Issue 172 Jan 2020 The Fishing Paper & Hunting News

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January 2020 Issue 172

NEWS

Hunting red deer in coastal Fiordland.

Credit FiordlandBoysHunting.NZ

Good Evening Snapper Story pg 8

 Topwater Fishing  Man Caves  Culling Critters

2

THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - JANUARY 2020

Henderson’s hosted Ben and Josh from Nomad for a seminar in November. It was fantastic to have the boys in the South Island teaching the customers and staff about chasing top water kings. Ben covered a range of topics including finding the fish, which lure to use, safety, landing the king, and how to keep the fish fresh for eating. After learning loads and deciding on what gear to buy, everyone is excited to be chasing the inshore yellow-tail kingfish around Marlborough this summer. After the session, Josh went over the hill to Nelson to check out the fishing In Tasman Bay he discovered…

Josh Hough discovers Tasman Bay kingfish

Topwater fishing tops for kingfish A good mate of mine in Nelson said that at this time last year he had caught kingfish in the bay. To test this theory, we headed out to give it a crack.

With an easing forecast and slight seas we launched the boat late one afternoon, with the idea to see if, indeed, his fishing diary was on the money—we were not to be disappointed.

Motoring for a short period of time, we arrived at the location and covered ground trolling, to find where the fish were holding. We had

deployed a couple of bibbed lures, including the Nomad DTX to run a bit deeper.

We also used slow sinking surface lures to run along the top, choosing the Nomad Madscad 150mm, being a 75gm sinking lure we knew would still hold in the water and continue to work and swim at speed, rather than just splash across the surface.

After trolling for 20 minutes at 5-7 knots, we started to mark a lot of baitfish sign on the sounder, followed by bigger individual marks— kingfish. All we had to do is persevere in this area and we

Henderson’s Marlborough for everything fun on the water

I will take it all

would get a result.

Sure enough, we didn’t have to wait long and we soon got a bite on one of the Madscad slow sinking lures.

After a short fight, we landed a smaller 80cm kingfish destined for the table, which was quickly dispatched and put into an ice slurry to maximise the quality of the flesh.

The bite then continued for another 1.5 hours as it ran into high tide, where we hooked and landed multiple fish up to just over a metre.

All fish were caught both on the surface and also on the bibbed trolling lures. As they say though, everything must come to an end and, as soon as the tide stopped running, the bite switched off. With numerous kingfish under our belts and big smiles all around, we made the short run back to the

ramp to begin the clean up.

What an awesome way to spend the evening and I was very impressed with the fishery out of Nelson.

All the fish were literally

Come down to Henderson’s to see new season products, we look forward to seeing you here.

38 Grove Road, Blenheim 03 578 9960 jhendersons@xtra.co.nz

Last issue this photo had a caption of jigging but it should have been top water fishing

caught within 20 minutes of the boat ramp and could easily be accessed by smaller and larger boats with the conditions we had that evening.

Issue 172 3

The ‘old man’ and the sea Pete Connolly

Les still going strong

The proverbial Spot-X was on the radar as we steamed out of The Cut and shifted course for mid Tasman Bay. At 83-years-young, my father-in-law Les Martin was still eager to get amongst the fins and had a glint in his eye that belied his age.

My daughter's boyfriend Cam had joined us for this prospect trip in early December.

anchovies, I reflected on Les’s story: over forty years ago he too fished with his father-in-law, but they had no boat so frequented Tahunanui’s Back Beach.

There, they often watched a snowy-head boy and his father launch a small tinny in front of them and motor off to the other side of the channel where they filled up on big snapper.

We pulled up alongside good friend Dan Govier, an insomniac who had been there since four in the morning. I’d better not give him too much stick, as he already had 16 nice snapper on board; they went on the bite at slack water coinciding with change of light.

“Wouldn’t it be good if we could have a boat so we could get amongst the fish!”

Mused Les to his father-inlaw.

While I rigged up the flasher rigs with pillies and

Little did he know how prophetic those words would be… and how ironic that some years later that snowyhead boy started dating his daughter. By this stage, old snowy-head was quite the

AMAZING HAS A NEW LOOK.

fisherman and hooked the catch of his life, marrying Les’s daughter. He’d finally got his boat—and I got the girl!

Les and I had many trips over the years and he caught many fish, never tiring of the fun and always tackling each new adventure with the passion of youth.

He caught his fish this trip as well. After boating a couple of snapper next to Dan, Les pulled up a legal kingfish, to his delight, but released it so it could feed more in the future.

People may age but, as long as they remain agile and you are prepared to take them out, they still get immense pleasure from fishing.

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THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - JANUARY 2020

Joe Doakes, a good bastard

Daryl Sykes

Over New Year, thoughts turn to absent friends and family, and memories of past gatherings. In my younger days I enjoyed a gypsy lifestyle as I fished and surfed my way around the country but, often as not, I would end up spending part of my Christmas holiday in the company of Joe Doakes from Nelson. Joe was and still is one of life’s great characters.

He has slowed with age, but only in his once prodigious physical ability; mentally he is a sharp as a razor. And when either excited or riled, Joe has a tongue just as sharp.

But don’t look for him in the telephone book. Joe Doakes is not his real name, and he was not born in Nelson—nor has he ever lived there. He visited once and really liked the place, so wanted the memory to stay with him. From that day forward, his response to anyone inquiring of his identity is, “Joe Doakes, from Nelson’. Any time the police run a breath testing operation and they get to his vehicle asking name and address please to be spoken into the breathalyser, the response is, “Joe Doakes, and I’m from Nelson,” and Joe is off on his merry way.

Joe only ever tells anyone what he thinks they need to know, and often without ever being asked.

Sometimes loudly. He gets himself into a few good arguments, does Joe. “You are a robbing bastard,” Joe shouted at the panel beater who had just quoted to clean up a few dings on the Doakes’ limousine— something that was required at least once a year. A similar accusation is routinely directed at the manager of the local service station whenever the diesel price rises.

But there are also plenty of good bastards around according to Joe. Peter Blake was one; so too is Tana Umaga, especially after the best haka ever when the All Blacks played France in Paris back in 2004.

“Mate, that was awesome,” said Joe. “You could feel the power”.

Not many politicians meet Joe’s good bastard criteria, but he always had a salute for Big Norm, despite being violently apolitical.

A nation mourned when Norm Kirk passed away and Joe was part of that tribute. The character of the politician, man or woman, was the only benchmark Joe applied when considering how to vote.

Joe Doakes has been somewhat unconventional in the way that he goes about his business but has

Norman Kirk bids farewell

done pretty well at nearly every one he has invested in, especially when staying close to the land or to the ocean. Farmer and fisherman, sometimes both concurrently, and always a hard worker.

‘Effort has its own rewards’ is a favourites Joe-ism.

I learned a few good tricks and one or two bad habits working alongside Joe. He was quick to encourage anyone willing to have a go—at anything.

His generosity was amazing, but often backfired on him. Joe was once the proud owner of a 1948 Chev Fleetmaster sedan, all original in a dark royal blue, with shiny chrome bumpers and trim. A couple of Joe’s builder mates asked to borrow it for the weekend to do a run to the big city because their van was full of work tools, and they feared losing it to thieves. Joe was happy to oblige.

The Chev was not returned. The city lights and pleasures of the flesh were almost too much for the builders and when they woke up on a Sunday morning—late of course—they could not remember where they had parked Joe’s car.

They caught a train back and offered a groveling apology to Joe, who took it all surprisingly well.

“It’ll show up,” he said. “The cops will get onto it”.

And they did.

Three years later Joe received a call to say that the Chev had been found parked in the middle of a paddock in Ohariu Valley on the outskirts of Wellington!

“That’s strange,” said Joe,” those blokes told me they were going to Auckland”.

I enjoyed diving and fishing with Joe. I remember him once emerging from the water with goggles and snorkel dangling from his neck, a lobster in each hand, a few more clamped on to the thick woolen jersey he was wearing (better than a wetsuit he reckoned), under which there were some nasty

SIr Peter Blake

looking lumps that turned out to be about half a dozen big paua.

Joe was a most efficient hunter/ gatherer.

Quote of the Year When you are dead, you do not know that you are dead. All of the pain is felt by others.

The same thing happens when you are stupid

He owned a few boats in his time and back in the days before the quota system was introduced, Joe fished commercially while running his coastal farm. He did OK, but in rushing between loading the stock truck and getting the boat ready for a day at sea, mistakes were sometimes made. Like heading out without putting the bungs in.

Fortunately, he noticed before it was too late, and managed to get back onto the trailer and correct his error.

Not being in a great mood after that rookie mistake, he gave his crewman a hard time. Every minor mistake and slow movement were vocally highlighted and, to make things worse, fishing was not too good that day either. Joe’s young crewman became more flustered as the skipper’s mood darkened.

Things came to a head as Joe was trying to retrieve a pot right in close. The deckie missed with the gaff and Joe had to jam the engine into reverse to avoid being washed up against the rocks. The deckie wanted off that boat right then and there, and, with a mighty leap, went over the gunwale, onto the nearest big rock—high and dry.

Joe was both annoyed and impressed—more of the latter as it turned out.

“Why did you do that?” he shouted.

