Issue 179 The Fishing Paper & Hunting News August 2020 by The Fishing Paper

THE

FISHING & HUNTING FREE

PAPER

NEWS

August 2020 Issue 179

Roger's secret bait Story pg 8

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THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - AUGUST 2020

Shovel—ready or not! Kerri-Anne Edge Hill

The term ‘shovel-ready’ has been getting a lot of airtime recently. For many, the words conjure up notions of pre-planned infrastructure projects, critical to building a more resilient future for our country, and ready to crack into. In Fiordland, ‘shovel ready’ means significant repairs and safety improvements to the Milford Road, particularly the Homer Tunnel, as well as major repair work to tracks and huts destroyed in the February floods. What might seem a little left-field but no less important, is a ‘shovel ready’ proposal to seriously tackle removing the highly invasive seaweed Undaria from remote Te Puaitaha / Breaksea Sound in Fiordland. And, it is of no coincidence that, if funded, this project would provide employment and training opportunities for

freedivers and utilise a now struggling Fiordland charter vessel fleet as a platform for accommodation in the area.

Undaria smothering a rock-wall community in Breaksea Sound. Photo Credit Louise Bennett-Jones.

Asian kelp or Undaria pinnatifida is a pest seaweed: fast-growing, rapidly out-competing our native seaweeds, smothering sensitive species like black coral, and ultimately decimating the rich and diverse marine ecosystems that Fiordland is famous for. Fish populations, therefore, are part of the collateral damage when Undaria takes a foot-hold. It has been 10 years since Undaria was found in Sunday Cove in Te Puaitaha / Breaksea Sound. A joint-agency response between the Fiordland Marine Guardians, Department of Conservation, Biosecurity NZ and led by Environment Southland, aimed initially to eradicate the pest.

Divers checking for Undaria in Fiordland. Photo credit MPI..

“That was looking promising but what we didn’t realise was that while everyone was focused on getting rid of this incursion in Sunday Cove, there was another one going gangbusters further up Breaksea Sound” explains Dr Rebecca McLeod, FMG Chair.

enough to undertake the work.

Since discovering a second and large infestation in 2017, the focus has been on stopping the spread of Undaria via people, vessels, and gear. In 2019, the University of Otago also conducted a successful pilot programme aimed at removing Undaria biomass from the area and recommended this form part of the future management plan. However, current funding is not nearly

In June, Environment Southland submitted a ‘shovel-ready’ proposal for the programme to central Government. While it was not selected as one of the initial projects, the Guardians are advocating, quite vociferously, to have it funded through the Jobs for Nature programme, a $1.3 billion environmental jobs package announced in Budget 2020. “If it doesn’t get funded, we walk away, and Undaria will spread throughout the fiords. It’s such a special underwater environment; on a world scale, and absolutely second to none. We don’t believe New Zealanders are prepared to accept losing the unique

marine environment in Fiordland so we’re calling on various community sectors—recreational and commercial fishers, divers, environmentalists, and tourist operators—to get behind this proposal and give it the push (and shove) it deserves!”

How can you help? Contact us at info@fmg.org.nz and share your concern about Undaria in Fiordland and your support for this programme. Write to the Minister of Conservation: e.sage@ministers.govt.nz Share this story on social media.

Let’s protect Fiordland Every visitor has a part to play in protecting this special part of Aotearoa NZ. As a group, we’re responsible for managing and caring for Fiordland’s precious marine environment. The Fiordland Management Area allows for both sustainable use and protection. Before you leave home, make sure you know and understand the rules around biosecurity, fishing, anchoring and marine protection. Connect with us at FMG.org.nz

Photo courtesy of Grant Thomas, for Descend Dive Milford Sound

Issue 179 3

Dark snapper secrets

Scott sheds light of night fishing for snapper

Scott Campbell

The snapper season, even with the ‘no fishing Covid break’ in the Kapiti Coast, has been a cracker.

A few weeks ago I fished alongside Felix Wenzel, who is now the new owner of ‘Capital Fishing,’ formerly ‘Steve’s Fishing,’ the best fishing shop in Wellington and where most of my pocket money goes! We set up just before dark on an outgoing tide. I fish with two rods, a Tica Shizen and a Shimano Ultegra with the Shimano Ultegra 14000 long cast reels on both rods. I do prefer mono and had one rod set up with 10kg mono and the other with 6kg high viz

mono with a tapered leader. At the business end I was using a pulley rig with 5oz breakaway sinkers. Felix went ‘old school’ with his overhead reels and shorter rods.

A variety of fresh bait is the key to snapper fishing and we had all bases covered. Fresh squid, crabs, pillies and bonito, to fresh kahawai. The first couple of fish in were not the species we were after – red cod, lemon fish and a small eagle ray but the next few hours the bite was on! Snapper after snapper were reeled in and they were not babies! Average size was about 4550cm.

Felix Wenzel knows a few secrets about Capital Fishing

Then Felix’s rod bent over and we knew a good fish was on. Just 20 minutes later a very nice 9kg snapper. After a few good pics and a weigh, we released the beast to breed another day. We landed 15 snapper that night and released four, great fishing! Hopefully next season will also be a cracker and fingers crossed we won’t miss a month of fishing!

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THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - AUGUST 2020

Big bucks bucket list At 4.30am the alarm on my phone blurted into life and I quickly silenced it. I don’t think I have slept at all, but who could when you are heading into Milford Sound, Fiordland. I had picked a small weather window of

perfect swell and wind to allow a one-day trip into Milford.

From base it was a four hour drive into Milford and 20 minute steam to the dive spot. Luckily our boatman Jared was up to the drive

and we cracked on. This was Jared’s first time into Milford and the gasps and wows were like a continuous chorus as we wound our way through the fjords.

A good size buck

We had timed a stunning day with little wind and great visibility in the water. Unfortunately for us, every female cray was with berry, meaning we were unable to take them. The plus side is we found some great sized bucks that had Tim and Aaron watering at the mouth when they brought them on board. It was a long haul having to only find male crayfish, but the lads dug deep and we soon had our quota. Milford is abundant with crayfish but is unusually quiet for spearfishing, apart from butterfish and the odd moki, so it’s easy to not get distracted when all you can see is feelers from the surface! It is always a privilege to dive in this remote part of New Zealand and to see such healthy stocks of crayfish. Milford is an exposed part of the coastline and you can only dive the outside in a small swell with little to no wind. With the lads looking exhausted, we all headed back to the boat after having a run in with one of the large resident

Good healthy stocks of crayfish

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seven gillers, sitting at around 8ft, who buzzed the tower and cemented our ideas to hop out.

home, with many a new memory of a pristine part of New Zealand etched in our minds.

Jared had been mauled by mosquitoes on the boat all day so, with the sun setting at 3.00pm in the sound and the temperatures already lowering to five degrees, we began the long journey

Milford is a must on anyone’s bucket list to visit let alone to dive. There are plenty of crays, usually clear visibility and limited other boats or people. It truly is one of the last untouched

places in New Zealand. Rowan runs Wettie Southland, stocking a wide variety of spearfishing gear in Invercargill and Southland, and servicing the Deep South. Follow him on facebook or instagram at Wettie Southland.

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Issue 179 5

Tandem reads a kilo of good weed! Daryl Crimp

While these two books ostensibly cover two different subjects in two vastly different regions, they are connected and make excellent companion reads.

Weed James Borrowdale Penguin | RRP $35 Pot, Mary Jane, dope, skunk, grass, hash, green, hooch, herb, ganja, reefer. New Zealand loves weed. In fact, it is staggering our per head of capita uptake and the relatively short journey to the summit of this mountain of weed. With the upcoming election featuring a referendum on the legalisation of cannabis, the release of this book is perfectly timed, as it is a useful read to draw this drug into perspective. Regardless of your view on the subject, becoming better informed helps us make objective

Kilo Toby Muse Penguin | RRP $40 This is a fascinating and compelling read; a story cleverly constructed around the framework of the lifecycle of one kilo of cocaine. Toby Muse, veteran reporter of the Colombian drug war, takes the reader on a journey along the entire supply chain of cocaine,

decisions when it involves the freedoms and rights of others, and Weed challenges many stereotypic views.

it helped precipitate our growth from a naive rustic culture to a more complex and complicated society.

The history of weed in New Zealand and how it developed from a subculture to mainstream use in an explosive manner speaks, in part, to our cultural identity and desire to push our own boundaries. Arguably,

The evolution of the drug itself is equally fascinating and eye-opening. While a bit slow in places, the book is well constructed, research, and makes for informative and entertaining reading.

Fishing & adventure Henderson’s style

Tamzin Henderson

I think by now Lana and I can best be described as cheeky when it comes to fishing opportunities, so when we heard that Mig and Scott from Fishing & Adventure were hitting the canals, we invited ourselves along. It was a great opportunity to see the guys again after our trip to the Bay of Islands, and a canal trip had been on the cards for us for a while.

There ended up being 13 of us between the F&A crew, Lance Gill and Jacob Willets

(the Okuma Pro-Staffer’s), Bryce and Nick from Okuma, Dan De Jong (The Fish Freak), and three from Henderson’s.

