ISSUE 36
May 2014
Powering up the Bottom Dwellers
Rompin Sailfish Video Inside www.nzfisher.co.nz 1
Live and breathe boating?
Introducing the new Honda BF80 and BF100.
“
“
Since I’ve changed to a Honda outboard I’ve experienced considerable fuel savings across the rev range. I can’t believe how quiet the engine is and the performance is outstanding. I have to say “I love my Honda.”
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Call for a quote, you will be amazed at Honda’s value! Freephone 0800 478 765 or visit www.hondamarine.co.nz.
Contents 6.. Getting Smashed Three Kings 14.. Islands by fly 18.. Epic kings recaptured 20.. Hondas range grows again
ABOUT / Short and sharp, NZ Fisher is a free e-magazine delivering thought provoking and enlightening articles, and industry news and information to forwardthinking fisher people.
EDITOR / Derrick Paull GROUP EDITOR / Nick Harley ART DIRECTOR / Jodi Olsson CONTENT ENQUIRIES / Phone Derrick on 021 629 327 or email derrickp@NZ Fisher.co.nz ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES /
22.. L egasea Update May 2014
Phone Richard on 09 522 7257 or email richardl@espiremedia.com ADDRESS / NZ Fisher, C/- Espire Media, PO Box 137162,
24.. Epic Bluenose 26.. Reader Pics 28.. Video of the Month
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!
29.. Competitons 31.. Last Word
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Editorial A cyclone that had just kissed Queensland’s coast was destined to envelope the upper north in her grey, shadowy skirts. High winds, rain and enormous swells were headed our way. Not quite what the doctor ordered. Despite this forecast, the trip went ahead. We left port Sunday and the weather was due to hit Wednesday morning. We hoped the cyclone would peter out or change course, which were both likelihoods on various forecasting websites. Sadly, the weather did hit as predicted, so it was a long, slow, messy trip back to base with an unexpected layover to take shelter from winds topping out at 66 knots. So what do we take from this?
NOT MANY PLACES get an angler’s heart racing like the Three Kings Islands. At 100 kilometres north of North cape they’re not easily reached by recreational fishers, and they’re a place legends are built on. Sometime contributor Forsyth Thompson decided he’d see his 40th year in with a trip to the Kings with a few mates and I was lucky enough to be on the invite list. I’ve fished there before and the memories still make me smile: nothing feels as good as beating long-time personal bests, especially when you’re trying new things (like mechanical jigging back then). It’s hard not to set off with high expectations, and this trip had been built up by the reports from Enchanter, Cova Rose and Pursuit’s constant Facebook updates. They shouted about the sheer size and numbers of massive (40kg+++) kingfish and bass coming off both the King Bank and Middlesex, and even around the Princes Group themselves. I don’t usually allow myself the pleasure of getting really, genuinely excited about trips, but by departure day I was fizzing at the bungs. This was gonna be a sensational trip! And then the weather changed.
Well, despite the short fishing periods there were still plenty of PB’s aboard. There was much good humour and friendship built among the crew, and best of all there was beer. I must say, in lieu of fishing, beer is a happy consolation. In these periods of beer-fuelled boredom and angst, myths and legends are born. Where photos now provide proof of the fish we did catch, it’s the sly smiles amongst friends that reveal the truth behind cryptic nicknames like ‘Road Cone’ and ‘El Cupachubro’: the hooded ones. There are days where even the most resolute and patient will not land the fish they long for, and on these days, we must remember it is so often not actually fish that lead us to go fishing with our friends, but friends who captivate us and lead us to the fish. Happy Birthday FT! And thank you guys for a great, albeit windy Three Kings trip to remember. Also, congratulations Andrew Evans for a real fish of a lifetime. That is one hell of a bass! Tight lines NZFishers,
Derrick www.nzfisher.co.nz 5
LONGRANGECHARTER
Getting Smashed at the
Three Kings Words by Andrew Evans
I had read the stories, seen the pictures, and it was happening: I was going to the Three Kings. Our friend Forsyth had organised the trip for his 40th, the crew was a mix of good lads, who were all as excited as I was. The good ship Cova Rose of Whakatane was to be our steed, with Captain Steve at the helm.
