERS might recall
few months before I arrived, Captain
stand up with no gimbal, but I was so
last my trip report from last year’s trip
Willie had landed a 300kg+ blue
excited at the thought of getting one,
to Rarotonga when I set out to catch
marlin which was so big it had to be
I’d have used a surfcaster if he’d told
a land based GT. Standing knee deep
cut into pieces to be weighed! Willie
me to! (I did in fact do that in Aitutaki
in water trying to keep a footing on
not only has the biggest marlin for
one year for GTs but that’s a back-
coral hooked up to monster GTs with
the season but also the most landed,
breaking story for another day).
as much drag as I could hold on to is a
so if anyone was going to get an
The lures went out literally just as we
memory that will be with me forever.
unseasonable but first marlin for me,
left the harbour, including a really big
This year it was something different,
it was the Marlin Queen guys! They’re
one targeting big Blues. I’d only just
chasing yellow fin with fingers crossed
also holders of the Cook Island
finished putting out the last lure and
for a slightly out-of-season marlin. And
record Yellow fin at an impressive
was looking back at the spread when
along the way I got more up close and
85.2kg, so whenever I fish with them,
the big one went screaming off. Captain
personal with big GTs than I’d have
expectations are high!
Willie screams “it’s a big Blue” and
This year the weather was particularly
came steaming down to get the rod out
I’m lucky enough to have both family
unkind, with Cyclone Garry putting
of the holder as I started clearing the
and friends in the Cook Islands, and
in an unwelcome appearance and
rest of the gear. I could hardly believe
amongst them I count Junior Ioapa
shutting down fishing for a number of
we had hooked up to a marlin and only
and his wife Diane who run Marlin
days before and after its arrival. But
a minute or two out of the harbour,
Queen Charters. I’ve fished with them
once past, Bobbi Marie and Marlin
and had just enough time to get on
a number of times over the years but
Queen were the first boats back in
this year was the first time I’d fished
the water. The first trip with Captain
with Captain Willie who runs their
Willie was after marlin to see if he
I thought I was gutted until I saw
second boat, Bobbi Marie, a custom
could break my marlin duck. He’d
Willie’s face, he looked even more
built Stabicraft hard top. Over the last
warned me that he got his 300kg+ on
disappointed than me and he fishes
thought possible.
the wheel and think “this is too easy” before the line suddenly parted.
www.nzfisher.co.nz 7
travelFISHING
A new PB for me and not just fantastic fun but fantastic eating too.
twice a day, 6 days a week. I put the
and breaking it. Meanwhile, we put
deployed lures pretty much as soon
boat in neutral and on retrieving
out a flying fish dead bait with the
as we left the harbour as the drop off
the end of the line, the game swivel
lures and head back down towards
is so close in and fish are often taken
has pulled in half at nowhere even
home for one final look. Suddenly the
right there.
approaching its test pressure.
80W with the flying fish on it goes
Willie tells me this was a really good Blue, the big ones are apparently the ones you never see in the lures and in the short time it was connected; he called it for a good one. He’s caught not just the biggest for the season, but also the most, so I take his word for it and feel even more
off, a few clicks then a lot and then, nothing. We paid the bait back and slowed down the boat in the hope of inducing another take, but it just wasn’t going to happen and we get back a beaten up bait and head home with some great stories, but sadly no marlin this time.
Making our way down the island, we found the swell running a bit and it wasn’t long before the other 2 passengers were getting a bit green around the gills. (Top tip for tourists wanting to have a go at game fishing: if you don’t know if you get seasick or not, there’s a good chance you will. A quick trip to the pharmacy is all it takes!).
