f sher ISSUE 16
June 2012
NZFisher’s Landbased Bumper Issue - GT’s in Raro - Far North epic - Kings on Stickbaits
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CONTENTS Pg 4 SPORTFISHING
12
4
The Ultimate Roadtrip – Far North Success
GAMEISHING 8
Landbased GT’s – The Ultimate Test
SPORTFISHING 11
Top Water Antics – From the Shore
12
Reader Pics
13
Fishing Video of the Month
8
SPORTFISHING
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14
Electronics Tricks to Find (and Land!) the Big One
17
Recipe
18
Regional Reviews
Pg 14
editorial
//From the
EDITOR Winter has met us face on and
industry and the Ministry of Fisheries
ABOUT /
it’s been just the ticket to get lazy fish
(now MAF) that there will likely be
Short and sharp, NZ Fisher is a
motivated to feed up for winter. Almost
an increase in Snapper Quota in the
free e-magazine delivering thought
all the reports I’ve received have been
Hauraki Gulf, Bay of Plenty and East
provoking and enlightening articles,
of hungry, albeit sporadic, fish coming in
Northland (SNA1) area. While we are
across the North of the North Island.
enjoying great fishing it’s only a taste
Although a few lucky souls are still
of what this area can produce. The
getting their hooks into marlin and the
‘best science’ on hand tells us that the
odd tuna most of us have hung up the
Hauraki Gulf rebuild is at about 18% of
game gear for the winter and we’re
it’s ‘Virgin Biomass’ (the volume of fish
focusing on the biggest of the ‘other’
before we began harvesting), but the
species. For NZFisher’s top team it was
BoP and Northland are well below their
Snapper and Kings in the far north.
targets. Kiwi fishers need to be ready
ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES /
Cape Karikari once again provided
to act and quickly should there be a
Phone Richard on 09 522 7257
the target species, but their size didn’t
revew of these fisheries. I urge you to
or email richardl@espiremedia.com
quite match our expectations (Well, not
watch this thread and others like it on
ADDRESS / NZ Fisher,
if you exclude the disproportionately
fishing.net. The NZRFC are on the
high number of bust-offs!).
charge and keeping a close eye on
This months issue has become a bit of a Land based special. There’s some great stories and excellent info on he right (and wrong) ways to get nto some of NZ’s best fishing form the Rocks. Congratulations to Joe Anderson of Whakatane who landed the biggest Snapper I’ve heard of since Mark Hemmingway’s 17kg (World Record)
Ministry proceedings so keep an ear to the ground and please help if you can to keep some of the fish we’ve worked hard to keep in the water, alive! I’m off off to the Boat show this afternoon and hope many of you
EDITOR / Derrick Paull ART DIRECTOR / Jodi Olsson GROUP EDITOR / Trudi Caffell CONTENT ENQUIRIES / Phone Derrick on 021 629 327 or email derrickp@NZ Fisher.co.nz
C/- Espire Media, PO Box 137162, Parnell, Auckland 1151, NZ WEBSITE / www.NZ Fisher.co.nz This is a GREEN MAG, created and distributed without the use of paper so it's environmentally friendly. Please think before you print. Thank you!
check out the best and brightest of the industry. NZFisher will be back on a once
BOP too – well done Joe!
a month release from now going
the North seems to be getting better
to forward-thinking fisher people.
have had the chance to get there and
monster – this one was caught in the
While the snapper fishery up here in
and industry news and information
forward. For the days in between, check us out on Facebook too.
each year we’re hearing more and
Tight lines,
more noise from the commercial fishing
Derrick
Cover Image: Wayne Downer with 41kg Kingfish
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sportFISHING
The Ultimate Roadtrip – Far North Success By Ross McNaughton
It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact
inexperienced eyes it was a monster,
torment as inspiration. My attempts to
moment when my pursuit of a land
surely some sort of kingfish whale
top the 75cm mark became a litany of
based kingfish became a full blown
hybrid. In reality it was probably a 15kg
bust offs, and encounters with cagey
obsession. But I can remember when it
fish, but when it snaffled the small
kings who would disdainfully circle live
started. May 2008. Shortly after dawn.
popper and started to tear line from
baits before departing. Even worse
On the crumbling remains of a wharf
my reel at an alarming rate I felt like a
were the days when the kings didn’t
in a Northland harbour.
featherweight boxer who’d stumbled
show at all, days spent on spent on
into the heavyweight division.
remote ledges carefully spooning
made me abandon my snapper hunt
With my spool rapidly emptying I
berley into a sea devoid of everything
to cast a popper. Perhaps it was the
panicked like only a true amateur
but Mao Mao.
splashing around a not too distant
could, and screwed down the drag.