The fishing was definitely harder than the last few days had been because strong winds ruled out a number of locations and, once we finally found an area to fish, it was slow going. I didn’t have much luck over the two days, hooking two fish and dropping them both, one right at

the net. The others had a bit more luck, Dan being super tinny landing a nice 22lb fish as soon as he arrived up from Queenstown. Cleardrift Eggs in chartreuse seemed to be the most effective when we were there, and the new Okuma Kotare, and CD Hydragraph really showed their class. Keep an eye out for the Fishing and Adventure canal episode in the coming months.

Dan started off with this 22lb fish

Definitely recommended.

from farmer to narcissistic kingpins. As thrilling and revealing as the story is, Muse reveals that cocaine is not the one-dimensional evil it’s generally reported as. In fact, it is a multi-layered enigma that will challenge your perception of the drug and pose the haunting question: “What is the real solution to this deadly situation?” Highly recommended.

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THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - AUGUST 2020

Peter James Stevens was a man not frightened to take a shotgun to a rodeo and, in the era of the irascible Piggy Muldoon, had the Government bailed up and waving the white flag on more than one occasion. So how could such a colourful character and stalwart of the commercial fishing industry slip away with scarcely a ripple? Daryl Sykes looks back on a man who rocked the foundations of commercial fishing…

SHAKIN’ STEVENS Nobody but his mother ever referred to him as Peter James Stevens; to most people it was Peter, or Pete—or that bastard Stevens. It really depended on who you talked to at the time. Peter Stevens polarized people’s views of him. To some he was a progressive thinker and doer, and to others he was an opinionated pain in the arse, but no-one ever doubted his passion and respect for the fishing industry and for the fisheries on which it depends. On 16 July, 80-year-old Peter died peacefully in Lower Hutt where he had been living out his retirement years. His death went unremarked in the media, in part because he left strict instructions that there be no service for him.

No mucking around for Peter—ashes to ashes, dust to dust, and that be the end of it. But Peter deserves a few remarks because, in his time as a commercial fisherman, he was an activist for massive improvements in the way in which fisheries were being (in his view) “mismanaged”. Through the 1970’s and early 1980’s, Peter had plenty of targets for his complaints about the system but, unlike many of his peers who had nothing but complaints, Peter had innovative, pragmatic, and revolutionary notions as to how fisheries could be more sustainably managed. In the 1960’s, working as a roofing contractor, Peter suffered a serious fall whilst working on the Soames/ Matiu Island Quarantine

Centre in Wellington. The medical profession said he could be facing life in a wheelchair, but Peter decided to struggle back to full mobility and started a demanding swimming regime. Swimming was the catalyst for him to start diving, which very soon became a business opportunity for him, diving for lobster and pāua around Turakirae Head on the western approach to Palliser Bay. Success led to the the purchase of a fishing boat, which he operated from Wellington through to Castlepoint. He could see the potential of the rock lobster industry if fishing was properly managed and coordinated, so commenced a one-man campaign for ‘Rational Fisheries Management’. His was a lone voice falling

on deaf ears so he turned to trawling, thinking that there may have been a longer term future for him there. However, it soon became evident that mismanagement was eroding all sectors of the industry. Peter decided to get politically active. In his diary Peter wrote: “… the Muldoon government was running a policy of maximizing the fisheries resource regardless of cost. The fishing industry was exempt from all sales tax and subsidies were rife. The scientific fraternity was grossly under-funded, under-resourced, and largely ignored. To make matters worse, foreign fishing vessels were decimating our fisheries with impunity”.

Peter Stevens from his own collection

A battle of two fronts For Peter, the battle had two fronts: the fight against foreign fishing, and the fight to get some sanity into our own fisheries management. He described his fight against foreign fishing as being an enjoyable one: “Four or five Russian trawlers moved into Cook Strait and fished just outside of us on the Cape Campbell tarakihi grounds. The Russians were a few miles outside the 12 nautical mile limit, but they were on our grounds. The Iceland cod wars were heating up at the time and through some astute propaganda we convinced the powers that be that we had rope cutting gear and were going to use it on the Russians. The potential for an international incident had the Government scared shitless and for several weeks the Royal New Zealand Navy patrolled up and down between our Wellington-based trawlers and the Russians, and we had an occasional Orion overflight to boot.”

1980's Blaketown Fleet – photo credit Phillip Lee Even the West Coast fleet was ready to sail to the April Fools Day protest in Wellington”.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Brian Talboys, appealed for calm whilst negotiations with the Russian government took place. In the end, the Russians went, and the Wellington fleet stayed. That action was the catalyst for the progressive removal of all foreign flagged fishing vessels from New Zealand waters. On the second front Peter was inspired to create another type of havoc to draw attention to the failures in managing New Zealand’s inshore fisheries. In 1978, at considerable risk to their future employment prospects, a small group of fisheries scientists convened a Demersal Fisheries

Conference. The science confirmed Peter’s fears and concerns—too many fishermen chasing too few fish—with the Ministry of the day failing to put the brakes on further expansion of the inshore fishing fleet whilst still indulging foreign flagged vessels.

‘Brawlermen’ leave ‘Pollies’ punch drunk Peter took the Wellington Trawlermen’s Association into another confrontation with Government. The centrepiece of the fishing industry protest was intended to be a fleet of 400 fishing boats and support vessels fishing non-stop day and night in Wellington Harbour on 1

April, 1979. The day was purposely selected to highlight the foolishness of the system. Peter drew up a 40-page operational plan, secured support from fishermen at other ports around New Zealand, and negotiated with the Harbour Board and maritime Police. The fishing fleet would effectively blockade the harbour and all shipping and ferry movements would be stopped for the duration. The Government response was initially derisory, so to dispel any doubts as to the sincerity of the fishermen, Peter went to the Minister of Fisheries, Duncan McIntyre, and gave him a copy of the operational plan. McIntyre was told that Government

should agree to rewrite the Fisheries Act with input from the industry and scientists or the blockade would proceed. The Government response was to threaten arrest and confiscation, but Peter and his supporters were undaunted and continued a media campaign to protest the shortcomings of the fisheries management system. In the last week of March 1979, McIntyre called Peter and fellow industry representatives from across New Zealand to the Legislative Chamber at Parliament and the process of drafting a new Fisheries Act commenced. The harbour blockade was averted and the 1983 Act became the foundation for the most significant reform in the history of New Zealand fishing and the implementation of the Quota Management System in October 1986. Peter Stevens showed the inshore fishing industry that organisation, advocacy supported by good science, and credible but persistent political lobbying can be used to bring about changes for the good. As noted, his passing was generally unremarked, but he was a remarkable man who made a massive contribution to the sustainable management of New Zealand fisheries. Those who knew him will remember him well. Another fine fisherman has crossed the bar.

Issue 179 7

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THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - AUGUST 2020

Perfect storms ruffles lone wolf Blair Whiting

Gone was the feeling of cabin fever, I was back on the water once again and freedom beckoned. A light Autumn breeze pushed me out into the ocean where the untouched sandflats were waiting for my baits. Lockdown was a first for all of us and fishing was closed for almost two months. The

fish must have been very confused, which provided me a unique view of what the fishery looks like when the fish are free to go about their business. Close to Napier usually isn’t one of my favoured spots, but I just wanted to get out there. I followed along the contour lines and made

a plan to stop at around 10 metres to search for fish. My plan was a good one because, before I had even hit the mark, there were large marks showing throughout the water column. When fishing over sand I like to run two 4/0 ledger rigs, making use of circle

Gurnard make excellent eating

hooks. My favourite bait is skipjack tuna since it shoots out a big oil slick behind the morsel, dragging many fish in from hundreds of metres away. I set up some tuna berley, which creates an even bigger commotion in the water. With this, I have a perfect storm for attracting a whole bunch of species. First up was a pretty soft take but it quickly bent my rod right into the water and began tearing line away. A couple of big head-shakes confirmed my suspicions; just minutes in, I had hooked a decent snapper. After what felt like an eternity, I netted a perfect 4kg pinkie. The sounder was showing plenty this size, but as quickly as they had shot into the trail, they were gone when the next bait touched down. Thankfully the tuna wafted off in all directions, reaching the noses of some plump gurnard. Soon enough, I had my hooks filled with carrots and landed three within quick succession. Two more came sniffing, rewarding me with a rare double hook-up of two 1kg plus, gurnard. The species continued to latch onto my trail, with

Front cover story

Nudging nature to nurture Roger Tobin

I have been fishing the Kenepuru Sound for over fifty years and have caught some huge snapper over the years. These days I choose to release the bigs; I don’t need a trophy and prefer the smaller ones to eat—say around 6lb. I also think the big fish are not as plentiful as they once were and like to do my bit by releasing the good breeders. I have no objection to those wanting to take big snapper—it’s a personal perspective. Catch and release is well established in our trout fishery and has now established a following with salmon anglers who realise the species need a sporting chance to spawn. Not a lot is heard of catch and release of snapper but perhaps it is something worth considering. I know Cawthron do a good job releasing juvenile snapper but I think it helps to give nature a nudge to take its course. It comes down to how you release big snapper whether it is successful of not. In the Kenepuru is is shallow, averaging 15m, so