disappointed. But also excited, that’s
With another break in the weather (a
the nearest I’ve got to a marlin and
second Cyclone came near enough
Other times out there we’ve watched
I want more! We troll lures out wide
to cause rough weather!) I got a
big yellow fin coming clean out of the
and follow birds up and down the
call from Diane saying they were
water chasing bait but this morning
islands and around the FADs. Another
heading out first thing, so at 5am in
although there were birds working, we
boat hooks up a stripey then loses
the pitch black, we set out to chase
weren’t treated to this. After fishing
it when it leaps, landing on the line
some yellow fin. As ever in Raro, we
one FAD then the next along, with just
8 www.nzfisher.co.nz
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a single strike which failed to produce
call jigging but it bears no relation at
is always great fun and the tuna took
a hook up, we travelled back up the
all to the vertical jigging we do here
advantage of this, making life tough
island to the Panama FAD and Willie
in NZ, it’s simply a case of leaving
on me by getting deep under the
got old school on us! Traditional fishing
the rod in the holder and constantly
boat and just digging in. A couple of
involves an un-weighted baited hook,
pulling back and forth on the line
minutes into the fight, our still-pretty-
a banana leaf containing chopped up
with your hand as the lures are trolled
green-looking passenger hooked up
bait and a rock tied to it with a slip
slowly around, imparting a more
too – this always has the miraculous
knot which releases, all on the end of a
irregular action to them. And it is
effect of making people forget about
hand-line attached to a float.
absolutely more effective than trolling
their sea sickness! This fish came to
So, determine to put us onto some fish,
alone, especially on these small baits:
the boat much more easily and our
we pulled the lures in and set a couple
these guys have been catching YFT
first yellow fin around 12kg was on
of lines like this. Then the Lasers were
since just about forever, and it’s safe
ice. Meanwhile I was doing my best
swapped out for a couple of little 4
to say they know a thing or two!
impression of an absolute rookie and
inch Tsunami soft baits (swim shads) on 4/0 hooks to see if something smaller would get the fish excited. These are fished in a way the locals
Within just a few minutes I hooked up on the lighter gear we were using and this was clearly no skipjack! In a rolling swell of 1.5+ metres, stand-up
A good day at the office wit h the Marlin Queen. And
couldn’t persuade the fish to come to the gaff as it did those long tuna circles under the boat. The tiny 4/0 hook held on though and
that was a tough fishing day.
www.nzfisher.co.nz 9
travelFISHING
Cptn Junior supervising Cptn Willie’s work.
CI Record Yellow Fin Tun a Large
a fish around 20kg joined the first.
the island, fished all kinds of lures at 3
less than 30 seconds later the line was
While all this was going on, one of the
different FADs and Captain Willie was
ripped out of my hand and a much
baits had been hit and one of the local
still doing everything he could to put
angrier tuna went storming off. And
fishermen out there was waving his
us on more fish – these guys really do
on the little TLD I was fishing, it just
arms and offering a certain amount of
go the extra mile for you.
kept going. Man I love the sounds of
advice to us! But by the time we got back to the float the fish was gone, sharked or otherwise, so we reset it and went back to trolling. By this point we’d covered a lot of ground around
10 www.nzfisher.co.nz
The birds came in again, and out the back of the lures we saw a good sized fish leave the water chasing bait. To be honest, I couldn’t say what it was, but Willie shouted “yellow fin” and
screaming drag, there’s nothing like it to get the adrenaline going…This was clearly a much stroppier fish and a couple of times I thought I’d lost it as it ran straight at the boat faster than I
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could wind, even with Willie shouting encouragement, but both times the weight came back on and I could breathe again. The fight wore on and with such small hooks and relatively light leader; I had to stay on a light drag setting, so progress was slow, but so much more fun than if I’d been on the 80W. (Did I mention that in the Cooks, real men don’t use gimbals? The bruise lasted days – I wasn’t going to look soft and ask for one!). Willie was worrying that the hook would wear loose but apparently not that a shark would have it: apparently the Cook Island sharks are well trained and normally only take much smaller tuna off the hook. More on that later…Finally we could see the fish under the boat and the circling began. Through a lot of laughter, advice and general piss-taking I finally got the fish near enough to gaff and in it went. Not a huge fish by record standards,
300kg+ Blue Marlin. Next time marlin, next time...
as the freshest sashimi I’ve ever had,
we’ll all be able to enjoy this kind
and then as huge char grilled pieces, I
of fishing back here in NZ again. I
was still enjoying these fantastic fish.
certainly hope so.
