NZ Fisher Issue 26

ISSUE 26 August 2013

Winter Moochers from Cape to Cape Snapper on dry-fly?

Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue #26! www.nzfisher.co.nz 1

2 www.nzfisher.co.nz

editorial

CONTENTS Pg 18 OUR LEGASEA 6

Fishing for the future

LANDBASEDFISHING 8

Bucket List Time in the Far

North May 2013

FISHYHISTORY 14 Old School Fishing in

16

the Bay of Plenty LOCALFISHING 16

Fish your feet first

SPORTFISHING

8

18

2013 Bounty Hunter

20

Reader Pics

24

Competition

KAYAKFISHING 26

Elite Kayak Fishing

28

Hooked Up

Pg 14

www.nzfisher.co.nz 3

The Beginning of the Future The day you caught your first fish.

The first time you climbed into a boat. These moments make up the beginning of the future.

Today, Honda’s forward thinking comes together to bring you a reliable, fuel efficient range of outboards.

From 2.3hp to 250hp.

TheBegin ing

Contact your local Honda Marine Dealer today Freephone 0800 478 765 www.hondamarine.co.nz

4 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Scan me for a free cap!

editorial

//From the

EDITOR WINTER IS NOT A fishing friendly

There’s a wealth of numbers available

ABOUT /

time of year – cold hands, wet feet

to support and destroy both side’s

Short and sharp, NZ Fisher is a

and too many layers to be that

cases for why it is not their sector

free e-magazine delivering thought

comfortable on the water – but as a

who are restricting the growth of the

provoking and enlightening articles,

number of the articles this month will

North and Eastern snapper fishery.

testify, the fishing has been as hot as

Again, until the IPP is released, its

the weather cold.

all conjecture – what is fact however

The landbased guys are still doing extremely well, but persistence has been the key. There’s no point giving up after an hour or moving on every

is that we fishers want a healthy, sustainable fishery and the only way to achieve that is to leave some more fish in the water!

and industry news and information to forward-thinking fisher people.

EDITOR / Derrick Paull ART DIRECTOR / Jodi Olsson CONTENT ENQUIRIES / Phone Derrick on 021 629 327 or email derrickp@NZ Fisher.co.nz

few minutes – the fish that are around

NZFisher is holding the Roctoberfish

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES /

are slow on the take and bite times are

landbased tournament again this

Phone Richard on 09 522 7257

brief. If your line isn’t in the water, you

year at Whatuwhiwhi in the far north.

or email richardl@espiremedia.com

won’t be catching fish though!

Tickets are on sale now, and the

ADDRESS / NZ Fisher,

best way to stay informed is to log

C/- Espire Media, PO Box 137162,

on to the Roctoberfish Facebook

Parnell, Auckland 1151, NZ

page – like us if you want to join us

WEBSITE / www.NZFisher.co.nz

The Ministry of Primary Industries have released the IPP (Initial Position Paper) on the Snapper 1 fishery – it can be found here. There’s been huge public interest in what the ministry is proposing and a fair chunk or vitriol in the comments, primarily directed at the ministries apparent unwillingness to make changes to the commercial fisher’s allowances as

and the info will be posted soon. As it’s a ‘length’ based comp, you can photograph and release your fish and still be in to win. You can keep you fish too, but it’s nice to have the choice!

Till next month, enjoy the mag, get cold

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!

hands, wet feet and catch some fish!

reported in the NZ Herald and other

Tight lines,

sources last month.

Derrick

www.nzfisher.co.nz 5

OURLegasea

Fishing for the Future

By Legasea

OVER 1 MILLION KIWIS enjoy

excess commercial exploitation. The

Recreational fishers are already

fishing every year. We love it, we get

people managing our fisheries are the

conserving fish, but in isolation of

out there and do it, and we want to

Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)

specific change in the commercial

protect this for our kids.

and Minister Nathan Guy.

sector, the goal of rebuilding the

These days however our Government

Recreational anglers need to be more

has been choosing economic gains

united than ever, following the Ministry’s

Success means there will be more and

over social and environmental

announcement that a review of catches

bigger fish in the sea. Our success

responsibility. Economy without

in the snapper 1 management area

relies on your support.

conscience we call it. We need to

(North Cape to East Cape) is essential

When you make a small monthly

rebalance the state of play here, and

to rebuild stock levels.

contribution of $5 or more (that’s

with your support we can.