Even after travelling thousand of
marker buoy. Whatever the reason I
This barely slowed the king, but it was
kilometres and fishing some of the
was about to embark on a long and
more than my poorly tied knots could
best ledges from Spirits Bay to the East
expensive journey.
handle, and I was soon winding in limp
Cape, I only managed to catch my first
line. I trudged back to the bach later
legal king last year. And while that 8kg
Perhaps it was the lack of bites that
I was just about to give up when a small king flashed through the berley trail. Another cast was fired out, and frantically cranked back in,
that morning with my head bowed and muttered to my girlfriend “I lost the fish of a lifetime”.
specimen temporarily saved me from the psychiatrist’s couch, it didn’t satisfy the craving for a decent king. A big
only this time it was being hounded
In the intervening years that memory
king, a fish whose photos could be sent
by a substantially larger king. To my
has become as much a source of
to doting relatives, emailed to work
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sportFISHING
colleagues, or even posted on that
unpacking headed out to fish the
holy grail of Internet ego massage; the
change of light.
Facebook profile pic.
With the sun draining from the sky we
The latest chapter in the kingfish saga
cast our first baits, hoping to start the
would be played out in the far north.
trip with a large snapper. What we did
My trusted fishing mate Callum ‘the
hook were fish bigger, and infinitely
Alvey Assassin’ Geekie once again
more annoying than snapper: the
coming along for the ride.
dreaded school shark.
Our productivity at work dropped
Virtually every bait resulted in Tope
to an all time low in the weeks
and after a couple of hours battling
preceding the trip. With the
the grey plague we gave up and
fanaticism of a terrorist organisation
headed back to camp. While the
we plotted our assault on the north,
entree had failed to deliver we
poring over online maps, checking
were hopeful of a decent helping of
and rechecking weather reports, and
Kingfish and Snapper when the main
carefully calculating bait and burley requirements.
course started the next morning.
Trophy snapper don’t come easily though, the fish found the foul, busting his line. Some decent Trevally were starting to appear in the berley and after a short tussle a 3.3kg specimen begrudgingly accepted an invitation to dinner. The morning had started promisingly, and things were about to get a whole lot more interesting. I’d just missed
Dawn was breaking as we arrived on
a run on a big kahawai fillet and was
our chosen ledge on Sunday morning,
reeling it back to the ledge when a
the dim light revealing a gentle swell of
blur of green and yellow inhaled it,
half a metre washing along the kelp.
and started peeling line off my old
building for me, would be ready for
The burley trail was soon a seething
baitrunner at a great rate of knots.
the trip. Maybe, just maybe, the stars
mass of Mao Mao, and when kahawai
Thinking ruefully of my heavy duty live
were aligning.
joined the throng I quickly landed
bait set sitting untouched in the rod
The forecast was nearly perfect, and only increasing the excitement levels was the news that the live bait rod another fishing mate, Tom Hatfull, was
As we headed north on the Saturday morning, fishing unsurprisingly dominated the conversation.
one, returning him to the water soon
holder, I hung on for the ride.
after with a live bait hook lodged in
With 13kg mono and a short 60lb
his shoulder.
leader I was expecting to be busted
Perhaps a little too much so as we
Callum was using the early morning
almost collided with the Kawakawa
conditions to try and snare a big
vintage train. That mishap aside we
snapper, and when I looked up to see
made it safely to Waitiki landing by
him desperately palming his Alvey it
mid afternoon and after hurriedly
seemed he had found his prey.
off quickly but despite some storming runs, a chase along 30 metres of rocky ledge, and a few scrapes through the weed and rock the line stayed intact. After a 10minute fight a king of
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sportFISHING
around 12kgs emerged just metres
the line went slack. The storm clouds
picked up my rod, offering some not
out from the ledge. Callum was poised
were already gathering as I reeled
so gentle words of encouragement
with the gaff and I’d carefully worked
in, and when a bare hook rather than
to the king. It’s dorsal fin and tail
the king to a small gut when a pair of
shredded line appeared I erupted.
were both now clear of the water and
big waves came through, the hook
I tore off my gimbal and sent it
judging by the distance between them
pulled, and the kingi disappeared in
clattering across the rocks, a torrent of
I knew this was a serious fish.
the wash. Jaw clenched I looked over
abuse echoing off the steep cliffs. This
at Callum, his face mirroring my own
Finally the king launched itself down
time Callum wasn’t meeting my gaze,
stony expression.