I always thought that our NZ kings
On a more sober note though, it does
I’d like to take the opportunity to
were the hardest-fighting fish for their
make me think just what a terrible
thank Junior, Diane and Willie for
weight, but these two fish had been a
loss they are to us in NZ now that
being such fantastic hosts and for
much harder proposition than all but
they’ve been all but cleared out by
working so hard to put us onto fish.
the biggest kings I’d been connected
commercial fishing. It puts the work
There’s a reason that these guys
to up at the 3 Kings. With the added
that Legasea and Greenpeace are
are the busiest charter operators
bonus of stand up gear, light trace,
doing into real context when you get
on the island and catch the most,
small hooks and no gimbal, it took me
out there and experience yellow fin
and biggest fish. Check them out
a long time to stop grinning. In fact,
fishing (and eating) first hand. Perhaps
on Facebook for regular updates
when we sat down for dinner at the
if we all act together by choosing
of fishing in paradise. It’ll make you
Pacific that night, having it served first
carefully what we buy and don’t buy,
jealous, but it’s worth it!
but at “a bit over 25kg” it was a best for me and with the amount of effort we’d put in, a hugely satisfying one.
www.nzfisher.co.nz 11
sportFISHING Ariel with the first king that got the ball rolling
NZFisher at the Mokes Forbes leaves the rocks behind in search of a kingfish By Forbes Thomson
3AM STARTS ARE few and far between for fishing trips for me but this was a bit special. Getting to head out and fish around the Mokes (Mokohinau Islands) was definitely worth it. This was only my second time fishing for Kingies and first time having a go at mechanical jigging. I was really looking forward to having my arms pulled! We left from Marsden Cove on the good ship Nimble II and settled in to a fairly lengthy journey out there through some pretty
12 www.nzfisher.co.nz
sloppy waters. Once there, we weren’t too long in finding some promising sign and everyone dropped their jigs to the bottom. The first hook up came pretty quickly, but it turned out to be a baracouta. This looked to be the way of it with couta after couta coming aboard. Then one of the boys realised the kingies were sitting at 50m rather than on the bottom. Within a few minutes it was a bit of a frenzy as there were multiple hook ups and decent sized fish being boated. I landed
sportFISHING Diamond Fusions’ Simon Bell with his first Kingfish
Going lightweight
By Forbes Taylor
Diamond E yes for the de pths
one estimated to be about 12kgs, by no means a monster but it put up a good account for itself. I was also bust off on what was definitely going to be a PB for me [Ed: Damned couta accounted for what was easily the best hook-up of the day. The fish dealt to Forbes who did end up getting it almost all the way up before the leader knot was hit by a couta. A real shame after all Forbes’ hard work]. To make matters worse I had put in all the hard yards on him and almost had him to the boat. Never
ir toll on gear Toothy critters took the
sportFISHING
The author with his first legal kingfish
One for the bin
in! pain, no ga No kingfish
Stickbaits barely raisesd a fish even with schools of trevally circling the boat. 14 www.nzfisher.co.nz
mind there will be another time... We did a few more drifts, but struggled to find the fish in numbers like we did on the first one. In the end, we all ended up catching a King so not a bad result. The skipper finished off the fishing with a bit of a bottom fish at Maori Rocks at the back of Fannel Island. The highlight of which (for me anyway!) was seeing a few sizeable schools of Trevally feeding on krill on the surface. Then it was in to the long journey home which gave us ample opportunity to tell tales of the one that got away.
www.adventuresmart.org.nz
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO The Boating Safety
CODE Before you go boating on our seas, lakes and rivers, get familiar with New Zealand’s Boating Safety Code, no matter what kind of boat you use.
1
Life jackets
5 4
Take them – Wear them.
3
Skipper responsibility
to help you stay safe:
Marine weather New Zealand’s weather can be highly unpredictable. Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes.
Boats, especially ones under 6m in length, can sink very quickly. Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water.
2
simple rules
5
Avoid alcohol
The skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat. Stay within the limits of your vessel and your experience.
Safe boating and alcohol do not mix. Things can change quickly on the water. You need to stay alert and aware.
Communications
The Water Safety
Take two separate waterproof ways of communicating so we can help you if you get into difficulties.
