f sher ISSUE 24
June 2013
(Re)Learning LBG Lessons at the East Cape Small boat Swordfish Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue #24! www.nzfisher.co.nz 1
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editorial
CONTENTS Pg 22
14
LANDBASEDFISHING 6
New Season Lessons
10
East Cape Dreaming
14 The NZACA Nationals Roadtrip 2013 SPORTFISHING 18
Small Boat Swordfish
LOCALFISHING 20
Inner City Sole
22
Reader Pics
24
Competition
OLDSCHOOL
10
22
Shark Fishing the 1880’s Way
28
Hooked Up
Pg 6
www.nzfisher.co.nz 3
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From 2.3hp to 250hp.
TheBegin ing
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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.
AS WE HIT AUTUMN I always
to fish, untouched ledges, top drawer
have mixed feelings: I’m a summer
fishing, topped off with a night at the
EDITOR / Derrick Paull
person, no question, I love hot, sunny
Waihau Bay pub, maybe the friendliest
ART DIRECTOR / Jodi Olsson
weather, blue skies and long days. But
in NZ. I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a start
CONTENT ENQUIRIES /
as the weather changes, the water
to the season more in recent times.
Phone Derrick on 021 629 327
temperature drops, and we’re into the cold, rainy season, I don’t mind so much. That’s because this is, for me, the beginning of the serious LBG season, and as much as I love my
But it’s not all landbased colder-weather fishing either. While we were off at the E Cape my good mate Andrew was out there doing it and getting into a
softbaiting and workup fishing, LBG is
swordfish from a trailer boat, the jetski
my real love! With trips underway for
boys were having an amazing time
East Cape, Great Barrier, Coromandel
out of Colville and the inner harbour
and the Far North twice in the next
was firing for the saltwater fly guys.
few months, topped off by what
Just today I was out softbaiting under
will be an epic ROctober this year
workups of gannets and bait with
(tickets go on sale soon!) it’s going to
snapper and kahawai everywhere, and
be a fantastic season I’m sure. And
then I’m heading off to the Far North to
it started in great style at the East
fish another slice of LBG paradise.
Cape on my now annual trip with the NZLBG club with some fantastic fishing in what is one of my handsdown favourite LBG destinations
The weather might be getting cold
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.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!
but the fishing is still hot, so make sure you’re out there getting amongst it!
in our wonderful country. Amazing
Tight lines,
accommodation, spectacular country
FT
www.nzfisher.co.nz 5
LANDBASEDfishing
New Season Lessons
(Re)Learning some key LBG lessons at the East Cape By Forsyth Thompson
THIS YEAR’S EAST CAPE trip was
of my winter LBG series, I thought
We’d treated it as a fishing holiday
a memorable one for many reasons:
I’d start by sharing a few things that
and had a great time, rather than
a first decent kingy for me in 4
we learned and re-learned over the
flogging ourselves from pre-dawn
years (!), a first livey-caught kingy
course of what was an excellent trip.
till after dark every day. Then, on the
for Brenton (see Page 10), a 7.3kg snapper which fought top water like a kahawai, and some utterly spectacular fishing and scenery with
Over the rest of the series we’ll cover off hardware, tackle and so on, for this one we’ll focus on some other things.
third day Brenton bagged a solid king but by Friday night I was getting worried about whether my kingy horror streak was going to continue.
great mates.
After 3 days fishing, we’d had some
But what struck me most of all at
good successes and were feeling
with rain, and only one king had been
the end of it was how different a
pretty happy with life: the first day
caught between 9-12 anglers each of
trip it had been for us in the way we
had put us onto an amazing steady
the previous days so the other crews
approached the 4 day trip, how we
snapper bite with fish up to nearly
all decided against fishing the last
fished, and how that translated into
6kg, some much bigger ones lost (!)
day. On top of that, I’d hurt my back
results. So, as this is the beginning
and a number of big, fat blue cod.
so badly before leaving that I had to
6 www.nzfisher.co.nz
The forecast was for strong S/SE winds
LANDBASEDfishing
lie flat in the back of the truck all the
produced in the past and was surely
couldn’t find a livey to save ourselves
way down and was dosing heavily on
due to again.
but by casting as far out as possible
codeine and ibuprofen to get through the days!
