November Issue 170 The Fishing Paper & Hunting News 2019

THE

FISHING& HUNTING

 Ethan's chamois buck pg 24

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November 2019 Issue 170

NEWS

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Story pg 7

 Shark Alert  The Mekong Express  Alpine Antelope

THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - NOVEMBER 2019

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Issue 170 3

A pheasant tail

Blair Whiting

A huge trout is feeding in ankle deep water right in front of you. Time slows down to a crawl. Tying your fly on becomes like a Rubik’s cube. You try to place your cast, but you are short. The fish is still there don’t panic.

For a number of years, I have challenged myself to capture a large brown trout from my local rivers here in Hawkes Bay. Since I started, I had encounters with several fish upwards of 7 pounds.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t convert these to landed trout.

On a lazy September day, I was heading up the Tutaekuri with nymphs in hand looking for some rainbows to tussle with. I made sure to scan every stretch of the crystalclear water just in case there were fish out feeding in the sun. ‘’That is a big shape ahead of me.’’ A better look confirmed to me that this was a fish and a large one too. In shallow crystal-clear water, a fish like this would not be fooled easily. A small nymph under a non-intrusive dry fly would be the only way to go. I used the rigging time to calm the nerves and made sure I got all my knots bang on.

my goal was simple; place the fly ahead of the fish and get a nice drift. After a few short casts I put my first and second drifts through. Both were ignored. The trout continued to feed. With one more try I landed the cast the perfect length ahead and watched as he lined up my fly. It was a strange one to say the least, the fly passed

With everything in order

by his mouth before he swivelled around and chased it downstream. I lifted the tip and struck.

The trout was tight and raced away to leap clean out of the water. After the first jump he made an attempt to rub the hook out on the bottom. I applied side strain to counter and he raced downstream to leap again,

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landing with an almighty thud.

nearby.

I put as much pressure as I dared onto the tiny #16 pheasant tail I could see hanging from his mouth. The big brute turned his head and flopped onto his side.

He was beaten. I reckon he will think twice before eating a mayfly nymph again.

I caught up with the fish 200 metres downstream where it had begun to tire.

The trout reminded me of his power once again by launching himself into the air almost freeing the hook from his jaw. It’s time to get him to the bank. Thankfully there was some slack water

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Throughout the fight I was

not certain of the species, but the sliver flanks, deep body and spotless tail meant one thing: a sea run brown. The beautiful specimen weighed 3.3kg and measured 61 cm. It’s what I’d dreamed of catching this spring. Naturally it was out of a river in which rainbows out number browns 100 – 1!

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THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - NOVEMBER 2019

Early season fishing in Tasman Bay Early season fishing in Tasman Bay can be frustratingly difficult with varying water temperatures along with plagues of dogfish and red cod! The snapper that are around can be extremely difficult to catch and can leave the chilly bin looking very empty!

Although snapper are the predominant species that most of us are chasing plenty of other great eating fish can be targeted when the snapper are proving difficult.

Gurnard

The humble carrot are a fantastic eating fish and are often favoured above the likes of snapper. Most of the time gurnard are a bycatch when targeting snapper but they can also be great fun to target themselves. One of the most effective ways to catch them is by the use of berley and bait. Popular locations to target them are in the waters around Delaware Bay, try fishing on the sand around the 15 metre mark.

Anchor up and deploy a berley bomb a few metres off the bottom. I like to fish with two rods one set up

Doug Ciifton

with a flasher rig in the 4/0 to 5/0 bracket baited with bonito. The other set up I use is a soft bait rod using a 4-5 inch paddle tail soft bait on a ¼ to ½ ounce jig head.

Cast this as far as you can out the back of the berley trail and twitch it back along the bottom. This can be a very effective way to avoid pesky sharks and catch more gurnard!

Rig Rig or lemon fish as it's known in the fish and chip shops are prolific in the bay at this time of year. They are

Use small baits for success with tarakihi

fantastic eating and keep for a long time in the freezer!

Most of the time they are targeted by surfcasters, but can also commonly be caught in nets.

A good area to have a go for them is in the waters around Rabbit Island and Tahuna beach.

A nice rig makes a change from snapper

Fresh crab is the preferred bait but prawns also work well. Try using a ledger rig set up with a single 6/0 hook with a 4-5oz breakaway sinker. Use bait elastic to

help secure your bait to the hook. Try fishing the incoming tide in the evening for better results. When caught be sure to trunk your rig out (google trunking rig for an idea on doing this).

This will quickly remove the ammonia content from the fish. Be prepared for a good scrap as even a moderate size rig will put you through your paces off the beach!

Tarakihi Another great eating fish commonly found around the rocky headlands of Pepin Island and Delaware Bay. These fish respond very well to berley and are best

targeted with 2/0-3/0 hooks on a ledger rig. Lots of different baits are effective such as small pieces of squid or try the bait nuggets from Jimmy’s Bait. These are very convenient and work well!

Bring your baits up from the bottom slightly to avoid catching small cod and spotties!

Next time you're having a slow day or wanting to target something different have a crack at targeting some of these great fish. Make sure to pop in to your local tackle shop to grab the advice and tackle you need to get out there!

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Issue 170 5

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THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - NOVEMBER 2019

The Roaring Forties are intercepted by the wilderness coastlines of Fiordland and Stewart Island where wind and sea deposit the detritus of nations. Plastic bottles, discarded and lost fishing equipment, and the remnants of vessels lost at sea are routinely scattered on otherwise pristine beaches. The effort to remove that waste is a well-coordinated and efficient programme that commenced from Te Anau in 2003. Daryl Sykes tells the story of the southern coastal

Coconuts, bottles, buoys and a rusty barrow Spurred on by the initiative of Southwest Helicopters partner and pilot, Wayne Pratt, and enabled by commercial rock lobster fishermen, a group of enthusiasts have been carrying out beach clean ups on the remote coastlines of Fiordland and Stewart Island for sixteen years.

The rubbish was placed in 1000kg fadges, then picked up by helicopter and flown to collection points on the coast and burnt—at the time with the blessing of Environment Southland and DOC. However, this method of refuse disposal was soon decreed undesirable.

In 2003, Southwest Helicopters, local lobster companies, commercial fishermen, freight boat owners, a fuel company, tourist operators, Environment Southland, and a group of enthusiastic volunteers commenced the first coastal clean-up on the Fiordland coast.

In 2012 the clean-up was from Te Wae Wae Bay to Preservation Inlet, comprising thirty-four volunteers over four days, using one jet boat operator and two helicopters and the Rakiura Freighter. Accommodation was provided free of charge by the Waitutu Lodge on the banks of the Wairaurahiri River and by the Kisbee Lodge in Preservation Inlet.

By 2008, hundreds of kilometres of coast had been scoured, with approximately 200 volunteer garbage collectors retrieving in excess of 500 cubic metres of rubbish.

Plastic drink bottles, fishing buoys and rope made up the bulk, but some unusual items were removed—coconuts, an aircraft wing, a car armrest, and a rusty wheelbarrow.

This time, eleven tonnes of rubbish was gathered in cubic metre fadges and transported to Bluff on fishing vessels and the Rakiura Freighter. After recycling and repurposing by Tracker Black and the Bluff Oyster Festival committee, the balance was taken to the local land fill.

Coastal cleanups continue The next clean-up in 2013 was the western coast of Stewart Island with volunteers staying at Kilbride and Masons Bay Homesteads and the DoC hut at Masons Bay. Real Journeys helped with transporting thirty-two volunteers to and from the Island.

Two helicopters and the Rakiura Freighter and crew assisted in getting twenty tonnes of rubbish back to Bluff.

Again it was recycled by Tracker Black and the unusable waste disposed of in a landfill.

The 2015 middle Fiordland and Preservation Inlet to Doubtful Sound cleanup was a bit different, with no land bases for

the volunteers to call home. Real Journeys vessel, MV Wanderer and the DoC vessel Southern Winds, generously operated as floating mobile motels. The volunteers, vessel skippers, and crews had constant air support from two helicopters, with pilot Dale Green as air logistic coordinator, assisted by Andrew Gunton.

Rakiura Shipping sent the Foveaux Freighter from Bluff to Dusky Sound to take the eight tonnes of rubbish back to Bluff for processing

by Tracker Black.

Charitable trust in deep rubbish In 2018 the newly formed Southern Coastal Charitable Trust organised the next clean-up back on Stewart Island, due to reports of large quantities of rubbish gathering along the western coastline.

The area is a natural collection point, with rubbish from as far afield as Netherlands and South America washing up on the beaches.

Thirty-two volunteers spent three to four days slaving away in often very trying weather. They were supported by two helicopters, with pilot Kim Hollows joining the flight team, and transport by Real Journeys. Kilbride and Martins Bay homesteads and the DoC hut at Masons Bay provided home bases.

Foveaux Freighter loaded, shipped seventeen tonnes of rubbish to Bluff for processing.

Fifty-six tonnes of rubbish removed from what should be pristine coastline in just four clean-ups. Thirty-seven tonnes were removed from just one 80 kilometre stretch of accessible coast on the western shore of Stewart Island.

This year, Southern Coastal Charitable Trust

completed a clean-up of fourteen cubic metres of rubbish from Martins Bay, south to Poison Bay, highlighting a need for annual clean-ups along the western coast of Stewart Island. Letters and phone calls noting amounts of rubbish seen there just keep coming.

As well as the Stewart Island coastal cleanup the Trust is planning perhaps two-to-three yearly clean-ups of the Fiordland coast together with ‘spot’ clean-ups as required.

No one quick fix solution The fishing industry, a willing supporter of the clean-ups, has supplied hard cash needed, and manpower.