Also available:
CODE
The Outdoor Safety
CODE
For more information about safe boating education and how to prepare for your boating activity, visit www.adventuresmart.org.nz www.nzfisher.co.nz 15
Alan Radcliffe & Scott Macindoe - keeping the Chesters comp on target for 23 years
sportFISHING
landed them. This practice places a real value on the fish weighed in and anglers are not only encouraged to look after their catch better, but to bid high and handsome as all proceeds from the auction are split evenly between Titirangi Coastguard and Legasea. So, with this knowledge in hand I hooked up with my cabinet maker friend and Chesters client (NOTE: You must be a Chesters New Lynn client to gain entry, this is not a ‘public’ competition) Brendan Jury and made a plan to win this competition! We needed a team of three so, Diamond
The Chesters ‘Fanatical Fishos’ competition By Derrick Paul
Fusion NZ owner Simon Bell was drafted to Team NZFisher. Despite not being a huge fan of most competitions I’ve managed to win and place in a few over the years and one thing that I always remind myself of is that you need to plan to win. It’s not often you just head out, drop a line any-old-where and you pull the winning fish. We checked out the species list and chose kingfish as our target species. While there’s always a
I’M NOT USUALLY that excited by
So it’s a real pleasure to say how
fishing competitions. With NZFisher
much I enjoyed and appreciated
it’s part of the game so we get I
the Chesters New Lynn ‘Fanatical
and support as many as we can and
Fishos’ 2013 competition held in
of course we run the Roctoberfish
late February. Alan Radcliffe has
no-where (I once came 11th with a
competition ourselves. When I do
been driving the Fanatical Fishos
9.2kg snapper in a ‘Pub’ competition,
get involved I’m always surprised
competition for all of its 23 years and
lost my fish and didn’t get a prize!)
by how much I enjoy myself and
after all that time it’s no surprise that
the way others are so buzzed by
they have ironed out the kinks.
the event and especially the prize
Instead of anglers bringing in their fish
Zealand and is not too restrictive on
giving. What’s always bugged me
and simply taking them away once
tackle. They have also learned not to
is the wastefulness of competitions;
weighed, the fish are collected by the
allow kahawai – one of the most fun
especially ones that glorify the
organisers & kept in great condition in
fish to catch, but often the easiest and
relentless culling of species like kahawai
troughs of ice, ready to be auctioned
they come in huge numbers, often just
that often end up as fertiliser.
off, often back to the very angler that
to be wasted.
16 www.nzfisher.co.nz
chance of getting skunked, if you do get a decent king they normally place well. Fighting it out over snapper can mean entering good fish but getting
The Chesters competition allows anglers to fish anywhere in New
sportFISHING
Auctioning the NZFisher winning kingfish
We are fishing from a 5 meter boat, so
fields. On our previous trip here two
nothing was interested – not even
despite the near perfect conditions we
weeks earlier it had been crawling
kahawai this day!
couldn’t get to places like the back of
with kings and trevally schooling up,
Great Barrier. The decision was made
smashing bait and producing really
and we chose Little Barrier / Simpsons
nice fish. Today – dead as a doorknob.
Rock as our target area with a shot at
That feeling of dread was starting
the Coral Patch on the way out.
to creep in. We even resorted to
Part one of the plan was to stock up
burleying up to try & get a snapper or
on livies in Omaha Bay once exiting
two but Tanagaroa was not cutting us
Whangateau Harbour but that was
any slack!
soon sidelined when the huge schools
While we were trying options Simon noticed a hammerhead shark cruising by and upon mentioning it I got the first of three follows by a pack of two or three kings. On the forth cast one hit the lure & I was hooked up solidly. The king had taken an Orion Bigfoot stick bait (one of my favourites) and
The decision was made to cut
very kindly it headed to deeper
Simpsons from the plan and focus
water, following the boat as Brendan
on a few spots at Little Barrier that
motored us away from the rocks. I
Step two was a jig for kings on Leigh
had produced well in the past. The
was using the Okuma Salina II stick
reef. While I haven’t personally landed
first was a very popular haunt for
bait combo on loan from Composite
any large kings here, there’s no doubt
fishos on the north western corner
Developments. It’s a nice set-up,
they frequent the reef. We were there
of the island; a rugged reef that
especially for the price ($499 RRP!) but
on about high tide so with little water
comes up from 20 meters and causes
I had no idea how much hurt I could
movement it was a tad on the slow
the current to build as it passes by.