on the kahawai in a spectacular strike,
instead making a detailed study of his
for an instant the entire rear half of the
We spent the next couple of minutes
shoes and probably stifling laughter.
fish was suspended vertically out of
discussing the lost king when my
I composed myself and after replacing
the water, a solid mass of green and
TLD50 made the most welcome of
the scuffed up trace, got a fresh livie
silver silhouetted against the morning
interruptions, a howl that sent us both
out. The fishing slowed for the next
sun. I waited an agonising few
sprinting to the water’s edge. The reel
hour. Adding to the frustrations was
seconds and struck, the line coming
had stopped by the time I got to it, but
the arrival of the school sharks who
up reassuringly tight.
after reeling in the slack a solid weight
took launched an attack on the berley.
came on, the brand new rod doubled
This king didn’t show the same level of
A brief tug of war left the Cray bag
over and a very angry kingi started
fight as the previous fish, and within a
with some large holes. I was mending
peeling drag with ease.
couple of minutes a substantial kingfish
this with some heavy line when I heard
After a several strong runs I felt like
a large splash out from the ledge.
appeared just below the surface a few metres of the ledge. But from there he
I was beginning to get control. Even
I looked up to see a large yellow tail
wasn’t keen to get any closer, taking
the sensation of line rubbing through
churning the water around my balloon.
line in short bursts and swimming back
weed didn’t worry me too much, until
With a rapidly increasing heartbeat I
and forth as I newrvously clung on.
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sportFISHING
A couple of tense minutes followed
decidedly off colour and started my
north and with the prospect of a
before the fish tired and Callum slid
own berley trail in the bathroom sink.
long drive home in the evening we
the gaff home. Not for the first time
I’m not sure if I’d picked up a stomach
opted to head back to Spirits and fish
that morning I began to yell, this time
bug, or perhaps my body couldn’t
the famous ’rod holders’ ledge. The
with delight, and gave a fist pump
handle the shock of actually catching a
sharks had disappeared completely,
worthy of Tiger Woods.
king. Either way I wasn’t up to the long
and we were able to catch a good
walk in we’d planned.
supply of livies but apart from a pack
nemesis was finally conquered. Callum
Instead we headed to Spirit’s Bay to
of 4 undersize rats the kings weren’t
wisely moved out of hugging range.
target more kings. Conditions were
making an appearance
The king was hooked deep, which
perfect, but a shortage of kahawai
Standing in the autumn sun with the
explained the lack of fight, but that
combined with an oversupply of
expanse of Spirits bay stretching
didn’t dim the smiles on both our
Tope made for a frustrating day with
before us it was impossible to feel
faces, especially when we weighed
every live bait returning chopped in
too disappointed though. We were
the fish and the digital scales settled
half. Only one small king was sighted
having a chat to a surfcaster from
at 21kg. With the snapper not biting
all day, a stroppy 88cm rat which I
Te Puke who had wandered round
Callum put out his own livie, but in
landed on a skipped Saurie. The kingi
the rocks, the small matter of a 21kg
what was to become a theme for the
was released, as were the rest of my
kingfish may have even snuck into the
trip he suffered the first of a series of
stomach contents a little later. With the
conversation, when Cal’s reel burst
sharkings, his kahawai severed behind
tide coming in we headed back along
into life. His balloon popped off but
the hook.
the rocks before we were cut off.
then everything fell silent.
Even in the bright conditions the
With my digestive system still
Thinking he’d been sharked again
bait fishing was productive though,
engaged in it’s own violent civil war
Callum began winding in casually,
Callum landed several decent Trevally,
Callum headed out alone the next
but when his rod developed a serious
the biggest a fish that would have
day. Unfortunately the sharks again
bend and the drag started screaming
weighed at least 4.5kgs. I couldn’t
arrived to keep him company, their
we knew it was kingi on. The fairytale
match that, but finished the day with
toothy attentions making live baiting
a 4kg snapper. With the prospect of
virtually impossible. He had consistent
an already overloaded backpack these
action with the snapper though, losing
fish were released.
another decent fish in the rocks, and
A chunky king lay on the rocks. My
The first day had gone to script, but there was a nasty plot twist on Monday morning when I woke up feeling
landing and releasing plenty in the 2-3kg range, plus a 60cm Trevally. Wednesday was our last day in the
finish to the trip didn’t eventuate though as the fish found the rocks soon after, Cal’s line coming back severed. With no more action in the next couple of hours we packed up to start the trek back to Auckland ending what had been an eventful trip.