Other regional and local companies have donated in kind or given equipment at a very reduced rate. Amongst the community groups, the CRA8 Rock Lobster Industry Association is committed to the project and is donating yearly. Regular funding gives the Trust security to plan and implement annual clean-ups.

The most expensive coastal clean-up to date was $134,000, those costs mostly due to the remote area.

The Trust is working on long term goals.

With the 2019 local-body elections completed, the Trust will approach Councils to fund the clean-ups on Stewart Island.

Trustees are confident that Councils will recognise a viable, cost-effective, and proven option and support the annual clean-ups with the use of the cruise ship fund they receive from central Government.

The Trust remains very appreciative of the businesses and individuals that have supported the clean-ups in cash and/or in kind. And special recognition goes to the volunteers who put in long hours in often very remote and inhospitable conditions.

An initiative that started with Te Anau locals in 2003 has expanded its coverage and its public profile in a very positive manner.

The Trust could use your help if you are so inclined – check their website https://www. southerncoastal.org.nz/ and look for the donation link.

Images courtesy of Southern Coastal Charitable Trust

Issue 170 7

Why Black Magic rigs?

Whichever species of fish you like to chase, you’ll usually find there is some sort of fishing rig developed to target that fish. And when it comes to rigs, the guys at Black Magic would be quick to remind you they have been at it for a long time. They designed the first “flasher rig” on circle hooks over 20 years ago – now known as a Snatcher®. Since then they have expanded their range to cover a wide range of fishing applications from catching bait to surfcasting, deep drops and more.

Why rigs? Easy. Anyone can use them and they catch fish – snapper, blue cod, trumpeter, kingies and more.

But Black Magic raises some important points when it comes to their success here. “Quality” is a word that is sometimes bandied around a bit too freely, but in its essence, they see it as critical. There are certainly plenty of companies out there selling rigs, and like anything, they are a mix of the good and the bad.

Although they still hand rig their Snatcher range here in New Zealand, they’d be the first to tell you it’s not just about where you make them. It’s more about having good control over the manufacturing process, the components, and the design. In their case,

Big bait on snatcher rig

Snapper snack

they batch test their rigs in their warehouse regardless of where they are produced.

When you think about it, by their very nature, rigs are a combination of components held together with knots or crimps. Truly understanding what the rig is going to be used for goes a long way when it comes to choosing what it’s made from, how it’s put together and whether it stands up under pressure. In their case, Black Magic would say “keep it simple”. Japanese made hooks, their own trace and swivels, and make sure the choice of each one matches the rigs purpose. And that’s where design comes in.

Perhaps the best example of their design message is with last year’s introduction of the Snapper Snack®. They challenged themselves with designing a product that would combine the best elements of bait fishing with its scent, and lure fishing with its combination of colour and movement. If you’ve fished a Snapper Snack® you’d have to say they’ve cracked it. Originally available with the 5/0 and 3/0 KLT hooks, it’s about to come out in 7/0 hooks too, so if you’re after some bigger fish, keep an eye out for them.

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Whatever rigs you decide to take on your next trip, the Black Magic message is a good one. Stick with performance products that are less likely to let you down when you get nailed by that big one. Happy fishing.

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8

THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - NOVEMBER 2019

AMAZING HAS A NEW LOOK.

Why Fish Mainland makes sense

New Zealand’s various industries commonly establish organisations to represent their interests and support the growth of their sectors. For example, Seafood New Zealand is the umbrella organisation for representation of the aquaculture, deepwater, inshore, rock lobster and paua sectors.

Most of New Zealand’s sports also have organisations mandated to support participants and grow interest in their respective sport. For example, the New Zealand Fish and Game Council is mandated to represent the interests of freshwater anglers and hunters and provide co-ordination of the management, enhancement, and maintenance of sports fish and game.

However, New Zealand’s marine recreational fisheries lack a comparable mandated representative organisation, despite their presence in many overseas jurisdictions. For example, there is the Sport Fishing Institute of British Columbia, the Coastal Conservation Association in the coastal states of the United States,

the Recreational Fishing Alliance of New South Wales, Recfish SA in South Australia and Recfishwest in Western Australia.

The situation in New Zealand is surprising when considering that recreational fishing is an important component of many inshore fisheries and a source of health and wellbeing benefits that should be encouraged. And, recreational fishing’s support sectors contribute significant value for the economy.

The situation in the South Island is even more dire.

The few North Islandbased representative organisations lack much presence and influence in the South Island, and the relatively small-sized fishing and boating clubs lack the coordination of efforts to compete with other sectors for Government attention and resources. And, 99% of fishers have no affiliation with clubs or organisations and, therefore, lack representation.

A group of South Islanders recently worked together to design Fish Mainland to represent South Islanders’ recreational fishing interests,

based on an electoral system for Board of Director selection at the regional and Iwi level. The intent is to establish Fish Mainland as a fully-functioning, adequately funded, professional representative organisation.

Jim Crossland, Chair of the South Island group, says “Fish Mainland’s establishment is now pending. Soon it will be an incorporated society and have a website that provides information and offers free membership for those interested in and supportive of recreational fishing and/ or sustainable fisheries management practices.

The website will also seek donations, which will be necessary until the group and Government agree on one of the proposed longterm funding options. At this early stage, Fish Mainland cannot be possible without South Islanders’ collective commitment and financial contributions."

Contact Jim Crossland to request the Fish Mainland Business Plan and Draft Policy in electronic form.

021 0294 5996 03 355 9433 bayfieldenter@xtra.co.nz

Coutta’s Cut:

Politics to piscatorial pursuits Coutta I’ve had my mind on other things for a few months, namely campaigning for a seat on the Rotorua District Council. The results came out on 12 October and I missed out, not by a hell of a lot but still missed.

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Lynne the Ruthless was quite upset. Me being out of the house a couple of days a week, I think, was the main attraction but I also have a sneaking suspicion she imagined being the wife of a councillor might hold a bit of prestige.

There would also have been a small salary attached, which she may have thought would have eased the pressure on the family finances caused by my continual purchasing of up to date fishing gear mentioned in a previous article. I, on the other hand, was actually quite relieved due to the previously mentioned two days a week work that would have seriously eaten into my time on the water or out chasing things with my shotgun and dog.

Several of my friends and acquaintances had also seriously questioned my ability to sit through

meetings without abusing someone for suggesting something dumb, or completely throwing the toys out of my cot when I lost a vote, which, with the eventual makeup of the council, would have happened far too often.

So, that’s the start and finish of my political career explained in a paragraph.

The last two weeks of the campaign coincided with the school holidays. On the days I had breaks from campaigning, I took one or both of my grandchildren out catching trout. I say catching because, when I’ve got the kids on board, I go out on Lake Rotorua.

Many people ask me why I don’t take them on one of the other lakes where the water is cleaner, the scenery is more spectacular, and the fish are, on the whole, a lot bigger. When they are older and have more patience, I will. I often fish on Lake Okataina, Rotoiti, or Tarawera, where you’ve got to put in a lot of time with very limited success.

Kids actually don’t give a

rat’s arse about scenery, the pohutukawa trees in flower, or the hours spent with nothing, which they see as a total waste of time. They may even think they would rather be playing on their devices, which, incidentally, are banned on my boat.

Kids want to catch fish and on Lake Rotorua, if dad or grandad has a bit of knowledge about the times of year fish are in a certain area, they will certainly do this. In the last three trips with the kids we’ve averaged about four fish an hour. Not big, but to a seven-year-old, rainbows of three to four pound are plenty big enough and 15 to 20 minutes between fish keeps them from getting bored.

I suppose what I’m getting at is that if you don’t do any good in politics, do something really useful and take a kid fishing. Take note Jacinda!

Issue 170 9

Theo’s no surrender salmon sizzle

Theo shares a magic moment with proud dad, Kolie

By Kolie van Zyl

Nelson and the surrounding bays are a great playground for those with young families. Having grown up in South Africa, I appreciate the opportunities such a wonderful region has to offer; the peace, tranquility, safety, and wilderness at your doorstep.

I recently took the family for an outing to Golden Bay, a magically serene destination in the shadow of Nelson’s bustle, where we spent an enjoyable interlude at Anatoki Salmon Farm.

The kids love watching the

Big Boris no bull Hubby got off the phone looking supremely smug as the conversation he’d just had would earn him brownie points and more.

Firstly he’d gotten permission to pig hunt on a favourite farm the following day.

Secondly, he’d scored a rare but very welcome gem of information, a tip-off no less, regarding the whereabouts of an adult boar.

By the early hours I’d prised the vague details of said boar’s haunts from my beloved. Apparently he was a scavenger, ravenous after a long cold winter.

He had been feeding on the carcass of a dead herd bull, when the farmer had seen him off with a hurried round of ammunition.

Where exactly was the deceased bovine? Hubby, dear man, hadn’t thought to ask!

One would presume the dead bull would be in the bull paddock but there were no guarantees because, come spring, the older bulls start to flex their muscles and tootle their flutes.

Sometimes, when they decide it’s time to spread their genes, no paddock can contain them. They buckle the gates or hurdle fences and then head back into their breeding possies from seasons past.

The sub-alpine backcountry dawn was frozen and still, not even the faintest katabatic breeze stirred the brisk air. Presuming the 50 hectare bull paddock was the epicentre of the boar’s nocturnal activities, I concentrated my hunt within a five kilometre radius. Experience told me he’d have learned from the farmer's recent near-miss and jogged way back to some secluded hideout to sleep away the daylight hours.