The risk to recreational fishers is

one coffee or bag of bait) you will

that the Ministry proposes bag limit

be adding your voice to the shout

reductions and size-limit increases

that is being required to defend your

(or a combination of both), while

rights. If your business is interested in

failing to address the major issue of

a sponsorship partnership we have a

commercial fishing waste. Hundreds of

range of options available too.

thousands of undersized snapper are

Please visit www.legasea.co.nz/

killed and dumped every year through

contribute/index.php to make

destructive trawling and this simply

your contribution.

LegaSea – Fish for the People LegaSea provides an opportunity for you and I to unite in action, to stand up for and protect our rights to better fisheries management. We aim to leave a legacy of abundance for future generations of Kiwis.

needs to stop!

snapper 1 fishery will not be achieved.

Stand by for action, when the Ministry

A more abundant fishery and vastly

release their proposal for changes to

improved management practices by

snapper, in July, we will need you to

The time has come to save our

the Ministry for Primary Industries is at

act. Check in to our face book site

Snapper from a dismal future of

the heart of what we seek.

www.facebook.com/LegaSea

Snapper on the Line

6 www.nzfisher.co.nz

www.adventuresmart.org.nz

LANDBASEDfishing

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 And then it was gone...

www.nzfisher.co.nz 7

LANDBASEDfishing

Bucket List Time in the Far North

By Brenton Cumberpatch

May 2013 North Cape – in a Dinghy?

By Forsyth Thompson

LANDBASEDfishing

WE ALL HAVE A few things on our

years but didn’t think I’d realistically

fishing bucket lists; some are unlikely

ever get to do.

dreams, and some are ones we’re actively pursuing, but they’re all things that give us a buzz just talking about. The last big one I ticked off was a couple of years ago, catching a landbased GT up in Raro (check out Issue 16 here).

We’d planned to fish the club’s (NZLBG) annual comp the week prior, but an avalanche of work meant that I just couldn’t get away so we reluctantly agreed to park the trip and wait for the next weather window.

Currently I’m after a 30lb snapper

Fortunately it came just 5 days later,

and a 30kg king off the rocks, and

so the last Thursday in May saw

without wishing to ruin the ending; this

Andrew, Will and myself cruising up

wasn’t going to be the trip where it

to Waitiki landing with the trusty Baby

happened. Taking the little Baby Stabi

Stabi in tow, and 3x120l bins of bait,

to Cape Cape Maria Van Diemen has

berley and ice. And a forecast that

been something I’ve wanted to do for

was so good it surely couldn’t be true.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 9

LANDBASEDfishing

Getting off to an early start on Thursday, we were down at Paua just after dawn (ok, perhaps more than just after) and launched into the channel.

As we got to the bar we could see just how flat she was, even at low water there was absolutely nothing to worry about, and north we headed.

Last time Andrew and I had fished the North Cape area the weather turned so bad we thought we might have to overnight there.

This simply could not have been more different: no swell to speak of and 5-10 knots of gentle breeze, the Stabi running us to North Cape in no time and then round to a spot around the Surville Cliffs area that we’d looked at in the past but never fished.

We’d agreed not to keep any fish on Day one – as it turned out we could have filled the boat! Whilst we never got into any monsters, we got snapper to 5kg and plenty in the 2kg range as well as 4 legal kings.

The highlight of the day was Andrew’s efforts on stickbaits: the tinny bugger got not just his first, but 2 Kings at 12 and 14kg pretty much on second cast both times! The first one when the anti-reverse on his reel broke was particularly comic. Will landed his first LBG king on bait too and in a day of

10 www.nzfisher.co.nz

LANDBASEDfishing

minor firsts, we caught 6 granddaddy hapuka off the same spot which meant we had to break the “keep no fish

We all have a few things on our fishing bucket lists; some are unlikely dreams, and some are ones we’re actively pursuing, but they’re all things that give us a buzz just talking about.

today” rule. They’re so tasty you just can’t miss out!