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gameFISHING
Landbased GT’s – The Ultimate Test By Forsyth Thompson
GTs: Not hard enough from a
and in Aitutaki and caught Yellowfin,
tough the coral is on your shoes, and
boat? Try landbased.
Wahoo, Albacore and GTs. Of all of
it’s absolutely devastating to braid.
them, the GT was without a doubt the
So the trick was going to be not just
toughest fish I’d ever been connected
finding some spots to hook GTs, but to
to, and I couldn’t wait to get another
then somehow keep them away from
go at them. But this time we upped the
the coral until we could land them.
stakes a lot – trying to hook and land
On the coral. Clearly this wasn’t going
one (hopefully more) from the land.
to be easy. Then, not long before it
When a friend phoned up last minute and asked if my wife and I wanted to house sit in Rarotonga for 3 weeks over Christmas, it took us all of about 30 seconds to day yes. Having been to the Cooks a few times (including our wedding!) over the last few years,
Anyone who’s been to the islands and
I’d done a little bit of fishing in Raro
walked on the reefs knows just how
8 www.nzfisher.co.nz
was time to leave, the good buggers at Composite Developments gave
gameFISHING
me their new Popper Rod specifically
flooding us in and bringing a tree
We walked a few more metres down
designed for travel to the islands with
down over the driveway! But what
I wound the drag up so tight I literally
an Okuma Salina II loaded with 24kg
we were hearing from friends back
couldn’t pull line off by hand, and
braid. A few more phone calls sorted
home was that it was no better there,
started casting, still laughing and
out as many low cost poppers as I
so that was some consolation. Then
shaking my head at the ridiculous
could get and we were just missing one
Alan got back to the island and we
power of these fish and the absurdity
thing: local knowledge.
did what all good fishermen do:
of what we were doing. And a few
swap stories, drink beer and plan a
casts later, bang, it was all on again
fishing trip for the next day! So out we
but fortunately this fish went down the
headed, wading out down the edge
passage rather than straight into the
of the passage towards the edge of
coral. It was still stripping line, even on
the reef in torrential rain, at times
this ridiculous drag setting, but I got
so hard we couldn’t even see the
it slowed down and then stopped and
beach. The water running out the 25m
we were in an absolute arm wrestle.
deep passage was pouring out and
I struggled to keep my footing until
the colour of milky coffee – just full
Alan ran round and grabbed the back
of runoff from the hills. We stopped
of my gimbal and then the fish headed
about 100m before the passage
fishing some well-known spots, talking
for cover just at the edge of the “cliff”
joined the sea, standing about knee
to some locals and hearing some
we were standing on.
deep in water won the edge of the
great stories about the monster GTs.
passage – effectively standing on a
There’s a well-known monster which
25m coral cliff. After nearly a week
cruises in the harbour around the
of failed attempts and appalling
charter boats estimated at 60kg+
conditions, I wasn’t overly confident
by the skippers. That certainly got
but this was the spot Alan swore by so
my imagination fired up… and in
we started throwing poppers. Within a
snorkelling but this one looked much
between this I got a 25kg Yellowfin
couple of casts I had the first hookup:
bigger – Alan then told me it was
for good measure, although not of
an enormous smash on the surface as
the biggest one he’d seen and we
course from the land!
the unseen Trev engulfed the popper
got down to trying to take photos in
and then the absolute screaming of a
the pouring rain. My first land-based
reel as braid stripped off it. I’d wound
trev in the Cooks, not the GT I really
We all know how important local knowledge is when fishing a new area, and through Fishing.Net I got in touch with Alan Syme, a kiwi PE teacher who now lives, works and fishes in Raro. A great guy, good fishing mate, and excellent source of local knowledge – without him, there’d have been a lot less fish! But as he wasn’t getting in for a week or so, I spent a few days
I cast every size and colour of popper I had all around a couple of the
Thank god for long leader – 120lb trace was rubbing but holding on the coral and with Alan on the trace, a really big blue trevally was up and out of the passage. I’d seen heaps
the drag up tight, what I thought was
wanted but this was a fantastic fish
passages and down in the harbour,
really tight, but it was going out so
and a brutal battle.
but although I saw a couple of GTs
fast it made me double guess myself.