Many of those kilometres had slipped by under my silent footfalls when the

y r t n E E E FR

salmon swimming in the stocked ponds and it’s a great opportunity to get the first taste of fishing for your own feed. My son Theo was keen to feel the thrill of a fighting fish on the line, so we set about working as a team to achieve this goal; I cast and handed the rod over to him to do battle.

Soon a salmon was on and what a fight. The fish wasn’t keen to surrender and Theo wasn’t keen to lose so it was quite a tussle. The excitement and joy reflected on the little man’s face was

In his lair of matagouri entwined with saw-toothed lawyer vines, the boar woke with a start. Though the dogs ran silently, they had exerted themselves to the full and he heard their rapid approach.

Chop to the south, Pearl to the north and the sprint ace Jenna above him and closing fast.

There was a puff-puff here, a puff-puff there—here a puff, there a puff, everywhere a puff-puff.

Whooee, the canines were keen. I saw glimpses of them, nose to tail, clambering up gnarly rock faces, then contouring

through tight gullies. Way back, far, far, away, they changed tack and picked up the pace, a transition from canter to gallop. They reached a low saddle then changed tack once more, splitting then, each intent on out-finding the other.

From my distant viewpoint I saw the dogs split, saw Jenna dive into a tight thicket and a black pig tear out with her in hot pursuit. They ran directly northwards and hurtled into Pearl before all bolting out of sight. Game on!

As I scrambled to the site of Dogs versus Pig, I passed dead things aplenty, all of them scavenged. A young red deer, recently shot by

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Anatoki Salmon Farm smoked the fish for us and, I have to say, the whole family experience was one to treasure. As was the experience for Theo to have made the connection as to where food comes from and the sense of empowerment providing food for the family gives—even at the most basic level.

by Kim Swan

No bull

dogs, all three, picked up the pace and proceeded with purpose.

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commercial hunters but then rejected, perhaps because it was too small, would be the pig’s last supper. The hunters may have been wasteful but he was none too fussy, the carcass a life-saving windfall in tough times.

In a catchment choked with manuka and mingimingi, a three-dog bail echoed. The boar had not run far, his belly a handicap, heavily laden with deer meat.

Boar and dogs had done battle, wrestled gamely but now they’d each found a favourite spot to sling insults at one another. Luckily there was a spot for me too. A spot where I could see a safe shot between dogs and fallen trees and bring an end to all the excitement.

Afterwards, we detoured towards the aforementioned paddock on our exit route, boar in-tow. Though we covered a lot of ground and saw death in many forms, we saw no bull. Had there actually been a bull? Or was my dearest smarter than I gave him credit for?

10 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - NOVEMBER 2019 We all look back—reminisce—reflect through nostalgia tinted glasses but only Gypsies with crystal balls can predict the future. Or can we also? Further more, can we possibly predict or affect the future we want? If so, will meaningful change require divine intervention, an impossible shift in political thinking—or can individuals have an impact?

Daryl Crimp does some crystal ball gazing into our coastal waters and discovers we face immediate challenges but solutions start with…

Red snake star on black coral Image credit R. Kinsey

The power of one I interviewed ‘The Lady in the Lamp’ back in the 90s, just before she died at a grand old age. She was New Zealand’s last lighthouse keeper’s wife and remembered her dad ‘pitch-forking’ snapper from the shallows in Golden Bay as ‘droves’ of twenty-pounders swam through the reeds with their backs and tails out of the water while they fed. They were flicked ashore and filled ‘chaff sacks’—back when fish were ‘limitless’.

More recently, I remember when daily bag limits for recreational fishers were introduced in the mid-eighties and we were allowed 36 blue cod per person— that was considered sustainable. Poppa Mike and I would fill a bin over a beer and a sunset at the Chetwode Islands; threeto-four pound cod were common and the odd six-pounder came aboard, so the ‘little’ ones went back.

Groper caught in Dusky Sound Image credit G. Dainty

I remember catching groper in the Inner Marlborough Sounds, 60lb groper in 20m off Kahurangi in the 90s, and land based anglers catching schools of groper up to 60-70lb from the surf, south of Christchurch in the late 70s. I also remember Graham Sinclair pulling 10lb

blue cod from Fiordland within the 25 year lifespan of his television show Gone Fishin’(cod that size didn’t fit in a fish bin)!

waterways—but the way we interact with our coast is not.

These stories are stuff of legend but, the reality is, they happened in many of our lifetimes. However, change is often quick and dramatic. Take the Marlborough Sounds blue cod fishery and the forces that precipitated its decline: overfishing, unreasonable bag limits, wasteful fishing practises, fish mortality, habitat destruction, and sedimentation.

It starts with tangible steps. Find out how you can support healthy ecosystems. Consider how you fish: fish for a feed, spread your catch across species, utilise the whole fish (stock, fillet, fish cakes, flour the frames and fry for lunch), and fish for the experience rather than the number.

Deepen your interest and educate yourself more. For example, did you know blue cod take seven years to mature to breeding age at just 27cm? By targeting other species you can give cod a reprieve. And rather than becoming species dependent and area focused, move around so that you spread pressure over a wider footprint and reduce activity in sensitive areas.

In Fiordland when overnighting, avoid hammering popular anchorages and target more the outer fiords during the day.

To draw it into perspective, imagine a giant ruler measuring from 1 to 100 stretching across the room; it represents your potential lifespan. Stand on your age as of today. I was standing on number 27 when I experienced many of the things I’ve just talked about. Chances are many of you hadn’t started your ruler yet. Many will remember stuff I’d already classed as legendary.

I’m standing on number 61 today and, as I look back on my ruler, I have seen a dramatic decline in the quality of our coastal environment and the traditional Kiwi fishing experience, in just 33 years. I have potentially less than 20 years ahead—what change then?

As change is quick and dramatic, intervention and rescue through legislation and regional planning is slow and ponderous. We were aware of the Marlborough Sounds blue cod issue 25 years ago and we are still dabbling with it today, most recently with the National Blue Cod Strategy. Yes, while we have been politically fiddling, Rome is burning; the cod problem has spread to encompass Motunau, Kahurangi Shoals, Oamaru, and is ringing alert bells nationwide.

Even Fiordland, The Last Frontier, is not invulnerable.

We can’t wait for bag limits to catch up and direct us; we must each create change.

If you can accept that we have individually and collectively been part of

the problem, it’s not a great leap to see we play a key role in the solution.

Where do you stand on your giant ruler, what have you seen behind you, and what would you like to see ahead? What does the future of your coast look to you?

More importantly… imagine your kids’ or grandkids’ rulers. How do they deserve to interact with the coast?

Imagine the power of one.

Image credit H. Edmonds

Clearly, we can’t sit back and wait for the ‘suits’ to solve the problem for us; we need to be part of the solution. I know some things are too enormous to tackle individually—climate change and the impact of large scale dairying on our

Specialists in all types of marine repairs, sales and service

137 Vickerman St, Port Nelson 03 548 1439 nick@aimex.co.nz

Issue 170 11

Hook, line and tangle Night sniper snaps Ivan Wilson Last day of work was Friday, first day of retirement was Saturday—so we went fishing.

It was a good chance to wring a few more casts from the ‘fag end’ of the old licence, so Matey and I headed to Brunner. Being still winter, no other boats were out, one of the joys of The Coast, as our winter often features sunshine, due to cold, wet southerlies expending themselves on the east side.

Two bucks in the ramp box, life jackets on, handle pulled, pulled, pulled, fired briefly then stopped. Best open the air valve, give the fuel line a few more squeezes, then ah yes, that’s better. Yup, bung was in, amazing given that inauspicious start.

Several regular spots drew blanks, so we moved on, noting a rise, where I picked one up. Then it was Matey's turn and, using my set-up for a change, he quickly called, “Yes,” as he got the take, but missed it. Almost straight away another rise, another take, and another miss.

“This doesn’t normally happen to me,” Matey puzzled.

When I asked to check his nymph, we spotted the problem. Earlier I had

snagged but with some manoeuvring, retrieved it. However, the hook had broken off on the bend, so no fish would ever connect.

Much hilarity and a charge of, “You did that deliberately, didn’t you?”

exactly show him how it was done but how it was NOT done. Muffing the cast with my fat fingers, the line landed in a heap out front.

Nek minnit a trout wolfed the fly and, of course, I was called a jammy bastard!

Net result for the day was a couple of fish each and a lot of fun, so we set up another visitation to Brunner within the week.

To add insult to injury, I repeated the amateur hour performance; line control was lost on the back cast and splodge, the lot landed in a heap on the water. Quickly gathering up line, bang, another trout was attached. Matey was laughing in disbelief at my ineptitude and subsequent luck. At least it perked him up after his miserable time attempting to tame a new line.

The day arrived featuring fog but I said it’ll clear and we didn’t have a bad day, as there is never a bad day fishing.

An easterly began to blow off the mist, it remained cool, there were no rising fish, and Matey had a rough day with his casting. His line was brand new and different to what he’d been used to, giving him trouble adapting to it. This was exasperated by him having spent a very intense couple of days playing championship pool, so his focus was a bit off.

Finally, he dismantled the rod saying he couldn’t get the feeling and would row while I fished.

The easterly built up, it was getting cold so we decided to quit while we were ahead, stopping off for coffee and muffins on the run home, as we discussed prospects for another trip.

It won't be long—Matey needs more laughs.

The upshot was more humour because I didn’t

sneaky spiker

David McDonald

I put the infrared barrel light on my scope and searched the area where I had left the corn earlier that day—a stream of kernels running from the hole in the bush where I’d discovered its prints, right out into the open field. I saw nothing.

I was about to shoulder the rifle and head back to the house when the edge of the beam caught a glint of an eye, way down. I guessed it was still to emerge from cover so I pulled back over the ridge and waited.