“Because I am bloody scared of you yelling all the time, you are putting me off,” replied the deckie.

“Fair enough,” said Joe. “Sorry mate, it was wrong of me to be taking out my bad mood on you.

But I am not in a bad mood any longer… you jumping over the side was a sight I will never forget, so jump back in you little bugger”.

trailer were high and dry. Two young children were playing further down the beach, chasing the incoming foam as it retreated to the waters edge. They scampered and squealed ahead of the next surge.

Joe saw the big set coming, leapt off his boat and sprinted down the beach.

And the crewman did that to a hearty laugh and a friendly slap on the back from Joe, who now had another good story to tell, next time he felt like talking to anyone.

Those two kids were almost in the shadow of the wave, which that would have smashed down on them and dragged them under, when Joe swept them up in his arms and ran to higher ground. The wave caught him knee deep and was trying to pull all three of them back. Joe braced himself, all the time talking to the kids— “We’ll be right; we’ll be OK”—until he pulled free of the undertow.

Joe was low key. A massive swell had been building, so Joe and his dog went to check his boat and

“Best you go home, the sea is pretty angry right now. Come back down when it is calm again,” he

Tana in flight

said matter-of-factly.

That was Joe. Joe is now parked up in a rest home, unable to move around much, let alone rescue anyone from a raging sea. He is not in good shape and knows that he doesn’t have too much time left. He lost his wife years ago and they were unable to have kids of their own, so there is only Joe. But he will be pleased to see me and a few other mates, and we will be pleased to see him. We will pass around the talking stick and embroider a few tall tales and true from the legendary past, sip a few wines when the nurses leave his room, and exchange gifts.

And whilst we are at it, we will say our thank-you’s and maybe our goodbye’s to a good bastard—Joe Doakes, from Nelson.

Not home but he loved it

Issue 172 5

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THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - JANUARY 2020

Lures or bait—or both?

I often hear anglers debating the merits of using bait over lures or the other way around. In fact, some anglers are unswayable in their opinion that one method is better than another.

by sight or smell. That begs the question, “Why not hit them with both?” Makes sense, right? Something a little flashy to grab the attention, and something with a good scent to really get them fired up.

In recent times, we have seen an ever-expanding range of lures and jigs designed to catch most of the species we Kiwis target as our favourite table fish.

The concept of using lures to catch snapper for example is not new. It’s just there are a lot more variations to consider now. Many of them are quite effective although they can be dependant on fishing conditions, such as depth or perhaps work ups.

What springs to mind here are the pre-made rigs like the good old flasher rig. I tend to think of these as the every person’s rig. It doesn’t matter what level of skill you have or what age you are, these things are designed to catch fish. And if you’re using one with a self-hooking circle hook like a Black Magic KL hook, even the rod holder can catch you a meal!

Whether you are a bait fan or a lure fan, if you think about it, fish will be attracted

Black Magic strikes again

The main thing is they cater for sight and smell.

Naturally, you bait the hook with your bait of choice, maybe a bit of squid or

A pilly for the smell factor

pilly—there’s your smell factor. Then you have an array of choices when it comes to the colour of the flash available. Much of this material has UV or luminous content giving more attraction and many are often topped off with a luminous bead above the hook. That’s your sight factor. You now have a lure with bait – the best of both worlds. If you want to give something with even more

‘lure’ action a crack, try the Black Magic Snapper® Snack.

Flasher laced with squid

I think the main message is that when you spend the time and money to get out for a spot of fishing, don’t limit yourself to just lures or just bait. Cover your bases. Take a selection of fishing options with you and increase your chances of success—and a tasty dinner of course.

Fish Mainland – what it will do for all fishing sectors The November issue (page 8) has an article titled, ‘Why Fish Mainland makes sense.’

The December issue’s article (page 19) is titled, ‘Fish Mainland – what it will look like and how it will operate.’

This article explains recent developments in its establishment and its overall benefits for South Island fisheries.

At the time of writing, the group of South Islanders who designed Fish Mainland has applied for its incorporation.

The group has also progressed development of Fish Mainland’s website and branding, including its logo.

You will be able to find them on www.fishmainland.nz It is important to ask why would a group of South Islanders design Fish Mainland to be mandated to represent the interests of all 100,000+ South Islanders

who fish?

The answer starts with acknowledging the inevitable problems that arise in shared fisheries; those where commercial, recreational and Māori customary fishers have a shared interest, and they value their share quite differently.

These problems can lead to inter-sectoral tensions and conflicts over access to fisheries and preferred fishing grounds. If allowed to worsen, these problems could adversely affect the management of fisheries to the detriment of all fishing sectors.

The failure to address these problems is largely due to successive governments’ objectives having focused on benefiting commercial fisheries and settling Treatybased claims to fisheries

resources. These objectives include clarifying roles and involvement in management processes and developing organisations to represent their interests.

The focus on commercial and customary fisheries has often come at a cost to the recreational fishing experience, causing an imbalance in the management objectives for shared fisheries.

Furthermore, conservation objectives for the nearshore environment, such as marine protected areas, are often focused on reducing or eliminating fishing of all sorts, even though other factors may pose greater threats to the marine environment or explain changes in the availability of fisheries.

This ongoing imbalance

largely explains why several attempts to reform the management of recreational fisheries have failed (e.g.

2000 Soundings, 2006 Shared Fisheries, 2010 Securing an Amateur Fishing Future and 2013 FISHinFuture Search).

However, each failure has led to an increasing awareness that change is inevitable.

Recreational fishing is too important to be ignored and continually disadvantaged.

And, effective, professional representation of recreational fishing interests is the missing link in addressing the imbalance in management objectives and inevitable problems in shared fisheries.

This situation largely explains why several South Island fishing and boating clubs and individual

fishers have recognised the need for collective representation. They realise that if joined together, they can accomplish a lot more than if they continue to work individually or in small groups.

The South Island Iwi and commercial fishing interests also recognise the benefits of having an organisation that is mandated to represent recreational fishers’ interests.

Fish Mainland has the in-principle support of all nine South Island Iwi, along with the support of the commercial representative organisations that would directly engage with Fish Mainland on shared fisheries problems.

Jim Crossland, Chair of the working group, says, “The scale of work to be done on behalf of recreational fishers is well beyond the

level that many of us would be prepared to volunteer.

A professional, adequately funded representative organisation is long overdue.

The Fish Mainland website allows individuals and groups to sign up as members for free. It also provides for members and non-members alike to make donations, knowing that your donations will go towards ensuring sustainable use of the marine environment and its resources,” says Jim. “At this early stage, Fish Mainland needs your show of support, especially while we work with Government on the best way to secure adequate funding.”

Please direct any enquiries to Jim Crossland – 021 0294 5996 / 03 355 9433 bayfieldenter@xtra.co.nz

Issue 172 7

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8

THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - JANUARY 2020

Front Cover Story

Afternoon delight— snapper wise

Captain’s Log: Beam me up spotty

Number eight wire holds legend together

Dan Govier

Over the peak summer fishing season, the boat ramp in Nelson Harbour is congested from three or four in the morning and late comers find themselves parking well down the road from the carpark. It’s clearly no secret that change of light first thing is a magic time to catch fish, especially snapper. However, snapper feed at other times of the day and late afternoon or evening can be just as productive.

Of course, the sea breeze does come up and it can be a little lumpy, but the snapper don’t seemed to mind. There tends to be less boats out, so the ramp is less congested, parking is not an issue, and—it’s kind of peaceful.

On this occasion, Pete Connolly joined me for a run to mid Tasman Bay where we anchored in 25m of water. Conditions were ideal, with a good incoming tide punching through to late evening. Current is a factor when targeting snapper; they like some flow in the tide.

We were using the well proven Black Magic Snapper Snatcher flasher rigs baited

In a past life as a school teacher, I dabbled in yachting so I could pass on the experience to kids. I remember I loved the experience; the tranquil almost poetic fluidity of gliding under the influence of wind, physics, and geometry, and the sense of immediate connection with the elements.

with anchovies. While the movement, luminosity and colour attract predatory fish, these rigs always work best when baited.

Snapper will feed at certain times of the tide, the duration of the bite time influenced by many factors.

Often it is a waiting game but perseverance does pay off with snapper. When they struck, the action was frenetic, with powerful runs and big thumping head

shakes telegraphed through the line. These were big fish and enjoyable to catch, but there is nothing to be gained by stressing large numbers of fish just for fun. Even in 25m there is a risk these big fish could suffer from barotrauma and potentially die—so, after four good fish, we put a seal on the day and went home.

The fish were still biting, but we had our feed. The one on the front cover weighed 21 lb… and I didn’t have to lose any sleep to catch it.

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Arguably New Zealand’s most legendary yacht designer and boatbuilder whose career spanned a productive half century.

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absorbed in an immensely satisfying journey. In typically Kiwi fashion, I think the best way to finish is with an understatement from the beginning: “Townson is a lad of good character, sincere, honest and reliable. He should give a good account of himself as he has had sound education

But his legacy is giltedged—the champion racing yachtsman was self-taught in the craft of yacht design and boat building, yet was ‘responsible for a unique body of work, which filled a special niche in New Zealand’s rich boating history.’ The full story of this remarkable man and his equally prodigious contribution to yachting can be found in the stunning new biography, penned by longtime friend and colleague Brian Peet, Des Townson—a sailing legacy.