hit list. The forecast unfortunately for us
We were off to tiger country: monster kings, ‘puka/bass and marlin all on the
and unusually slow fishing. You really can’t
6 www.nzfisher.co.nz
wasn’t to play ball. There was at least 20 knots every day and a looming ex-tropical cyclone coming near the end of the trip. Cove Rose is a hell of a ship, but we would need our sea legs. Here are the major highlights from the trip, and it goes to show that even when hit with hard weather miss in this fisherman’s paradise.
The Raw
Al & King
GANG WARS
Day one and we trolled from Mangonui up the coast to the cape, and we were to stop on the way to the kings via a reef somewhere north of New Zealand. A couple of drifts to warm up were the call. Well, this was to blow out into one of the most vicious jigging sessions any one of us had been a part of. It left us battered and bruised. The top of New Zealand has a whole lot of current where two oceans meet. It was here that eight jiggers were to clash with a patched-up far north gang. The patches on their back were green and their tails yellow. They were an angry bunch who wouldn’t back down. We arrived at 2pm to their hood, and deployed our weapons 40 to 60 metres down as we raced through their neighbourhood with the current. First to attack were a bunch of the young members looking to prove themselves. But we didn’t bring a knife: it was a gun fight we were waiting for. After a barrage of 10 to 15kg fish were brought to the boat, we realised there were a lot of fish down there. Every drift and every drop, usually three to five lifts off the bottom, we were hit by the kings. An hour and a half later we were starting to feel the strain. Somewhere in the melee, I had tangled up with one of the leaders of the gang and got beaten, likely guilty of putting too much pressure on the big boy. I lost, with the line parting. I was hurting and I took it out by catching more. Sam had a nice ‘puka take his Jig, and there were a bunch of bloods in their red outfits wanting to tussle with the 400 and 500 gram jigs – snapper, up to 10 pounds. After two hours, Skipper Steve was driving us. He knew not to leave fish on the bite, and he had seen what can come from this
Daz Bass fighting
reef - a 51kg kingfish on a trip last year. So we were in for it: another drift, another set of drops, another set of kingfish, though now they were getting bigger. Shoot Josh is on a goody, closer to 20kg; Forsyth is struggling, 23kg, Steve is on one, wait, who is driving? Oh no, he is hooking one up for Sam to wind in. It was furious: at one stage all 8 of us were fighting, deckhand and skipper screaming around the boat to direct traffic. We went till dark, four hours of catching - not fishing. The tally ended up with what mush have been 100 kings, in the last 90 minutes up until pitch black, everyone had nudged the 20kg mark, with the biggest up around 25kg. A back-breaking fight with the Green Bandits of the north. All returned to fight another day.
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LONGRANGECHARTER
The Xzoga getting a hiding on Daz’s second Bass
It was on to the Kings, in the darkness: arriving to see the intimidating islands of sheer cliffs and deep water. What would the rest of the trip bring?