After ten minutes, I crawled forward, pushing my scope ahead through the long grass. My quarry was no closer. I zoomed the Elite up to maximum and looked hard. It seemed small—a possum? The eyes appeared green. I looked again. A deer, but very small. Meat for the pot.

I centred the scope on the middle of its body, aiming to minimise any meat damage, and touched off the 271m shot. Whump—a hit.

What a shock when I finally made my way down and discovered a 100lb plus spiker. And I thought it was a baby.

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 - NOVEMBER 2019

Shark alert?

Storm Stanley - Chairman, Pāua Industry Council

A recent Supreme Court decision means that the safety of recreational divers and water users near Stewart Island is once again at risk from the activity of shark cage diving. In the latest episode of an ongoing courtroom saga, the Supreme Court overturned an earlier Appeal Court declaration that shark cage diving is illegal under New Zealand law. Since the Court released its judgement in October, there has been a lot of misinformation in the media about what the decision means.

So what did the Court actually say and what does it mean for recreational divers and spearfishers?

What the Supreme Court said To backtrack a bit – in March 2018 the Appeal Court declared that shark cage diving is an offence under the Wildlife Act 1953. As a result, companies such as Bluff-based tourism operator Shark Experience were no longer allowed to use attractants such as berley and baits to attract great white sharks to their boats.

This was great news for the local Stewart Island community and the commercial pāua divers who initiated the court case. The pāua divers had argued that the use of berley and bait attracts greater numbers of sharks to the area cagers were operating and makes the sharks more aggressive, endangering divers and other users of the marine environment.

Following an appeal by Shark Experience, the Supreme Court set aside the Court of Appeal’s declaration. The Supreme Court’s decision has been widely reported as a ruling that “shark cage diving is not an offence” – in other words, that it’s perfectly legal. The Shark Experience website crows that “the crew at Shark Experience are happy to inform the world that Shark Cage Diving with Great Whites is still legal in New Zealand”. However, this is a total misrepresentation of the Court’s ruling.

When the Supreme Court sets aside a declaration of a lower court, it simply means that the Supreme Court does not agree with the

declaration made by the lower court.

The Supreme Court then substitutes its own understanding of the legal issue.

In this case, it left open the possibility that shark cage diving may amount to ‘disturbing’ or ‘molesting’ great white sharks, in which case it would be an offence under the Wildlife Act. The Court was not prepared to rule on whether cage diving does indeed amount to disturbing or molesting sharks, instead indicating that the appropriate place to determine this question is through a proper fact-finding exercise in the course of a prosecution. The Court noted that its judgment “set out the principles against which the lawfulness of any future shark cage diving operation can be assessed” – a far cry from Shark Experience’s assertion that shark cage diving is “still legal in New Zealand”.

Essentially, the issue of whether shark cage diving is legal or not, remains unresolved. It can be resolved only by a prosecution being taken under the Wildlife Act, preferably by the Department of Conservation.

Department of Conservation must act Shark Experience says that when the shark cage diving season starts again in December 2019, the company intends to continue to operate as it has in the past. It will use bait and berley to attract great white sharks, putting sharks at risk of collision with cages, and interfering with the sharks’ natural patterns

of activity. If this creates a significant risk of harm to the sharks then, according to the principles laid down by the Supreme Court, Shark Experience will be operating illegally.

The Crown’s lawyers have argued that the operational facts of shark cage diving are not in dispute and there is clear, uncontradicted evidence of physical harm to sharks. A prosecution therefore seems like a no-brainer.

However, for the pāua divers who initiated the legal proceedings back in 2015, the most inexplicable aspect of this lengthy saga... ... is why the Department of Conservation doesn’t tackle this once and for all.

After all, the great white shark is a fully protected species – it has the same level of legal protection as Māui dolphins or kiwi.

The Department has allowed shark cage diving – which causes physical harm to sharks, which may be illegal, to continue. The

Department knows that its outdated legislation is not fit for purpose but seems unwilling to take any steps to fix it.

The absence of clear instruction or direction to DOC from any Conservation Minister to date has not helped.

In the meantime, a fully protected species classified as “threatened” remains at risk of significant harm – all for the purpose of giving a few tourists a thrill by seeing great white sharks collide with metal cages. Or to experience the real “money shot”, a big shark biting at the cage they are safely inside.

Currently there is only one company selling shark cage tourism, but that is likely to change given the apparent absence of effective controls on the activity – what is now a concern only for Stewart Islanders may soon become more widespread. And where does that leave spearos or recreational divers looking to get a feed of pāua, crayfish or oysters in the area? It leaves them as shark bait.

Issue 170 13

Captain’s Log:

CRIMPTOON

Beam me up spotty Horton hears a who!

They say the ‘Sky’s’ the limit but you can’t blame her for letting a little fame go to her head on this occasion!

When Sky Horton discovered her surprise appearance on the front cover of The Fishing Paper & Hunting News last month, she was taken aback but excited. The locals around Kaikoura were thrilled

‘one of their own’ had made the ‘who’s who’ of the fishing and hunting world and the town was abuzz.

Such was her 15 minutes of fame, an autograph and

signing session had to be hastily organised at Hunting & Fishing Kaikoura to calm the crowds. Sky attracted more fans than, Lee Child, Harry Potter, and Englebert Humperdinck but took the celebrity status in her stride, saying you are only as good as your last front cover.

Several notable women’s magazines have since approached Sky, offering exclusive rights for her story and even suggesting she

Sky takes fame in her stride

may bump Prince Harry and ‘What’s-her-name’ off the next front cover. However, Sky is a good South Island girl and told them to stick it.

“Nothing can beat making front cover of ‘OUR’ paper,” she told us.

There’s no doubt The Fishing Paper & Hunting News is the Kiwi outdoor enthusiast’s bible, as reflected by the more than 20,000 copies picked up

every month, AND it’s not just old fogeys reading the paper. This is certainly at odds with what marketing gurus are telling us: that print is dead and digital is the only way to advertise because young people have the attention spans of gnats and only read tweets. Not OUR young people—or old fogeys for that matter!

paper because we are about real people, so if you have a story to tell, send it in.

We just love seeing real gems like Sky gracing the front cover and pages of the

P.S. we also do digital and Social Media but don’t tweet about it!

to connect with a unique ecosystem.

to have some input to the process, email your contact details, with the subject header ‘Delaware Bay’, to: Simon Mardon mn@ nelsoncollege.school.nz

If you are serious about getting your business or product in front of a huge qualified audience with strong purchasing power, contact Annette now 021 028 73393 or admin@ coastalmedia.co.nz

Delaware Bay access in doubt Delaware Bay, North of Nelson, has been an important recreational area for the region since the 1840s, with direct access for small boaties, fishers, kayakers, paddle boards, and surfers provided through the Wakapuaka Estuary, which also has significant cultural and ecological value. Over recent history, the right of enduring public access has been hotly disputed by some quarters and defended strongly by others, with Council now working to find an equitable solution.

Following public meetings in 2018, a working group of recreational and local community representatives was set up to liaise with Council and work through issues on the table; environmental, ecological, cultural, management, and administrative. The group is comprised of Peter Ruffell, Zane Mirfin, Stuart Edens, Simon Mardon, Daryl Crimp, Markham Phillips, and Simon Small.

Working alongside Council representatives, the group reviewed ecological reports, science, surveys, and historical usage, consulted with iwi, and mapped a low

impact launching zone for small boats and watercraft.

A proposal for managed access, to allow only for launching and retrieval of watercraft, was developed and accepted by Council.

The proposal creates the smallest possible ‘footprint’ on the estuary: http:// www.nelson.govt.nz/assets/ Environment/Downloads/ Environmental-monitoring/ estuarine-health/DelawareBay-Wakapuaka-EstuaryManaged-Access-ProposalNov2018.pdf The proposal takes into consideration all affected parties and offers, arguably, the best compromise without diminishing the fundamental rights of all the region’s constituents. Council intended introducing and trialling the new access management plan over the 2019-20 summer season, but withdrawal of support from some interested parties calls this into question. The working group is working closely with Council to effect a resolution and firmly believe the current management plan is the best way forward.

To more effectively liaise and report back to its

Delaware Bay an important Kiwi location(Photo Zane Mirfin)

constituents, the working group is developing a register of interested parties who, not only use Delaware Bay and Wakapuaka Estuary, but have a wider interest

in enduring access to our coastal resources. Places like Wakapuaka Estuary often offer the safest access for small craft, along with the intrinsic value of being able

If you would like regular updates on the Wakapuaka Estuary Proposal for Managed Access, or want

14

Issue 170

THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - NOVEMBER 2019

Riding runaway Mekong Express

15

Elliot Hendry rides the Mekong Express

Elliot Hendry

There is no doubt the highlight of our trip to Thailand last November was fishing.

The day before my girlfriend Poppy’s birthday there, I asked what she would like to do.

“I know you’d like to go fishing so let’s do that,” she said.

She’s a keeper that one!

At short notice, I came across Chalong Fishing Park, which is a stocked freshwater lake located near Patang in Phuket. The reviews were great so I booked us in for six hours.

We were given two rods.

One, a solid 8ft rod with Shimano Baitrunner reel had a large round float with a big ball of groundbait underneath, and was baited with a ‘boilie’ or small coloured ball. This was fired out into the middle of the lake. Another smaller rod was set up with a ledger rig, chicken heart bait, and was deployed on the edge of some lilies.

Within a couple of minutes, one of our rods bent over and, after quite a spirited fight, I landed a red tailed catfish.