It is a beautifully written and crafted book, commensurate with the precision and quality of Townson’s own work.

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Issue 172 9

Beating the feet for canal treats Elliot Hendry

The Diamond Hunter

Spring is my favourite time of the year to fish the canals, the trout have finished spawning and are feeding hard to recover condition lost over the winter months. The temperature generally above 0 degrees is a bonus too!

On this trip I was joined by my mate Chris and after driving around the different canals we found one flowing reasonably well. I tied on a 1/8th ounce sinker to match the flow with an 8lb flurocarbon leader and started drifting various flies, eggs and baits until I found one the fish were keyed on to. Once that happened, I began to hook fish fairly regularly, mostly small rainbow and browns 1-4lbs but the occasional bigger one up to 10lbs.

If I’m not hooking fish I like to chop and change what I’m using every few casts.

A common mistake I see is people using the same thing all day because it has worked for them in the past.

Every day can be different at the canals!

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A well conditioned 9lb rainbow

This was Chris’s first attempt at drift fishing and he soon picked up the technique and started hooking fish too. At the end of the day I found I’d walked 25,000 steps, which is approximately 20kms! Sturdy footwear, sun protection and plenty of water are essential for this style of fishing.

The next morning, we returned to the same spot

to find there was hardly any flow. These conditions can be challenging, where high quality gear and advanced technique come into their own. Dropping down to a 1/16th sinker and 6lb leader, I found I could still get a reasonable drift and continued how I’d left offhooking fish, while other anglers struggled in the difficult conditions. Again,

Extend your long distance shooting Bruce Harvey—Cable Bay Shooting Range

Over recent years, a good deal of attention has been paid to long distance shooting and modern technology has certainly created opportunity for shooters and hunters to stretch their barrels and comfortably hit targets or animals over distances previously considered wishful thinking. But consistency over long distance requires a certain skill set—and good gear.

With all shooting, be it target shooting or hunting game, fundamental skills need to be taught and ingrained, otherwise bad habits creep in and can result in regular disappointment. Most firearm owners don’t get hunting very often, so when you do, you don’t want to miss an opportunity because of poor technique or a badly sighted rifle.

Good gear is critical to good marksmanship. Most rifles now, even cheap ones, can shoot MOA (minute of angle) or a one inch group at

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100 yards—or better if we do our job. To do that, you need good ammo, a quality scope, and GOOD RINGS. The biggest problem I see on my range is rubbish scopes and rings. The rings are more important than the scope because it doesn’t matter how good the rifle and scope are, if the rings move.

Next thing to consider, is your rifle and scope set up properly, and can you sight it in? This is a basic skill that sets a solid foundation from which to develop accurate shooting: if you have never been taught properly, don’t be embarrassed but put your hand up and we can teach you. With practice, sighting a rifle can be done with four or five shots, but I have seen several boxes of ammo used to no effect! That ammo would be much better used for practice.

If you have a modern long distance scope with a ballistic turret, you need to know how to work out your adjustments as well and they need to be exact if you

intend to use them. I check my ballistics every time I go to the range because I don’t want to wound an animal.

Long distance shooting is more than just holding the crosshairs steady on a target or animal. Judging wind requires knowledge and practice. Understanding trigger pressure, execution, and follow through are other factors we teach. Along with dry firing practice techniques, holding steady, body positioning, and breathing.

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no monsters were landed but even these smaller fish put up a fantastic fight on light tackle, with some blistering runs and aerial aerobatics.

After I landed the best fish for the morning, another excellent conditioned 9lb rainbow, the action died down so we decided to head home content with a couple of fish each destined for the smoker.

Left to be raised by her destitute, hard drinking father but, in fact, brought up by their trusted Zulu friend and business partner Joseph One-Shoe, Clementine’s journey becomes one fraught with tragedy, adversity, duplicity, deceit, and triumph where least expected.

It is a multi-layered, poignant novel that explores themes such as the racial norms of the time, the English class system, colonialism, greed, power, love, loyalty, trust, and family dynamics. The scaffolding of the story is the discovery of an enormous flawless diamond by Clem’s father and One-Shoe—an almost predictable cliché.

Supposedly the key to securing their future, the discovery comes at a price with almost Tutankhamunesque consequences.

However, Macintosh uses the prop to deliver the most compelling and intriguing storyline.

For those yet to read her work, she spins a yarn like Jeffrey Archer at his peak.

Thoroughly recommended.

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10 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - JANUARY 2020

Coutta’s Cut:

TIDES OF CHANGE Poppa Mike

Time to start with a quiz question

By the time you read this another Christmas will be well and truly over. As Herr Crimpy has put the pressure on us abused and down trodden writers to have the articles in early, I shouldn’t be able to tell you what I got in my stocking but I can.

In which ocean would you find the Farallon Islands? a) Indian Ocean b) Pacific Ocean c) North Atlantic Ocean d) South Atlantic Ocean This collective group of 10 islets and numerous rocky outcrops, also referred to as the Farallones, is just a few miles from one of the world’s biggest cities. Perhaps another question might help you narrow down your answer?

Bluntnose the shark Photo Credit Peter Pyle

a) Jakarta, b) San Francisco, c) New York, d) Rio de Janeiro.

Every September the world’s largest and densest congregations of great white sharks assemble 27 miles off the mainland, a craggy array of sharp peaks earlier mariners called the ‘Devils Teeth.’ The sharks seem to favour the south coast including Mirounga Bay and Indian Head, now dubbed as ‘rat pack headquarters.’

The islands have a long history of attempted settlement, as a commercial food source for fur seals, fishing, sea urchins, and egg gathering. For some

No cool like an old cool

time it was a popular spear fishing area until one of the best divers got taken by a big shark and, although he survived, the dive clubs decided to make the area off limits.

found other foods in shark stomachs—a cuckoo clock, a fur cape, car licence plates, lobster pots, the head of a buffalo, an entire reindeer, and even a man clad in a full suit of armour.

Today the islands are off limits to the public; the three houses on the island are the homes for the lighthouse keepers and marine scientists who find much to study in the water and on the land.

Species such as the different breeds of fur seals are there in big numbers, the favourite food of the sharks. However, these researchers have

If you haven’t already done so by now, you might like to pat yourself on the back if you selected b) and b) from above. If you can get your hands on the book called Devils Teeth by Susan Casey (ISBN -13: 978-0-80508011-7), or search Google, then take a live tourist boat cruise out from San Francisco.

My wife and daughters know me reasonably well by now so they don’t try to surprise me with anything. They know if I want something I just go and buy it and don’t bother dropping hints and waiting for Christmas. Lynne the Ruthless reckons I’m the most boring person to buy for, but I strongly disagree.

I don’t consider Hunting & Fishing gift vouchers to be the least bit boring and can tell you confidently there will be a few of them in my Christmas stocking. While I once again narrowly missed out on the ‘Husband of the Year’ award, I think I’ve been pretty well behaved with only the odd slip up, so I would expect the value of the vouchers to reflect this.

The next major decision I will have is what to spend them on. I’m pretty good

for rods, reels, and other major accessories, and I try not to use my vouchers for minor stuff like hooks and sinkers. They are the things you pick up as you need.

On the subject of hooks and sinkers, that has been the extent of my terminal tackle when getting a feed of eating fish, like snapper, gurnard, golden snapper, and tarakihi ever since I started fishing.

The only exception was when I lived in the Territory, where barramundi was the main species and six-inch Nilsmasters were the lure of choice.

The biggest barra’ were nearly always caught on a live poddy mullet. Still on this subject, I was almost offended the other day when some smart arse put on a fishing site, bait fisherman are the boomers of the recreational fishery.

Now, I can see the amusing side of Chloe Whatshername

Coutta using the word in parliament but when someone, probably her boyfriend if she has one, using it in this vein, well, that’s crossing the line.

Apart from soft baits and 400 gram jigs, I initially hook up kingfish before donating both fish and jig to bronze whaler sharks, which I believe are bred and released by various tackle companies. My favourite method of fishing is still a piece of skippy, kahawai, or, occasionally, half a pilchard.

I know it’s considered old school by some, especially those on TV shows, who wear what appears to be lycra with tackle company logos on it and who also appear to have stolen their wives’ scarves to wear around their faces. Not sure if it’s because they don’t want to be recognized or they think it looks cool.

So, how am I going to spend my vouchers? Maybe I’ll splash out on one of those flash lycra outfits, complete with face scarf like the experts wear or perhaps not. At 65 I’m probably a bit old to try and look cool.

SOUTH ISLAND Fighting Bay

catch fish... not cables SeveRe PeNALtIeS APPLY FOR ILLeGAL ACtIvItY IN tHe CPZ. CALL 0800 tHe GRID, tHe PAtROL veSSeL 027 444 2288 OR vISIt www.tRANSPOweR.CO.NZ NO FISHING of any type (including trawling, crayfishing, line fishing, taking of paua or kina, setting of nets).

NO ANCHORING. TrANSIT mArkerS AND LIgHT YeLLOw wArNINg SIgN

Permitted activities: crayfishing, the taking of paua and kina and the use of set nets ONLY within 200 metres of the low watermark AND outside the yellow warning signs located at either side of Fighting Bay provided that such activities are only carried out in daylight, and any vessel used to support them does not anchor or fix to the seabed by any means.