TURN UP THE BASS
Day two on the Middlesex bank was tough, uncharacteristically quiet. The highlights were Derrick’s fantastic ??kg kingfish on stick-bait on the way to the bank, his great start at the bank on the kings, and Craig’s lone big bass - around 30kg. Don’t get me wrong, there were fish caught, except by Al who was now cabin-bound with a bad back. Told you day one was tough, but we had king terakihi, some good kings in the mid-teens, bass; just not the monster kingis we were expecting. I have no doubt they were there because the trips before had had luck and the sounder was packed, but the bite just didn’t happen for us. It meant however that we were all primed for day three. The King bank was the destination, and filling the ice-hold the goal. Bass and ‘puka the order of the day. Just before arrival, towing lures, I was on strike, and excited about the prospects. I hear
8 www.nzfisher.co.nz
‘Marlin’ look starboard and see an angry stripy thrashing -feeding. I started shaking, and it wasn’t the coffee-fuelled hangover. This could be my chance: one of the rods bends - we are on! Two minutes later I have an Albacore at the boat - a cruel joke, and my quest for a marlin will continue. As for the bass, most of the day was unusually slow. One here, one there, another spot the same. Slowly but surely we were getting them, 10 to 30kg, with Forsyth taking the top honours early. It was getting late and Skipper Steve was feeling the pressure: like clockwork the late afternoon bite came on. The baits were dropped into 140 tov160 metres, and there were some bigger hook-ups. Is it the fish of a lifetime or the bottom? With these monsters of the deep and most of us using jigging gear it was hard to tell. We were losing gear to both fish and the bottom. It became clear that we needed to use heavier gear to ensure we got them off the bottom before they found their hole - the first run of the bass being incredibly tough to stop. Out came the 50w and Derrick and El Capucho got in a couple of crackers. Forsyth had another bad bustoff after fighting hard to drag the fish out,
Daz’s success
it found the reef as our drift shallowed us up. Josh got serious and out came his 80w Okuma Makaira, set with braid. This rig was set up for Swordfish day-dropping. Sam hooked up, harnessed in to add advantage to the angler; he cranked it off the bottom and to the boat. This fish was a barrel and the biggest yet at over 40kg. Wait, what is that? Another rig in its mouth? The drift before, Forsyth had bust-off. His rig was firmly in the jaw of Josh’s fish, which mush have found its hole, got rid of one and come back out to feed! Sam jumped on the big gear next drift and got a cracker bass of 35kg. I took the next. I was feeling excited and a little undergunned on the jigging gear. I was confident of success with the Makaira in hand. I immediately hooked up – only a 10kg bass and it was a one-way fight, damn it!
Andrew taking a rest after lifting his enormous bass
It was getting dark now and the boys were feeling it after three days and a long day today lifting lead. “One more drop.” this from the skipper. Craig got smoked after a very good effort on his jig gear. “One more.” says Skip. Half the crew are retiring happily into a few brews now.
Cova Rose ’s bait ma gnet
“Josh can I borrow the 80w again?” Into the darkness I went, to the back corner in the pitch-black and rain. One more drop and down she goes. The reel is slower to find the bottom than I am to find the lads to my left. Is it there yet? Yip. Oh sh*t! The 37kg rod buckled over hard, almost lifting me off my feet. I leant back and wound. Derrick, seeing the commotion at the back, came to grab the harness and started yelling - “Go Bro, get it up!” Adrenaline kicks in and I haul - the fish pulling line at Strike drag, I go to sunset, it
Derrick & ‘a good eater’ Bass
Derric k & ‘a
good e ater’ B ass
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LONGRANGECHARTER
Weathered Tiagra
slows – but only slightly. I pump and wind, pump and wind. It pulls back, lifting me. ‘Don’t stop, get it up, don’t stop,’ as I find my rhythm. The weight and strength of this fish is incredible, it wanted the bottom and I had to stop it. Finally, I know I am in an okay spot away from the bottom. The rain is falling, I am in the zone and not slowing, this is mine. Legs are burning and I am there, the line angle comes up. There is a submarine surfacing at the back of the boat. As it came in and Skipper and deckie attempt to haul it on board, the scale is realised. This is the fish of a lifetime. It hits the deck, big and round it is like a small cow lying there, and dwarfs the 30kg specimen already on the deck. I take a moment to thank it, before I hear: “One more drift”. Steve has discovered night-time bass fishing, and he wants that hold full. I am done though. I thank the fish for the scrap, and toast the day with a coldy. We lift it on the scales. The boy’s faces say it all as it clocks up 62kgs and is the fish of the trip. Back to the Kings we go. The storm comes in the next morning so we are unable to fish and head for shelter. 