Day two was the one I’d really been looking forward to for a year. Last time we fished on North Cape it was the best day’s LBG fishing I’ve seen, so when the first 2 baits of the day produced fish in the 5+kg range, we had thoughts of the same. Sadly though, it just never really turned it on for us.

We finished up with a number of good eating fish in the 3kg+ bracket which would be a good day’s work most places, but here, with memories of our last trip still fresh, it just didn’t quite hit the spot. I had my shot at what might well have been a new PB though – a snapper which, even with thumbs locked down on the spool, I couldn’t keep out of the reef.

After 10 mins of being unable to get it through but with it clearly still attached, we got in the boat and tried to get a different line angle on it. I could still feel it thumping away and pulling line but just couldn’t get it out, even circling the spot in the boat and eventually it put its teeth through the 60lb fluro – heartbreak.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 11

LANDBASEDfishing

What I did come to re-learn ...was that the adventure and the trip are just as important as the trophy fish. So whilst none of the 3 of us cracked a major PB this trip, there’s no question at all that it will go down in my mind as one of the ones I’ll always remember.

The journey home was an epic one: Great Exhibition Bay absolutely dead flat to the horizon in every direction and massive schools of trevs and maomao busting the surface around us. There was virtually no swell at all, and hardly a breath of wind: none of us have ever seen that area so flat and calm and we just couldn’t stop wondering if it would last.

Saturday morning and the weather hadn’t changed much, it was still perfect and the swell some of the guys

12 www.nzfisher.co.nz

LANDBASEDfishing

The journey home was an epic one: Great Exhibition Bay absolutely dead flat to the horizon in every direction and massive schools of Trevs and Maomao busting the surface around us. There was virtually no swell at all, and hardly a breath of wind: none of us have ever seen that area so flat and calm and we just couldn’t stop wondering if it would last.

at the campsite had seen on the west

After 15 minutes we were happy that

running around the whole area. Big

coast was supposed to be dying down.

this was our chance and carefully

currents, big fish right?!

So we headed up to Taputupotu for a

rounded the cape. There were plenty

beach launch and to have a look at the

of tourists up there and I’m sure they

on the East Cape trip in Issue 24

water around Reinga to see if we could

were pretty surprised to see a boat

was that the adventure and the trip

go around the cape and get to Cape

as small as ours run round Reinga and

are just as important as the trophy

Maria Van Diemen.

head down to Cape Maria Van Diemen.

fish. So whilst none of the 3 of us

The launch was easy, there was no

We had a good look around the

cracked a major PB this trip, there’s

swell at all to speak of and the wind

island and saw a couple of boats

no question at all that it will go

was still only a few knots as we got

hooked into solid-looking kings,

to Reinga and we sat off it having a

hundreds of kahawai everywhere over

good look at the swell and currents.

the sand and some insane currents

What I did come to re-learn (just like

down in my mind as one of the ones I’ll always remember.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 13

FishyHISTORY

Old School Fishing in the Bay of Plenty

By Sam Ellison

WE ALL KNOW OF tall fishy tales

there has been a lot of time to hone

bigger than yours” moment as the

about how good the fishing used to

fishing methods. By the time Captain

local iwi fell over laughing at Cook’s

be, but these stories often need to

Cook arrived Māori had got pretty

small net. Move forward a hundred

be taken with a grain of salt. Here is

good at catching fish, Cook himself

years or so and Māori still sometimes

one of New Zealand’s grandest and

commented that the technology that

used big nets to catch fish. This is

oldest fishing stories. With a number

Māori possessed was superior in many

the story of the great net used by

of witnesses and a chapter in a book

ways to that used in Europe. In fact

Te Pokiha at Maketu in the Bay of

devoted to it, this story also has a lot

when Cook got hungry and pulled

Plenty on New Year’s Day one886 as

out a net called a “King’s seine” to

documented by Captain Gilbert Mair.