put on the fish; it dug in and made
side (one hit & subsequent drop). This
The sea was very calm and the sun
a few deep runs, trying to get to the
trip wasn’t panning out so well at all!
beating down, it was feeling less &
bottom. With real fear of losing the
Next to try was the coral patch, a 35m
less fishy all the time. We drifted past
fish I ratcheted up the drag and the
reef that comes out of 50meters and
a couple of times jigging & tossing
Salina responded beautifully, lifting
covers an area of about two football
stick-baits into the white water but
the fish and getting line back. Simon
we encountered refused to take anything we offered up.
www.nzfisher.co.nz 17
sportFISHING
gfish Derrick’s Winning Kin
The Chesters ‘Fanatical Fishos’ Snapper winner & his winning cheque
mentioned a few times the presence
The weigh-station at Chesters was
of now two hammerheads so we
manned by Scott Macindoe & Paul
worked hard to get the king to the
Barnes, scarred old warriors of the
boat before it became dinner for the
Option4 & Legasea recreational
sharks. Brendan did the gaff-work (his
fisheries management lobby groups.
first time on the gaff) and we had our
Scott tells me he’s been at as many
first king (around 15kgs, a nice start).
of the Chesters competitions as Alan,
We measured the fish and put it on ice – although on ice is a bit misleading as
so I’d say this relationship has been cemented for a very long time.
the fish was far from fitting inside the
The weigh-in, auction & prize-giving
chilly bin!
ran like clockwork. After twenty two
We had a few more casts around the reef but failed to raise another fish. On advice from a young ‘old salt’ Alastair at Go Fish we headed to the south western corner of Little Barrier, a spot I’d never fished before. Alastair’s advice paid off as
Scott Macindoe on the value of the Chesters - Legasea relationship
previous events it’s no surprise they have it down pat. Our 15.68kg kingfish took out the top kingfish prize and cost us a satisfying $150 to buy back in the charity auction. I did learn that snapper is the ‘trophy’ fish at the Chesters comp, so maybe we’ll target them next time.
another 8 or so kingfish were landed,
So, as a better educated fisher
none bigger than what we already
with some ideas to translate to the
had so all were released – but it felt
RoctoberFish competition I thank
good to get into numbers of fish
Grant Chester, Alan Radcliffe and the
after such a hard day. We anchored
rest of the team for a really fun, family
up for a quick snapper fish before
orientated competition. I’m looking
heading back in for the weigh-in and
forward to getting involved
prize-giving.
next year! Brendan with on e of the
18 www.nzfisher.co.nz
hard fought snap per
NEWstuff
Tackle Tests
As tested by NZFisher
Tackle-it ‘Odour Eliminator’’ Tackle it: 179a Archers rd, Glenfield After more than 15 years research & development Tackle-it has established itself as a suit of eco-friendly, effective cleaning products virtually unparalleled in
We have been provided two products
was tear-jerkingly bad. Once the
to use; the Tackle-it ‘Revive-it’ and
offending macks had been removed
Tackle-it ‘Odour Eliminator/Sanitizer’.
& the tank bleached it still stank to
I have seen too many ‘wonder knife’ infomercials to be easily swayed by a product that claims to be everything to everyone but tried the Odour
the heavens so we tested the Odour Eliminator/Sanitizer’ once again and it has (four days later) removed the smell to at most a ‘whiff’ of fishiness.
Eliminator/Sanitizer immediately on
We’re I the testing stages of the
our bench-top compost bin that had
Revive-it on the NZFisher boat &
been ripening in the summer sun.
we’ll report back next month. But if
The results were pretty surprising. It
you’d like to try Tackle-it yourself,
actually worked! That brief trial was
click here to leave your details on
a good start but after Forbes forgot
our Facebook Event page and go
In an age of real environmental
to take three mackerel out of the
into the draw to win one of two
awareness Tackle-it is a beacon of
live-bait tank 7 the boat sat outside
packs of Tackle-it Odour Eliminator
common sense and practicality.
for three days I the sun the stench
and Revive-it.