12 hours later and we are nearing Karikari in 50 knot easterlies and big seas. A lot of the boys average after a long rolly trip home. The next day we were scheduled to go to Mangonui. It is still blowing hard - 40 knots plus. We poke our head out and are hit with four-to-five metre waves, some breaking. Here comes a big one I think. The sky disappears as a wave looms, the windscreen goes green as it breaks over us. Hmm, maybe not today either. Skipper Steve handles it like a pro. He turns the boat and makes the right call. We simply can’t get there today. The next day we are done
10 www.nzfisher.co.nz
The Proof
and back to base. Tired, we re-cap. Sure, we didn’t all get the trophies due to it being a tricky bite, but that is why they call it fishing, not catching - the mantra of the trip fitted well. However, the Gang fight and the bass fishing was still the best jigging session and bottom bouncing I have done. The place is magical, and I love the idea of what is up there, every drop filled with anticipation and nerves. Will this be the one? I can’t wait for the next trip! ●
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SALTWATERFLYFISHING
From the Editor: We must apologise to both our readers and contributors, Matthew von Sturmer and Rohan Dobbin, for the accidental re-production of Rohan’s article in place of Matt’s last month. As editor it is my responsibility to sign off on the issue and I am very sorry the error occurred. From the team at NZFisher and Espire media, we would like to apologise to both Rohan and Matt and to assure you we are putting measures in place to ensure a repeat does not occur. Please see below Matt’s original article as promised last month. Derrick
Islands by Fly
By Matthew ‘Matto’ von Sturmer Neal is not my brother, but we happen to look alike, and also share that same obsession of catching fish on fly. The confusion was most evident when I sent a friend some photos of Neal “cowboy from Nevada “. The photo’s looked so much like me fighting, holding and releasing fish that my friend inquired, so did the other guy catch any. Well yes he did! In fact I was playing guide, the role that is part coach, bully, confidant and whipping boy.
12 www.nzfisher.co.nz
instead cement the split seconds of bent rods, screaming drags and glistening fishing permanently into our memory banks. I knew that Neal was like me, a high functioning “Fish Brain� that required constant inputs so the existing memories could be constantly reshuffled with fly patterns, stories, plans and ideas. My job was to provide all of the above and I had to do it without my boat, with very changeable weather, and a period of hard fishing. Neal was a real cowboy, raised in small town Nevada and doing all the cowboy things, his job is now advising others on environment management. Long gone are his days of shaving hippies and saloon fighting, but the thoughtful slow talk of one who is comfortable outdoors and in their own skin made my job of finding fish that much easier. Living 1000 miles from the ocean and only having small stream fishing opportunities, he has managed to cultivate a saltwater addiction. NZ was to be his next frontier for salt fly adversaries and I was determined to be his Tonto.
While a boat is being built that will signal the true start of my salt fly guiding service, all I could suggest was we split our opportunities over three days with a chance we would connect with some memory worthy salt fly fishing at least once. Fishing memories are good like that, our minds tend to erase the hours of tedium, boredom and hardship and
Considering the options for fishing in 20 knots of s/e wind, the first venue for an international fly fisher was to be the shell banks of Pt Chevalier, under the shadow of the sky tower of downtown Auckland, I figured that his stream fishing background and every salt fly fisher loved to fish the shallow flats. I would try to give him a taste of our recently discovered inner city flats fishing. We waded out on the flooding tide, with a six weight set up in hand, and a twelve weight slung in readiness if a kingfish was to appear. Fishing the shallows had been hard for
www.nzfisher.co.nz 13
SALTWATERFLYFISHING the last week and this was a high risk approach, we came with just fly rods, flies, sneakers and a water bottle, all that I could do was suggest casting in certain areas adjusting to the current flow and back eddies being formed by the almost high tide. The flies were similar to what he knew from fishing for bone fish in the tropics and the retrieve was a familiar strip, strip‌ pause, that put life into the shrimpy and crabby flies that looked a bit like everything and nothing like anything.
but to maintain the faith.