Over the millennia since Maui and his

tow behind the Endeavour it was New

Apparently Te Pokiha wanted to go

brothers pulled up the North Island

Zealand’s first documented “mine is

out with a bang and thought the best

of credibility.

14 www.nzfisher.co.nz

FishyHISTORY

way to do this was to commission a

of the onlookers, the old man shouted

making it triple thickness.

net to be made that would outdo a

“Haukotai mai!” (“Surround it!”)”

At high tide the net was fastened to

famous and historic net that one of his

stout posts driven

rellies had made. So during the winter

into the sand and

of 1885 hundreds of Māori living in Maketu were engaged in weaving this big net. Te Pokiha sent for two tons of smooth oval stones to be gathered from Motiti Island.

These were woven into pouches of flax and bound to the lower rope of the net. Much of the rest of the net was made from tightly plaited cabbage tree fibre. On Boxing Day the net was taken in sections to a flat area and set up. This involved tapu and great ritual, and when the net was assembled it measured 95 chains long (almost 2 km). In fact the net was so big that there wasn’t a waka big enough to accommodate it. This was solved by placing two waka side by side about 12 feet apart and nailing planks between them onto which the huge net was piled.

On New Year’s Day the weather

“The canoe dashed in front, six men rapidly paying out the net.

Steering north, then west, finally they brought the canoe to shore, with a considerable portion of the net unexpended…”. About a thousand spectators had gathered and attempted to pull the net in, but unsurprisingly found it too heavy. “Te Whanarere having descended from his lofty look-out, now took charge, and, divesting himself of his clothing, rubbed his body with red ochre… mixed with fish oil, and plunged into the sea.

was good and a crew of thirty seven

when the tide had receded the catch was carried above the high tide line.

Thirty seven places were marked out on the beach, each receiving a thousand fish to be given to various sections of the tribe. This still left all the big sharks, sting ray and mackerel for those who cared to take them. The fish caught consisted of mostly kahawai, snapper, trevally, gurnard, moki, tarakihi, parore, kingfish and smaller sharks. Three large anchors were also caught in the net as

paddled the double waka over

part of the catch.

the bar. At this point a grand old

When night fell the

fisherman named Tohe te Whanarere

The water seemed a seething mass of

climbed a 96 foot telegraph wire

crowd was still taking the catch away.

denizens of the deep; quite a number

tower to direct the fishing operations.

Over the next few days the fish were

of large sharks, countless sting-ray

“The whole sea as far as the eye

cleaned, salted, smoked and dried. “For

and other fish were plainly visible. In

weeks afterwards a resident of Maketu

could reach was covered with reddish

answer to our warning he shouted

could be recognised by his ancient and

brown patches, each an acre or more

back, “Ko-Tangaroa-puka-nohi nui

fish-like smell.”

in extent, and denoting a solid shoal of

e kimi putanga ana” (“Neptune, the

fish from surface to near the bottom”.

many-eyed, is seeking an outlet”),

The crew had been warned to wait

meaning the fish were too concerned at

for the signal before encircling any

their novel position to molest anyone.”

old school, so patiently they waited

He ordered the crew to lift the nets

as shoal after shoal went by heading

ground rope to lessen the load. This

to the mouth of the Motu River. “At

was repeated twice, but still the top

Mair, G. 1923. Reminiscences and

last an insignificant little brown patch

rope broke under the strain. The spare

Māori stories. Brett Publishers,

approached, when much to the disgust

ends of the net were doubled back

Auckland. 120p.

Now I really dislike filleting fish in the dark after a long days fishing, but that is a clean-up effort to match the size of the catch. The real kicker for me though is that the net was only used the once!

www.nzfisher.co.nz 15

localFISHING

Find the weed and you will find the snapper. Summer fishing was all about the shallow regions of the estuaries and harbors. Known as fishing the “flats”, we target the shallow tidal mangrove environment for snapper and cruising kingfish. As the water temperature follows the air temperature and the oceanic currents bring the colder water, my focus shifts to the rocky margins of the northern coastline. Weed lines exist where the water is washed by tide and swell to provide nutrients and rocky terrain to give the kelp a foothold.