New Zealand. The tackle-it range includes products as diverse as lake & pond cleaners to deodorisers and metal cleaners and just about everything in between.
www.nzfisher.co.nz 19
READERpics
:Alan McKinvens crew of Brad, Kimbo, Scott & Millie ands their bag of fish from Channel Island.
Big Azza with a spring schoolie
Aaron McDonald got into the workup action with this pair of Hauraki snapper 20 www.nzfisher.co.nz
Dianne Thompson with her first snapper off the beach.
READERpics
Murray Kee & friends grabbed this haul in a one day mission to Great Barrier via Anchorite
Bevan Middlebrook proving there are great snapper in the South Island. This beauty was pulled form Kenepuru Sound
Pa A
www.nzfisher.co.nz 21
Not the desired result for Azza!
READERpics
Steve with a great inner Gulf Puka - thats right, INNER GULF!.
Steve’s best snapper for the season, not shabby at all!
This month’s winner of the ReelWear tee is Dianne Thompson for her first snapper from the beach. Dianne wins a Reel Adventures ReelWear Tee-Shirt. The OKUMA Hoody goes to Bevan Middlebrook for that stunning Kenepuru Sound Snapper. Bevan & Dianne, drop us a line to arrange your size & delivery details.
Win this Reel Wear tee shirt next month by sending in your fishy pics to Facebook
22 www.nzfisher.co.nz
COMPETITION
Win a Rod & Reel with OKUMA & NZFisher!
Built-in StructureScan® HD sonar imaging, plus award-winning Broadband Sounder® with DownScan Overlay™ and TrackBack™ feature. The ultimate fish-and structure-finding display. www.lowrance.com/find
Personalised or optional Navionics® charts. View both at once in 3D perspective view, plus StructureMap™ and Broadband Radar™ capability. www.lowrance.com/navigate
JUST POST A pic of you with a fish to our Facebook page and you’re in the draw to win an Okuma Salina II Rod and Reel combo plus tackle
New super-bright widescreen displays in 7, 9 and 12-inch sizes with touchscreen control. Dominate your time on the water with greater command and control that’s now easier to learn and customize. www.lowrance.com/dominate
worth $750.00. Not only that but every month we’ll give away an Okuma Hoody and ReelWear T-shirt between now and
PREVIEW THE NEW HDS GEN2 TOUCH AT LO W R A N C E . C O M
June 2013. Every image you enter has a chance to win each month and also the big prize. The more and sooner you enter, the better your chances so get fishing and posting those images to Facebook!
www.enl.co.nz
www.nzfisher.co.nz 23
jetskiFISHING
Just Dooing it at the Work-ups‌ By Andrew Hill
WITH THE WEATHER in New Zealand gifting us with some late summer heat, it is encouraging us to spend our time enjoying Jetskifishing. This session, being a mid week fish between obligations of work and preparations for the Sea-Doo King of Jetskifishing in association with Woodbine Marine Competition. I invited one of our gfish Feisty kin
event sponsors to come out with me on his Sea-Doo GTX to see what we could find on local fishing adventure. Not much encouragement needed, Ian was all over it knowing he was in for the X factor of Jetskifishing! We headed for our destination with my leisurely speed of fully tapped ;-) to Flat Rock area, with Ian eagerly keeping up with the pace. First stop was some Kingfish jigging which only
24 www.nzfisher.co.nz
Ian’s first drop pr oduced a chunky 19lb snap per
jetskiFISHING
Doubtless Bay Pannie
raised some rats, for those new to fishing “rats” are undersized or close to legal Kingfish. My wingman couldn’t complain, his first drop was the bonus of this nineteen pound Snapper on the jig! The heat was getting the better of us on a glorious day on the Gulf so I opted for a cool down ride in search of work-ups. If you can find them, it is the most exciting atmosphere for Jetskifishing! The more intense work-ups involve, Gannets diving from above, while Dolphins are rounding the bait fish with other predators of the food chain beneath. All going well we usually find easy fishing amongst the work-up activity with good sized Snapper.