This 20lb plus snapper was released successfully it is possible to successfully release big fish if they are handled right. Getting them on the boat for prolonged photo sessions can stress the fish and they’ll just flop on the water, struggling to go down. Over time, I have modified my approach to give the fish a better chance. I traditionally stray line using live pilchards but since they became hard to catch, I switched to frozen ones. Lately, the ones from Auckland have been too damn big so I have switched again, to anchovies. I run a stray line rig on 60lb Sufix Zippy trace with a 6/0 main hook and a 4/0 keeper. I have changed from mono line to braid because it gives me a better chance of lip-hooking the fish; with mono you have to let the

big boys swallow the bait before you strike, so release is impossible.

kahawai and trevally storming onto my rigs next. It was like a seafood platter—one species after the other. All of these fish were of great size, especially a trevally of 2kg, which made a very welcome addition to my bin. With the tide slowing and my tuna scent dwindling, the bites also slowed. At last a lone wolf made its way into my spread of hooks and carefully selected a

Box full of Black Magic If there was one good thing that came out of lock down, it was that my tackle bags and boxes got a real going over. They’ve never look so good. Apart from restocking them, I have them well organised by either the product type (e.g. hooks, sinkers) or by a category. (e.g. jigging, squid fishing)

Once a big fish is hooked, I play it smoothly until it is on the surface, and then I release it while it is lying on the surface. They general give a tail slap and they are gone. The one picture was brought on board briefly because I had trouble getting the hook free, but it was quickly released and swam off effortlessly.

In doing this, I got to try the new Black Magic boxes. For general tackle storage, my favourites are the new waterproof boxes. They have a one-piece seal that runs right around the box. With solid hinges and some gutsy clips, the lid gets pulled down on the seal all the way round, ensuring full water tightness—great for items that are more likely to suffer from corrosion, such as hooks. This box comes in two sizes and they both have removable partitions so you can fit everything from hooks or swivels to jigs and lures in them.

We have also picked up a few kings on the stray lines, so you never know what you are going to get.

The other box I quite like is the double-sided lure box. Black Magic used to do this some year’s back and they

I use home made barley and fish anywhere; there are no real Spot X’s in the Kenepuru! Tide is important, as is change of light—too much current running and you have to fish either end of the tide.

A smorgasboard onboard

snack. I had no warning when my line tore off at real speed. This is no kahawai or snapper. After losing 100 metres of line, I got the speedster turned back towards the kayak. We took turns gaining and losing before a nice kingfish popped up next to the kayak. The small hoodlum rounded out my welcome back to the ocean. The best part—not even a 1km paddle from town!

Tim Clark

have reintroduced it for the coming season. The main feature: you get seven lure compartments on both sides and each one has drainage holes that allow moisture to escape. I’m using mine for squid jigs, but they are also ideal for other items, like hardbody lures or your longer life soft bait lures.

fishing adventure. It’s only the bigger waterproof box that doesn’t fit the bags. But with 21 adjustable compartments, it’s a great option for filling with tackle and tossing into your carry bag.

The other thing I like about the new boxes is that if you own a Black Magic tackle bag or pack, they just slide right in. This allows you to customise your tackle selection to suit your next

everything in its right place and easy to find. Tackle boxes make that job a whole lot easier. No one box does everything, but if you need a few more, I’d check out the new Black Magic boxes.

Getting your tackle in order as we get ready for spring is almost a bit therapeutic—

Issue 179 9

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10 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - AUGUST 2020

CRIMPTOON

STICK YOUR OAR IN HAVE YOUR SAY… email all your letters to editor@thefishingpaper.co.nz

A bit of argy-bargy Dear Ed, We recently noted comments in your publication that we felt didn’t accurately represent the current situation with NZSFC presence and activities in the South Island. We’d appreciate it if you would publish the attached detail on NZ Sport Fishing Council South Island activities and representation in the South Island since 2011, with the intent of correcting assertions directed at NZSFC in your July article. We’d also like to point out that the concerns raised in your article had not been brought to our attention prior to the article being published. As an organisation that does our utmost to provide value for all of our affiliated clubs, we welcome this kind of feedback and encourage all our members to raise it directly with us in the first instance, so we can act on it quickly. and appropriately. Nga Mihi Steven Stanford CEO New Zealand Sport Fishing Council Inc (Abridged) “Since 2011 to 2019 NZSFC has engaged and participated in 47 South Island related fishing submissions. As well as continued representation, where appropriate, NZSFC has become involved in RMA actions concerning the South Island. The money spent on South Island issues almost supersedes the revenue received from affiliation fees. South Island Clubs are not

under represented because of size within the NZSFC network. It is true that Tautuku Fishing Club is the largest NZSFC South Island Club. However, it is a small Club compared with other non-affiliated NZSFC South Island Clubs. It is also one of the smallest NZSFC Clubs. The NZSFC voting structure has been designed to ensure smaller clubs have a voice within the network. Specific to Tautuku the Club gets 1 vote per 74 members compared to the average vote of 1 to 120 members across NZSFC. In comparison to the largest NZSFC Club Tautuku membership has very favourable representation with the larger Club having 1 vote to 1,082 members. NZSFC goes out of its way to make sure South Island Clubs and issues are addressed as they arise. The weighing of sharks during the yearly national tournament and length records for Blue Cod are examples where NZSFC have specifically moved to accommodate, include, and promote the South Island”.

Ed replies: “I don’t see that I am required to run my newspaper’s articles by you before publication, as I offer an automatic right of reply to any opinions expressed. I welcome open and honest debate about issues concerning readers. I’m sure your organisation doesn’t mean to imply any sort of censorship.”

Tautuku replies: Dear Steven, In response to your 13 July letter regarding the article, Fishing Club President’s support for Fish Mainland, in the July issue: Your letter asserts the article states the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council has lacked a focus on South Island fishing issues—it does not make such an assertion. It makes a comparative statement about the Council’s involvement in issues of importance for North Island versus South Island Council-affiliated clubs, and refers to the Tautuku Fishing Club Inc. as encouraging the Council to increase its involvement in issues that matter to South Island fishers. In support of the Council’s involvement in South Island issues, you refer to 47 submissions the Council made from 2011 to 2019. However, two of these submissions are solely North Island related, and nine are nationally focused. I would be more interested in knowing the number of

Council submissions during this timeframe that compare the attention directed at North Island versus South Island issues. Second, your letter asserts the article states that our Club and the rest of the South Island Council-affiliated clubs are underrepresented due to the Council’s voting structure. The article simply refers to the fact that a large-size North Island affiliated club with six votes can overrule all South Island affiliated clubs. For some time I have expressed concern about the South Island affiliated clubs being underrepresented on the Council’s board. This has been due to the former Council President, who has one vote, also being the South Island Regional Delegate, who also has one vote. While the same person has held both board positions, the South Island affiliated clubs have been underrepresented by one vote. Contrary to your letter,

the article in question is not intended to be a public criticism of the Council. It is intended to highlight the potential benefits of Fish Mainland designed by South Islanders to focus on South Island issues, such as the Southeast Marine Protected Areas proposal. With Fish Mainland support, our Club took the lead in formulating a submission on this proposal. We were agreeable to the Council submitting it. In so doing, the submission highlights an important point of difference. The South Island approach that Fish Mainland embodies is to work respectfully and collaboratively with the other fishing sectors and interests. This approach must uphold the rights and interests of others so that mutual trust can be built that then allows everyone to work together in developing workable solutions. The adversarial approach the Council may take presents challenges for the approach that we have found works well on the

South Island. For example, the Marine Guardians of Kaikoura and Fiordland embody this approach, which contrasts with the Council’s 2011 submission on the Kaikoura Guardians proposal and more recently the Rescue Fish initiative that rejects the QMS and, therefore, quota holders’ rights. Nonetheless, our Club remains of the view that South Island fishers will be better off when Fish Mainland, the Council, and others work together, as is stated in the article. Yours sincerely, Brett Bensemann President, Tautuku Fishing Club Inc. (Abridged)

what do

YOU

think? EMAIL US

Kea learn Japanese as second language Dear Editor, The recent news that a New Zealand scientist has found a world first scientific breakthrough into a stoat’s makeup and function abilities, has been described as an answer to reducing the collateral damage caused to our native species, as a result of the indiscriminate aerial poison drops New Zealand has sustained for nigh on 70 years. Why have these Government controlled ‘Blitzkrieg’

operations been allowed to continue for so long under the name of conservation? The meaning of the word conservation is; ‘protection of natural resources and the environment’. We know these government aerial 1080 operations during that time frame, under the guise of conservation, have killed both native and domestic birds and animals, from the tiniest birds to animals the size of a horse.