Now I was really buzzing, this was
Under huge drag pressure, and with
the most fun landbased fishing I’d
the difficulty of keeping my footing on
had in a long time, and a totally
the coral even without a fish on, the
unique experience. More casts,
job of trying to keep the rod tip up and
more enormous hits and more lost
away from the razor sharp coral was
poppers, but also more fun than I’d
impossible and a few seconds later it
even imagined. The hits were just
was all ever. But what a buzz! That was
monstrous – crazier even than kingies
a seriously big fish, and even with this
on jigs out at the 3 Kings, and the task
gear I’d been absolutely spanked by it.
of stopping them was equally mad.
Alan took over casting with his gear, I
Then, in quick succession, the two
retied leader and just as I was fishing,
moments, which made the whole trip.
and blues as well as having quite a few sea turtles cruise by to check me out, I didn’t even get a hook up. Talk about frustrating. But it did give me a chance to fish some of these deep water passages which drain into the lagoon, watch barracuda chase baitfish and try to imagine how I was going to land a fish if I did manage to hook one. Clearly I was going to need my fair share of luck and another pair of hands at the very least.
we repeated the scenario – whoops of
I’d lost all my smaller poppers and was
The weather then took a dramatic
excitement, screaming reel, peeling
fishing a massive one, just about to lift
turn for the worse, torrential rain
braid, then the ping.
it clear out of the water, just under my
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gameFISHING
rod tip, at the edge of the “cliff”. A monster of a GT just rolled out from under the overhang, no more than 3 metres from me, with a mouth the size
and this was the one…I locked up, it
whole different ball game. The locals
went one way and I pulled the other in
just shook their heads at us: imagine
a complete stalemate until it wedged
going to all that trouble to catch a
itself in a crack near our feet.
fish you can’t even eat! Hopefully our friend is going to need a house sitter
of a bucket and just inhaled the popper
Alan again saved my fish with some
like it was a 4” softbait! By now I was
great work at the trace and we had a
fishing the reel with the drag more
GT in by our feet. This was what I’d
for another go at these again!
or less locked up but I truly think that
talked about and dreamt of for several
How did the rod perform?
even if I’d had a 50 wide on 37kg it
weeks and was even more satisfying
It’s a difficult balance trying to find the
wouldn’t have made any difference.
than I’d hoped! While not a PB, it was
perfect rod for this kind of work – you
far more rewarding and far harder
need enough length to cast as far as
than any fish I’d caught from the boat
you can. But too much length makes
in the Cooks. That put the final score
it impossible to keep the tip up at all
at 8-2 to the trevally and that was
under the extreme drag pressures.
how it stayed, the tide was coming
The rod needs to be stiff enough and
back in and we couldn’t safely stay
tough enough to provide the grunt
and fish, but for once I didn’t feel any
but soft enough for casting. Cheap
disappointment at all, leaving when
guides and reel seats are obviously
fish were still biting.
pointless, and for transport a 3-piece
We talk here about how much harder
in a carry case is a big bonus.
LBG is than boat fishing, and there’s
I’m not sure if there’s a perfect rod for
no doubt amongst my mates that we
catching GTs landbased in this kind
The fish rolled over and powered straight down into the coral with a very predictable but totally unavoidable ending. For a few minutes I did nothing, just laughing and pointing, trying to shout over the wind and waves to tell Alan what had happened. Truly the most ridiculous fish I’ve ever seen, or imagine I’ll see, land based. Then after a few more bust offs and pulled hooks for both of us, a few minutes later, one of my few remaining poppers got smashed
appreciate big fish way more from the land than out of a boat (generally!).
next Christmas and we can get back
of terrain, and there are a number of hugely expensive alternatives. But
and solidly hooked up. This one was
I think in large part this is because the
at a staggeringly low $299 I’d have
obviously not as big as some of the
fish has a much better chance, but
no hesitation in recommending the
previous ones, but as it hit the popper
taking on fish as powerful as these
Okuma to anyone heading out to
it was also obviously black! A GT on,
big blues and GTs off the land was a
throw poppers in the islands.
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sportFISHING
Top Water Antics – From the Shore
Ariel finally nails a landbased King on Top-water gear – and what a stunner
By Ariel Alibangbang
After having the opportunity to
instant, but sadly no kahawai. We
set the hook and when it realized it was
fish with some stick baiting enthusiasts
desperately waited for the kahawai
hooked it made desperate splashes on
from the boat, at White Island I
to turn up so we could put a livie out
the surface then dove deep. Fight on!
managed to get the finer points on
but for some reason they didn’t come
how to work these stick baits (casting,
around all day. Then, about an hour
swimming the lure properly and
and half after deploying the burley, a
setting the hook up). I managed to
pack of 3 kingis showed up close to
land some descent size kings and now
the ledge chasing the maomao out
the next thing for me I thought, will be
from the burley trail. I had my stick bait
to get one from the rocks.