Cook Strait Cable Protection Zone (CPZ)

Issue 172 11 Planning a wilderness adventure this summer? Then consider the authentic option, but be open to an array of opportunities, above and below the water. Head south to Fiordland and remember…

The ‘F’ word is not just fishing Sheer, vertical rock walls and clear water create a stunning portal into this unique underwater world. For the avid diver it is a bucket list experience and one that’s difficult not to repeat. Apart from the variety of marine

Caretaker of Resolution Island, Richard Henry, at his camp on Pigeon Island in 1910

life, it remains one of the few regions in the world where you can dive among black corals.

The experience can be, in equal measures, idyllic and challenging. Some divers, losing track of their depth, find themselves in difficulty; strong currents can be very localised and disorientating.

Conversely, the ecosystem is fragile; one careless kick and a fin can destroy decades of growth among delicate marine communities, so there’s much to think about, plan for, and prepare prior to an underwater adventure in Fiordland. It is recommended you go with an experienced operator, or seek advice if planning your own trip.

Fiordland boasts a rich array of marine mammals, the coastline and inner fiords providing habitat for resident populations of bottlenose dolphin and fur seals.

Dusky and common dolphins, and southern right and humpback whales are also regular visitors—the

Hunting red deer in coastal Fiordland.

Credit FiordlandBoysHunting.NZ

humpback passing through on their migration between Antarctica and the tropics.

Above the tide zone, Fiordland is, for the most part, public conservation land. Fiordland National Park extends from western Te Waewae Bay, north to Martins Bay, and is part of the 2.6 million hectare area Te Wāhipounamu-South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. This vast wilderness is home to iconic New Zealand species such as kākāpō, kiwi, rock-wren, whio, and South Island saddleback or tīeke. Coastal Fiordland is well known for its pest-free islands, some of which have never had rats, mice, or possums present, so have never suffered from their devastating impacts. While a number— but not all—are Open Access, ensuring these islands remain pest-free is everyone’s responsibility.

Finally, the region’s history, both early Polynesian Māori and European, is rich and fascinating. Evidence of early exploration by Māori goes back five-to-eight hundred years and

place names along the coast point to features that were significant to these early seafaring arrivals, including Tamatea (Dusky Sound) named after the important explorer.

Captain Cook later sailed the Endeavour up the Fiordland Coast on his first visit to New Zealand. In 1773, on his second expedition, the crew explored Tamatea Dusky Sound and Cook provided the first European impressions of Fiordland’s abundant fishing. It was a diversely rich region then—as it is now—and still well worth exploring today.

There are many great books on Fiordland to dip into. The Fiordland Marine Guardians user’s guide Beneath the Reflections includes a bibliography, as well as useful information for shore parties and biosecurity requirements for pest-free islands.

Or you can just sit, gaze, and lose yourself in the expanse and beauty of this primordial landscape—and feel it slowly creeping under your skin. After all… Fiordland is ‘fantastic’!

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

12 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - JANUARY 2020

PISTOL SHOOTING Brian Bishop

Kiwis easy to hijack!

2019 is done and dusted, and not soon enough for a lot of us.

It was a bad year in some ways but it also showed the strengths of some to be equal to the task. The lies and threats the firearm community had to weather from the politicians and media was shameful. The media has been weak and as badly informed as those we rely on to lead us, so it’s no wonder things got so bad.

That was last year and they haven’t finished us shooters, with more restrictions expected, because we are soft targets or maybe I should say, were soft. It is time we stepped up, and showed our strength; forget the media and expecting them to do anything for us. Instead it is time for every firearm owner to step up and be heard.

We need to talk to as many non-shooters as we can and explain what is going on; that firearms’ law changes have nothing to do with the Christchurch mosque shootings, and that the Government and Police have hijacked that hideous act and public emotion to rush a

raft of law changes through.

These severely impact the rights of a large group of law abiding New Zealand citizens, who are guilty of nothing more than choosing a hobby or sport that offends the prejudices of a largely urban minority.

What should alarm democratic citizens, regardless of their stance on firearms, is that Labour is rushing these changes into law BEFORE the Commission of Inquiry has completed its investigation as to how the events of Christchurch occurred.

Introduce as many nonshooters to your sport and give them a go. Time and time again, when I have had new people out to the range, their smiles have been huge, which means another person understands a little more of what is involved in our sport.

If they are voting age, all the better.

Join an organisation or club or both. This is about strength in numbers—and most of us are old enough to vote. Those in power don’t like the idea of losing, so let’s show them that this is a very real possibility if they don’t start acting in a fair and reasonable manner.

Finally, get out and enjoy our sport. Show everyone that the firearm community is very diverse; made up from every group in the country with no restrictions to age, gender, religion, or physical abilities.

As a footnote: if you haven’t tried pistol shooting, why not? It requires a different set of skills, trigger control, and hand eye coordination. There are 9 different sections and while 3gun and Multi have taken a hit, they are working within the changes, so they will still test our skills. Have a look on the Pistol New Zealand web site and find a range close to you. I went 24 years ago and haven’t stopped— and most of my best friends are other pistol shooters.

Make your next hunting experience a

Fiordland Hunting Experience

• Hunting • Fishing • Diving

Amberley Beach Surfcasting Competition Sunday 19 January 2020 The Amberley District Lions would like to extend an invitation to those who enjoy nothing better than casting a line into the surf to try their luck at the 27th annual Surfcasting Competition at Amberley Beach.

in the number of women and children that regularly enter. Nothing makes a parent prouder than seeing their child or children enjoying an outdoor activity such as fishing, especially when it is close to their own heart. Whether they win a fishing prize or not, every child takes away a prize for participating. There are many spot prizes for seniors too at the end of the day.

With participant numbers expected to exceed 250 at the upcoming competition, this event has become firmly entrenched in the competition calendar.

There is both a Senior and a Junior (5-12yrs) competition.

Fish are judged on length and the competition also includes a section for the largest crab.

Organisers are keen for the event to be viewed as a fun day out for the whole family and this is reflected

This year the competition has a new principal sponsor, ‘Rivers to Ranges’, a specialist fishing and hunting store, situated in Rangiora.

Locals will be familiar with the store as it was formally known as Hamill’s Rangiora North Canterbury, and those further afield may recognise owner James Morris’s name

The new owners and North Canterbury locals James and Anna Morris have agreed to continue the former owner of ‘Hamills’ Ashley Cook’s longstanding support of this event.

While James Morris’s passion for hunting will be reflected in the direction his and Anna’s business takes in the future. ‘Rivers to Ranges’ will continue to cater for customers’ freshwater and saltwater fishing needs.

Living in the Amberley district themselves, Anna and James are enthusiastic about their involvement with the Amberley Beach Surfcasting Competition and plan to catch up with competitors on the day.

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Issue 172 13

STICK YOUR OAR IN

CRIMPTOON

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

The balance of pāua Dear Ed, Once again, recreational fishers are penalised, with the 50% drop in pāua take, 10 down to 5 per day. There has been NO change for commercial, NO change for customary—only to fishers who do not have a voice. The figures I have before the new drop in recreational quota for area 7, are: commercial, 93.6 tonnes; customary, 15 tonnes; and recreational, 15 tonnes.

So I am assuming, that after the cut, recreational are down to 7.5 tonnes?

Most of fishers know that MPI fouled up big time after the ’16 Kaikoura earthquake, and the easiest way to right the problem, is drop the recreational quota. MPI should take a long look at themselves, instead of making sure they have a job tomorrow. I say, drop the customary as well. Even better, make the same rule for all, recreational and customary… excluding commercial, of course?

More and more people are using that piece of paper called a permit,

even some commercial fishers!

I ask MPI to get it sorted without cutting the weakest link.

Phil Russ Ward Ed Replies: This is such an important issue, I offered the Pāua Industry Council a right of reply.

Dear Phil, You are wrong on several counts in your letter.

The commercial pāua catch in Marlborough (PAU7) was cut by 50% in October 2016, and a further 10% voluntary reduction in catch on top of that has been in place since the November 2016 Kaikoura earthquake.

In Kaikoura (PAU3), the commercial catch was cut by 50% immediately after the earthquake in 2016. This was to protect the remaining fishery from displaced catch following the emergency closure of the northern part of that fishery.

In the aftermath of the earthquake, the Ministry considered that displaced recreational catch was a threat to the

health of both remaining fisheries, Marlborough and Kaikoura. It has taken three years for the Ministry to address this by adjusting bag and accumulation limits for recreational fishers.

When the areas closed due to the earthquake have recovered enough to be re opened by the Minister, you can be certain that the Ministry will review recreational bag limits accordingly.

Cheers Storm Stanley Chair of the Pāua Industry Council

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Issue 172

THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - JANUARY 2020

What are the birds telling us?

Catching Birds, Not Fish

Seabirds are designed to find and catch fish. They are good indicators of what’s below the surface – which makes them angler’s best friend, until they get caught on your line.