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Two snapper pon one jig - thats just greedy!
r y snappe of health ty n it le p s e s There er mak the weath & r e a e id y tw is ou m th chase the perfect to
Lots of nice sized Snapper with the
If you’d like to get started with Jet
day finishing with another fish just
Ski fishing come see Andrew Hill
over fifteen pounds after the cameras
at the Jetskifishing Store. You can
stopped. The video link shows how
follow Andrew’s adventures here on
great the day was and I am sure that
Facebook.
those that have experienced it before can relate to our enjoyment.
LEADERS IN BOAT TRAILER DESIGN & PERFORMANCE ‘Superbly Built’ ‘The boat goes on and off the trailer like a dream’ ‘it tows like a breeze!’ Matt Watson, ITM Fishing Show
Used by
Trade in your existing boat trailer for a new Voyager, and receive minimum 10% DISCOUNT on the value of your new replacement trailer • We service, repair and re-galvanise any boat trailer • Parts, servicing, multi-roller and tandem conversion
26 www.nzfisher.co.nz
www.voyagertrailers.co.nz
FN4718
6 Kaimiro St, Pukete Industrial Estate, Hamilton – Ph 07 849 3158
boatFISHING
By Derrick Paull
The Boat Show is Coming in May Get in early to win
Visitors to the 2013 Hutchwilco
The ‘early bird’ prize package also
number of other great prizes, too.
New Zealand Boat Show who book
includes an amazing array of practical
These include the incredible $100,000
their tickets online before May 8 will
extras designed to further enhance
Stabicraft/Yamaha prize package, two
go into the draw to win a spectacular
the fishing and kayaking experience.
$2000 Viking kayaks each day (8 in
$3,000 Viking Profish 440 Evolution IV
These include a Hutchwilco multi-fit
total) and a trip for two to Sipidan in
fishing kayak package.
safety vest, deluxe fisherman seat,
Malaysia to the world’s only dive rig.
The Viking Profish 440 Evolution IV
Propelz speed paddle, insulated fish
The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat
is a top of the line fishing kayak with
bag, running rig and drift chute, two
Show is New Zealand’s longest-
incredible stability in all conditions.
Railblaza rod holders, paddle leash
running, largest and most popular
This makes it the ideal kayak from
and two rod leashes, C Tug kayak
boat show. It will be held at the ASB
which to fish safely either off the coast
trolley, safety flag, fish stringer and
Showgrounds, in Greenlane Auckland
or in calmer, harbour waters.
Propelz deluxe seat cushion.
on May 16-19, 2013. Hours are 10am
The Viking Profish 440 Evolution IV
Tickets to the 2013 Hutchwilco New
until 6pm daily, with a single late night,
is also an incredibly practical fishing
Zealand Boat Show are now available
on Friday May 17, when the show will
by clicking the ‘Buy Tickets’ tab at
be open until 9pm. Admission is just
www.boatshow.co.nz.
$20 for adults and there is no charge
kayak with an unprecedented number of places to safely stow everything from cell phones and refreshments to
Those attending the show will also
bait and the catch.
have the chance to win a large
for children 16 and under. More at www.boatshow.co.nz
www.nzfisher.co.nz 27
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month We might not be the country music loving type like they are in the USA, but this track from Trace Atkins is a universal take on the father daughter / son fishing trips we take (well, some of us take – and some will hopefully get the chance to one day too). Just Fishin’ But on a fishier note, here’s something to get the heart pumping! Day one, two and three of Stefano’s Far North Jetski adventure in February 2013. And from the very far north, I think this might be the very first time a GoPro has been attached to a wild fish & retrieved – check out ‘HallibutCam’!
28 www.nzfisher.co.nz
NEXTmonth regionalREVIEWS
In next months issue: - West Coast Marlin Madness - East Cape LBG Mission - Take a kid fishing tips
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www.nzfisher.co.nz 29