B and I unloaded the boat (slowly, my bad back making me pretty
past the berley I got a couple and the balloons went out.
Despite all that, we got up in the
useless!) and then as I stepped off
After 3 hours of inactivity, I’d more
morning, packed the gear one last
onto the rocks I managed another
or less dried off! I’d just cast out a
time and headed down to Lottin and
first: missing my footing and finding
bait when I saw the liveys trying to
launched off the beach. There was no
myself swimming off the rocks for
tangle each other up so put the reel
chance at all I was going to get my
the first time ever, in full wet weather
on clicker and ran up to sort them out.
kingy sitting at home or diving for crays.
gear! Thankfully the water was still
Then a small king turned up, harassing
warm and I just swam round to the
the liveys but not big enough to really
back of the boat, climbed back in and
trouble them.
We had Midway in mind for our final push, but as we got round there the SE was wrapping right up the coast and making it unfishable, so
stopped laughing for long enough to step off properly.
I turned and looked back down the rocks: no rod anywhere to be seen,
we headed back towards Lottin and
The berley went in, the country looked
it had somehow been dragged in.
found a point out of the wind where
incredible and then the maomao
Talk about gutted, a bad day was
one crew had spent the last 6 days
turned up. Thousands of them. We
just getting worse for me and the
for just one kingy. But it has always
couldn’t get baits past them and
expensive loss reminded me how
And then it was gone...
www.nzfisher.co.nz 7
LANDBASEDfishing
much my back was hurting! Another couple of hours went by with nothing more than lunch to break the monotony so at nearly 3pm we had a final “what shall we do conference” and came within a hair of packing up. We were at the exact same stage of the tide as when we saw and caught kings the day before, so decided to give it 30 more minutes and throw every last bit of berley and bait in. Within minutes we had a mini work-up going on with mao mao everywhere and birds all over the place, creating a huge amount of noise in the water. I looked up: “B…where’s my balloon? No, seriously mate, where the **** is my livey?”
the net until I saw her come up by the
you’re in the right place, there are still
Then B pointed to it just as it surfaced.
ledge – this was no rat! B gaffed her
loads of reasons to pack it in when
And then blew away in the wind as the
straight in the lateral line, and blood
things aren’t going your way. Stick at
ratchet on my Everol 50 went off! Over
pouring out and heaved her up.
it and keep making more effort, not
On the mat she went 1.21m, and on
less. Keep cubing baits, changing
the scales 20.3kg. Not quite a PB but
liveys out, cubing baits and doing all
with all the work we’d had to do to get
the things that you know work.
this and all the reasons we’d had to
The easiest thing is to get lazy and
stay at home or pack up and go home,
let your head go down, but when
the last 4 years, every time this had happened had resulted in heartbreak: bust offs, pulled hooks, spat baits, reefings etc. But this time I had the serious gear, 37kg mono, wind-on leader, trace and a CD 24-37kg stick to match and there was no chance this fish was getting off. In fact, I was able to subdue it so much that I called for
8 www.nzfisher.co.nz
this was the most satisfying fish I can remember catching in many years. So when you bring the right gear, and
you keep going, keep doing the right things, and keep having a great time, its funny how things go your way!
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
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
to help you stay safe:
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 9
LANDBASEDfishing
East Cape Dreaming By Brenton Cumberpatch
10 www.nzfisher.co.nz
LANDBASEDfishing
EAST CAPE, LOTTIN POINT. It’s
I’ve been trying for 3.5 years to
East Cape is good 6 hour journey
one of NZ’s great Land Based Game
catch a kingfish off the bricks on my
from Auckland with the boat on the
meccas and when I got an invite
Offshore LBG 70 rod and TLD25 reel.
back. It’s remote and has no cell
from Forsyth to go fish 4 days of the
I’ve been lugging that set around
phone coverage – not something
NZLBG Clubs annual 10 day Easter
everytime I go landbased fishing, and
I’m used too that’s for sure!
expedition, I immediately said “95%
have floated numerous kahawai under
Forsyth’s new Mazda BT50 was
yes” (Actually I think an expletive
balloons in an attempt to entice those
exceptionally more comfy than the
may have replaced the 95% if I’m
wily kingfish.