All of the fish in the lake were handled with the utmost care; barbless hooks are used, an antiseptic is sprayed on the hook wound, landing mats are used for smaller fish, and larger fish aren’t allowed to be removed from the water. If you want a photo, prepare to jump in.

Several more catfish were hooked and landed before things went quiet. Our guides worked hard while we relaxed, replenishing groundbait balls and replacing bait that was regularly being attacked by small pacu, a fish related to piranhas.

The peace was interrupted as a baitrunner screamed.

Grabbing the rod and setting the hook, I knew I was into a seriously large fish.

The guides told me excitedly that I’d hooked a Mekong catfish, the largest fish in the lake. It pulled some serious string and other anglers pulled their lines in to give me the best chance of landing it. Another rule is you aren’t allowed to touch the drag, which they set very heavily, because these fish can take over an hour to land and can die of stress. So it’s hold on and hope nothing gives.

I contained it in an area in front of us, but it was a good 30 minutes before my guide managed to wrestle it into the, purposely built, large holding nets. My arms were like jelly. I was elated and jumped in for some photos with the 30kg fish before letting her swim out of my arms.

The fishing slowed down during the hottest part of the day but as the temperature cooled, the fish became active again and I managed to land the big Siamese carp I was after.

Exotic species on the bucket list in Thailand

Next bite it was Poppy’s turn and, following a flash of silver in the murky water, we had a lovely Siamese carp in the net. Over the next couple of hours we caught large pacu, common carp, Siamese carp, and a couple of other species.

There was only one more target to tick off and, as the sun set, the silence was again interrupted by the screaming baitrunner. Poppy grabbed the rod and was nearly dragged in as she set the hook.

Our six hours was soon up but we were both enjoying ourselves so much, we decided to stay the whole day to give Poppy a shot at a Mekong catfish and myself a bigger Siamese carp.

Poppy up to her neck in carp

READ US ONLINE go to

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“Mekong,” the guides called.

This was Poppy’s first time fishing and she very quickly learnt how to play the fish like a pro as it took her up

Go Anywhere Read Anytime Watch Everything

and down the lake. The fish almost took her to breaking point—the nasty wound where the rod dug into her thigh testifying to that. She thought of giving up but I kept assuring her it was beaten, even though it was showing no signs of tiring.

After an epic battle, a guide grabbed it as it swam close to the bank and it was secured.

Job done.

We were both buggered but, as any fisherman worth their salt knows, the fishing isn’t done till you’ve declared last cast at least 10 times. I’m glad, as I hooked another Mekong freight train, which took 45 minutes to net. We were well and truly beaten by this stage and so ended one of the most enjoyable days of my life and the highlight of our holiday. At NZ$75 for the day, Chalong Fishing Park is unbelievable value.

Poppy has her hands full with this catfish

16 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - NOVEMBER 2019

Optically Speaking

Ant Corke

The versatile Pulsar Core thermal clip-on system new external power source adapter.

The Pulsar Core FXQ BW fits onto the front of a riflescope using the supplied Cover-Ring Adapter.

A thermal imaging monocular that can be hand-held and easily rifle mounted satisfies the needs of keen hunters and pest controllers alike. The new Pulsar Core FXQ BW is designed for this purpose and is unarguably the most versatile thermal optic available.

Daylight optics such as binoculars, spotting scopes and riflescopes, use visible light to form a detailed image with natural colours, ideal for picking out animals from their surroundings.

However, daylight optics have inherently poor low light performance as they

simply cannot be used past dusk even in full moonlight.

A thermal monocular that can be used to spot, then easily fixed to the riflescope provides an excellent solution to this problem.

The Pulsar Core FXQ BW is ideal for spotting quarry, then quickly attached to the front of a riflescope to take the shot via a pre-mounted cover-ring adapter. The cover-ring mount is supplied with the Pulsar Core, and extra mounts are available for attaching the Pulsar Core to other rifles, including heavy recoiling rifles such as .338 Lapua and .375 H&H Mag. When fitted

to the front of a riflescope the magnification of the system is determined by the riflescope making distance estimation far easier. A Sternhelle AUX-LRF 7 can be fitted to the riflescope to provide accurate distance measurement at night.

immersion in water. The BW is a new model with upgraded components and a

When used as a hand-held monocular, the Core FXQ38 BW has a magnification of 3.1x – 6.2x and a detection range of around 1350 metres. When fitted to a riflescope, the recommended magnification is 1x-3x.

The Core FXQ50 BW has a magnification of 4.1x-8.2x and a detection range of around 1800m. When fitted to a riflescope, the recommended magnification is 2x-5x, though I have used both Pulsar Cores at a higher than recommended magnification without any ill effect.

The Pulsar Core FXQ BW is available with a choice of two objective lenses, 38mm and 50mm focal length, the shorter lens has a wider field-of-view, whilst the longer lens has a higher magnification. The image quality is exceptionally clear, the controls are easy to use, and the body is robust and waterproof to withstand total

Thermal Imaging Scope/Front attachment

CORE FXQ

PULSAR CORE BW FXQ50 & FXQ38 • • • • • • • •

FXQ50 $6299

4.1x -8.2 with eyepiece Detection range >1800*

Supplied with eyepiece for use as a spotting device Sensor resolution 384x 288 @ 50Hz FXQ38 $5899 High resolution AMOLED screen 3.1x -6.2x with eyepiece Detection distance >1800m (FXQ50)* Detection range > 1350m* Fits most riflescopes with 40mm-60mm objective lenses Powered by 2x CR123 batteries or external power source adaptor (supplied) Rugged shock-resistant design and fully waterproof IPx7 Supplied with one Pulsar Cover-ring adapter, state which size when buying

*Detection range is based on spotting a 1.7m x 0.5m object at more than the specified distance in ideal conditions

For more information visit your local stockiest or www.yukonoptics.co.nz

Ultra compact, the Pulsar Core FXQ BW is easy to use and comfortable to carry.

DO YOU KNOW YOUR RADIO CHANNELS

FOR MARLBOROUGH AND NELSON Channel 01 – Mt. Stokes.

Coverage from Cape Farewell in the south to Cape Egmont in the north, and the east from Cape Palliser to Cape Campbell.

Most of the Marlborough Sounds, Golden Bay, Tasman Bay , Wellington and Cook Strait. At times. This channel may be workable outside these perimeters.

Channel 04 – Drumduan.

Covers Tasman Bay and the western d’Urville area. Permanently linked to both channels 60 and 65. This means that any transmission made on channel 04 is heard simultaneously on both channels 60 and 65 and vice versa.

Pulsar Thermal Monocular Front Attachment

I recommend the Pulsar Core FXQ BW for general night hunting and pest control. It is versatile, but not intended to replace a Pulsar thermal riflescope which is capable of a better long-range precision and features. At night, most shots are taken at relatively close distances, under 200 metres for deer and under 70 metres for rabbits and hares. This is ideal for the Pulsar Core FXQ BW, which is a proven thermal imaging system, designed and built in Europe, and representing excellent value-for-money.

Channel 60 – Mt. Burnett.

Covers Kahurangi Point in the west, all of Golden Bay and the western side of d’Urville Island. Channel 60 is permanently linked to channel 04 (and subsequently to channel 65) so any transmission made on channel 04 is heard on channel 04, 60, and 65 as well.

Channel 63 – Mt. Kahikatea.

Covers Queen Charlotte Sound, Port Underwood, Cook Strait, south to Cape Campbell, Kapiti and Mana and also parts of Kenepuru and Pelorus Sounds. This Channel is good for Wellington approaches but not good within Wellington Harbour. (Mariners are advised to cancel Trip Reports at Barrets Reef buoy).

Channel 65 – Paradise Reserve.

Covers Kenepuru and Pelorus Sounds, Havelock, d’Urville, western Cook Strait, parts of Tasman Bay, Golden Bay and large sections of Queen Charlotte Sound.

Channel 66 – Mt. Stokes.

Coverage area is similar to Channel 01.

This repeater is for Commercial users only and is not Operator monitored.

Channels 01 and 63 are linked for the marine forecasts only and one operator monitors both channels.

Channels are monitored 0700 hrs to 2200 hrs all year round.

THIS VALUABLE SERVICE NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT

Become a member of the Marlborough-Nelson marine radio association.

Your subscription goes a long way to funding this amazing boating service Email for a membership form today

marineradio@xtra.co.nz

The Fishing Paper & Hunting News proudly supports Marlborough-Nelson Marine Radio Association

Issue 170 17

From Sinker to Smoker Ron Prestage

Snapper, snapper everywhere Part Three This month I move north again from Cape Foulwind on the West Coast and tell something of the fish to be had in the good old days/ bad old days of the 1950’s and 60’s when snapper were

plentiful. We were so wrong to think this would last forever with big bag limits for recreational fishers and open slather/slaughter for commercial fishers.

Royce - Otumahana Estuary.

Royce - Two Hour Catch Otumahana

In my Westport boyhood I well remember Ralph Stechman and Fred Callaghan biking back from the Tip Head, rangoon cane rods strapped on the crossbars and the tail of a big snapper poking out the top of their makeshift sugar bag backpacks.

The Tip Head at the mouth of the Buller River was where I caught my first snapper as a young fellow. From there I migrated to the adjoining North Beach under the tutelage of Geoff White, an icon of the fishing scene in those days. Catches of five or six big snapper per session were par for those times

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and when the snapper were in, the ‘holes’ on the North Beach were ringed with surfcasters like a bamboo forest!

Another spot further north I fished regularly was the Mokihinui area from the Mussel Rocks to the Gentle Annie Beach. Fishing there went into a steep decline from the 1990’s, with paddle crabs cleaning off the bait on one rod before you got your second rod out. Thankfully the fishery has recovered with snapper and rig being taken in good amounts nowadays.