There are several types of kelp and weed, but any weedline creates Alan Radcliffe and Scott Macindoe - keeping reason for the snapper to hang the Chesters comp on target for 23 years

Fish Your Feet First

Find the weed and you will find the snapper Story and images by Matt von Sturmer

16 www.nzfisher.co.nz

out in confidence, ambushing prey and mooching around picking off crustaceans and shellfish. Snapper are versatile predators and while being very shy, are also inquisitive and aggressive, so if they don’t have reason to be suspicious they represent an exciting target for the saltwater fly fisher.

The weedline is best fly fished from the shore, we have done well drifting along the shallows in a quiet boat, but hiding among the rocks presents

localFISHING an opportunity of witnessing natural

At the other end of the purists

snapper behavior that will change

spectrum is what is being called pure

your ideas about this otherwise elusive

fly and this is probably the most

and cautious fish.

satisfying way to enjoy the fly-fishing

There are several ways to fish the weedline on fly , my least favorite way is to park a burley up and stand on the edge in full view of anything that becomes drunk enough to swim to your feet. This will work however, the bigger fish will often hang back and display a degree of caution, otherwise becoming so tuned in to the burley that they will not recognize a fly. The upside is that all the small fish activity is deserving of a quick visit by from any passing kingfish

approach. Pure fly is actually just “flyfishing”, and involves packing light with a stripping basket strapped to your hip and scrambling around the coast placing a few casts into likely looking snapper holes. It often takes time to find the fish and it requires

think the splash of a morsel of pilchard is recognised by dormant snapper as an announcement of bird activity above or a recent baitfish attack. Whatever it triggers if you remain hidden you can observe snapper behaviour that will have you shaking in your “saltwater capable hiking boots” The technique requires stealth ,and

the approach is most successful when

this means a combination of very slow

you keep mobile, if a fish is hooked

movements and using the rocks for

place another couple of cast’s in the

cover, a good spot is one that allows

area and then move on.

you to be above ,back and hidden but

The third method is featured in a

a fast presentation could result in a

video clip that is a typical day, without

hookup from a green-back hoodlum.

any spectacular fish and a large

Snapper is to not overfish the water.

up that anything floating gets a look. I

some coast with a range of features as

and if you want to do a lot of waiting

One common element to fly fishing for

is a moment where they are so fired

snapper can be seen in the opening segment that I managed to spook

still allowing a cast to be made. Often I will spend 10 minutes in a spot and invest just several morsels and then move on then to the next. Returning to the first spot up-to an hour later I present another tiny morsel and often

by presenting a dry fly, when it was

have a large snapper charge in ready to

obviously not in the mood. Of course

party, reading the snapper’s behaviour

later in the day after my battery died

to either present a fly or another morsel,

I had several smaller snapper taking

it is obvious when a fish is bold enough

from the surface.

to try your dry fly. However slightest

Concentration is required to suspend

Tiny morsels of pilchard broken up in

suspicion and your chance is lost.

the fly long enough to be sighted by

your fingers and thrown into the water

It takes discipline to walk away from

a snapper but not get caught up in the

at a rate of about one a pilchard an

the first sighted fish but that decision

ever present weed and rocks. Each cast

hour has become my go-to fly fishing

often results in better hook ups and

should allow for several strips of the fly

approach over the winter months. I am

even bigger fish later. To many morsels

line and pauses to let the fly drift down

not sure what to call this approach as it

and that fish will retire to the safety of

into strike zone. Take your time before

is definitely not “burley” providing just

deeper water as there is no reason to

the next cast as the snapper are not

enough stimulus to switch otherwise

be in the open when it’s just as easy to

fish to move through an area, after a

sleepy snapper into fired up predator

hang back, the trick is to keep them

few minutes it will be like fishing new

mode. Recently I have been playing

keen. If you think saltwater fly is a

water again. Don’t be surprised to get

with catching snapper on dry fly, which

summer activity you just need to find

hit close to the surface, and it is not

becomes a reality when you are hiding

the weedline, and stay out of sight

uncommon for snapper to take flies

behind a rock with snapper lit up trying

that are sitting “dry”.