And it is not only aerial 1080 poisoning that kills our native treasures. A July 2019 press release reported that rat baits containing brodifacoum were eaten by cockroaches, which were then eaten by four of Nelson Natureland’s resident tuatara. Those tuatara consequently died as a result of secondary poisoning. Such by-kill is a common result of any ‘Blitzkrieg’ poison operation but usually goes unreported by DoC.

The Government poison industry penned the name ‘Blitzkrieg’ themselves, apparently without thinking of the many victims of the London ‘blitz’. The earliest official reference I have found describing the use of ‘Blitzkrieg’ 1080 operations goes back to 1991. An aerial 1080 operation in the Matukituki earlier this year resulted in a 50% kill of monitored kea. A dead kea is worth nothing. It can’t breed or be of use in

any other way, but, if it is alive and lives in a Tokyo Cafe, as recently reported, it can be put up for sale with a $25,000 price tag on its head! The results of both of these scenarios is proof ‘Conservation’ is dead in NZ but, if a kea could migrate to Japan it would have a much better life and be more highly valued. Ron Eddy—Nelson (Abridged)

Issue 179 11

A true definition of hunting

Max Barclay

There is nothing wrong with rifles when it comes to hunting. They are accurate, can do any range you want within reason and generally make a fast, clean kill. I have used a rifle for my hunting to this day and will continue. I have taken all the species I have targeted. Like fishing, when you get hooked you want to get into all types of fishing: sea fishing and freshwater. And there are so many different methods to catch a fish. Obviously, there are the purists who stick to one method, but I want to learn and experience different methods of hunting, which led me to researching bow hunting. I talked to bow hunters and watched a range of YouTube videos, becoming more and more interested. After a lot of research and being restricted by a limited budget, I bought myself a compound bow, 2017 PSE Stiger X. I have always been fascinated in the way compound bows work and the skill it takes to become accurate, so, I started to practice. With the help of YouTube and more practice, I reduced my groupings on

an animal and cannot track it down, but when I get a clean kill it is 10 times more rewarding than using a rifle. It’s funny how I have more fun stalking a goat with my bow compared to hunting

I think every hunter should give bowhunting a chance because, in my eyes, it shows you the true definition of what hunting is about.

REFINED ROBOTIC MOWING SINCE 1995 the target. Improvement led to me taking the occasional goat. I discovered that shooting at a target and then taking a shot at an animal are very different disciplines, especially when I am only comfortable at shooting 20-40m. More practice was needed to refine my technique.

to bow hunting? I enjoy the challenge of stalking animals; I try to get within 20m for a perfect kill shot but I can go out to 40m and still be confident of a good kill shot. It is fair to say my stalking skills have improved a lot over the last 7 months. It is so cool being up close with animals, outsmarting them and just watching how they move around. I hear hunters brag about how they shot an animal at 500m, but that’s not hunting, that’s pulling a trigger. While I do appreciate there is some skill for long shots, you are not required to stalk or outsmart

I have had my bow for about 7 months and have a good apple-sized grouping at 40m now, which I am very happy with. I have become addicted to bowhunting and my bow gets more use than my rifle. So why am I addicted

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12 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - AUGUST 2020

OPTICALLY

SPEAKING Around a month ago I was contacted by my close schoolmate, Macgregor. He explained that his family’s plant nursery had been infested with wild rabbits that had been causing a lot of damage to their plants and their business. As I am one of the only hunters he’s friends with and I just live around the corner from the nursery, I was asked if I would be able to thin the numbers down with my .22. I happily agreed and the next day after school, I was around to see what I could do. Macgregor showed me the boundary line and the hot spots for where the cheeky pests had been coming out. Despite seeing the mass damage, they had caused I only saw one rabbit that

Pest’s pulses raised by Pulsar Daniel Crimp

afternoon, which I was unable to get a safe shot at. I immediately knew what was happening; because they have people working throughout the day, the rabbits had only been coming out at night. With this new knowledge, I returned the next night armed with a spotlight and my Pulsar Helion XP38 thermal imager. Success! I ended the night having seen 40 and shot 10—the thermal imager helped immensely, as its precision was useful in telling the difference between rabbits, hedgehogs, and cats, even at long distances. With it, I was able to spot the pests and get into a safe shooting position without any of them knowing I was there, and make a

quick and humane kill. (Note: It is important when hunting at night that you know where you’re shooting and that there is always a safe backdrop, therefore I always check my hunting area in the daytime before I go shooting so I am familiar with the area). In the following weeks I have increased my total to 38 rabbits killed. I take as much meat as I can off them, as they are surprisingly tasty, slow cooked. The thermal imager has helped me immensely with pest control: it’s easy to use, high quality, and high performance. I would happily recommend it to anyone, whether you’re using it for pest control, meat hunting, or just for fun. You won’t regret getting one.

Spotlight on first hunt

Luke Adams 16

One night after work, I went out with my workmate, spotlighting. As I had never experienced shooting or killing anything, this was the first time for me trying to shoot my first animal with a gun. To me, this was a pretty cool experience. As we spotted a few deer running off before dusk, there was a good chance of having luck. As hours went on driving around on the quad, we ran into two deer. It was not my rifle nor my workmate’s but loaned to us, so we didn’t know the accuracy and characteristics of the gun, a .270. I had two shots and felt confident I had got one but had no luck in finding it. Moving on, we kept on driving around—it was now midnight. It was our luck we ran into another two deer on the ridge. After getting a good rest on the bike, I had two shots at the shoulder but missed. Then my workmate thought the scope was shit and not sighted in. As I was getting ready to shoot again, my workmate said, “Aim just below the shoulder.” Doing that, I still missed. After missing again, I had one bullet left in my mag and my workmate said, “Aim out to the left and down

below the shoulder.” Doing that, I shot and whack! After hearing a different sound to missing and only seeing one of the two deer on the ridge, we were feeling positive that I had sconed one of the deer. So we went up to look for this deer. Arriving at the ridge my workmate saw heaps of blood and parts of lungs. We found the deer cooped up in a bush. We couldn’t see any wounds in the shoulder, then my workmate yelled, “You shot it in the head!” And wow, after aiming around 2 feet out from the shoulder and 2 feet down, it hit it in the flipping head and that just made my night even better, shooting my

first animal, which is deer, in the head. What a cool experience. (Ed’s footnote: It is always exciting to shoot your first animal Luke, so congratulations. I hope you continue to hunt and enjoy greater success. However, your workmate let you down with a poor lesson in preparation, firearms handling, maintaining a safe firing zone, and hunting ethics: make sure you are experienced with the firearms you use, always check they are sighted in, treat safety as paramount, and respect the animals you hunt. NZ Deerstalkers is a good place to start for young hunters and I would encourage learning from experienced hunters.)

Travels

Paper could cure covid World leading authority on ancient diseases Professor Sharon Sorenberg of Norway recently announced that a copy of The Fishing Paper & Hunting News has triggered a potential breakthrough in the current Coronavirus pandemic. She picked up a copy in a surgeon’s waiting room in Oslo while her husband was being treated for Hydrophobia of the Blowhole, and said the picture of a bear in Alaska resurfaced thoughts that she’d put on ice years ago. “Many bacteria and viruses were frozen in time

during the last ice age,” she told The Fishing Paper, “and with all the glaciers melting, ancient diseases are being reborn again.” Sharon said this knowledge could lead to a revolutionary breakthrough in science. “All we need to is create more glaciers and we can freeze the little buggers again!” Sharon earned her PhD in Children’s Literature. If you look just behind her head on her left side, you can see a prehistoric Spidiferous Hugantus bacteria emerging from a glacier in China’s Whut Tei Fook region.

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Issue 179 13

Gladiator sword plastic that cuts deep BJ Robinson Sometimes you just never know what’s coming up from the depths. The game season started very well for the crew of Charger proudly tagging and releasing a 160 kg stripey caught off the East Cape. Starting the year with high expectations, it was as we’d hoped. Then the ring was pulled from under us. We were forced into lockdown and fishermen went into fishing depression, fishing trauma, fishing withdrawals or whatever else you would like to call it, when not being able to go fishing.

it was being strangled by plastic packing ribbon; the type used around boxes of bait. The packing ribbon had grown into the back of the fish’s head and through its gill plate. Once we removed the ribbon and revived the sword’, the fish was tagged and released—having a second chance at life .

The HamiltonJet that NZ anglers and hunters designed

This plastic pollution problem is something everyone should be aware of and it’s here in our beautiful waters—even at 600 metres deep. Let’s all try a little bit harder to protect the very valuable resource surrounding our magnificent country. Be sure to take your rubbish home with you.

The design philosophy behind HamiltonJets stunning Sportsman 470 was driven significantly by listening closely to what Kiwi anglers and hunters really wanted in their dream jet boat.

As soon as the green light was given, you got it, we where on the big briny—just a shame the game season was over . So normally, in our fishing frenzy, we then move to the deep dwelling swordfish— the gladiator of the sea—and one of the most difficult and unpredictable fish to catch.

“We’ve thrown out what they didn’t like in a boat and loaded up with innovative design that builds on the great qualities of previous popular recreational models,"says HamiltonJet NZ Manager, John Connelly.