All along the coast in the early days the beaches near

Fairdown, Waimangaroa, Birchfield, Granity and Hector all produced snapper when conditions and season were right. Further north in the Karamea region, Royce Smith of Westport

tells me about the fishing he and others enjoyed at Otamahana before huge floods altered the landscape and seascape there. His photographs capture the abundance of those years.

Royce - Karamea Estuary.

18 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - NOVEMBER 2019

Fish Frames with Arabesque Salt COOKING with CRIMPY

Fish frames

This dish is excellent as an entrée or simply as finger food for lunch. Cut the heads and tails off any fish frames after filleting and wash thoroughly in seawater. Make sure any blood is scraped free and cut large frames into manageable pieces.

1 cup flour Salt and cracked pepper Vegetable oil Lemon wedges

Arabesque Salt.

Add flour to a large plastic bag and season with cracked pepper and salt. Add frames a couple at a time and shake the bag until they are well coated with flour.

Cover the base of a heavy pan with 1cm of vegetable oil and heat until shimmering. Quickly fry each frame for a minute or two each side or until crispy golden. Drain on absorbent paper and serve with a squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkle of Arabesque Salt.

2 tsp rock salt 1 tsp ground coriander 1/2 tsp cumin seeds ground finely Add salt to a mortar and pestle and grind finely. Combine the cumin and coriander until well mixed.

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Issue 170 19

Gunworks transformation for young hunter Max Barclay

As soon as I got my learner's driver’s licence on my 16th birthday, I also applied for my firearms licence.

The gunworks suppressor has transformed Max's hunting and shooting

Published by Bateman Books Reviewed by T P McPhee

The core storyline of The Trout Dreams is the evolving relationship and romance between Grzelewski and US angler Jennifer White.

From their earliest email correspondence and initial long-distance relationship, through an evolving romance on the trout streams of New Zealand and Colorado, to their honeymoon on the Yucatan coast of Mexico, Grzelewski paints an endearing image of an enviable trout-Bohemian lifestyle. Interwoven with valuable insights into the finer points of the skills necessary to be a good flyangler, the beautiful places where we indulge our sport and the amazing quarry (the trout), we pursue The Trout Dreams will speak to the heart of every true fly fisherman.

RRP $40

I got a job apple thinning for the summer and starting to look at a lot of rifles. I ended up with a Tikka chambered in .308 and mounted a 4–12x40 scope on it. I have to say, I do love my gun.

Since Grzelewski published The Trout Diaries (2011) and The Trout Bohemia (2013) anglers having been waiting eagerly for his next evocative work. The Trout Dreams completes the trilogy.

On my first hunt by myself, I shot my first deer in a clearing from about 50m. I was stoked.

However, after a few months I developed a problem that became irritating —the deafening noise from the rifle every time I took a shot. The ringing in my ears was became an issue and I was starting to flinch when I took the shot. Knowing I was damaging my hearing, I decided to get a suppressor.

These were new to me; I had a chat with Crimpy and

The Trout Dreams – A true romance of flyfishing in New Zealand

By Derek Grzelewski

It was a great feeling to finally get the card to put in my wallet, but there was only one thing missing—a rifle. Up until now I had used Dad’s.

The hunting continued, with a few deer, a pig, and some goats falling to the .308.

BOOK REVIEW

got his opinion. I ended up settling on a Gunworks suppressor. They are well priced, and they threaded the gun and fitted the suppressor within a week.

I ‘reluctantly’ sent my gun away and got it back five days later. I had a good look over my rifle and was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the suppressor.

Dad was also envious.

ears didn’t ring—they were not affected by the sound one bit.

Next was the testing: I took it hunting in the bush and on the tops, rain and sunshine.

I have put it through its paces and I'm happy to say it has been my best investment (other than my rifle) in my hunting equipment—a must have item. My ears are now safe, I'm not flinching anymore, it has probably halved the recoil and, on one occasion on the tops, when I took four shots at a deer, it didn’t even know I

As soon as I got it home, I could not help but put a couple of shots through it. I have to say I was shocked; it sounded so different and my

was there or run. The reason I missed was purely because, new to alpine hunting, I’d underestimated the distance and the deer was too far away.

I couldn’t be happier with my buy and I have already put a Gunworks suppressor on my .22 mag. I would highly recommend getting a suppressor for your rifle, if you haven't already. I haven't tried other brands of suppressors but if you're not sure which brand to go with, I'll tell you now—you can’t go wrong with Gunworks.

Few anglers are gifted enough to be able to write and convey the images and emotions that draw and hold them in the wonderful sport of fly-fishing. Grzelewski does this with apparent ease.

Grzelewski describes himself as “... more of a writer who fly fishes rather than an angler who writes …”. However, I think he does himself a disservice, as no writer who simply fly-fishes, could ever do the sport of fly-fishing justice in the way that his inspired writing does. His eloquent prose speaks to anglers and dreamers alike, capturing the romance that is the essence of our sport.

Maybe a long time ago Grzelewski was simply a writer who fly-fished. There is no doubt now however that he is clearly an angler who writes … beautifully.

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20 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - NOVEMBER 2019

TrackMe in remote places The New Zealand outdoors is an exciting place and, since 1998 when I decided to pursue working with young people, a venue for much of my work. The wild places of our beautiful country can also be a dangerous and unforgiving.

Over the years the outdoors has taught me a lot: perseverance, resilience, teamwork, and many practical skills.

In 2006 I was working as a youth tutor and outdoors instructor. One of my motivations is to teach young people through experience, as the outdoors and especially Mother Nature are honest no-nonsense teachers.

When it came to organising an event, where over a 12 hour period we had a 100 youth out biking, kayaking, and trekking independently, we needed to know where they were, because they would be away from adult support for hours at a time.

With the changing health and safety landscape and the real issue teams that could simply get lost, it was a problem we needed to solve: we needed a way to see where teams were in real time.

After a good number of years of multi-sport and adventure racing, I gathered together a group of friends to develop the GO-4-12 Youth Adventure Race. The idea was to challenge and grow young people through an authentic adventure race.

By 2007 it had become the New Zealand Secondary Schools Adventure Racing Championships and had been filmed for TV3.

Problems are so often just opportunities in disguise.

Our lack of team visibility was just that but, with the generous support of a New Zealand-based satellite tracking and communication company called Spot NZ (now TrackMe), we found a solution. Each team carries a GPS satellite tracker so our management team can see where they are and check they are okay. Each tracker has buttons to allow for tracking and sending help messages, and a SOS Button connected directly to the New Zealand Rescue Coordination Centre.

While we all want to have adventures that end well, for the inexperienced or unprepared it all may end in tragedy and ‘headlines.’

An example of how this amazing tool works is the story of the team manager who came to us saying their team was late to the

David Tait—Brand Ambassador TrackMe.Life

Wild at heart and wild outdoors

transition, “Where are they?”

We looked at the tracking screen and, sure enough, the team was lost and we could see where we would need to pick them up from, if needed.

A period of story building for the team followed, as we could monitor them and let them find their way home. About an hour after getting lost, the team corrected their geographical confusion and arrived at the transition. They were happy and animatedly told tales of being lost and how they solved it themselves.

You can imagine how much value there is in young people having the opportunity to work their way through a problem and to grow through the adventure.

Over the last four years we have seen some major developments in the technology and systems available. TrackMe have

become market leaders in protecting solo and remote people using GPS satellite technology. When I am not growing kids through adventure, I will often be found supporting people to enhance their safety in remote places, through my Brand Ambassador role for TrackMe.Life. I certainly love hearing their stories.

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Issue 170 21

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The Fishing Paper & Hunting News

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.

www.thefishingpaper.co.nz

22 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - NOVEMBER 2019

Two sets of mātaitai bylaws proposed for Lyttelton Harbour – consultation Tangata Tiaki/Kaitiakai for the Whakaraupō Mātaitai and the Rāpaki Mātaitai have proposed bylaws that would; reduce recreational daily limits for a number of local fish and shellfish species, close two small areas to cockle harvest to allow enhancement to occur, and prohibit taking seaweed except karengo and wakame (Undaria).

The Whakaraupō Mātaitai and the Rāpaki Mātaitai, between them, cover most of Lyttelton Harbour.

The proposals follow surveys conducted

by Te Tiaki Mahinga Kai (a customary research and monitoring team based at the University of Otago) which indicates a risk of decline and overharvesting in these mātaitai. The bylaws relate only to recreational fishing as commercial fishing is already prohibited within the mātaitai.

The proposed bylaws may be inspected at the MPI offices, Sir William Pickering Drive, Christchurch and the Rāpaki Marae Office at 39 Rāpaki Drive, Governor’s Bay. Or, on the Fisheries New Zealand web site You can make submissions on either or both proposed sets of bylaws by emailing fmsubmissions@mpi.govt.nz Put “Mātaitai bylaws proposal” in the subject line of your email.

Submissions open on 1 November 2019 and will close at 5:00pm on Friday 13 December 2019

While we prefer email, you can also post your written submission to:

Manager Inshore Fisheries Fisheries New Zealand Private Bag 1926 Dunedin 9054

Seafood Sustainability Awards Ngā kaitiaki o Tangaroa: Guardians of Seafood

Recognising and celebrating significant contributions to sustainability

Nominations open now! www.fisheries.govt.nz/awards2020 Entries close 24 November 2019

Photo: New Zealand Story

Issue 170 23

Top five school holiday fishing destinations

Michael Stump

Ollie and Lucas Stump with Granddad Josef

New seafood sustainability awards The Minister of Fisheries is calling for entries for a new public award to celebrate innovation in our seafood sector.