Birds to watch this summer

Fluttering Shearwater / Pakahā

Photo credit Herb Christophers

Black Petrel / Tāiko

Photo credit Neil Fitzgerald

An independent report by Dragonfly Data Science, The capture of seabirds and marine mammals in

Photo credit B. Whylie

Pakahā forage in large flocks, sometimes thousands of birds. They indicate small schooling bait fish pushed up by predators like kahawai and trevally. They tend to hang around New Zealand in the off-season but, like many of us, might take a jaunt to Australia over winter.

They probably won’t bother you but last year we heard that three pakahā were drowned by a single trace so make sure you take all your rubbish, line and hooks home with you.

Tāiko can be good indicators of bait fish and will go for your bait – diving up to 6 metres for squid and small fish, often to feed a chick waiting patiently on Aotea / Great Barrier Island. The adults will be recently returned from South America, but the Hauraki Gulf is the only place in the world black petrel breed.

The species is in serious trouble so sink your bait deep to avoid hooking them.

Photo credit Neil Fitzgerald

Australasian Gannet / Tākupu

Photo credit Dennis Buurman

New Zealand non-commercial fisheries, estimated there could be up to 40,000 captures of seabirds by recreational fishers per year. This includes birds tangled in fishing lines and birds being hooked. About three quarters of those are released, but we don’t really know how many birds survive capture.

We all need to adopt seabird smart fishing practices to reduce this.

Braid One recreational fishing issue in particular that has developed over recent years is the increasing use of braid. Because braid doesn’t stretch it can be deadly to sea birds by cutting them if they fly into it at high speed or by getting tangled. Once braid has knotted itself around a bird, it is extremely difficult to remove.

Sabiki Rigs Another serious issue is the use of sabiki rigs for catching bait, or being used by kids off wharves and discarded carelessly where seabirds can swallow the hooks or become entangled. It is not uncommon for one sabiki rig to capture or entangle multiple birds.

Flesh-Footed Shearwater / Toanui

Gannets circling high over a small area indicates they are waiting for predators to push schooling bait fish (like mackerel, herring and pilchards) to the surface.

Shallow dives can indicate piper or saury, a steeper dive can mean pilchards or anchovies.

Toanui indicate small fish, small squid and crustaceans. They aren’t fussy and can be a real pain for boaties, so keep your bait and scraps well hidden. These shearwaters are another species that is in serious trouble. In the off-season they feed off the east coast of Japan and may have been exposed to pollutants after the 2011 tsunami and Fukushima nuclear reactor disaster.

Grey-Faced Petrel / Ōi

Advice to Anglers

Ōi indicate squid, crustaceans and small fish. They can dive up to 20 metres, looking more like a fish underwater than a bird. Long lines are the biggest risk to these fellas at sea.

Knowing that seabirds are looking for food, you can make your boat less attractive to them by keeping it clean. Use a bait bucket or bait board with a lid and keep scraps covered. Keep your deck clean and take the bait off any unattended rods.

Avoidance

Seabirds are fast and many of them will dive

Catch fish not birds Shellfish closure and restrictions PAUA RULES FOR CHALLENGER AREA

The Kaikōura and South Marlborough area from Marfells Beach to the Conway River remains closed to the taking of shellfish and seaweed species (excluding rock lobster and scampi).

Ordinary (Blackfoot) The daily bag limit for pāua in Canterbury, Marlborough andPaua Nelson (outside the Kaikōura and South Marlborough closed area) is changing and being reduced to 5 per gatherer, and the accumulation limit for two or more days take to 10 pāua or 1.25kg of minced meat. This applies to both black-foot and yellow-foot pāua. These changes take effect on 12 December 2019.

PAUA RULES FOR CHALLENGER AREA

Pāua the South Ordinaryin (Blackfoot) Paua Island

Minimum size: Daily limit:

125mm 10

Rules Paua Yellowfoot • Use a flat blade tool to remove paua.

• Measure your catch before leaving the water.

• Underwater breathing gear (UBA, scuba) is prohibited when taking or possessing paua.

Minimum size: Daily limit:

Ordinary Blackfoot Pāua Yellowfoot Paua

125mm 10

Minimum size:

• Paua must remain in the shell until landed Daily limit: above the mean high water mark (including from a boat).

Yellowfoot Pāua

80mm 10

Rules • Use a flat blade tool to remove paua.

• Measure your catch before leaving the water.

• When daily limits are accumulated the maximum number of paua that one person can have in their possession at any one time is 20 paua or 2.5kgs shucked weight (shell removed). This possession limit applies everywhere including in the home.

• When daily limits are accumulated the IT IS ILLEGAL TO SELL OR TRADE YOUR CATCH. FREE CALL 0800 4 POACHER (0800 476 224) TO REPORT ILLEGAL POACHING OR FISHING. maximum number of paua that one person

can have inservices: their possession at any one time Check the rules using our FREE is 20 paua or 2.5kgs shucked weight (shell

Petrels and shearwaters follow boats and a�ack baits above and under the water. Sink bait fast and burley deep. A teaspoon of tuna oil on the water can keep them away so you can keep fishing.

Diving birds like gannets and terns work boil ups. Fishing around the sides and rear of the boil up minimises the chance of entangling them.

• Underwater breathing gear (UBA, scuba) is prohibited when taking or possessing paua.

• Paua must remain in the shell until landed above the mean high water mark (including from a boat).

Shags are a�racted to small fish and live bait. Using larger live baits will deter them. You may want to move on if you’re catching small fish anyway.

Seagulls are a�racted to used or fresh bait. Cover your bait, and don't leave una�ended baited rods in the rod holders.

For thethe fullword recreational fishing rules, visit your local office or check www.fisheries.govt.nz/rules • Download our NZ Fishing Rules app by texting ‘app’This to possession 9889.

The appapplies removed). limit size: you 80mm everywhere including in the home. worksMinimum even when have no coverage.

Daily limit: 10 • Text the name of the species you are fishing for (e.g. rock lobster) to 9889 and receive legal size and bag limit via return text.

IT IS ILLEGAL TO SELL OR TRADE YOUR CATCH. FREE CALL 0800 4 POACHER (0800 476 224) TO REPORT ILLEGAL POACHING OR FISHING. • Visit fisheries.govt.nz/rules or pop into your local office.

For the full recreational fishing rules, visit your local office or check www.fisheries.govt.nz/rules

Fishing rules and restrictions change regularly and are different for each area – please check every time before you fish.

It is illegal to sell or trade your catch.

Call 0800 4 POACHER to report illegal fishing.

15

Most NZ seabirds are protected by law. It is an offence to deliberately harass or harm any protected species.

6 metres or more. Once you’ve prepared your burley container or set your line, sink it deep in the water as fast as you can. Keeping your rod tip low will prevent birds from becoming entangled in your line.

Are you smarter than a seabird? Streamers, water pistols and bird of prey kites may help to create a safe zone around your boat. Like puppies, seabirds can be fooled by a quick feint in the wrong direction before you drop your line in.

If nothing else is working sometimes the only thing left to do is stop fishing for a while or move to a different area.

Doing less damage Crushing or removing the barb from hooks makes them easier to remove. If you’ve hooked a bird with a barbed hook, first bring the bird in as gently as possible. A net can help minimise the damage to the bird and wrapping the bird in a towel will help you control it, especially if you cover its eyes. Be careful not to cover the bird’s nostrils though.

Control the bird’s beak without twisting it, either remove or crush the barb, and delicately remove the hook from the bird, doing as little damage as you can. If a bird swallows your hook it’s important to cut the line as close as possible to the point of entry.

The hook will dissolve in the bird’s stomach, but leaving any line dangling from a bird is a real threat to its survival.

Subscribe The recreational fishing team at MPI keep subscribers up to date with what’s happening in their local areas of interest. Email recfishingteam@mpi.govt.nz to subscribe.

For more information about seabird conservation visit www.southernseabirds.org.

16 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - JANUARY 2020

Optically Speaking Pulsar night vision and thermal imaging optics are similar in their design and functionality, but quite different in the way they form an image.

Night vision Since the launch of the Pulsar Digisight N550 in 2009, Pulsar have lead the digital night vision market with products of increasing performance, features, and reliability. All Pulsar digital night vision optics are fitted with advanced near-infrared (NIR) optimised monochrome sensors for peak performance after dusk when the earth is bathed in invisible infrared (IR) from the sun, and in partial moonlight, without

Ant Corke

Night vision or thermal imaging?

the need to use additional IR illumination. In extreme darkness, the integral ‘stealth’ infrared illuminator forms a bright image with no visible source. In contrast, other brands of night vision optics fitted with colour sensors have poor night performance, often requiring powerful IR illuminators to form a useable image.

The ’stealth’ IR illuminator supplied with many Pulsar and Yukon night vision products has an invisible source, ideal when observing spooky animals, and for security situation when it is vital to observe and record covertly whilst awaiting police back-up.

Because night vision amplifies ambient light, or is reliant on an IR beam, the image is formed by surface reflection in the same way as our eyes see in daylight or torchlight. This is important for positively identification, whether whilst hunting, or for security when the image can be recorded and presented as court evidence.

Pulsar thermal imaging optics were first launched in 2013 with the ground breaking Pulsar Quantum HD38. Since then, the Pulsar range of thermal optics have become the brand by which others are judged, because Pulsar were the first to mass produce thermal imagers with modern state-of-the-art European components, and

During the hour after sunset and in 1/2 or more moonlight, a Pulsar digital night vision optic can be used without additional IR illumination

Thermal Imaging

have driven the industry with new and innovative products.