The day arrived: 4.00am start and a 45 mile steam before the first drop in 600m. Unbelievably, we were straight in; hooked up on a very determined swordfish, rapidly on the decent, and proving to be very headstrong. We have caught a number of swords’ but, on surfacing, it was sad to see such a beautiful fish with a nasty disability—it was struggling to breathe properly.

Launched in October 2017, the 470 takes a fresh approach to every aspect of comfort, safety and practicality for the jet boater and passengers. “It’s a “whole of boat” design approach conceived on a clean sheet…we’re not talking tweaks…it’s a complete departure from tradition that has unleashed innovative and

We traced it and, once we got it to the boat, realized

creative thoughts on what a HamiltonJet boat can really be,” says Connelly. The Sportsman 470 has a distinctive profile not previously seen on our rivers and lakes, thanks mainly to the curved sheer line and sleek windscreen. With optimal strength delta keel and hull bottom and 8 planing strakes you’ll experience extra lift and tighter grip on hard cornering plus better overall speed. The wide cockpit is very roomy with the distinctive sheer line giving increased height in the cockpit, dash and windscreen so you get more space and better protection behind the raked windscreen. Welding of the aluminium hull is by ABS Certified welders using a jig for consistency of hull shape

and integrity of weld lines which all help ensure the boat tracks smoothly in all conditions. The moulded fibreglass deck means strong streamlined curves that seamlessly accommodate hatches and insets from bow through the dash and cockpit to the transom. There’s no shortage of practical attributes including large fore and aft deck hatches, dash glovebox with USB charger, large dash footwell and walk-through windscreen for quick, safe and easy access to foredeck and bow. Handrail located behind the windscreen for warmth and protection. To experience the very best of Kiwi jet boating and to get all you need to know including delivery times phone 03 962 0505. See more at www.hamiltonjet.com

Keeping track

Sinker to

Smoker

Ron Prestage

Lockdown life-savers In a normal year I keep fit for fishing by visiting the CityFitness gym and the Richmond Aquatic Centre a few times a week. When lockdown closed everything up I decided to put my energies into where they should possibly have been anyway. Around the home. I collected firewood, split firewood, stacked firewood,

Lockdown life savers in the lounge, including the didgeridoo pruned trees and weeded gardens for five solid days. Then my clapped-out knee collapsed from the overuse. I even had to repurpose my didgeridoo as a walking stick to get up and down the

pathways and hallway. After a few days of rest and recovery I came to my senses and realised I am not as young as I used to be. Controlled exercise and

activity had to be the answer. I am a great believer in the mantra of Drew Knowles, a renowned health and fitness expert. In his article, ‘Movement is our Life Force,’ he states that if you stop

moving as you age you are

a week for eight lockdown

committing slow suicide.

weeks I routinely exercised

My lockdown life-savers

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and the couch. Three times

enough to go fishing again.

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The spacious new premises are designed to house all you need under one roof. Products,parts and service,finance and overall customer care.

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16 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - AUGUST 2020

The Digital Edge The signage industry is moving forward at a fast pace. The future is exciting and not too distant, so to remain at the cutting edge, Cutting Edge Signs has invested significantly in research and training, from attending internationalÂ trade shows to hiring a digital expert. Cutting Edge Signs has really got it covered, recently setting up Cutting Edge Media Ltd, which is a onestop-shop for digital signage. From bespoke solutions, software, hardware, training, content creation to installation, and long term support. And they may offer finance as well!

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So, why digital signage? Because research shows digital signs capture 400% more views compared to traditional signage. And 80% of customers surveyed entered a store because digital sign caught their attention, while 83% of people recall at least one as seen on a digital display in the past 30 days. 80% of brands experience over 33% increase in sales due to the use of digital signs. Digital signage brings new life to any commercial

environment and can be implemented in countless ways, designed to catch the attention of consumers and deliver messages that are custom designed to improve their experience. A digital signage display can show graphics, videos, content on anything from small form factor screens to giant video walls. Companies across almost every industry have utilised this technology in their brick-and-mortar locations to meet the unique demands of their customers. There are endless benefits and possibilities for your space and we can help you explore the ways to use displays to entertain, educate, and communicate in your store, informing consumers of new product releases, sales, seasonal promotions and even daily menu specials. What about interactive digital signage? This interactive technology takes things to another level, allowing customers to interact with content that can include product research, locating inventory, viewing more product options, and even opportunities to virtually â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;try-onâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; products.

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Table top waiting room touch screen

Issue 179 17

Chocolate kangaroo and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do Kim Swan

I am dithering. Time to leave the warmth of the ute and venture into the subzero temperature and frozen vegetation. Do I shuck myself out of my downfilled jacket and hope for a thaw as the sun rises? Do I wiggle into my canvas chaps to protect my legs from all things prickly? Or not? It is so calm that those same prickles will make a gamespooking racket as they scratch across the protective leggings. I decide to go without the comfort and protection of either item and push off into the winter wonderland, feeling naked and afraid. It is so cold my cheeks feel numbâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;my face is soon mottled, an ugly combination of white, purple and blue. My bare hands are like a pair of lovesick teenagers. Uncomfortable and awkward, they clasp each other in loving embrace. They take turns at fondling in an effort to keep warm. I am regretting leaving my jacket and its deep pockets behind. Any fool hunter would figure wildlife hereabouts

will be where the dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rays strike first. Way up on the ridge tops, where the large rocks have acted as bed-warmers overnight and the slight breeze has kept the freeze at bay. The decision to climb high is a no-brainer. The ascent will see my cheeks flush pink once again and distract my wayward hands from their self-gratification.

high-country air. I need to be on that side of the fence but it is high and tight. The barbed wire along the top of it is the old-fashioned stuff, with centimetre long barbs that rip the crutch out of your trousers and probably take a nip at your ballbag too. I cannot climb it, nor climb through it, without making some sort of noise. Bugger.

A good while later, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m only metres from cresting the boney spine of the ridge. I pause to check my scope. It is heavily condensated, as are my binoculars. Artificial fabrics used in the creation of modern-day apparel are poor glass cleaners; they smear not clear. Instead, I hold the lenses facing directly towards the sun. Solar energy quickly burns the film of moisture away. I am now ready to expose myself, one slow step at a time.

Aha! Hidden in overgrown vines, 20 metres above me, is an old gateway at the junction of this fenceline and another running at right angles to it. Smooth and silent I creep toward the gap and the beaten game-trail there. The slightest whisper of a breeze touches my nape and instantly there is the pitter patter of tiny feet. Bugger again.

A fence runs down the centre of the skinny ridgeline like the dorsal fin on a john dory. On the other side of the fence are deer beds so recently used the scent of stag urine is acrid in the pure

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No, not bugger. The tiny feet are coming my way. Tearing through the scrub is a cloven-hooved critter; it approaches at full gallop. The scrub parts to reveal antlers, small palmated antlers. Two more strides and a dark colour-phased fallow buck is upon me, his breakfast still between

Chocolate Kanga

his lips. His eyes register disbelief, then horror. If he could vocalise right now, he would scream. If he had hands, they would fly to his mouth to stifle the scream.

a quarter turn and, with one more stride, he lifts off like a chocolate kangaroo. I reckon he clears that cattleproof fence with half a metre to spare, possibly more.

In that instant, I realise the buck needs to vacate premises via the gateway where I stand. Given an option deer, both fallow and reds, will always climb through or under a fenceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; jumping is usually a last resort. This fellow is well aware the barbed wire may rip the crutch out of his trousers but desperate times call for desperate measures. He does a sliding stop, spins

That 10 second interlude got the heart racing. Difficult now to go back to my slow, smooth stalk over the brow of the ridge and into the sunny side. Deep breaths Kim, deep breaths. A rusty-red coloured backside mooches into heavy cover above me. With my brain firmly back in hunt mode, I climb to a clear lookout, park my butt, rest

my loaded rifle in my lap and wait. Yet another wee waft of wayward wind drifts across the face and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a dusty brown-coloured foreend, which emerges from the scrub higher up. A red spiker with nostrils twitching and eyes focused my way stands brisket towards me at 100 metres. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do. At the shot, the spikerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legs fold and he crumples before sliding down the steep face. He spooks his mate, a young red stag, from below him and it makes the mistake of pausing to assess where danger dwells. Broadside, 110 metres. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do too.

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18 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - AUGUST 2020

Fish Mainland tackle blue cod concerns

The two main causes of concern are the requirement to land blue cod in a measurable state and the inability to transit through an area with a higher daily bag limit taken in another area. The main cause for surprise is the colour ascribed to some areas based on the new traffic light system. Neville Gurr, acting Fish Mainland Director and Canterbury Sport Fishing Club Executive states, "While many of us fully expected Motunau to be ascribed red, we did not expect the entire Canterbury coast to be red. Besides, the transit rule takes away any incentive to target blue cod beyond 12 nautical miles. No one is going to travel that far to bring back just two blue cod through the red area.” Of course, there are also concerns about the reduction in bag limits relative to the limits in North Island waters

that remain unchanged, despite implementation of a ‘National’ Blue Cod Strategy. Fish Mainland has emphasised the South Island rule changes are now law and so fishers must comply with them. It is important fishers understand the changes in their area and adjacent areas. However, there is an opportunity to provide feedback to Fisheries New Zealand, which means there is the prospect some rules might be amended; but it won’t be quick given regulatory timeframes. Alternatively, it might be possible for some amendments to be addressed in a policy position.