gear fully rigged up so I immediately
The weekend arrived last mid Feb with
made about 5 casts but none hooked
The king made two mad runs away from the ledge before I managed to get control and move it to an accessible spot where Tasman was ready with the gaff. We both thought it will be an easy lift of the gaff but Tasman was surprised how heavy it
up or even showed a good follow. The
was and I had to climb down and help
kings seemed to have swum away as I
him lift it up. We didn’t had scales at
we could not see them anymore. But
that time but when we got home it
I decided to continue casting..... then;
weight 14+kg after 5 or so hours out
out of nowhere a king showed up from
of the water. We both think it might
the under the ledge. He head towards
have been on the 15kg range. It was
my lure, stopped just beside it for a
my first Land based King on a stick
Burley was deployed and blue
second and decided to slowly swallow
bait & I was stoked! I can’t wait for the
maomao were everywhere in an
the whole thing! I pulled my rod up to
next mission & a new PB ;)
a good weather forecast and a plan was hatched with my mate Tasman to hit a spot North of Whangarei. It took us an hour’s paddle or more to get to the spot and about 20 minutes of rock climbing before we reached the ledge.
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Stefan Bennet, Matai Bay
READERpics
Theo taught his Dad Stefan how to catch these great fish on their annual vacation to Matai Bay. Theo’s totally hooked now – “Come on dad, take me fishing MORE!” Ted Audain, Tairua Ted with a nice Snapper caught during Tairua/ Pauanui Sport Fishing Clubs Land based competition Aaron McDonald, Tiritiri Island Aaron landed this nice king on 4kg spinning gear at the back of Tiri this summer. Not his biggest, but Azza reckons it’s one of the best fights of life.
Ian Mcleod, Cape Karikari Ian caught this Kingfish on a recent NZFisher trip to The far North. While not huge, it was Ian’s first & he’s stoked to have knocked one more species off the list
Click here to email your photos and go in the draw for an NZFisher goodies Prize Pack
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Ian Biddick, Hen & Chicks Ian caught this big snapper off his own boat at the Hen & Chicks. Ian was being ‘guided’ by NZFisher’s Game Fish writes Kurt Bennetto.
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month The extraordinary talent of Gannets
This is a little off the fishing topic, but this video is a stunning eye opener on the actions of Gannets below the surface. It has always been my understanding that they dived & took fish on the dive, but this wonderful video provided by Massey researcher Gabriel Machovsky Capuska shows they are in-fact very adept at swimming & chasing fish underwater for some time. Carl Muir & the Epic team have had a sensational summer, topped off by their massive Big-eye tuna in the nationals. Carl’s put this video showing their exceptional summer from the Merc’s to the back of Mayor. May the 2013 season be just as generous!
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SPORTfishing
Electronics Tricks to Find (and Land!) the Big One Story by Tom Francis Images by Danee Hazama
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SPORTfishing
There are not too many things in
One of my favourite examples is that
Smith who took his time, caught fresh
this world more satisfying then a well
of the millennium tournament that was
live bait and ran into the rock to arrive
laid plan coming to fruition; whether it
held out of Tutakaka, New Zealand.
at the change of tide to catch this one
be passing an exam, getting the girl,
The fishing had been very slow for
or breaking that record.
everyone concerned and the fleet
I am of the opinion that the true
was wondering what to do on the last
legends in sport fishing are the
day, when it was revealed to a few the
fisherman that plan to catch that big
night before that a very large black
fish, or target a particular species on
marlin had been sighted at the famous
dreamt, planned, executed and the
light tackle, not the ones that go out
hole in the rock, Bay of Islands.
result is history‌.Very very satisfying!
and incidentally catch a record fish
The very next day, a number of the
I cant say I have had anything similar
or that one big enormous one. These
few who were in on the secret headed
to this feat, but just the other week,
are meritorious catches for sure and
to the area to try and catch this fish.
we had our own simple plan. We
deserve recognition! But they are
Now a few boats had been live baiting
had long time guests onboard and
not ones of true legendary status.
the rock all morning, but it was Bruce
the weather was glamorous. We had
big fish. Just as it probably played out in Bruce’s head earlier that morning, Bruce and his team caught the fish, won the tournament and took home the money. Ignoring the fact that, this one fish was over 400kg, the plan was
www.nzfisher.co.nz 15
SPORTfishing
been fishing on the southern side of
and some distance from the school of
the picturesque Moorea, in French
tuna. I turned and asked the boys to
Polynesia. We fished 2 days for 3
get a live bait ready. we followed the
bites and 2 fish but decided to head
fish and determined its depth. When
to another spot which I was hoping
I marked the fish directly under the
would have more bait, and perhaps
boat at 60 meters, I called to the boys
a tuna or two. However this plan
to throw the bait in.