to hunt down the next tiny event, there

Countless blind casts will not catch me more fish; what is common to the various ways we successfully fish the weedline is to do few casts and use slow retrieves with long pauses.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 17

Hong Kong Fish

sportFISHING

2013 Bounty Hunter And a PB to boot!

By Russell C Jones (Hong Kong)

GIDDAY, I’M RUSSELL. I’ve

This year the Bounty Hunter

oh no, it’s far too much fun to not

participated in the Bounty Hunter

Competition was an absolute blast!!

give it a crack.

Competition since it first began. I

Yep – the gale from the South and

have been living in Hong Kong, China

the Southwest. Coming from 30 to 33

for the last 9 years and always look

degrees daily in Hong Kong to minus

forward to some great New Zealand

2 degrees in New Zealand was a

fishing time. I thought I’d begin by

whole new experience in itself. Not to

showing you what we catch here in

mention the wind of about 60 knots!

Hong Kong.

Since the Bounty Hunter began, Shane Cameron and I have always headed up to the Coromandel about a week early to “suss things out”, a pre-fish, if you like. Every year without fail, we have done extremely well during this time - especially where kingies are concerned.

sing! t even fish we’re cha In Hong King, it’s no 18 www.nzfisher.co.nz

This year we had a bit of an added special. Tourists on dirt roads. Before I start, if you’re a Brit, maybe you shouldn’t read any further. There is NO loop road around the top of the Coromandel. Please know that left has ALWAYS been left.

They came around the corner while we were towing the boat and left us no room whatsoever. Shane took evasive action and manoeuvred us as far as he dared to our left. He edged forward to let the tourists inch by (who by the way had an extra 1 1/2 metres on their left).

For the last two years we’ve

The result was pretty bad. The boat

had a “placed” fish before the

trailer tyre dropped over the edge

comp has even started!! You’d

of the cliff. So much for giving

think we’d learn our lesson. But

tourists a break!

sportFISHING thought that with the severe weather warning, we’d be limited in what we could achieve and do. Boy, were we pleasantly wrong! Shane managed to lasso the antennae of a crayfish, and that was enough for him to get wet and cold by jumping overboard to land us a scrumptious dinner. Alas, it was that little bit too deep. He did Balance on the ‘mandel.

come back with a bag full of kina for Just a pannie

our evening meal though. Yummy! \

The race was on. Secure the trailer

We had a couple of good sized

and find a tractor to pull us out of

trevally swimming around as live bait

Salmon burly sometimes brings in

certain catastrophe. The locals were

all that day. We decided to drop them

some strange animals. The anchor rope

great! Three hours of contemplation

off by Lion Rock to see what they

was grabbed and the boat lurched

and holdups either way, because

would bring. Little did we know that

forward leaving us a bit confused and

of course we’d blocked the whole

within 5 minutes I’d have a good sized

quite concerned. When se saw what

bloody road, we had help coming in

kingie (ED: His personal best in fact –

it was - pod of orca whales – we took

from all areas of the peninsula.

great fish, Russell!).

the opportunity to snap a few pics and enjoy another side of what New

I acquired a tractor to rescue Shane’s

Zealand has to offer! They were just

boat and wagon from an absentee

having fun and miraculously, they left

resident whose neighbour assured

our live baits alone. They left us with a

me that if there was a time to use

glowing memory, one that will be with

the tractor without permission, it

us forever.

was surely now. Unfortunately, I did not realise it at the time, but most mechanical vehicles in the area do not necessarily have functioning brakes.