“I have established the Seafood Sustainability Awards to recognise and celebrate those throughout industry, tangata whenua, and communities who demonstrate outstanding dedication and innovation towards the sustainability of New Zealand’s seafood sector,” says Stuart Nash.

A popular Kiwi school holiday pastime is camping.

So while you're at it, you might as well pack the fishing rod for some extra fun. Fishing off the beach can keep the kids entertained for hours while you sit back and enjoy a cold beer in peace.

Here is a quick local fishing location guide from the Nelson Dawnbreakers Fishing Club:

Cable Bay A 30min drive north from Nelson gets you to Cable Bay. Here you will find a small, modern campground.

From the pebbly beach you can surf cast or launch a small dinghy or kayak.

Snapper come in close during the summer months.

Kingfish and kahawai can be caught around the rocky shores. This is also a popular for free-diving location.

During an incoming tide, try spearing a flounder in the lagoon.

Okiwi Bay

Okiwi Bay is just over an hour drive from Nelson. It offers a good size campground with lots of facilities, and a boat launching ramp. From Okiwi you can access many fishing grounds by boat.

Around the islands can be good for gurnard or walk to the old wharf to surf cast for snapper, kahawai, mackerel, and john dory.

classic for a long time. The camp has good facilities for camping or staying in a cabin. It also has a boat launching ramp that can be use by smaller boats around high tide, but care must be taken not to get caught out in an easterly wind. From here you get prime access to the Golden Bay snapper fishing, which is at its best during the summer months.

Pohara

The Aorere River is a great place to fish for kahawai and kingfish from shore at the river mouth or walk upstream to target trout.

Pohara is popular camping destination during summer but doesn’t get too busy during the spring or autumn holidays. From the camp it’s not far to Port Tarakohe to launch or moor your boat.

The port offers access to good fishing in Golden Bay or around the mussel farm.

During summer, fish early mornings at Separation Point for a snapper. You can also shore fish off the banks of the port.

Pakawau Pakawau in Golden Bay has been a school holiday

Mokihinui Mokihinui on the top end of the West Coast is a four hour drive from Nelson. It has a couple of campgrounds but no boat launching facilities. Fishing is manly from the sandy shore for kahawai, rig, and snapper. The river mouth can be teeming with kahawai during the summer. Mussels can be picked off the rocks.

This is also a popular spot for whitebaiting during spring.

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“Sustainability of New Zealand’s wild fish stocks, aquaculture, and the wider aquatic environment is a priority. These awards will recognise innovation and the adoption of fishing methods that are critical to encouraging sustainability in our seafood sector.

“New Zealand has one of the world’s largest exclusive economic zones, which provides for the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of all New Zealanders. These awards acknowledge that the long

term health and sustainable use of our kai moana is important to everyone.

Lifestyles, our livelihoods, and our unique marine environment depend on it.

“It is important we celebrate those who have made significant contributions to New Zealand’s seafood sector and recognise their efforts towards sustainability.

Entrants might be innovators, scientists, commercial fishers, customary fishers, recreational fishers, marine farmers, community groups, or seafood support businesses. They could be anyone who has taken an active interest in the continuous improvement of New Zealand's seafood sector.

“Inspired by the Seabird Smart Awards, the inaugural Seafood Sustainability Awards will offer an array of categories to celebrate the various forms of innovation and champions of sustainability across the sector.”

The award categories include: • The Operation Innovation Award • The Market Innovation and Value-added Award • The Kaitiakitanga Award • The Supreme Sustainability Award • The Emerging Leader Award • Minister of Fisheries’ Award.

Entries to the awards opened Friday 18 October 2019 and close on Friday 22 November 2019. Finalists will be announced in January 2020 and winners will be announced in March 2020 at a special awards dinner and ceremony in Parliament Buildings, Wellington.

More information on the New Zealand Seafood Sustainability Awards and how to enter is available at: www.fisheries.govt.nz/ awards2020

24 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - NOVEMBER 2019

Hunting Otago’s alpine antelope Ethan Eder

Where are Fish & Game when it comes to promoting sport fishing in New Zealand?

The Fishing Paper & Hunting News has more than double the circulation of the next most popular fishing magazine nationally and the highest South Island distribution by a country mile. It is the go-to-monthly-read for young and old alike, yet Tyler McBeth worries that the lack of a Fish & Game voice is impacting on the fishery.

Tyler takes it upon himself to remind readers to…

Tow the line on sports fish

Ethan experiences the best of New Zealand alpine hunting-tackling nimble chamois up high Having expended a lot of time and energy chasing the majestic bull tahr, I switched focus recently and honed in of the wild antelope of Otago—chamois.

The desire to get a nice buck was bubbling away under the surface, but I was really a greenhorn when it came to this alpine species.

However, a good way to learn is by stretching the legs so daylight saw Toby Walker and me sitting high above a catchment, bins in hand.

We’d gained altitude, some 800m, so we could be above any chamois,

knowing full well these animals have unparalleled eyesight. No amount of glassing was going to give us an advantage this morning because the chamois were simply not there. A couple of big stags minus antlers provided an interlude but they were safe. At this stage I was unaware that the hunt would stretch to 15 hours and 25 kilometres so, with boundless energy, we set off to the head basin.

Glassing and lots of it is the order of the day with chamois but stretching the eyeballs revealed

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only a single buck; way in the distance and out of our range. The previous weekend I’d seen what I thought was a good buck but, as it was in summer coat, I’d passed on it.

We continued down a prominent ridge and came upon a family group of chamois feeding. Further along we spooked a young buck and raced forward to try for a photo op. The young buck joined up with one of similar vintage and proceeded to gambol about before disappearing from view.

We scarpered around a rocky outcrop and spotted a buck, head down, feeding not 50m away. Closer observation revealed it wasn’t one of the young bucks as we’d assumed, but a mature animal. We sat huddled, trying to assess its horns for a good two minutes when it suddenly lifted its head. All I can say is, it looked BIG to us so I squeezed off a shot. The buck collapsed and rolled down the slope, stopping short of a deep creek when its horn hooked into a matagouri.

While the skin was moulting and unsuitable for mounting, I was stoked with my first chamois buck.

Later measurement put it at a shade under ten inches, but the greater measure came in the difficulty and challenge of the hunt. Needless to say, I’m now a chamois convert and will give priority to hunting these Otago antelopes over big bull tahr.

Whether it be specifically targeting tench from a small stagnant body of water that smells purely of rot and decay in Canterbury, fishing for brown and rainbow trout in gin-clear creeks in the High Country, or tackling the elusive brook char that lives scattered across the country in hidden away spring creeks and secluded lakes, a Fish&Game licence is required.

Secondary rules apply for the number of fish you can keep per day, seasons of the year you are allowed to fish particular waterways, as well as how you are allowed to fish for certain species of sports fish. These rules vary for each waterway.

All rules for freshwater sports fish in your region can be found on the Fish&Game website or can be found

in the latest Fish&Game regulation booklet. A Fish&Game regulation booklet is provided with each fishing licence, whether you buy from a fishing tackle shop or from the official Fish&Game website.

There is no excuse for breaking these rules, as it has the potential to cause devastating impacts towards fish populations in certain waterways.

Like MPI having harsh penalties for saltwater fish if people do not abide by the rules, Fish&Game also take rule-breaking very seriously.

There is a $5000 fine and a criminal conviction for those who are caught fishing for sports fish who do not own a Fish&Game licence, as well

as a fine of $5000 for getting caught fishing out of season whilst targeting any fish that is classed as a Fish&Game sports fish. This also includes an extra $20 fine for each fish unlawfully taken.

Any sports fish, regardless of the species popularity, holds the same penalties if these rules are broken.

The sports fish species are the following: brown trout, rainbow trout, American Lake trout (Mackinaw), brook char, Atlantic salmon, Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon or Kokanee, perch, tench, rudd (Auckland/ Waikato region only) any hybrid of those species.

There are some incredible freshwater fishing opportunities in New Zealand, so get out there, grab a licence and give it a go—you might just like it.

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Issue 170 25

Fishing for lake deer

Bryn Williams A hunting mission was conceived while fishing off the coast of Kaikoura. The chilly bin was harbouring a few fresh fish but “lines up” was the call as we motored back to the ramp.

BOOK REVIEW Ruin Beach Kate Rhodes Bryn packing out from the mountains

RRP $35 Reviewed by Daryl Crimp

Swapping rods for rifles, we hosed down the gear, baby shampooed the old man’s boat and jumped in the ute heading for the hills.

Reaching our destination, we met up with another couple of mates, who shared their own home-made plum chutney and venison patties with us. It was a brilliant way to set the scene!

the keen outdoorsman, the South Island is one hell of a playground!

The atmospheric cover design and back-leaf synopsis suggests this to be a classic whodunnit but with an original twist: a brooding island with a dark secret, a brutal murder, a string of suspects, evil lurking in the shadows, cryptic clues, and a tired deputy detective filling the role of ‘knight errant’ — roaming the earth in search of damsels to save. While the setting is interesting and the context the story is framed around—sunken Roman treasure and vulgar greed—is intriguing, the book never elevates itself above that of a ‘good read’.

Heading into the working week, I dropped off the deer to the local butcher. He worked his magic, crafting some outstanding sausages and patties, which were shared amongst family and friends.

Set in the Scilly Isles, an archipelago of the Cornish coast in south west England, the book tries to cash in on the current trend of the crime thriller genre to use exotic moody locations

Our first task was to gain some elevation. With the extra height we were able to scan the open river flats for grazing deer. Although things looked promising, the flats turned out empty.

Pushing on further we reached the summit and glassed a couple of deer on a distant face.