old Isuzu (smelt a hell of lot better
completely honest), a quick call to my
In March of 2012 I caught my first
long suffering fishing fishing widow
ever landbased kingfish on a piece
wife and I was 100% commited to
of pilchard I was straylining to
Luckily it was also comfy, especially
the trip. Awesomeness! Now, how
catch a kahawai. It weighed in at
given Forsyth had put his back out while
was my fishing OCD going to handle
10.1kg, was 98cm long and caught
fishing over Easter... pain drugs and
the next 4-5 weeks?! Luckily I was
on 8kg mono. That fish recently
resting on the journey down helped to
kept busy with work and family life
won me the Bill DiMento Shield
ease the pain. In fact he looked quite
(you can never earn enough brownie
for Heaviest Fish Caught on a Club
comfy reclined in the passenger seat,
points, ever. And they only have a
Outting and the Ralph Kennedy
his iPad slung over the passenger visor,
limited shelf life...), so I only ended
Cup for Heaviest Fish of the Year
watching some episodic TV while I
up repacking four times in the lead
at the North Shore Surfcasting
drove. A bit different from how we used
up to our departure.
Clubs end of year prize giving.
to road trip!
too!) and it hardly even noticed the Stabicraft 349 we were towing.
www.nzfisher.co.nz 11
LANDBASEDfishing
We had some fantastic fishing on some awesome ledges that probably haven’t been fished since the NZLBG Club were here last year, but for this article I’ll focus on Day 3... Forsyth and I launched out of Lottin, and went left with a SE wind blowing over the hills and chilling us down. (Well me especially as I left my wet weather gear back at the farm. Clever... not!) We found another nice gut to park the boat
for as I was baiting up another hook I
in figuring it wasn’t particularly large...
up in, burleyed up and setup the gear.
heard “Zzzz! Zzz-zzzzzzzz!”, I looked
until it rolled up next to the ledge!
Once setup we saw kahawai straight
up, Forsyth yelled “B!” I looked
away. Awesome! 3 were caught in
at my virgin TLD25 and it went
quick succession and went out under
“Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!” again. Line
balloons and the next hour was spent
was screaming off my reel! Awesome,
training them to NOT make plaits in
I was in! “Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!”
our lines, useless liveys! 2 were so
I raced over, unclipped the tether,
misbehaved they were disciplined into
“Strike it! Strike it!” was yelled at me,
Snapper bait. Luckily the kahawai were
I pushed the lever to strike. came up
still there in droves, so I cast out my
solid and I pumped the rod hard a
snelled 2 hook rig and instantly caught
couple of times to set the hook.
2 more to replace them, these were
“Gaff!!” I hollered and Forsyth leapt into action. The kingfish decided it wanted to roll around a bit in the kelp and try and get under the ledge, there were a few tense moments while disappeared and rubbed against the rocks and kelp until it resurfaced again and a well placed gaff shot to the head saw it being hauled up the rocks, until it decided that it didn’t
Finally I had a kingfish on my livebait
like several inches of sharpened steel
gear after years of frustrating near
in its head and went beserk, flipping
misses. The kingfish gave a little run
itself off the gaff and sliding down the
then the tension came off! Crap! I
rocks, back towards the sea! “Aargh!”
Forsyth managed a nice 7kg snapper
wound like mad until I felt the weight
I screamed. “Crap!” muttered Forsyth,
while I was messing around having
again, and it was swimming back to
scrambling after it and swinging the
fun catching and releasing kahawai,
towards us. Phew! It didn’t really fight
gaff at it, connecting solidly in the
trying to ring Mr Kingfish’s dinner
that hard after that, it pulled against
shoulder and man handling it up the
bell with distressed fish splashing in
me a little more but there were no
ledge towards the chillybags. I was
the shallows. It must have worked,
more runs, so I pumped and wound it
high on adrenalin, grinning like a
were sent out and the message must have been passed around as they stayed out there like little troopers.