However, we were grateful that I could drive it. I made it to the top of the hill and the brakes came on. The smell of burning brakes and smoke left me with now two dilemmas. Eventually the brakes cooled down and we made it to the crash site.

Russell and his great – pre-comp kingi

Salmon Burley bought the Orca to the boat but wheres the fish!!!

Soon we had diggers, pulleys and chains, 4 wheel drives and a whole lot of muscle all heading our way. With the help of the trusty ‘no or little brake’ tractor, we managed to pull it out just before full night fell. What a close call!

We did notice that the said tourists did not say goodbye. However, we made a new lot of friends.

Joined by Johnno Hill, the Bounty Hunter began. There were small kingies all around. We thought Shane may have been onto a goodie, but alas the goodie turned out to be a tope. We could have painted the tail green and tried for a prize! The wind blew, so we headed for the cliffs.

Now to get on to the important part

We landed more than a few smallish

that you’ve been waiting for - the

snapper (and a few up to 7kg) and a

fishing. And it was amazing! We

few too many undesirables to boot .

Every year brings a new experience and new memories. Thanks to all that crossed our path. The locals of Kennedy Bay and Port Charles are to be thanked for their selfless efforts and compassion in our time of need.

Thanks to Milan and the crew for yet another fantastic competition. We look forward to being involved again next time and the next time.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 19

READERpics

Reader Pics Doug Wilson getting his thrills from a 52kg Mako while hunting Snapper off Glinks Gully

Seth Linnel’s beautiful Eagle ray landed on just 4kg line while surfcasting Awesome king for Andrew Grigg from Whangaroa on board Reel Life with Capt’n Phil

20 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Jeffery Zeelie & a winter Kahawai from the yak

READERpics

Minoru Ichikawa with a 6kg snapper (his 2nd) he caught at Mahia. Image; James Benge

Hossain and a hefty king caught on board Sanity with Captain Tobes

Justin Weck and a solid looking Northland Marlin

www.nzfisher.co.nz 21

READERpics

Hiro Yoshino with his first Snapper of 3kg caught at Mahia

Image: James Benge

Ethan Benge with his NZ Record 14.4kg Spotted Smooth Hound From Mahia Beach

Seth Linnel holding a 6kg snapper that fell to a slab of ‘old Trout!’

22 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Sabbir Safia and his PB King (50lb) at the Aldy pins with Tobes on Sanity

READERpics

This month’s winner of the ReelWear tee is Sabbir Safia, he wins a Reel Adventures, ReelWear Tee. Keep sending in your pics for the great OKUMA and Reel Wear prizes up for grabs every month.

Haaka Carter with a stonking kingfish (sent in by Leanne Carter)

www.nzfisher.co.nz 23

COMPETITION

Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher!

JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to our Facebook page and you’re in the draw to win day trip aboard Diversity care of Damo and the team at TackleIt. Not only that but every month we’ll give away an Okuma T-shirt between now and December 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!

24 www.nzfisher.co.nz

VIDEO

Fishing Video of the Month

With the Orton Events finished for 2013 and such a good write-up in this issue from our new Kayak writer, Shane Kelly I thought it would be cool to share this video shot by the ‘Northland Prowlers’ as they travelled NZ over the last 12 months.

And here’s Shane Kelly’s own video essay from the Bridge to Cape comp – the final Orton Events – Thanks Shane

www.nzfisher.co.nz 25

kayakFISHING

Elite Kayak Fishing Orton Events 2013 – Bridge to Cape

By Shane Kelly

Big Drive, Big Fish, Great Fun

starting, Bam and I ventured out in a

of snorers (myself included!). After

26 hours. Time spent fishing? I wish!

largish post-storm swell to try find our

a quick breakfast and me waking

Sadlyope 26 hours is the time we

spot-x and give softbait and Inchiku

the other sleeping beauties with the

spent driving over a three day period

fishing a go. Its something we don’t

smoke alarm it was time to hit the

to compete in the final round of

do much of in Wellington.

water. The swell was considerably

the Orton Events NZ kayak fishing

Our in-experience in what is a very

series “The Bridge to Cape” Add the

successful style of fishing for a lot of

time we did spend fishing you could

anglers soon became apparent and

pretty much say we spent the entire

we decided to hotfoot it to Top Catch

weekend sitting down!