A thermal imager is sensitive to long wavelength infrared (LWIR) that is emitted by warm objects.

Unlike visible light and near infrared, LWIR can pass through light foliage, mist and smoke, which is a huge advantage when rapid detection of animals and humans is paramount in daylight as wells at night.

This is vital for applications such as firefighting, search and rescue, security, enforcement, and marine emergencies. It is also of great benefit for hunting and pest control in foliage rich environments and for safely determining the background

A thermal forms an image from radiated heat, enabling the observer to spot animals in extreme darkness as well as in daylight.

safety of a shot. Most hunting accidents occur at close range in woodland, a thermal imager is an important tool for positive target identification, with the additional benefits of spotting hard to see animals and carcass recovery.

in conjunction with a night vision riflescope which is ideal for casual pest control and recreational hunting.

Professional pest controllers choose both Pulsar handheld thermal imagers and Pulsar thermal rifle sights to cope with variations in terrain, such as shooting rabbits in long grass and tussock, and for shooting wallabies at longer distances.

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Which technology best suits my requirements?

Night vision and thermal imaging technologies each have their own advantages.

Night vision is excellent when a clear line-of-sight exists between the observer and target. Pulsar and Yukon night vision rifle sights are ideal for use in large open paddocks for rabbit control and for shooting deer and pigs. Often, a thermal monocular is used

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Issue 172 17

Making a meal of it Dammit, 5.00am, I’m late.

I’ve had my nose poked in other people’s business.

Computerised social media had distracted me from nature’s welcome to a new day’s dawning. The young starlings, those whose nest litters the doorstep with twigs and droppings, they’re onto their third course of parental grub-drop already.

The tits tittered and the fantails, yeah well... tittered too.

self into truck and hurry to critter central. Just in time too, as the sun crests the coastal range and the dew begins to sparkle. Within minutes I’d begin to harvest bunny bounty—the decadesold Brno .22 cracked the neighbourhood into alarm mode.

It is with great haste I hurl firearms, ammunition, and

Worse, when I lob a bullet into Hare’s skull and collect both their carcasses, I discover his recently deceased partner is a buck not a doe. Hmmm, not the first time someone lost their head over a bit of tail.

Two’s company, three’s a meal.

The first pair are loyal to each other till death do them part. Others, nervous on the edge of cover, duck and dive as I arrive. Three. Then four. So now I need two more.

It’s already too warm to run the pig dogs, too still for them to surprise a boar in his bed. It’s the .223 and the .22, which get dragged from the gun safe then the go-to rifles for a morning like this and only then if I rattle my dags, shake a leg, and squeal my wheels.

I have a theory about morning bunnies. I reckon they linger longer before the sun warms the day and the thermals begin to ascend. They’ve experienced generations of predation.

They don’t do clocks, they just sense that, x (light) + y (heat) = an aerial assault.

Just minutes before that crucial period, they shuffle closer to cover and keep an eye on the sky. Hawk eye.

enthusiastically near its tail-end. Now this sure is some strange style of CPR. Certainly not the style I was shown at a recent First Aid Course.

Bunny number six, the last one I need to make up numbers, has now hidden from predators both aerial and four-wheeled. The dappled cover and cooler temperatures of mature forest beckon then, the last resort before the sun radiates its summer heat and sends us all indoors.

Then there’s, what the heck is that? It’s a hare. It’s a rabbit. It’s a hare copulating with a resistant rabbit.

It’s not a reposing rabbit I surprised as I 4wd through a foxglove-cloaked clearing at speed. It’s a red deer gorging on grass and it’s just the kind of deer one looks for in early summer. No udder, no fawn cached nearby. Nope, it’s a young stag and fair game.

Startled by my proximity, Hare dismounts and dashes off. Bun, stunned, hopped in a stiff-legged manner then paused, nervous. With a crack, the .22 sends a tiny projectile heart-wards and Bun topples over. Then Hare, who’d been lurking nearby, whips out and attempts to save his fellow lagomorph by pumping

Till now the .223 had lain redundant on the far side of the passenger seat. In the ensuing scramble, slings tangled and rifles rattled, stag ran and door flings as I emerged as if tossed by an

Kim Swan

airplane ejector seat.

Magazine—click. Bolt— slide. Scope—target sourced and crosshairs centred. The hyperventilating became a long-held breath as my aim wobbled with buck fever.

Despite the hurry, the hyperventilating (followed by oxygen deprivation), the long blink, the flinch, the trigger jerk, and the pulled shot, it all came together, as it usually does.

Deer down, nice shot.

The deer is a hummel.

Despite all kinds of myths and misbeliefs, he’s just an ordinary average kinda deer bloke. He’s not nutless. He wasn’t going to grow into an extraordinarily large animal. He just has coronets with stumpy little nubs of antler; he would have never grown a rack, not that that worries me one jot. I’m going to eat him, his antlers, or lack thereof, not of any importance whatsoever.

So I exit the area with both the rifles exercised, their barrels grimy and

A confused hare

new notches on their belts

gate. Just one more? Don’t

and there, exposed and

mind if I do - to go with the

vulnerable, is a bunny

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18 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - JANUARY 2020

COOKING with CRIMPY

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For plain medallions I season top and bottom with a sprinkle of salt and cook. Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice, a dash of white pepper, and homemade Aioli.

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Issue 172 19

‘Yakking about tarakihi

A good size tarakihi

Blair Whiting

Big lips, fins like a glider, and chrome silver.

The tarakihi needs no introduction to New Zealand fishers. It’s a favourite fish to catch for many people and can also be fickle at times. Being off your mark by just five metres can make or break your day.

Kayaking comes with some distance restrictions, so I use my head and think outside the box. Where can I find these fish close to shore?

sifting through the bottom.

When I have found a suitable area, I will drop the anchor up-wind then feed the rope out until I reach the sign.

I begin by hunting the weed line looking for fish on the sounder. Not on the rock, but on the sand.

Tarakihi will sit here and feed on crustaceans by

These fish are commonly fished for at 25 – 40 m. If you look hard enough it’s actually possible to catch them as shallow as nine metres. One of my favourite spots is in 11m and I commonly find them from there up to 15 m. These areas do not hold large numbers of fish, but more solitary moochers up to a respectable 40 cm. North of Hawkes Bay I have some stunning marks in 16 – 20 m.

A few great little bits of reef rise a few metres and drop onto the perfect weed-line.

Big lipped tarakihi

Tarakihi have a small mouth so you want to use something they can fit in there. Flashers like the 3/0 Tarakihi Terminator are perfect. Another way is to go all the way down to KLT 1/0 hooks. A few of these on a ledger is ideal for catching fish right up to 45cm. They are strong and fit well into their mouth. In deeper water, 3/0 is more

appropriate for larger fish.

Tarakihi can sometimes be found schooling right up off the bottom, so I like to keep hooks well apart to cover fish sitting higher in the water column.

A bit of berley always helps if they aren’t biting hard. I like to use something oily, with some shellfish content.

Kina/mussel is a good bet.

Hang this about three metres

As Thor played a tune As Thor played a tune on Monument Hut in the Hopkins Valley, I pondered the last few days of back country hunting and 4wd adventures with rising rivers and expectations of success.

The lightning and thunder directly overhead for the better part of the night sees me writing this at 6.00am, the birds have started to sing, dawn is starting to break and the rain has abated allowing us the chance to drive out via a well-worn but challenging trail to Ohau Station. The Garmin inReach Explorer weather update shows it clearing about now to a fine middle of the day, the Dark Sky weather

report is bang on so the next challenge is to get the Ranger Wildtrack and Hilux

out to where we left the trailer for the CFMoto 800.

What is your measure of success when you venture outdoors? Yes we returned with meat for the freezer, no

off the bottom. If you’re in the shallows, keep it on the surface. This will boost your stealth factor.

up to picker fish. You won’t have the problem of baits being ripped off before the target species comes along.

Tarakihi will take a wide variety of baits like squid, mussel, pilchard, and tuna.

The go-to bait would be fresh squid. Try to cut your bait to the size of your thumbnail and keep your hook point exposed. The reason I like squid is how tough it stands

I love how mixed the fishery is on the east coast; you really never know what you are going to get. With a bit of planning, you can catch some excellent eating fish right on your doorstep without even needing to fill a fuel tank up!

to glass and hunt the lower reaches, stories of past trips and family members who are no longer around to enjoy them with. The recalling of anyone after they have been gone for some time is best done with those that knew them well.

partners and family informed of our intentions, key messages to loved ones and the safety of being able to get an accurate weather forecast meant we were able to escape the head of the Rangitata before the river rose to dangerous levels.

It also helped us make decisions on where to spend the last couple of days.

Tony Glentworth

trophies but saw plenty of animals to keep us yearning for more trips. The company, repartee, hut cooking, challenges of stalking and retrieving a downed animal, skill of navigating the 4wd over river crossings and then the peaceful nights spent in well maintained huts. Actually the last is a bit of a stretch as apparently my ability to chainsaw wood throughout the night kept some of my fellow hunting party awake. Oh well, it was peaceful for me.