Fish Mainland’s purpose is to coordinate, represent, and promote the interests of South Island and Stewart Island fishers in restoring and sustaining fisheries resources to maximise their experiences and opportunities.

It follows that Fish Mainland’s role is to assist Fisheries New Zealand to understand what is important to recreational fishers, including the extent to which fishing occurs, the value placed on recreational fishing experiences and opportunities and the health and wellbeing benefits; refer to its policy on South Island recreational fisheries https:// www.fishmainland.nz/southisland-recreational-fisheriespolicy For this purpose, Fish Mainland wants to hear fishers’ concerns and suggested solutions about the blue cod rule changes so we can coordinate your collective voice when formulating the best solutions with Fisheries New Zealand officials and the Minister of Fisheries. Stated another way, Fish Mainland’s role extends well beyond making submissions on behalf of fishers. Had Fish Mainland been established earlier, it could have been involved in the formation of the National Blue Cod Strategy, which began in 2017. That way, several of the causes for concern and surprise now expressed by fishers could have been resolved well

Be involved in blue cod policy

before regulations were enacted, or at least applied more consistently. For example, as we see things, there are two feasible solutions to problems arising from the transit rule. First, corridors could be established through low bag limit areas to allow for the innocent passage

of higher bag limits taken in other areas. Second, a self-reporting system (app) could be used to notify Compliance Officers when fish are on board taken in an area with a higher bag limit. You do not have to be a Fish Mainland member to contact us about any concern. However, we

would appreciate you considering becoming a member for free and making what donation you can at this time. The blue cod situation demonstrates a real need for a collective South Island voice.

Photo Credit Alisa Mcgilvary-Howard

Fish Mainland’s acting directors have been listening carefully to South Island and Stewart Island recreational fishers’ views on the blue cod rule changes enacted 1 July. Most fishers have expressed concern and even surprise about some of these changes.

Become a member

The aim of Fish Mainland is to provide a unified voice for the South Island marine recreational fishing community. Its aim is also to demonstrate the ability to work respectfully and collaboratively with others to find workable solutions that provide the best public outcomes. Its vision is a healthy and abundant marine environment in which recreational fishers have an equitable share of available fisheries resources and are respected partners in management decisions. The recreational fishing sector is far more numerous, diverse and undefined than the commercial fishing sector and Iwi fishing interests. As a sector, recreational fishers remain largely unknown, except for a small proportion with membership to fishing and boating clubs

If you are interested in and supportive of recreational fishing and/or sustainable fisheries management practices then become a member of Fish Mainland today

Join today

MEMBERSHIP IS FREE - JOIN TODAY • A key development for Fish Mainland is its South Island Recreational Fisheries Policy. • Its purpose is to guide and coordinate the actions of the South Island recreational fishing sector, the Crown, Iwi, other fishing sectors and interests in realising opportunities and meeting the challenges facing the recreational sector in shared fisheries. • Shared fisheries are those where commercial, recreational and Māori customary fishers have a shared interest, and they value their share quite differently.

Like us on facebook.com/FishMainland and become a member at www.fishmainland.nz

Randall Bess - TNC support 027 314 4084

Issue 179 19

Half a century strong PISTOL SHOOTING Brian Bishop Pistol shooting celebrated 50 years in New Zealand, last year, establishing it firmly as a popular discipline amongst Kiwis. The dedication of members is impressive, in the amount of work they put in and the number of years they commit to the sport. Last year we had one of our own club members celebrate 40 years and another, 25 years. Pistol shooting is a discipline that can be done at most any age so, unlike main stream sports that kick you to the curb around 30-35, we can still be at the top of our game for many more years. For those of us hooked with the pistol bug, it’s a pastime that can keep us amused and challenged well over the horizon of youth. The friends we meet are made both at the local club level and when away at competitions—National and International. They

are the best and are a large part of why I have given so much of my time, even when it has taken me away from family, for which I do feel guilty. However, pistol shooting has given me so much. I have been fortunate to have made the New Zealand Teams and have felt a lot of pride representing New Zealand. Wearing the fern and competing for one’s country is the biggest honour—add to that the other team members who stood with you at the opening ceremony, and that is a highlight in anyone’s sporting career.

Action has set distances and targets, (moving and turning).

Zealand, which help in the governance on a national level.

For me IPSC is my style of choice, we use modern fire arms, our courses are always different, the same with the targets, some moving some static, while the distances vary as well.

The pressure on all our members since the Christchurch attack has been enormous and yet we fight on because, no matter what the government and media say, we know shooting is a safe sport that teaches good skills, as well as discipline and control. Much can be learnt when handling a firearm and spending time on a range with experienced people.

All are shot under the clock, some with set times and others we go as fast as we can. Pistols in New Zealand can only be used on pistol ranges which are carefully managed by the different clubs. Most are affiliated to Pistol New

Safety is always at the forefront of everything we do.

We have nine different styles under the Pistol New Zealand umbrella: From the tamer ISSF, which is the Olympic style: a set time and distance but some very impressive accessories are required.

The Southern Scallop (SCA 7) fishery, which includes the Marlborough Sounds, is currently closed and will remain closed until further notice. Despite closures to the fishery being implemented from 2016, scallop biomass has shown a continued decline, and current biomass levels remain too low to support sustainable fishing (see the report on the most recent scallop biomass survey in the Marlborough Sounds on our website) We are finalising the Southern Scallop Strategy: Marlborough Sounds, which aims to ensure the scallop stock rebuilds to a healthy level and that future customary, recreational and commercial fishing

Cowboy, which also uses a shotgun and rifle, while the competitors dress in period costume and have an alias, a very social group and a lot of fun is had. 3gun and Multi gun took a hit last year and is being redesigned due to the firearm ban.

Southern Scallop season

activity is sustainable. The feedback received on the draft strategy last year has been taken into consideration, and we are working towards an approach to implement the aim and objectives of the strategy. We received hundreds of submissions from people with all kinds of interests in the fishery and would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their views on our draft strategy.

We will be sending out an update soon on what is happening to support recovery of the fishery, so keep an eye on our webpage for further updates.

One of many pistol disciplines in NZ

Blue cod and rock lobster rules have changed Check the rules before fishing Download the free NZ Fishing Rules App to get the rules or visit www.fisheries.govt.nz/rules From 1 July, changes to the rules for blue cod (nationwide) and rock lobster (BOP/Hauraki Gulf and Canterbury/Marlborough) took effect. These rules help protect our precious marine resources – for you, other fishers and future generations.

T & J Enderby

www.fisheries.govt.nz/rules

20 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - AUGUST 2020

COOKING with CRIMPY

Large bunch fresh silver beet 3 mediumbeetroot 125g feta cheese cubed 2 tbsp pine nuts Olive oil Knob of butter Sea salt. Peel and cut beetroot into 2cmcubes. Cover with cold water and parboil for about ten minutes. Strain and remove to an oven dish. Drizzle over a coating of olive oil and a light dust of sea salt. Roast in an oven preheated to 180-200C until cooked - about forty minutes. Rinse silver beet in cold water, roughly chop and toss in saucepan with a knob of butter. Sweat the silver beet over a hot element until it wilts, give it a good shake to coat with butter and drain any excess juices. Remove to a bowl. Heat a dry frypan over a mediumheat and lightly brown pine nuts on both sides, stirring continuously to avoid burning. Combine all ingredients in silver beet bowl and toss together. Serve with poached egg and fish for breakfast or lunch, or with a hearty fish pie and mashed potatoes for dinner.

500g whitebait 1 egg Cracked pepper and salt Oil for frying Separate the egg and beat the yolk, seasoning with salt and pepper. Add the whitebait and mix in thoroughly. In a kitchen whiz, whisk the egg white until stiff and peaks start to form. Nowfold the egg white gently into the whitebait until just mixed. The whisked egg white contains a lot of air, which creates a light fluffy fritter. To achieve perfect results the eggs must be at roomtemperature Cover the base of a heavy pan with oil and heat over a mediumto high heat until the surface shimmers. Shallow fry spoonfuls of whitebait until golden on each side. Serve with mustard and caper dressing.