After several casts I would change the fly, primarily to keep our faith in what we were doing and perhaps find what the fish were going to bite. In this sort of situation the most vital thing is to believe there is a fish to be caught, Neal had no choice but to believe me, I had no option
stream of hard hitting pan sized snapper.
14 www.nzfisher.co.nz
The more unlikely a situation and the harder one works, the sweeter the tug as a bite is felt on the fly line in your hand, Neal had had his first show of interest in the fly bouncing along imitating something edible to the small snapper that move into the food rich areas of the upper harbour. Over the next two hours, casting was improved, retrieves refined and constant feedback was supplied by a We had cracked that particular code for that time, tide and place, and as the tide receded we walked back over near dry terrain, satisfied with a 30cm snapper and a healthy Parore that had provided a great fight on the light tackle.
Day two produced a complete weather change and fuelled on the success of the day before I suggested we stalk another harbour flat in anticipation of a passing kingfish. This is a game best suited to those willing to do nothing for hours in anticipation for moments of madness as ten kilo green back hoodlums do raids on unsuspecting baitfish among the mangroves and mudflats in knee deep water. We never saw a kingfish but Neal got to witness snapper hitting baby flounder on the surface and joined me in a brotherhood of frustration as to cracking that particular code. Day three was predicted to produce extreme winds, undeterred by the forecast I had arranged to be dropped off us to be dropped off on a remote rock somewhere in the Hauraki Gulf, Steve from Sea shuttle is a new operator and will go
to “any Island, anytime”. I had met him previously to establish a special rate for the new Salt fly club ‘Strip Strike’ and we were joined by Andrew Perring on what was also the first trip to test the service. We spied a likely spot with just enough shelter from the winds, thinking we could spread out and leave Andrew to do his own thing. The day was greatly enhanced as he joined us in the tiny patch of water that remained fishable in the conditions. I had briefed Neal as to our use of tiny pieces of pilchard to raise fish into view while hiding, not waving rods, and standing on the water’s edge or over fishing the water. It is not the way most Kiwi anglers have learnt to fish, and I have learnt from Both Craig Worthington and Grant Glazer who was putting the same ideas together many years ago, but it’s Craig’s writings that we know so well. However it is explained the fact remains it is a form of “impure” fly fishing. Today was no day for purists or elitism, I wanted to get a fly rod bent for this guy from Nevada. The hiding and minimal pieces that were flicked into the water provided Andrew with a contrast to his own experience of fishing the back of a
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SALTWATERFLYFISHING
burley trial, and it only took 10 minutes for the first snapper to be swimming around just under the surface three metres in front of us to make believers of them both! Waiting another few minutes, the first snapper was joined by a couple of mates and I felt it was time to put the fly in the water, suggesting the same ‘METHOD’ six weight we had used on the flats a small lightly weighted fly was cast to the side of the now searching snapper. Surprisingly Neal’s fly sunk out of view and then the line went tight. What was even more surprising was line continued to scorch off the reel until 100 metres away and the fish was almost able to round the next point. Andrew and I realised Neal’s first cast had produced a kingfish and with some great coaching (one in each ear) and some excellent rod work, the little six weight managed to turn the fish. Several more runs later a beautiful 70cm kingfish was slipped back into the water. A cigar was lit and we retreated to our hiding position to patiently conjure the next fish into view. That cigar of Neal’s never got smoked as we had kahawai, kingfish and a constant parade of snapper performing for us. Neal was handed various rods to successfully catch a couple of horse kahawai on surface flies, snapper and another kingfish. The second kingfish was the smaller of two that had crashed the piper moments previously, the larger one would have been a good fish of over