12 www.nzfisher.co.nz
LANDBASEDfishing
coolly bag, spread some ice on it and stuck it in the shade. 10 minutes later Forsyths livey went beserk darting around the place frantically and then stopped. We waited a couple of minutes with no movement from the balloon, so we wound it in to see if it had been killed and all we found was a bare hook. Bugger! Interestingly, all the kingfish madman, and staring in awe at my first
thankfully it slid right into the big
big green machine.
landing net we’d brought as I body
sightings, harassment and hook ups we had during the week were within
checked it’s downward momentem.
an hour of the high tide, not the
Lucky! It got in a cheeky tail slap to
typical either side of low tide. Maybe
kingfish. Once I had introduced it
my legs and a head butt to my check
they’re always there and this was the
to the Shank Of Love™, I pulled out
as I wrestled it under control, before
bite time? All I know is I have more
the lie detector and we strung it up.
I finally dealt it a killing blow with my
chance of a king eating my livey if I
Apparently gaffing it in the head and
iki stick.
have one out than if I don’t.
sticking 4inches of steel in it’s brain
Once we were sure it wasn’t going to
Finally I had achieved my long time
wasn’t enough to subdue this fish, for
cause any more grief, we strung it
goal of catching a landbased kingfish
as I lifted it’s weight off the ground on
up on the scales. “Whoa, it’s a bit
on my livebait set. I had managed
my scales, the bloody thing flapped
heavier than the last one” I grunted
to do it at one of NZs primo fishing
around about like crazy, wriggled of
as I lifted it. The scales settled on
destinations, with a great mate, in
the scales hook and started flapping
18.9kg. Nice! We laid it out on the
fantastic conditions. Life was good,
NSSCs IGFA measure mat, the v in
now to get one another livey and aim
I have to do to subduew this fish! I
the tail was just under 110cm. Yup,
for one over 20kg! Unfortunately it
launched myself on top of the maddly
definitely bigger than the first one.
wouldn’t be mine, but it would be
wriggling fish as it slid away from us,
We packed it into the Precision-Pak
over 20...
There flapping madly at my feet, was my very first livebait caught LBG
down the rocks! Heck, what more do
www.nzfisher.co.nz 13
LANDBASEDfishing
The NZACA Nationals Roadtrip 2013 NZACA Nationals 2013, Gisborne (and Kahawai World Cup) By Barry Williams, NSSC THIS YEAR’S NZACA NATIONALS
huge catches, but I felt I had a slightly
a bite, but consoled myself knowing
(Nats) were hosted by the Gisborne
better than average chance of walking
I’d chosen my spot well, with the
Surfcasters club and was held over
away with the $10,000 1st prize due
winning fish being caught about 100m
four days, beginning with distance
to what I’d learnt at last year’s event.
to my left on day two. I tried casting a
casting, ending with accuracy casting
The two-day competition is held off
range of distances, different rigs and
and two days of fishing between.
Papamoa with about 8km of white
baits including the local go-to bait
I had annual leave with a use-by
sand beach available for fishing.
of anchovy and didn’t even manage
date of March, so I planned a tenday road trip taking in the Nats in Gisborne and the Kahawai World
There were about 200 people competing, and the Bay of Plenty
a bite. Even so, it served as a good warm-up for the Nats.
was the Bay of Empty for most. I
Wanting to get some casting practice
think there were a grand total of 19
before meeting up with fellow club
I’d found the fishing at last year’s
kahawai weighed, with the winning
member Mark Mortimer in Gisborne,
KWC really slow, so wasn’t expecting
fish going 1.938kg. I didn’t even get
I found myself at a deserted Tolaga
Cup (KWC) at Papamoa.
14 www.nzfisher.co.nz
LANDBASEDfishing
Bay beach and set to work on my off-the-ground technique. Having gotten some good distance, I wound up for a beast of a cast, and…snap! That was the end of my rod. Bugger! Luckily, Mark Graham of Action Bait and Tackle personally delivered a replacement rod section in time for the competition - service doesn’t get much better than that. Day 1 of the Nats dawned and after the AGM and competition briefing we headed to the casting venue, stopping en route for a flat white (you can take the Aucklander out of Auckland…). My confidence must have taken a hit after snapping my rod the day before - two of my casts were out of bounds and my only measurable cast went 144.8m; 12m short of my personal best. Mark managed 127.8m, beating his previous best by 2m. The best cast on the day was 192.833m by Gary Whitaker from Wellington. Next up was a drive through the Waioeke Gorge and on to Te Kaha, our base camp for the next two days. We picked a likely-looking spot on the rocks near the Waikawa Stream, with a nice mixture of deep water, rocks and kelp that we hoped might hold large snapper.