Coutta’s Cut:

Coutta

Dangerous women—good & bad

In last month’s contribution I sort of half intimated women probably don’t spend a great deal of time reading The Fishing Paper. I thought that would be a pretty safe assumption due to other things women and ‘Lynne the Ruthless’ spend their time doing. If The Fishing Paper had advertisements for things like hand cream, makeup, expensive shoes, and matching handbags, they may give it a bit more attention. It doesn’t, so you can imagine my surprise and trepidation when I realized Lynne was reading my article. Surprise, as she’s never shown the least bit of interest in bloke-type publications and trepidation as I had a sneaking suspicion, which was not unfounded. I might add she’d be a tad pissed off at me poking shit at her vacuum cleaner, which she is very proud of, and telling the world she is prone to violence and I sometimes live in fear of her meltdowns. Just between you and I, I came out of it alright. We’ve got quite a few

exterior doors in our house and it’s only a quick sprint to my shed, which, for obvious reasons, ‘the Ruthless’ doesn’t have a key to. To save face with my friends, who tried to contact me over the next two days, I told them due to a weight gain during lock down I was fasting while cleaning my fishing gear. If anyone is interested, they may wish to look at my website www. husbandslivesmatter.mercy Right now, while you may find it difficult to believe, there is another woman who scares me even more than ‘Lynne the Ruthless.’ Her name is Eugenie Sage and the Ministry she controls, the Department Out of Control, or as my old mate Morrie from Ngapuna refers to it, Dozens of ###ts. is as important to me and I would say many other readers, as Lynne’s vacuum cleaner is to her. This woman is a danger to what we do, what we hold dear, and what we want our children and grandchildren to be able to do. She has gone back on her deal with the foundation about tahr

numbers—she wants them wiped out. She is where the buck stops in the heavyhanded use of 1080. None should be gullible enough to believe she is only after rats and mustelids. Make no mistake, she wants the deer as well. How long is it until she sets her misguided sights on the Fiordland wapiti herd? She now has ordered a review of New Zealand Fish and Game. Now, she has set parameters but in the past she has referred to trout as rats of the rivers. They are also introduced so is she going to have a shot at them as well? Mallard ducks are not native and it’s a well-known fact they have displaced and bred with the native grey. Are they on her list as well? Wouldn’t surprise me. I’m not asking for your help with ‘Lynne the Ruthless’, I should be okayww, but we all need to stand up and help defeat this other dangerous woman. If I’m not in hospital, I’ll catch you next month.

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Issue 179 21

VIEWPOINT: CALLING ALL OUTDOOR PEOPLEâ&#x20AC;Ś

Time to drain the swamp! Stuart Mirfin

The past decade in New Zealand has seen the rapid erosion of your outdoor rights, resources, and opportunities. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to stand up and defend your outdoor interests before it is too late. Our loss of outdoor rights, resources, and opportunities is accelerating at an exponential rate due to political neglect and outright manipulation. Government bureaucracy has grown like a cancer strangling the very breath out of outdoor advocacy groups. Even

our own taxes and rates are being used against our legitimate sporting and recreational interests. Enough is enoughâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;it is time to drain the swamp! During the last election cycle, we have witnessed and experienced massive and, perhaps, irretrievable losses, to our outdoor rights, resources, and opportunities by a government and bureaucracy who just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care about us, our families, or the outdoor legacy we wish to leave to our children and grandchildren.

The flawed actions of an out-of-control Green Minister of Conservation and Government Ministers of Police and MPI have alerted outdoor people to the political and bureaucratic dangers we all face in the pursuit of our outdoor rights, resources, and opportunities. Outdoor people should be calling the political direction on issues that affect them, not nameless grey-suited bureaucrats with dubious agendas. Like it or not, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all in this together. Whether you

Banned â&#x20AC;&#x201D;No recreational or commercial set netting in Tasman Bay & Golden Bay from 1 Oct 2020. There was no public consultation from set netters on this important legislation; instead it was disguised in a campaign to save the dolphins. What will be next? Your chosen outdoor activity will not be safe, you can be sure of that with another three years of this current coalition government. Make sure your party vote counts.

Stuart Mirfin, Tahr Hunter DOC Search & Destroyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Tahr are an iconic game animal with high economic and recreational value to New Zealand. DOC must be held accountable.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we founded the Outdoor Recreation NZ political party back in 2002, we knew the outdoor scene was in bad shape. But we could never have imagined the dark forces and political influence by the Greens that outdoor people would be exposed to in 2020. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m voting ACT to protect the outdoor freedoms of my grandchildren to fish and hunt public wild lands.â&#x20AC;?

Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s up for a road trip with us?

are a licenced firearm owner, deerstalker, whitebaiter, fly fisherman, duck hunter, boat owner, saltwater angler, 4WDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;er, flounder netter, gun club member, salmon fisher, possum trapper, or pig hunter, it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter. We are all under attack. It is time for outdoor people to ACT together. The only way forward is by supporting a political party already in parliament, one that has a proven track record of defending freedom, individual choice, and outdoor rights. Current high-ranking ACT candidates have a strong record of outdoor advocacy

outside of parliament and outdoor people need to ensure that these people are representing our legitimate sporting and recreational interests in the next parliament, and in future governments. Anybody who attended the ACT meeting on 26 July would have been most impressed with Nicole McKeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presentation. Nicole is number three on the ACT party list and gives every confidence that, if she is elected to parliament, she will be an excellent advocate for firearm owners and the outdoor people of New Zealand.

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22 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - AUGUST 2020

Nicole McKee

Spokesperson for Firearms, Hunting and Conservation,

#3 on ACT Party List, Candidate for Rongotai After our country’s tragedy in Christchurch last year, almost everyone agreed that our firearm laws needed to change. However, the way the Government went about it amounted to bullying and scapegoating, and the end result was expensive, ineffective, and insulting. ACT says if gun laws are worth changing, it is worth doing right. We were the only party to consistently support the firearms community and vote against both the Arms Amendment Act 2019 and the Arms Legislation Act 2020. We acknowledge the 250,000 honest and hardworking New Zealanders in our law-abiding firearms community. These people have shown patience and resilience following the sweeping changes to New Zealand’s firearm laws and the confiscation of their private property. As a result of the government’s law changes, the Arms Act 1983 is no longer fit for purpose and has become a confusing, bureaucratic mess that is riddled with inconsistencies. We are no safer, and in fact, there are now serious risks to public safety with gang numbers rising and the number of black-market firearms having the potential to increase exponentially. After the Royal Commission reports back, ACT’s priority would be to repeal the Arms Act 1983 and all subsequent amendments, including the threat of a firearm register. We would invite national organisations such as the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association, COLFO, commercial pest controllers, collectors, police, political parties, and other interested groups to a genuine consultative effort to design better, world-leading gun

laws that balance public safety, firearms control and freedom.

ACT’s firearms policy includes: • supporting an independent authority to take over firearms legislation administration, not just the licencing side of things; • introducing simplified classes to firearms ownership; • supporting face-to-face vetting and oversight in local communities; • increasing magazine limits from five to seven for shotguns, • reinstating 15 rounds for .22 calibres • no magazine limits on pump actions and lever actions. According to police, there has been a significant increase in the number of offences involving firearms in the last few years, identifying a clear change in the behaviour of gang members and prospects. ACT believes we need to get smarter so we have come up with a bold new policy to hit gangs where it hurts. Our policy will make an immediate difference to the safety of New Zealanders by targeting gangs and removing illicit gains from their back pockets. We will amend the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 so that gangs found with illegal guns in premises being used for organised crime will have their assets seized. We will make possession of illegally held firearms a new threshold so police can apply to the courts to freeze, then seize and sell these illgotten gains. Our goal is to have this new bill delivered in the next parliamentary term.

The current government has operated in an unfair, exclusive and disrespectful manner towards the New Zealand public. Not only around firearms issues but across the board. Another more recent example is the slaughter of huge numbers of Himalayan tahr. The arrogance of the government to have arrogantly ignored a High Court Judge’s directive to consult with stakeholders is the reason the Greens can expect to be ousted from government come September 19. It is simply deplorable that we have a government prepared to eradicate a species of special interest in a country that homes the only sustainable herd in the world. It doesn’t end there. Thanks to Stuart Nash and Eugene Sage, taking effect from 1 October 2020, we will have a new ban on net setting in Tasman and Golden Bay. Acknowledging the right for Māori and local iwi to forage in our waters, just off our beaches, they have banned everyone else from doing it. I do not want to see a divide in any community happening because government believe there should be two different rules of acceptable behaviours, one for Māori and one for everyone else. If we truly are a team of five million, we should be

Perceived private waters piss off Matey’s been taking his fishing to new levels. With social isolation, there had naturally been no face to face contact between us and no boating, so trips out in the floaty thing for stalks around the edges were out. However, once Level 3 came in we could go to local places to fish, maintaining social isolation but not together, or in the boat. Matey did some solo visits to harvest fish from a couple of local rivers close by and did well, regaling me with descriptions of orangefleshed fish up to 5lbs.

another promising reach. It gets rather warm marching along in sunshine within the confines of chest waders, but the location with a nice lengthy pool was reached. Alas and alack, alongside the

Osprey and headed up the valley. Misty rain splattered the windscreen but eased off and we arrived lakeside to an empty parking area. Swinging round down to the ramp, ready to back the

I know his ‘Spot X,’ so headed out there and managed to educate a small specimen about the dangers of taking an artificial nymph, although was thwarted by the larger beasties that rose spasmodically further out just beyond my casting range. “Aha,” said I to nobody in particular—been doing more of that since lockdown. “I’ll be back with waders on to reach you guys.”

waters of my intended possie was a bloke already in situ thread-lining, so I staggered back downstream to the car and headed homeward.