proved fruitless, so we continued to fish another location which GeoEye lead us too. Funnily enough, just as the GeoEye fishing charts had suggested, we found a nice break with good water and bait and sure enough, We came across a patch of fish and started getting bites. We were not only raising fish for no bites, but also marking them on the
began swimming, the marked fish now appeared some distance behind the boat, but with one particular noticeable change… the fish was now following us! Having heard the stricken vibrations of the tuna, the fish caught me by surprise at how quickly it swam up towards the boat.
sonar and sounder but not raising
The marlin looked for its lunch only
them. So we needed to change
to turn up between the boat and
our game, or what a long time
the bait, swimming straight past the
friend would suggest “we needed
bait, obviously not very interested
to approach the situation from a
in a healthy tuna to eat. The call
different angle”. The next morning we
was given for the bait to skip, and
spent some time catching some live
with in seconds of the rigger peg
bait, in order to pitch to the fish we
hitting the top position, the live tuna
were marking on the electronics but
skipped twice and was engulfed by
wouldn’t raise to lures.
a blue marlin in the 700lb range.
The next day with Fresh skippies onboard, we trolled the glassy calm
“The initial cost of these electronics are expensive, but so is going the wrong way in the morning and not catching that big fish!” 16 www.nzfisher.co.nz
As the live bait entered the water and
waters of Tahiti making our
What ensued was a fantastic fight and release in glassed out conditions. It doesn’t get a whole lot better then
way back to the previous
witnessing a big marlin jumping close
days bites, when I noticed
to the boat in flat calm weather!
a patch of birds on my
So there you go, utilizing our
Furuno S band Radar, 60
electronics, from the GeoEye sea
degrees to port and 3
surface and current charts, to radar,
nautical miles away. We
MAQ sonar and sounder, they all
altered course, and once
played a key role in finding this marlin,
within a mile of the birds
with the fresh live tuna and swift crew
I could see them through
work being the last and pivotal step
my binoculars.
in the days success. The initial cost of
As we approached, I
these electronics are expensive, but so
noticed a solid mark on
is going the wrong way in the morning
my new MAQ sonar out
and not catching that big fish!
to stbd, 750 meters away,
From Tom aboard Ultimate Lady
RECIPE
Tasty Treats with Derek the Chef These are awesome as finger food for the woman folk while the blokes are standing around discussing the state of the nation or who won
Smoked kahawai Spinach and feta Filo Most important it you bleed any big
Preparation:
skipjacks you plan to eat. The blood if
1. Lay the filo sheets out on the
not taken out seems to leave a strong
table then either brush with
taste and more often than not, makes
melted butter or spray with oil,
an itching reaction on ones tongue.
each sheet. Lay on top of each
Big skip jacks are sold already bled and most often cut into stakes on the fish shops in the Philippines. Small ones are also sold whole and those are treated differently (boiled up to hours). But the total secret here to eating Skippie is for it to be cooked really well. Skip Jack tuna braised on Coconut milk is regular lunch fair back in the Philippines for us. They are usually prepared in the morning as fish are bough fresh early from the markets. Ingredients: Spinach stalks removed and blanched.
the last game. We enjoy them for a
Feta Cheese crumbled
Sunday nights snack food in front of
Smoked fish flaked.
the tele with lashings of Sweet Thai
Salt & Freshly ground black pepper
chili sauce. The ingredients are not in
to taste.
measure as you can determine then to
4x Filo pastry sheets
your own taste or quantity.
Melted butter or oil spray.
other to form a stack. 2. Cut into strips lengthwise, (around three per sheet) 3. Combine the spinach, feta and smoked fish in a bowl and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. 4. Take a tablespoon of the mixture and place on the bottom of the Layer filo. Now fold into triangles to seal the mixture in and from a triangular parcel. 5. Brush or spray again with oil and place into a preheated oven at 180째c until golden. 6. Remove place onto a platter an serve with Sweet Thai chili sauce. Chefs tip: Ensure you keep the filo sheets under a damp cloth to stop them drying out. Note, any smoked fish or chopped shell fish may be used
www.nzfisher.co.nz 17
w regionalREVIEWS
Far North Report Source: Rick Pollock – www.Pursuit.co.nz
Good, at least reasonable,
many miles. While the easterly winds
and jigs working a treat on the healthy
weather continues to prevail. While
sure make for jumbled, bumpy rides
specimens. With most in the mid
the number of boats on the water
it’s served to keep some generally
20’sm there are enough fish over 30 to
have dwindled considerably, the ones
nice water along the entire coast.
make things interesting.