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LANDBASEDfishing
two for me, all over 50cm and in the 1.8-2kg range. The few snapper we landed were all below the 35cm qualifying length. By 6am on day 2, we had lines in the
The next day we were on the rocks
Omaio Beach, which, according to
at 5am, where we set the burley,
Spot X, has accounted for some
cast out into the dark and waited.
monster snapper. Not that day. Small
Unfortunately all was quiet so at
snapper stripped our baits almost
sunrise, we moved a few hundred
as soon as they hit the bottom. We
of the drought-dry Pakaranui stream.
metres to fish into more open water.
landed some small kahawai. One was
Surprisingly, this spot produced my
Soon after, Mark landed a trevally of
put to work as live bait for a passing
largest kahawai for the two days’
about 47cm, a good fish to kick off our
kingy but only got the attention of a
fishing at 2.11kg.
Nationals tally. Between us we landed
large ray.
a few kahawai, snapper and hiwihiwi, but nothing large enough to weigh in. For the afternoon, we headed to
16 www.nzfisher.co.nz
water at the previous day’s kahawai spot, but with no sign we bailed before the sun was above the horizon, relocating to the beach at the mouth
En route back to Gisborne, we
Returning to the rocks for the evening
stopped at the legendary Motu River
change of light, we landed a few
mouth, planning to slide bait for
decent kahawai, three for Mark and
kingfish. We took the bush track down
LANDBASEDfishing
from the Tokata Scenic Reserve and
Spring and late summer are the best
walked along the gravel spit to reach
times here - make sure you take
the eastern bank of the river.
along a few lures as they are easily
The fishing here was nothing short of sensational with four out of five
lost and bait fishing is frowned upon by the locals.
casts resulting in a 50cm+ fat, hard-
In two hours, we must have caught
fighting kahawai. We soon gave up
about 30 fish, all released except for
on slidebaiting for kingfish, as all the
Mark’s first Motu kahawai. I don’t think
fish were too large for this technique.
I’ve ever had as much fun fishing as
Instead we just enjoyed the spin
that session at the Motu. Believe the
fishing and marvelled at the kahawai
legend and pay it a visit if you’re on
surfing the waves.
the East Cape.
www.nzfisher.co.nz 17
sportFISHING
Small Boat Swordfish By Andrew Evans
I HAVEN’T DONE TOO much big game
getting the bait down and we were off
sent the squid bait down on a double
fishing, and of all the 15 or so days
with the Surtees 5.5 in tow. Neither of
hook rig with lights. It hit the bottom,
marlin fishing I have done, I have only
us had seen, let alone caught a broady
and the breakaway sinker did its job.
actually seen one marlin and my only
before but you’ve got to get out there
Then, only about 20mins in, all the
hookup turned out to be a mako! So
and give it a shot!
weight came off the line. Josh started
when a great weather forecast for the
With no bait to be caught in close,
weekend coincided with an invitation
we headed out to the Shallow Patch
After a few minutes further winding
from my mate Josh to go and chase a
where we saw an incredible sight.
with still no weight on, we knew
daytime swordfish, its fair to say that I
Out of nowhere the ocean erupted,
something was up…surely we couldn’t
was very excited to say the least.
thousands and thousands of sauri flying
be onto a sword after 20 minutes of
Josh has had a stonker of a game
clean out of the water. Then we saw
trying, people take years before they
season, popping two of his mates’
big tuna coming from every direction,
get one. Then, incredibly with only
marlin cherries on his own boat and
smashing sauri and covering the water
about 100m of line still out, the rod
then getting himself a 264 kg blue
with oil as they exploded out of the
loaded up, and we were into it.
marlin at the Nationals. Josh and his
water all around us. Then as quickly as
crew had lost a swordfish last year out on the garden patch when the hooks pulled after 35mins of getting dealt to. But this year everything was upgraded, bigger gear, and a new technique on
18 www.nzfisher.co.nz
it started it was over. Arriving at the Garden Patch we were the smallest boat surrounded by 7 big sport fishers and clearly in the right place. Picking a spot on the bank in 540m we
winding but no weight came on.