Whangarei for copious amounts of

The Bridge to Cape event has by far

bait and berley but not before we did

the largest boundary in the series,

we had a bit of fun in a surf session.

stretching a whopping 420k’s covering

It was very cold and I’m far from an

both east and west coasts. Although

expert but it is something I highly

with registration, weigh in and prize

recommend everyone does as it’s a

giving based in Whangarei, most

great way to learn how not to lose all

contestants stayed within an hour or two. Bam Blaikie (fellow hurricane

smaller than the day before but it was very dark out until we saw Bryce Stevenson’s kayak (snow white) lighting up the skyline. The first hour or so was relatively quiet with baby snapper stealing bait after bait; that was until my bait runner went off.

As my line was buzzing away so was Bam’s! Yah that’s what we came here

your gear should a surf entry or exit be required.

supporter and team mate) and I were lucky to be staying with a great bunch of kayak anglers just 45 mins from town.

On arrival and prior to the comp

26 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Day One Waking at 4am wasn’t too difficult considering I was stuck in a room full

Snow White

kayakFISHING

And the winner is?

As I suspected Stephen Tapp did beat me for the individual title amassing a series best 35 points for the round and along with his team mate, Lyndon Cox, they blitzed the teams section. for! Unfortunately in this instance

going to cut it especially after seeing

Well done guys. I did manage second

the woo hoos were short lived when

Stephen Tapp’s phenomenal effort of

place and of that I’m very happy!

a bronze whaler broke the surface

pretty much all the target species on

my groans were then dwarfed by

day one…so my focus had to change.

Bams holler of holly crap! I think his was bigger…I was being smoked

I needed another big fish that wasn’t

Results for 2012/2013 series

Snapper, the morning started pretty

First individual: Stephen Tapp

much the same as day one but

Second Individual: Shane Kelly

without the smoke alarm and the

Third Individual: Lyndon Cox

winterless north had put on a blinder

First Team: Viking Raiders (Stephen

- no wind, clear sky and calm water.

Tapp and Lyndon Cox)

Unfortunately it was not to be my

Second Team: Ocean Kayak (Peter

day. I’d hooked up to plenty of fish

and Aileen Michael)

wasn’t long before landed a nice big

but for neither love or money could

Third Team: Team Shimano (David

snapper. Some very impressive fish

I land one.

Brown and Robert Wright)

were laid on the scales on day one

Time after time I was being taken

with mine coming in at a new personal

to ground in the shallow water and

best of 19 1/2lbs.

busted off. At one point a shark had

throughout the entire morning mostly by sharks but some I was sure were target species - too powerful for my gear in 8 metres of water. Bam decided to head out to deeper and I elected to stay and persevere which proved to be the right course as it

even decided to take my jitterbug

See you in the next series?

Are you keen on joining the series?

The 2014 series will kick off in the East Cape in Feb 2014 register via the

Day Two

from just 2 meters of water the shock

I’d gone into this final round with a

braking my rod in half and although

slim 2 point lead in the series and

a little frustrated, I was having great

I’ll be there chasing both the

although I was happy with my first

fun! Never have I had so many big fish

individual and teams titles along with

days attempt one big snapper wasn’t

hooked up in shallow water.

that elusive 20 pound Snapper!

Orton Events website.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 27

HOOKED UP!

CO

HOOKEDUP!

U

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!!!

LD

IT

B

E

YO

U

?

Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue #26!

Matthew Brinsdon is the winner 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 16 August 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

NEXTmonth regionalREVIEWS

In next months issue: - - -

Depth sounder or fish finder?

NZFisher compete in the World OffShore Game fishing Champs Champagne fishing!

Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher? It’s free!

Simply visit www.nzfisher.co.nz to get a copy of NZ Fisher delivered straight to your inbox every month!

www.nzfisher.co.nz 29