Couple of days later I was riverside in chest waders and in the spot where the X was but to no avail. I trudged upstream 700 metres towards

Then, oh joy, came wondrous Level 2 and we could take the boat out. Matey arrived at the front gate; we latched on the

boat in, we were horrified to find huge rocks placed across the ramp to deter boaties. These, plus homemade signage, rammed the point home they didn’t want us there and didn’t like us at all. Lockdown was still on at Brunner and we were locked out. Oh well, we’ll

I would like to live in a country that has similar values to what I grew up with; freedom of speech and choice, taking responsibility for those choices, to be able to listen to and watch the things we each think are important, and to have control over how my children are educated in the best way for them.

Make the decision to change your future this election, by giving ACT your Party Vote.

Ivan Wilson

go around further where we might… oh NO, road closed signs and more barriers. Crikey, don’t they know boating is allowed in level 2? Back to yet another ramp – yep, closed off with rocks as well. With the fishing fraternity busting to get out there from the dawn of Level 2, the rocks should have been cleared in readiness. On the way home I suggested it was a wasted trip but matey said, “Nah, it was good to get out of lockdown and I enjoyed the drive out here.” Very positive these Reefton blokes!

Lockdown ramp, blocked!

treated the same.

Back in Greymouth, I made a few enquiries of a well-known local fisho from around Brunner, to be told the boulders will not be shifted as, “We don’t want you Greymouth …..‘s up here flogging our fish.” My rejoinder involved huhu grubs, treble hooks, and his secret fly nobody knows about called a M- ----, no better not name it, as believe me it’d start a proper ruckus. We’d learnt about

his secret fly by various, nefarious means, but not getting out on the water meant we didn’t quite reach the new heights Level 2 should have afforded us.

So fairly soon we’ll tie on one of those secret M- ----- oops nearly, and give it a swim in the perceived private waters of Brunner. Can’t wait.

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Issue 179 23

FAIR

FIREARMS LAWS Reverse the Arms Legislation Act 2020 Repeal full registration, regulations on clubs and ranges, and the violation of the doctor/patient relationship

Replace the 1983 Arms Act with a new law Real consultation with the firearms community so we can build the best firearms laws in the world

Target the gangs, not law-abiding Kiwis Making it easier for Police to go after the gangs

to elect David Seymour, Nicole McKee and other quality candidates. Authorised by D Smith, Suite 2.5, 27 Gillies Ave, Newmarket, Auckland 1023

David Seymour ACT Leader MP for Epsom

Nicole McKee Firearms Spokesperson #3 on ACT Party List

www.act.org.nz

Issue 179 23

FAIR

FIREARMS LAWS Reverse the Arms Legislation Act 2020 Repeal full registration, regulations on clubs and ranges, and the violation of the doctor/patient relationship

Replace the 1983 Arms Act with a new law Real consultation with the firearms community so we can build the best firearms laws in the world

Target the gangs, not law-abiding Kiwis Making it easier for Police to go after the gangs

to elect David Seymour, Nicole McKee and other quality candidates. Authorised by D Smith, Suite 2.5, 27 Gillies Ave, Newmarket, Auckland 1023

David Seymour ACT Leader MP for Epsom

Nicole McKee Firearms Spokesperson #3 on ACT Party List

www.act.org.nz

24 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - AUGUST 2020

Kiwi tempters for tench

Tyler admires this tench

Tyler McBeth

When I was a child, I would watch the tench fishermen sitting down on their seat boxes at the Kaiapoi lakes, spending all day hypnotised by their specially designed floats under their several metre long poles, for just one bite—if they were blessed by lady luck. I thought this was the only way to catch these mysterious and elusive fish. The truth is, you can be a successful tench angler without importing tackle from other countries! You don’t need an expensive pole, a delicate float, or any specially made tench baits. Here are the pros and cons of some substitute items that you can find in shops in New Zealand.

Rod: When I first started targeting tench, I found that my little 6.5ft trout spinning rod was ideal for fishing in the margins, just 3 or 4ft from the bank. Short fishing

rods come with plenty of flaws though, such as lacking the ability to fish comfortably further out. The longer 8 – 10ft canal fishing rods are an almost perfect versatile option that will allow you to accurately cast further distances and sink your line with ease. You will also be able to manoeuvre hooked fish away from snags with less effort than if you were to use a much shorter rod. The line weight for the rod between 6 – 10lb is ideal, but when feeder fishing, a rod that can cast 1 – 2oz is best. For float fishing, rods that are used to cast light lures are what you would be wanting.

Floats:

If you’re fortunate enough to find a long-bodied float with a bright tip in fishing shops in New Zealand, I would say you are very fortunate. For most, the range of floats is small. Polystyrene and round clear plastic bubble floats will be

most commonly available. I started out ench fishing using the round clear bubble floats, filled almost full of water and with an SSG split shot near my hook. The float would sink until the split shot touched the bottom. This helped me find an accurate depth to fish at. I would then move the float up on the line and remove

some water from it, so it was just buoyant enough to stay on the surface. Afterwards, I remove the split shot, put on some bait, and start fishing. Because you cannot see lift bites using bubble floats, I tended to prefer fishing 2cm under depth in order to get more positive bites, with the float going under.

Dawnbreakers ticks fishy boxes The 2019-20 Dawnbreakers Fishing Club season ended, as with many other clubs or businesses, impacted by the effects of Covid-19. Our annual season runs from 1 October to 31 May. Due to lockdowns, events were cancelled or postponed, and our annual fishing competition was shortened to 25 March, with all individual points and boat points tallied to that date.

Thankfully, this last year has been very productive for recreational fishers and approximately 383 fish and 23 different species had been entered up to that date. The most productive month being November, with 79 fish entered.

Our annual dinner and prize giving evening followed our AGM on the 18 July. This evening is always enjoyed by many, but more so this year, with this being the first event held together since level 4 lockdown. This is the time we get to celebrate and award junior and senior members who have accumulated individual or boat points over the season or have been skilled or lucky enough to catch those big ones. Gotta be out there doing it! We also had many spot prizes and a door prize given out on the night. A big Sharon Rose receives her thank you to our very ladies overall champion generous sponsors, trophy from Andrew Hunting & Fishing, Claridge, Hunting & Fishing for contributing Nelson majorly to these

prizes. For those who caught snapper (80cm+) or kingfish (120cm+), pins were handed out. A few of the prize winners: Junior overall champion Ollie Meek, junior largest fish Flyn Jack, junior largest snapper Brianna Govier. Senior: Freshwater most points Gareth Nicholson, ladies overall champion Sharon Rose, ladies largest snapper Angela Govier, men’s overall champion Reid Forrest, men’s largest snapper Michael Connolly, most points for a single boat Team Extreme (Meek family). Prizes for another 53 Categories were awarded. Check out our facebook page or website for a full list. Now we turn and look towards a new year with a hard working committee to bring social events and competitions to suit everyone. The club offers many opportunities for boat and land-based fishers, targeting either saltwater, freshwater, or diving. Families are very important to the club and we endeavour to plan activities and trips throughout the year

Bait: Despite the fancy groundbaits, pellets, and boilies they make for tench fishing abroad, it’s really not necessary, due to its expensive cost of shipping to NZ. Don’t worry though; canned corn, white bread, or shrimps are three baits of many, which I have used to great success for tench

fishing baits. Layers mash and bread crumbs work great as a cheap but effective ground bait mix and can be a reliable base mix for anything else you want to add to it. Fishing tackle shops sometimes sell a krill based berley or pellets made of hemp seed as well, which are other fantastic options to use for ground-bait.

Sue Hawkins

to include the whole family where possible. Okiwi Bay weekend always provides a lot of fun and we always have a good turnout for the Xmas bbq with Santa Claus. We have a social day once a month, which is a time to catch up, make new friends, find out what’s happening in the bay and, where possible, we have a guest speaker come along. Each month at our social day, a prize is awarded for fish of the month, lucky member of the month, and photo of the month—and we have a meat raffle. For competitive fishers, our annual fishing competition will suit, where points are collectively added each month for size and species of fish, for both individual and boat. On certain months we also award double points for a fish species. While competitive, it is still family focussed. We currently have approximately 220 members who we will send out for registrations for the coming year early September. We will have an open day, during September ready to start fishing on 1 October. Whether you are a

Brianna Govier – Junior largest snapper, rig and gurnard

competitive fisherman or just enjoy being on the water, this club offers something for everybody from young families to the older members. The Dawnbreakers Fishing Club ticks all the boxes, from meeting new people and making new friendships to increasing knowledge and learning new fishing

techniques. Once again, we must acknowledge and say a big thank you to all our sponsors throughout the year—without their valuable support, the club would not succeed. If you are interested in finding out more about Dawnbreakers Fishing Club, visit www.dawnbreakers.co.nz

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