The camaraderie from this group of family must also be counted as a success on the trip. Games of euchre during the middle of the day as you wait for the end of the day

Add to the successes above, the addition of technology to keep our

20 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - JANUARY 2020

Calling all Man Caves Karl Barlow

The man cave—lots of us have them, big ones, small ones, humble, and extravagant. Full of the stuff our wives won’t let us have in the house. The little nook tucked away that holds our greatest treasures.

Over the years I’ve seen some great ones; ones that are incredible, shrines to our hobbies, be it hunting, fishing, model planes, trains and automobiles, and photography. It’s a topic that is of real interest to many

people and I would love to see, through pages of this publication, your own Man Cave or Lady Lair, so I’ll kick things off with my own.

Mine is a pretty standard hunting man’s Man Cave; dead animal parts adorn walls and floor, hunting books, pictures and, of course, the quintessential beer fridge.

We have a large multi bay barn and one of those bays I have turned into my Man Cave. The walls are clad in rough sawn Douglas fir milled on my wife’s parent’s farm.

There is a collection of old tools from the in laws’ and my granddad even an old Masport push mower that still works.

More stuff!

The cabinets were taken out from an old kitchen and the flitch top is old red beech from the missus’s family farm. The skins around the place are all tanned by me,

A hunting man's cave

although not to very high standards. There are a few horns and jaws on the walls, pride of place is my fallow buck. There is even a buffalo head from down the coast road, a couple of chamois, and a couple of tahr—each and everyone is a memory of past hunts and adventures with family and mates.

wheels,and bits and pieces round off my little haven.

So to you, fellow readers and contributors of The Fishing Paper & Hunting

News, I would love to see what you have tucked away out there so get your photos in with just a few words, and proudly show us what you love the most.

Over 3/4 of my books are first edition hunting books and there are a few gems amongst them, including a signed copy from Bruce Banwell. There are a few wooden wine barrels, some flitches, a couple of wagon

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Issue 172 21

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Editor: Daryl Crimp - 021 472 517 editor@thefishingpaper.co.nz Sub-Editor: Mike Brown Administration & Sales: Annette Bormolini 021 028 73393 - annette@coastalmedia. co.nz Deputy Editor: Ron Prestage rgprestage@xtra.co.nz Printer: Inkwise

The Fishing Paper & Hunting News is published by Coastal Media Ltd. All editorial copy and photographs are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher. Opinions or comments expressed within this publication are not necessarily those of the staff, management or directors of Coastal Media Ltd. Unsolicited editorial, letters, photographs will only be returned if you include a stamped self addressed envelope.

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22 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - JANUARY 2020

A touch of rasta One new prescription dive mask, great underwater viz, a kaleidescope of fishy colours, crusty WW2 history, marine blue lagoons, azure blue spring water holes, throw in a touch of reggae and you have a fair idea of how much I enjoyed the beautiful island of Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu.

Lucky for me these tempting descriptions enticed more Dawnbreakers’ members and after a show of hands and some steady team planning, 10 divers made the ultimate winter getaway!

Vanuatu is a South Pacific Melanesian archipelago made up of 83 small islands of volcanic origin and cover approximately 12,000 square kilometres.

Around 65 of the islands are inhabited. The total population of Vanuatu is just over 200,000.

Espiritu Santo being the largest of those islands, with

Pauline Jansen

its many reefs and wrecks to be explored, numerous white sandy beaches, vibrant culture, friendly people, fresh water Blue Holes and intrepid jungle adventures, it makes for a great family holiday. In other words we had a few extra non-divers tag along for the experience, bringing our contingent up to 14.

During WW2 Santo Island was used by the American navy and air forces as a military supply and support base. Following the end of the war, the Americans dumped most of their used military and naval equipment into the local lagoon creating a now popular scuba diving site. Of note would have to be the shipwreck of the SS President Coolidge, only metres from shore with her bow at 20 metres, one of the world’s best wreck dives. She was a converted luxury liner that hit a sea mine.

Dive Crew Santo-Angus, Katie, Stu and a local guide

Forklift diver

We covered off a number of excellent reef dive sites, such as the Mal Mal Reef with its fanciful anemones, giant clams, mushroom coral, colourful crinoids, gorgonian fans and blue spotted fantail rays.

Tutuba Reef, with its critter filled chasms, monster staghorn corals, displaying electric purple tips and stumpy bommies that attract a startling bright array of fish. Such a cruisy dive with excellent viz and the fun of observing your fellow divers weightlessness as they increase the number of clown fish in the area!

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My intended target at Million Dollar Point (the site of dumped army equipment, we are talking bull dozers, aero engines, trucks and jeeps) was not of the metal variety but the elusive dugong. Sure enough, while we were gearing up on board one slipped up to the surface to take a gander at us. Such a unique creature!

Unfortunately we didn’t get to sight it under water so that diving delight is still on my wish list.

The impressive intact wreck of the SS President Coolidge, is a legend of a dive. Heading to the bow you can make your way

along the foredeck and take in the massive three inch gun, cargo holds, salvage cuts and glide over the mast and round the collapsed promenade deck. Clear views into some of the bathrooms and showers on A deck and check out the rifles and artifacts that have been gathered there. Constant care is needed to ensure the wash from a fin doesn’t waft up clouds of silt seriously upsetting your fellow divers.

Following enjoyable days of diving the Nelson team’s evenings were filled with Ni-Van dining hospitality, boogie time and the reggae loving locals’ music.

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Issue 172 23

Perched to take the lead

Dad took the lead with this 5lb brown

Jeremy Bradley

With the sky providing a bright blue canopy, I needed little persuading to take my son Isaac and my daughter Milan up river in search of red tail perch, on one of the many Otago waterways. I love nothing more than spending quality time with my ratbags and the two mighty perch hunters were soon bantering back and forth—classic sibling rivalry.

We spin for perch using 6lb braid and an 8lb leader,

so there’s plenty of action and anticipation to keep the kids busy. I kicked back, enjoying the solitude and the interaction between my kids but, pretty soon, they switched focus and started on me.

“Come on Dad, get off your butt and get your rod out!”

So I chucked on one of my favourite rapalas and started working and twitching that little beast. Bang—on the second cast the lure was

thumped hard. Line peeled and I took the opportunity to give the kids a lesson in the safe handling techniques of a fish, landing a nice jack, and releasing it to see another day.

A flurry of activity followed and with a few perch caught, it was a memorable day on the water. And, living by the unspoken rule of bygone days—Dad must always win—I landed a nice trout to cap things off.

The ratbags in action

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24 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - JANUARY 2020

From Sinker to Smoker Successful Surfcaster: Tyler McBeth

Ron Prestage

A 21lb smooth hound shark from the Canterbury coast

The Fishing Paper: What is your first memory of fishing?

Tyler: My first time I went fishing. I was on our boat off Tata beach somewhere, catching spotties and tiny snapper with family at the age of three or four.

TFP: What stages have you passed through on your fishing journey?

Tyler: I don’t think I have passed through stages. As I have discovered new forms of fishing, I have pushed the fishing I had done in the past to one side, but never thrown them away. I always try to return to the mullet fishing I had done as a kid, or catching small perch in Kaiapoi lakes at least once or twice a year. All I have changed is my tactics, so I can catch more than I used to.

smooth hound sharks within a few hours at a Canterbury beach. Between the three of us, we landed 71 that day. It

Rig are often caught at the turn of light.

This one weighed 17lb

targeting, but for smooth hounds and elephant fish, it would be a 1m trace of 60lb.

Attached to that, I have one dropper knot with a 5/0 recurve hook on the end.

TFP: What brand of rod and reel do you use?

Tyler: Okuma rods paired with Shimano reels for my surf casting. I pick my gear for what I think suits my style of fishing, not based on the brands alone.

TFP: What has been your most successful day surfcasting?

Tyler: My most red letter surf casting session to date would be catching 21

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was very exhausting to say the least.

TFP: What is your most favoured rig for surfcasting?

Tyler: I use different traces depending what I’m

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TFP: What baits do you mainly use for surfcasting?

Tyler: Kahawai, trout and salmon for targeting school sharks or seven-gillers. Fresh crab for smooth hound

sharks and fresh tuatua for elephant fish.

TFP: What is your top tip for surfcasting success?

Tyler: To always check the conditions before you head out. If the swell is too rough, it will not be fishable because your sinker will not hold the bottom and your line will get buried on the lip of the drop off. Not to mention the possibility of being swept off your feet by the waves.

TFP: Do you have favourite surfcasting spots and how do you fish these places?

Tyler: My favourite place for surfcasting to date would be around Kaikoura. I like all the unique species you have can potentially catch there. You can surfcast from the beaches or fish with smaller rods from the wharf, so it makes for a bit of variety when in the area.

TFP: What aspects of preparing for a surfcasting trip are the most important

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for you?

Tyler: Gathering and looking after your bait is most important. I believe that fresh bait is always best.

Live crabs or tuatua on the beach is always something I try to achieve and maintain.

Remembering enough drink is crucial too, as you slow down if you’re thirsty and the fishing is hot!

TFP: What other forms of fishing do you pursue?

Tyler: You could say I’m a bit of a multi species angler. I like coarse fishing for tench and rudd. Perch fishing with live bait or lures is my favourite. I also enjoy salmon fishing too and a spot of trout fishing from time to time, but not very often.