The fish had taken the bait without one click of the ratchet and swum 400m straight up towards the surface. The first 15 mins as we backed up closer to the fish was fairly easy and we were wondering what all the fuss was about!
sportFISHING
Then things got really interesting as the
burning in no time and with half a
incredible, and with its long bill, broad
fish started dealing to us. The weight
wind here it felt like lifting a car: this
and sharp, this was a true gladiator.
and power of the fish was incredible,
just wasn’t fun! About 30 minutes later
With its head out water we grabbed
and we had so much drag on that
we had colour, and it looked amazing
any handhold we could, heaving it’s
Josh was seriously struggling. Despite
as it thrashed its sword side to side.
head over the gunwale and then she
catching a massive Blue earlier in the
There were a few hair raising angle
was in the boat. Relief. High fives, hugs
year he called it as easily the toughest
changes we had to deal with as it
and a couple of energy drinks were
fight he’d ever had. A few times we
came closer then as Josh had the
sunk as what we had achieved hit us.
got to the 50m leader to only to have it
leader in hand, it gave a last burst and
First time out and just an hour and a
taken straight back in crackling runs.
smashed the outboard with his bill.
half in and we were both broken and
After 30 mins on this severe drag
We got it back to the side and up it
had a sword on board.
setting Josh was just about broken,
came: I threw in the flying gaff, Josh
Once we’d got a few pics we realised
even half turns being hard to get,
grabbed the big fixed gaff, I dumped
that there was no more fishing for
and then the harness gave way, the
the rod and Tail roped him.
us, we were both done, mission
stainless clip snapping under the
The fish didn’t have much left at this
accomplished and we headed back
pressure. You can’t overstate how
point, the heavy drag we used (maybe
to get her weighed at Reel Rods in
serious these fish are! The call was
a touch too heavy?!) had broken it, as
Whatuwhiwhi (thanks to Kieron). She
made for a change of angler, so I
much as it had us. Up on the surface,
pulled the scales down to a healthy
clipped in with the spare and got
it’s bronze skin was shining like armour,
128.4kg and we’d done what we came
stuck in. My legs and back were
the bulk and thickness of the fish
for, an experience I’ll never forget.
www.nzfisher.co.nz 19
localFISHING
Inner City Sole Alan Radcliffe and Scott Macindoe - keeping the Chesters comp on target for 23 years
Story and images by Matt von Sturmer
CASTING A FLYROD to surface schooling Kahawai is what many people think when you mention saltwater fly fishing. Without a doubt Kahawai are a truly world class sports fish that make great targets for the fly fisherman, but they represent just a one of the many opportunities for the way of the long wand. New Zealand is relatively new territory for SWF and consequently new discoveries are being made all the time, like Clark Reid discovering Kingfish riding on the back of stingrays and Craig Worthington perfecting pot holing for snapper in rocky terrain. All those who have seriously fished fly have brought their own innovations and ground-breaking
20 www.nzfisher.co.nz
localFISHING discoveries. Recently Mark Hoffman and Jeremy Coombes showed us that Point Chevalier and Meola Reef are legitimate locations for proper saltfly fishing all within sight of the Auckland sky tower. My discovery is as a result of this growth in the Meola scene and came about while exploring further up the harbour system in pursuit of shallow water kingfish, but that’s another story. Technical fly lines matched to the appropriate size fly rods provide an elegant system to present creative lures to fish hunting in the shallows. Once cast, the fly line is fished in the hands and this controlled retrieve combined with the subtle weighting of the fly, means we can impart an action of pauses, flits, starts and stops to fool fish where other methods just cannot succeed. Once the water really starts to warm up, its time to start stalking the mudflats of the upper harbour. When fishing there, I’m constantly scanning the water in the hope that a passing kingfish will reveal itself with a telltale bow wave. Or even better, with a smash and grab feed sending mullet or flounder flying through the air. Over the course of many intense hours waiting and watching, my attention started to be drawn to much smaller events. These splashes of smaller predators began to distract me from the search for kings, and I often missed my shot at a passing king while throwing my lighter fly rod at what I thought were the splashes of Kahawai. Then, out fishing with my mate Trevor (an excellent fisherman and regular visitor from the UK), we both got to see a flash of pink and the back of a snapper bust the surface in
on the flats. I managed to land a cast right on the spot and instantly caught the snapper we had just seen, proving they were there, and feeding. But we didn’t know what they were feeding on and what was causing the splashing. It was not until a further season had passed that I began to see tiny bow waves ahead of the busting snapper, clearly they were chasing something, but what? The answer to that question was revealed to me when one of these tiny bow waves kept coming towards me and deiced to take sanctuary between my feet! And there was the snappers’ quarry: a juvenile of a species of sole and just 50mm long. My kahawai chasing bait turned out to be snapper chasing flatfish! Knowing what these upper-harbour snapper are feeding on allows me to present them surface flies knowing that seconds later a snapper will hit. As a consequence, my catch rate of 30-40 cm snapper has increased significantly. But with all this distraction, my catch rate on the 10 kg kingies on the flats has not been so good. Next season I’m going to have to refuse new discoveries as I really want to land a kingfish on fly from the mudflats in central Auckland, and its going to take some real focus!