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a metre, however the smaller one gave him a good tussle despite fishing with a twelve weight ONE sage rod. Another attempt was made on the cigar, but when a magnificent kahawai appeared I handed Neal the six weight with a gurgler fly and suggested a long cast and fast retrieve. As the gurgler paused the kahawai hit from behind at full speed with mouth extended, producing a foam explosion. This fish then performed several tail walking jumps before coming hard in against the rocks pursued by a kingfish not much bigger than itself. Realising the predator had become the prey, the six weight was swapped for the another fly rod and Neal was instructed to slap the fly between the two fish, several attempts later the kingie turned and inhaled the piper fly. With our pickup due any moment we had a fantastic finale as the guide was now fighting the Kahawai, Neal was onto his third Kingfish and Andrew had just hooked the biggest snapper of the day. Saddled up and ready to leave, our conversation on the boat trip home and the final journey back to our accommodation was all about how the next trip down under may go. Having experienced the dark side of pilcharding I am keen to show what’s possible fishing pure fly and some of the other locations further away from the shadow of Auckland sky tower.●
INTERNATIONALFISHING
Sailfish in Rompin
Kiwi dream realised
Words by Derrick Paull Videos by Leanne Dixon & Toby ‘Tobes’ Kemp
Click on the links to watch each video on You Tube: First day, recce: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Ix-cqjmXO8k Day one: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=K36Q3Mdp8Ew Day two: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ijieAxrs854 WE WERE VERY proud to bring the story of Leanne Dixon & Toby Kemp winning the Rompin Royal Pahang International Billfish Tournament, and thanks to their great fishing skills, dedication to the camera while on the water, and now some fancy editing, we are able to bring you videos of each of the three days they spent on the water there.
I’m out of my skin with excitement at the thought of fishing for these stunning, fast and showy fish later this year, when I’ll get to join Leanne and Tobes in Rompin to fish the Royal Pahang International Billfish champs. Fishing for a world renowned sport fish with great mates like Tobes & Leanne – priceless! ●
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SPORTFISHING
Epic
Kings
Re-captured Tagged Kings What a Journey!
OVER THE YEARS we’ve had a number of interesting re-captures of kingfish that we had tagged heading to various parts of NZ. This time round it’s a couple of tagged kingfish which came to us from elsewhere! When both Epic and Gamechaser re-caught tagged fish in the same week this February
18 www.nzfisher.co.nz
we were eager to see where these had come from. This nice healthy specimen was re-caught by Tyler Williams at Slipper Island, and originally tagged by Captain Rick Pollock on Pursuit back in March 2013 at the Ranfurly Banks. Quite a journey! ●
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NEWPRODUCTS
Honda’s
Range Grows Again HONDA MARINE RECENTLY held a launch for their new 80 and 100hp fourstroke outboards, combining the event with a celebration of 50 years serving the boating world with their Four-stroke outboard motors.
The new 80 & 100hp – On the water
with the new Honda 80 and 100hp for us to have a spin on the Waitemata.
The event was open to both New Zealand and Australian Honda dealers and media, attracting a crowd of 200 to the floating pavilion on Auckland’s picturesque, redeveloped waterfront.
All three hulls were between 16 and 18 feet: a size I’d suggest would account for well over 50% of new boat sales these days. It’s hard to compare hulls (and not the purpose of this article) but it was startling the difference in stability and ride between these seemingly similar hulls. The one constant was the ‘out of the hole’ performance of the new Hondas.
I’ve had the pleasure of testing a few boats and motors in recent years, but Honda raised the bar on this occasion. Three different brands of boat were rigged
Four-stroke outboards have long been lumbered with the (sometimes fair) reputation for struggling to deliver real power at low revs, or ‘out of the hole’ when
20 www.nzfisher.co.nz
trying to get their hull up on the plane. One of Honda’s best innovations has been the BLAST technology aimed specifically at this area of performance. There’s a fair bit of information on how they developed BLAST, but the real proof is in the delivery of power when you need it. The Stabicraft 1850 was fitted with a BF100 – the V-Tec enabled model. We had expected very good top-end performance, which was delivered above 5500rpm, but it was the get- up-and-go the 100 provided that really surprised. Stabicraft recommend a 115hp for the 1850, but the 100 performed superbly with four on-board in a half-metre chop. The open-top Surtees 5.5 workmate was blisteringly fast with the BF80 (non-VTec) on the back. Again, I cannot speak highly enough of the down-low grunt of the new 80hp. I’m not ashamed to admit, I was genuinely surprised by the torque throughout the rev range. Sadly there were no speedos fitted, so we couldn’t grasp the top speed, but that boat was lightening quick and white knuckles were present on the passenger’s hands! Along with the release of the BF80 & BF100, Honda was also releasing the new ‘Drive by wire’ technology developed for the BF250 (and smaller models in the near future). Cable driven throttle has been the norm for over 50 years but with advances in electronic technology (and reliability) Honda have developed a digital solution.