TFP: Besides fishing what else do you like to do in the outdoors?

Tyler: I enjoy photography, particularly fungi. I’m also getting into fossil hunting and looking for agates.

TFP: What do you think

of the present state of the Canterbury fishery?

Tyler: I haven’t been surfcasting long enough to see any effect on my catch rates, but I generally think the species I target seem to be abundant around our coast. An increase of nitrates in our Canterbury rivers is a cause for concern though— not just for native and endemic species, but for our sports fish as well. Dying fisheries is a sad prospect and hopefully things will be done to prevent this.

TFP: How do you help others have success with their fishing?

Tyler: If you can teach people the basics, such as how to tie rigs, handle fish, remove hooks properly, tie on bait, etcetera, you can really maximise their enjoyment. Enjoying yourself is what it all comes down to at the end of the day.

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Issue 172 25

Filleting blue cod

Blue cod is not only one of our top table species it is also one of the easiest species to fillet. As with any fish it helps if they have been chilled before hand, as this sets the flesh and makes filleting easier. A sharp filleting knife, non-slip surface to work on and a bench set at a comfortable height is essential. Fillets should be rinsed in salt water - not fresh - or wiped clean with a damp cloth.

Step One: Pectoral cut - slice diagonally under the pectoral fin and back towards the gills.

Step Two: Slice Fillet - Rotate the wrist 180 degrees so the knife is angled slightly toward the backbone, but facing the tail. Hold the body of the fish firm and slice toward the tail stopping at the base of the body so the fillet remains attached to the tail by the skin.

Step Three: Rib cage - Flick the fillet over so it is lying flat on its skin. Slice under the ribcage from the top angling down behind the bones to the skin.

Step four: Start fillet -Make a 3-4 cm cut between the skin and fillet at the tail end.

Step Five: Flip grip - Grasp the carcass in your spare hand and flip the fillet so that it is lying flesh down. Press down on the end of the fillet with the knfe while lifting the carcass quickly with the free hand.

The skin will pull free of the fillet, taking any bones

Elephant man paper fan

Africa’s senior elephant artificial inseminator Campbell Russell is pictured at work during a critical phase of his one man operation to spread good genes through Zimbabwe’s brood stock.

Campbell first collects the seed from stud bulls by sedating the animals using homeopathic remedies so he can attach waterproof sleeping bags lubricated with WD40.

so far, has only impregnated one because he has short arms. He approaches the cows by imitating the feeding call of the red billed ox pecker and approaches from their blind spot with an aluminium stepladder and a modified grease gun.

with it.

&

Travels

It is a very scientific process and Campbell says he has worked out the optimum dosage through trial and error.

In an exclusive interview, he said that posing as a tourist reading The Fishing Paper & Hunting News is his best sedation technique because it is such a hypnotic read.

“I have come to realise the right amount is a copper ‘Kettle’ full of the stuff, which is good because I can pour accurate doses without spilling a drop.”

He can ’milk’ enough raw product in one go to inseminate 1500 cows but,

Campbell has a life expectancy of three weeks.

It’s a big ‘Kettle’.

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26 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - JANUARY 2020

Paddocks of fish We’d begun to gnaw our knuckles

Late spring and we’d had little or no sign of improved weather, apart from a slight rise in temperatures.

Day after day of windy rain, interspersed very infrequently with a solitary nice day to give us false hope. That’s spring over here, however it doesn’t normally last this long. We can’t get the plants into the kitchen garden, the windy wetness is not conducive to fishing expeditions, hence the knuckle-gnashing.

Weather charts brought no relief until an improvement

was slated for a Thursday, so time to call up matey for a trip to the lake. Doesn’t really need much setting up, just haul out Silver Frog (boat) and hit the road.

Matey arrived with his usual steaming coffees in the holders and we were off.

The one lane through the work site at a massive slip and road slump at Omoto slowed us a little but earlier it had closed both the state highway and the adjacent rail link for a month. Locals had to make a long detour to get to work and visitor traffic dropped to nothing, hurting business big time. Reckon if

it had been Auckland the fix would have happened inside a week.

A stop was made to give the trailer tyres some air and exchange a bit of cheek with Dave at Moana Service Centre, then with a flat, calm lake and not another boat in sight, the lake was going to be ours alone, or so we thought.

Ivan Wilson At the ramp we found the lake ‘full as the family po,’ as it had risen one and a half metres. Judging by the debris a metre or so up the bank the water had dropped somewhat already.

Our regular landmarks had changed, so some conjecture and discussion was needed each time we moved spots.

We both picked up fish, nice, fat, well-conditioned, with orange flesh and we took a couple for the table.

We got onto them in one of our favoured areas soon after arriving, then explored forested areas further round the lake, looking into likely spots.

The very high lake meant access to a lot of spots, which were not normally spots and we figured the trout would be following the floodline in behind the trees, right into the adjacent paddocks. It’s not often boating is restricted by fences and it was odd to see swan and other waterfowl floating and feeding around the fields.

The action tapered off and we decided they had gone a lot further in behind the fences, beyond where we could go with the boat, or were now too well-fed with

all the terrestrial bugs ‘n beasties they’d doubtless consumed.

A wind freshened meaning miscasts and a lot of catching New Zealand amongst the surrounding trees. I had visitors coming so we turned for home, where the fish were seasoned with butter salt and pepper, then wrapped in foil ready for the barbecue.

A shower, visitors arrived, followed by a glass of pinot and good conversation around the table on the deck. Life doesn’t get much better does it?

The lake full to the brim

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Issue 172 27

FOR SALE

Useless coots and culling critters Fizz

Took a mate out for a spot of goat culling last month, Terrance Patrick McPhee—we call him TP— and opened his eyes to what quick shooting is all about.

TP is a keen hunter, and experienced, but sometimes he’s a useless coot and can’t get out of his own way.

With spring in the back country in full flush, the ‘festers’ were hanging low and loving the creek flats, so it was the perfect time to get good tallies, nice and easy. While it was ostensibly a culling mission, I work for Premium Game, am a licensed shooter, so don’t like to waste good protein.

TP eats the stuff but I did say he was a queer coot.

Wild game destined for the market needs to be headshot so it pays to get in nice and close to get the drop on a mob before you push the loud button. I use a suppressed .223—the perfect calibre for goats and deer— because its accurate and cheap to run. TP was armed with enough horsepower to

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Crossing a creek, we snuck up on a mob until we could see their eyelashes. Coordinating our attack, we systematically picked off as many as we could. The secret is to fire quickly, fluidly, and often. You miss

a few but it is surprising how quickly you can get your eye in and how devastatingly effective the ‘2twenty-three’ is. TP waved his barrel around a bit but I think he got confused between culling and processing, going straight to the mince stage! I

Angry pigs and hungry dogs

gave him that one to chew on at home.

We ended up with a good litter of goats and two deer for our efforts. Last I saw of TP was him heading off to buy a new .223. Maybe the useless coot shows some promise after all.

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When you sit and think about deceased mates, you remember the fun times you used to have, especially the pig action.

We had a barbecue and a few beers but were distracted by some noises in the trees.

Nick and I grabbed the Mauser .308 and a torch, and moved slowly towards the noise – pigs eating a dead cow about 20-metres away. Nick put the light on the biggest boar while I quietly loaded and took aim. When I fired, a deadly click indicated a misfire, so I reloaded and fired – another misfire so I reloaded and again a misfire!

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One such trip was when I went to Croydon, North Queensland, with Nick Bormolini (Crimpy’s late father-in-law). We were camped on a dam during a drought and the feral pigs were scavenging on dead cattle. If there were no dead cattle, they would kill calves to have something to eat.

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Nick whispered, “Discretion is the better part of valour, so let’s retreat quietly.”

I couldn’t believe it, we had used that weapon all day, shot 18 pigs and the bullets all worked well – then three misfires in a row.

Later that night, there were pig noises about 200-metres from the camp, so Nick let his dogs go and they caught a squealing pig. Running with his Bowie hunting knife, he chased after the barking dogs, without a light, and hit a three-strand barb wire fence, somersaulting much like a forward flip dive into a pool. After dispatching the pig, we examined the damage and Nick had three

lovely bleeding stripes across his waist, thighs, and shins.

He did not hurt himself because he was already anaesthetised with a skinful of Bacardi rum, on top of all the beer we had during the day. Next morning when he awoke and the anaesthetic had worn off, he walked gingerly around camp in a lot of pain.

We also fished for sooty grunter, which love to sit at the base of waterfalls and gobble any bait dropped in. I was in the middle of a small island, when behind me I heard a sow grunting.

I turned around and she wanted to bite me at any cost. I had no knife and no rifle so I got a 10-inch rock

and, when she charged me, smashed it into her head and killed her instantly. Nick and the rest of the hunting party heard the commotion but didn’t believe - until they saw the bloody rock.

The pig was destined for dog tucker so we built a fire on top of the pig in case it was diseased. We decided to make sure the pig was well done before we fed it to the dogs and left the hock of its back leg outside the fire so we could grab it when it was cooked.

After four hours we decided it should be well done, but on dragging out the hock - that was all that was left. The dogs went hungry.

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28 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - JANUARY 2020

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