one of these splashes. This suggested
We knew there were snapper in the
that for the last two seasons what we
shallows so it was never a surprise
had thought were Kahawai were in
to come up solid and bring a feisty
fact snapper, surface-busting baitfish
snapper to the beach.
www.nzfisher.co.nz 21
READERpics
Aaron McDonald with his PB Snapper at a scratch under 20lb
Graeme ‘Sea Ox’ Cox ‘Dancing’ in 5m Swell and 50km winds
Charissa and Toni Frank Mountjoy with a couple of lanbased beautys from near Taipa - PB’s no less!
22 www.nzfisher.co.nz
:Coromandel Porae YUM
READERpics
Pursuit deckies, Sam & Zane with a pair of ‘Pup’ Bass
John Callandar with a healthy Three Kings Puka
This month’s winner of the ReelWear tee is Aaron Macdonald. Aaron wins a Reel Adventures, ReelWear Tee. Keep sending in your pics for the great OKUMA and Reel Wear prizes up for grabs every month.
www.nzfisher.co.nz 23
Win a Rod and 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
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
PREVIEW THE NEW HDS GEN2 TOUCH AT LO W R A N C E . C O M
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 worth $750.00. Not only that but every month we’ll give away an Okuma T-Shirt and ReelWear between now & June 2013. Every image you enter has a chance to win each month and also the big prize. The more and sooner you
www.enl.co.nz
24 www.nzfisher.co.nz
enter, the better your chances so get fishing & posting those images to Facebook!
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
HAWAII ON A Kayak. Legend in the making right here!
www.nzfisher.co.nz 25
oldSCHOOL
Shark Fishing the 1880’s Way By Sam Elliot Auckland City Libraries Tamaki Pataka Karero
Drying Sharks
THERE IS NOTHING LIKE a good
with the fishing restricted to two
on getting plenty of kinaki (relish)…
fishing story, especially from the
days per year, first on the full moon
and looking forward to a plentiful
good old days. Fortunately some
in January and only by night, the
supply of dried mango (shark) for
of the really old yarns have been
second two weeks later and by day;
kinaki during winter…The village was
preserved in the literature, and they
with severe punishment if these rules
humming like a swarm of bees”.
make a great read. Here is a doozy
were not observed.
from way back.
The preparations that were being
After a notice of the date of the fishing
undertaken by the fishers also
In the article below R. H. Matthews
was announced and a signal cannon
sounded extensive. Different groups
recalls the “old time institution”
fired a “muster of not less than fifty
were involved in a multitude of tasks
of shark fishing, in the far north
canoes, each with an average crew of
including rolling flax fibre to attach to
(Rangaunu Harbour) during the 1880’s.
twenty” gathered. So about a thousand
hooks, lashing ornamental bow pieces
Matthews describes how this particular
fishers plus a full support crew!
onto the canoes, fastening elaborately
shark fishing event is a strictly observed maori custom rich in tradition that is like a national holiday for maori in the area around Rangaunu.
Matthews goes on to describe the gathering of fishers as a hive of activity and excitement “For many days prior to the fishing crowds of Natives were
carved stern posts, filling joints between boards on the canoes and making movable platforms on which the sharks were killed.