SHAPING THE PAST GB30 (1964)
I’m not ashamed to admit, I was genuinely surprised by the torque throughout the rev range The sleek, functional new DBW unit offers full trim, throttle and idle control as well as built-in ‘Trolling’ mode. This set-up was demonstrated on board the Fyran 760 Hard-top demonstrator, fitted with a BF250. One of the comments made by a BF250 owner I spoke with is the ‘clunk’ when engaging drive & reverse. Hondas are renowned for their economy and reliability, but it seems the gear change has not been their forte. The new Drive by Wire technology all but removes this friction, giving a quick, smooth gear entry and no audible response to the gear engagement – a definite plus. This coupled with smooth, lightweight application of power delivers a much improved, and rewarding driving experience. Smaller models will be unlikely to gain DBW, but on anything over 150hp, I can see it becoming a natural inclusion. Honda has led the four stroke market for 50 years, and has made a strong move in introducing the new 80 & 100hp models.●
SHAPING THE FUTURE BF250 (2014)
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FISHERIESMANAGEMENT
LegaSea Update May 2014 By Trish Rea, LegaSea team www.legasea.co.nz
RECENT MINISTERIAL DECISIONS for crayfish
catch for a day’s effort.
and southern scallops have proven how
LegaSea is trying to address the management imbalance, firstly by analysing what is happening, and then by promoting and enlisting support for a policy to achieve abundance.
unbalanced our fisheries management regime has become in favour of commercial interests. Setting unrealistic commercial catch limits just invites vigorous fishing effort for diminishing fish stocks. It also deprives us, as recreational fishers, the opportunity to enjoy a reasonable 22 www.nzfisher.co.nz
More fish in the water has got to be good for us all!
Managing by Depletion
Fisheries law directs the Minister, Nathan Guy, to both set sustainable total catch limits and set aside an amount of fish to “allow for” our recreational interests. Our interests lie in having abundant fisheries available so we can fish and provide for our social, economic and cultural wellbeing. But the allowance is a fraud if the fishery is so depleted that we cannot catch those fish. Currently, our fisheries are being managed by depletion, and this is no accident. As the fishery depletes, our individual catch declines and less people go fishing. However, commercial catches are maintained because they can change gear or technology, as required, to make a buck. For example, in CRA 2, between Waipu and the eastern Bay of Plenty, commercial potting has more than doubled in the past decade to catch the same amount of crayfish. Few recreational fishers have the means to fish twice as hard.