The wind was in our favour so we carefully made our way closer, moving together to limit our visual presence and noise. The deer turned out to be a yearling and a hind, which would be great for the approaching barbeque season. We were now slightly below the animals, on a nearly

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featureless piece of hillside.

Finding a suitable shooting location wasn’t as easy as we first thought, a bi-pod would have been perfect for this situation.

Dev and I found a slight slump, where we could get behind the rifles and take aim. Dev fired first and a solid hit secured the first

deer of the trip. The shot spooked the second deer and I had to put a bit of lead on the shot as it raced for the safety of the bush edge.

The second round secured the yearling and hind pair, an awesome result for a hunt, which was put in to motion hours before, while fishing on the big blue. For

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Most disappointing was the fact that the culprits stood out by simple omission and an obvious ‘smokescreen’, and were relatively easy to deduce several chapters before the end. Notwithstanding, it was an enjoyable read but I wouldn’t race out to buy another from the same author.

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as a backdrop to essential detective tales, but this immediately sets the book up to struggle. While the plot has potential, finding enough characters with a motive to murder in a population of 200 residents is a stretch and results in the author virtually having to direct the reader to the red herrings. The cast of suspects just seems implausible.

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26 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - NOVEMBER 2019

Field Test: Pulsar Helion XP 38 T P McPhee

Application: Extended field trials over 10 months in a variety of situations: daytime, bush stalking, the Roar, meat hunting, animal spotting, night, low light, and on a variety of game including red, fallow, goats, hares, and rabbits. Crimpy asked that I immerse myself in the application of this unit in the field so that I become completely familiar with it and its capabilities or limitations.

Features: Like all technology, advances in thermal imaging has been swift and huge and, whilst older models in the stable still do a great job, the Helion XP version pulls together refinements that advance the unit into a new league. Foremost is a more powerful processor, the high resolution 640x480 thermal sensor, which greatly increases clarity and definition.

Other features include a range of colour palettes that allow customising the unit to your preference, stadiametric rangefinder, rechargeable batteries, variable magnification, interchangeable lens, and remote control and live streaming via smartphone.

In the field: Once the Pulsar Helion XP38 is calibrated, it needs to be adjusted for the individual: eye focus by adjusting ocular ring (eyepiece) until numbers on lower screen focus, and distance by then pulling focus using the focus wheel on the objective lens.

Contrast and brightness are adjusted through the menu button and scroll buttons either side, to suit personal preference. Once set up, it’s pretty bulletproof and

really only needs adjusting for focus.

By using it regularly over several months I developed a real affinity with the unit and almost a dependence on it. My fears that it would take away from traditional hunting techniques didn’t materialise because my ‘old school’ methods are so ingrained. It did enhance my hunting experience and proved invaluable in some situations: stalking fallow in forest on heavily overcast days, finding wounded or animals that had run and died in scrub, identifying the presence of other obscured animals when one or two have been visually located, and clearly identifying animals.

The furthest I picked up an animal was a big stag in the rut at well over a K, but it did require

Next, the built in video recorder and still camera is a natural and practical advancement that hugely enhances the usefulness of this unit. Very intuitive to use with high recording capacity and easy download to computer via cable or phone via WiFi.

movement of the animal at that range. The definition and clarity under normal conditions is exceptional; an obvious improvement on predecessors. The default magnification is 1.9X and ideal for most situations. I found the magnification feature on thermals to be the main weakness: the higher the magnification the more pixelated and you need to scroll through the range to come back to the default.

fascinating.

Conclusion:

It does offer a WiFi link to the smartphone using StreamVision so others can share what you see or, alternatively, you can operate the unit remotely.

To be honest, I have yet to master this adequately with my phone as the streaming is inconsistent. However, I’m not altogether sure it’s a problem with the unit or my iPhone 7, which I do have ‘issues’ with.

At $7299 retail it is an expensive addition to your kit but the cost is easily justified in the quality, diversity, and functionality of this unit. The more you use it, the more it reveals to you and it quickly establishes itself as an ‘essential piece of kit’; on a level with rifle, quality scope, and binos.

A brilliant feature is the inbuilt camera and video: intuitive and easy to use, it offers incredible clarity and plenty of storage, bringing a new dimension to your hunting. I spent hours just videoing animals and birds—

The best feature is the size—compact and lightweight, it fits easily into the pocket when not needed, fits the palm of the hand nicely, and all the buttons are ergonomically positioned.

For those new to hunting and expecting it to replace field craft, you are shortchanging yourself. However, if you accept that it is another advancement in technology that can enhance the hunting and outdoor experience, and embrace it—another dimension becomes available to you.

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Issue 170 27

PISTOL SHOOTING Brian Bishop

Philippines here I come!

As part of the New Zealand team travelling to the Philippines to compete in the Australasia IPSC Handgun Champs, I am proud to be able to represent New Zealand and Pistol NZ. Of the four in the Open team, three have shot together a number of times for New Zealand so we are hoping for a good result.

The quality of some of the other competitors is world class, so to get the result that we are after means we are going to have to be on top of our game. This is going to be interesting because, in the Philippines, shooting is their national sport, much like rugby and the All Blacks are for Kiwis. So, the expectations are high for an outstanding event.

Thanks to Facebook I have been able to keep up with friends I made in past events and I will be looking at seeing what they have

come up with, because each country sets up these matches differently. This is an action style incorporating plenty of movement in the way they set up the courses of fire. The locals love to move fast and boy, they surely do move quickly.

As an old man of 52, I am pleased this is one of the few sports that doesn’t kick you to the benches at 30 but, in saying that, this could well be my last chance to shoot for New Zealand as there are a number of younger shooters coming up through the ranks who are doing very well. I’m hoping I can hold it together.

The organisers have let slip that there is going to be a lot of steel and moving targets.

One course looks to run over two ranges, so that makes for long shots and plenty of running. Lucky I like to run and shoot.

After the problems we in the shooting community

are experiencing in New Zealand, it will be good to get away. However, there are bound to be a lot of questions, as we often get people from different countries come here to shoot due to the quality of our matches.

Reluctantly, I have handed my firearms in. These were my competition guns that had been custom made especially for me and used for 3 gun competition— under stringent safety and competition conditions. This was hard to do, but I had no choice. Seeing them all laid out and being taken away, after all the years building them up and the matches I have travelled to and shot with them, was a gutting experience. The officers were very professional and understanding but I still left feeling sick to the stomach.

Hoping that this next round of decision making is fairer… but time will tell.

TIDES OF CHANGE Poppa Mike

CAGING SKIES Christine Leunens

Paper muti for leopard hunter African leopard hunter Petros Petros ‘Nightshadow’ Belebele roams much of remote African in pursuit of the spotted cat and can be away for such long periods, his new bride actually requires proof of identity when he comes home.

Penguin RRP $38

&

Travels

This novel is based around the central character Johannes, a 12-year-old boy, who lives with his parents in an old large house in Vienna during World War II. Like many boys his age, Johannes gets swept up in the euphoria of Nazi Germany and becomes a member of the Hitler Youth.

Amidst the drama of the war, Johannes discovers his parents are hiding a young Jewish girl, called Elsa, in a space behind a false wall in their house. His parents have kept her presence a secret from Johannes, who then decides he will keep the fact he knows about Elsa secret from his parents and everybody else.

Petros Petros aims to keep ‘the old ways’ alive and only hunts leopard in the traditional manner; stalking barefoot at night, grabbing the cat by hand, and tying it to a tree by the tail. He then puts the predator to sleep using a potent muti or concoction made by his shaman uncle, Shadrek Shaka Zuklu.

The skins he collects are cured and fashioned into traditional garments so he and his family can live an authentic rural lifestyle.

Petros Petros wears European clothes because he’s not a very good leopard hunter.

When not doing his day job, Petros Petros moonlights as a tourist guide where he regales people with authentic African stories he makes up as he goes along.

Petros Petros reads The Fishing Paper & Hunting News in the hope he’ll pick up tips on leopard hunting.

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As the novel progresses, the reader finds themselves dealing with a mix of life’s complexities - teenage boy meets teenage girl, the secrecy, the good versus evil of war, obsession and love, moral and ethical extremes, family interactions and values, along with the struggle for survival in very troubled times.

This is the fourth novel Christine has written, Americanborn, she is the daughter of an Italian mother and a Belgian father. There is no doubt some aspects of this upbringing have had an influence in this novel.

She now lives in Nelson, New Zealand.

Although completed in 2008, publication in New Zealand did not occur until 1 October 2019.

During this time gap others became aware of this novel resulting in a film script being developed by Taika Waititi under the title Jojo Rabbit. The film is described as “anti-hate satire.”

A comedy with satirical elements rather than a true satirical tale. Personally, I am not sure this approach would sit comfortable with me given the terrible tragedy of wars, in particular WWII. It seems to me this film adaptation has altered a number of key aspects - Jojo is younger (10yrs) in the film (whereas Caging Skies has Johannes as 12yrs then 17yrs by 1945) and Elsa is hidden in the attic. I will leave it to the readers/viewers to handle all of this and reach their own conclusions.

Meanwhile the film Jojo Rabbit is receiving extensive promotion particularly in print media, film trailers and publicity, following a premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). It is now being shown in New Zealand theatres.

28 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - NOVEMBER 2019

BY APPOINTMENT TO HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II SWAROVSKI OPTIK SUPPLIER OF BINOCULARS

BTX #CLOSER2 HUNTING SEE THE UNSEEN

SWAROVSKI INTERNATIONAL (NZ) LTD. 3/45 Queen Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand Tel. 04-5954286, optik.sia@swarovski.com, www.swarovskioptik.com