They are fishing for dogfish (or
to be seen going to Te Unahi ….All
The most attention, however, was
kapeta) (presumably school shark)
bent on having a good holiday, and
paid to the hooks and lines that were
26 www.nzfisher.co.nz
oldSCHOOL
“For many days prior to the fishing crowds of Natives were to be seen going to Te Unahi ….All bent on having a good holiday, and on getting plenty of kinaki (relish)…and looking forward to a plentiful supply of dried mango (shark) for kinaki during winter…The village was humming like a swarm of bees” to be used for the fishing. Matthews
“Hua kina” (Charge). Then followed
the time of anchoring, and for the
describes how the hooks and snoods
a most exciting race for the fishing-
space of at least three hours, the
were put together with specialist
ground and the mataika (first fish).
sound of the timo could be heard
technique and material to prevent rust
All through the fleet the Maoris
incessantly all around us, accentuated
and avoid being cut by the shark teeth.
were shouting…It was a brilliant
by shouting and loud splashes. The
moonlight night, and the whole
scene was simply indescribable.”
The morning before the fishing was to begin several canoes were sent to catch bait, clubs (timo) for killing
fleet could be plainly seen paddling furiously for the channel.
When the fishing was done Matthews noted that ”The catch in our canoe
the sharks were made, and finally the
The shouting, yelling, and cheering,
totalled 180. The cleaning of the
canoes were pronounced ready for sea.
together with the noises that only
sharks had now commenced… the
the old-time Maoris could make,
bodies were hung by the tails… There
were indescribable… As soon as the
they remained until thoroughly dried
channel was reached anchors were let
by the sun and wind… In a day or two
go… and waterproof coats were tied
the stench would be intolerable.
Then as dark fell “the order was given to go on board, and off we started to the refrain of “Huka ka huka”… When we arrived at the rendezvous at Te Ureroa we found the fleet in position… We took up our station…
around the waist and then the readybaited hooks were thrown overboard… Almost immediately, “Kohi kohia” (Haul
The livers were thrown into a large funnel, made of green flax leaves... and suspended. Large stones were then
Here we waited for high water…
in) was shouted from a canoe close to
The Maoris believed that the strong
us, followed by a loud splashing and
spring tides swept immense numbers
cries of “Mataika” (First fish).
of sharks into the harbour and far up
Then came the blows of the timo
sharks, and hung up in the sun until the
the rivers and creeks, and that when
clubbing the snout…Presently one
oil exuded from them.
the tide ebbed the returning sharks
of our crew called “Kohi kohia”.
were intercepted by the fleet. As the
Eventually my turn came to give
time of high water approached, the
warning. I pulled the shark to the
talking ceased, and there was a dead
gunwale, my friend then took charge
silence through the fleet.
and landed it on board… several
Presently our chief whispered, “Kua
smart blows with the timo close to the
whati te mata o te tai” (The tide has
end of the snout soon quietened it.
turned). Almost immediately after
A corner of the raho is then lifted up,
Popata stood up in his canoe and
and the shark is passed to the bottom
shouted out in a stentorian voice,
of the canoe. Within five minutes of
heated and placed on them, and the oil was caught in calabashes. Surplus livers were put into the stomachs of the
The total number of sharks caught by the fleet, including those taken at the pakoki held a fortnight later, was about seven thousand an average of about sixty-five per canoe for each of the two trips.” R.H. Matthews 1910. Reminiscences of maori life fifty years ago. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Art. LIV, 598-605.
www.nzfisher.co.nz 27
HOOKED UP!
CO
HOOKEDUP!
U
LD
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 email us before the deadline to claim your prize. Sweet as!!!
IT
B
E
YO
U
?
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue #24!
Allan Preece from Pukekohe You’ve won this month’s awesome Hooked Up prize pack including: •
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of Reel Adventures
•
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from GoFish.co.nz
•
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from Flambeau (contents not included)
•
Plus two 500ml bottles of Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay!
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferl@espiremedia.com before 5pm Friday 21 June 2013. Easy!
*To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw. A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors! Please support them!
28 www.nzfisher.co.nz
f sher
NEXTmonth regionalREVIEWS
In next months issue: - - -
East Cape Paua mission Far North Queensland Barra hunt Know how: Winning Fishing Competitions
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www.nzfisher.co.nz 29