Our catch rate has crashed due to a dearth of legal-sized crayfish or because commercial pots swamp areas where we want to dive. In his March decision Nathan Guy ignored our submissions for more abundance. Instead, he reduced the commercial catch limit by 36 tonnes. This just maintains our fishery at its current low level for at least the next five years. It certainly will not reduce the swarms of pots around popular inshore reefs. Something has to change. LegaSea is promoting policy that seeks to have inshore fisheries rebuilt to a target level of 40% of its virgin, unfished stock size. That’s B40. B40 will give us more and bigger fish and an overall healthier marine ecosystem. If B40 is good enough for commercialonly deep-water fisheries it ought to be good enough for us and our precious inshore fisheries. ●
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SPORTFISHING
Epic
Bluenose By Carl Muir
EPIC ADVENTURES HAVE done the odd mission lately in search of some deep water dwellers. A few missions wide out past Red Mercury have bagged some lucky anglers some very nice hapuka to 35kg, and our recent mission to Mayor in search of swords meant we got to haul in some very tasty Bluenose. Sam, Cam and Roy all
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managing to get on to their first Bluenose - and sizeable ones at that! Fishing these grounds and deep dropping usually required a nice glassy day, and devoting the day to deep dropping, but if that rings your bells then let us know and we can put you on a call-up list for winter time, when we will
be eyeing up the weather windows to go do some more of this. Most Aucklanders think you need to head out to the Garden Patch (North of Doubtless Bay) or far off the East Cape to land these very hard fighting deep water species, but as Carl and the Epic team prove they can be landed on a day trip from Auckland – if you know where to go. For just $1300 you and three mates could be heading out wide and getting into some of these beauties. �
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READERPICS
Kelsey Boyd with her PB, a 48cm snapper caught in the Tamaki Strait
Brad Kilgour with a 13kg Bluenose taken on a jig in 280m of water
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.jpg
READERPICS
Winner!
Doug Wilson with a 9kg Snapper just before release, caught off Tapeka Point, Bay of Islands earlier in the year on a softbait Nathan Baily’s first kingy (also a new PB I guess not bad for age 9) 13.5kg caught on the Waitemata in April.
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FISHINGVIDEO’S
of the Video
Month
Skippies from the kayak? Simple when you see how
king nt Montague of Vi ra G e se to re he Watch ive mple, very effect si ry ve s hi ow sh Kayaks se) (Skippy’s in this ca na tu ng hi tc ca r method fo the whole this video you see In k. ya ka e th om fr ring the a lure for tuna du g lin ol tr of ce en sequ is a classic. The lure ng hi fis k ya ka ki Tarana from Big rant and Nathan G at th re lu e ad to custom m d a paddle tail lure de ad nt ra G e. ad angry fish m . soft-bait jig ade using a 1/4 oz m n ha at N at th g a ri very successful. head. This proved 28 www.nzfisher.co.nz
And for the WOW file, check out this vid from a Western Australian fisher capturing ‘Australian Salmon’ (kahawai by another name).
COMPETITIONS
Competitions! Share an Awesome Photo and Be in to Win!
Share an awesome photo this month and be in to WIN a $50 GoFish Voucher! Share an awesome photo of you with a fish to our Facebook page, or email it to leanner@espiremedia.com by 10 June and you’ll be in to win a $50 voucher for www.gofish.co.nz. This months winner is Doug Wilson for his 9kg Snapper. Doug has won a $50 voucher to shop online at Go Fish.
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COMPETITIONS
WIN with
Honda Marine THANKS TO HONDA MARINE we’re bringing you our freshest competition yet. We’re giving away a Honda Marine IceyTeck 70 litre Chilly bin and two Hutchwilco ‘Honda Marine’ inflatable Lifejackets! This is a prize that will keep your fish fresh and your whanau safe.
in the draw to win! The next winner will be announced in our June issue so make sure you, your family and friends all subscribe this month! Subscribe at www.nzfisher.co.nz •
All you need to do is be a subscriber to NZ Fisher and you will be automatically TERMS AND CONDITIONS Winner/s must email leanner@espiremedia.com within 14 days of publication to claim their prize. Competitions are only open to NZ residents residing within NZ. One entry per person for each competition. Prize pack product/s may vary from pictures. Prize/s not exchangeable or redeemable for cash. Winner/s will be selected at random and no discussion will be entered into after the draw. Winner/s will be announced in NZ Fisher e-publication. If winner/s fail to make contact within the claim period, Espire Media may redraw the prize. Secondary winner/s will be announced on the NZ Fisher Facebook page. Prizes must be collected by the winner unless courier delivery is specifically offered by the sponsor as part of the competition. Your contact details will not be given to any third party, except for the purposes of delivering a prize.
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In the next issue: • Last of the summer snapper - Flats by fly • Cabo Roosters, kiwi style • Getting the most from Kingfish in the smoker 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!
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