Deepwater (150-200m) bottom fishing
King Bank
is gratifying for those who care to stop
Despite some war, cobalt water
Doubtless Bay – Cape Karikari
with some nice bass the apex creature
there are relatively few marlin there
Gone very quiet here on the game
coming out of the depths.
at present. Part of the problem
still making the effort have been generally rewarded.
scene despite a fair thrashing lately. Water still looks good with decent temps but only the occasional stripee being pulled out. Back inshore the snapper just keep on biting very consistently along with a good number of kingis – if you can get them
Three Kings – Great Island Finally some decent koheru fishing in the early am! Water temps have dropped radically around the island (16-17 degrees) so maybe that has spurned their newfound appetites!
are sharks, plenty of them! Both makos and bronzies some days are maddening with their antics – eating everything in sight. Live baits, both koheru and skippies, are jumped on with relish by the toothy critters. Expect no more than two or three
Prince’s Group
chances on marlin daily but this could
After years in the doldrums, one
change as well! In a rarity, one boat
visiting boat has finally had a good
scored two smallish blacks during his
– make that great session. Just like
trip to spice up the predominantly
the “good ole days”, kingis in the
stripee fishery. The odd mahi mahi
mid twenties were biting all offerings
about as well. Kingi fishing here
well with the largest landed at 33kgs.
is currently superb with the best
Hopefully this will set a trend that will
fishing in years! Again, all offerings
continue into the future.
accepted with some well over 30k’s.
Middlesex Bank
Bottomfishing, other than terakihi
Few visiting here but they have been
remains difficult.
productive ones. Even though water
Summary
is cooler (by a degree or more) and
Things seem to be at a stand still just
off colour compared to the King Bank,
now but the feeling is anything could
“The Shelf” – (“Hook” – “Compass
there are still some marlin that refer it
still happen with this season. It will be
Rose”)
there. One recent foray yielded only
a case of “last man standing” to see
A real disparity of water quality along
sharks on bait but two stripies on lures
who gets the late season prize!
here with temps varying by nearly a
just trolling from A to B. Otherwise
couple degrees in sometimes that
kingis are biting well with both bait
through the bronzies! Garden Patch Also lot of attention paid here but with little reward except for bottom bouncers. The decent catches of both marlin and swords from last week have dried up for no apparent reason. North Cape – Great Exhibition Bay Again, slow on the game fishing and also for no apparent reason. Back inshore it’s the same deal with good to excellent snapper fishing with 20 pounders nearly an everyday catch.
18 www.nzfisher.co.nz
regionalREVIEWS
Coromandel Source: Carl Muir www.EpicAdventures.co.nz As well as this report, check out
opportunities. If you are keen to get
Carls summer report in the ‘Video’
amongst the action check our calendar
section on page 13.
here for our next available spots
Epic Autumn Action While we continue to be dogged with south easterlies, when the autumn weather gods let us get out fishing, it
getting smashed within seconds of hitting the bottom!
has been superb. Autumn is generally
We’ve pretty much been doing 2 or 3
a great jigging season – it’s the
drops for a feed and then moving on as
perfect time to chase kingfish on jigs
the action while you are there is pretty
and they’ve been smashing them, the
crazy, the arms get pretty sore coming
Bluenose are big and fat and biting
up from the depths and there is only so
jigs hard and with hapuku, snapper
much bluenose you can eat..!
and a chance at a late season game
Hapuku
fish also on offer, it’s a great time to
Plenty of good hapuku fishing from
get on the water - when you can!
the 100m line out. Livies are the best
Kingfish
bet for chasing the puka and there are
Last week saw a crazy bite at the
some good models around the deep
Aldermen Pins with some of our crews
foul out from Red Merc at the moment.
releasing 30-50 in a day. Jigs were
Gamefish
getting smashed as much as livies, in
Our last encounter was a 106kg Big
fact the bigger fish were coming on
Eye from the back of the Aldies, but
jigs. Plenty of guys shattered after
we haven’t had too many shots at it
some awesome kingi fishing!
since then with the weather. Innova
Since the fish have spread somewhat
bagged a stripey from the Hook last
and the action spreading further
weekend, a couple of boats fishing
afield and the Cuvier Pins have fired
the Tauranga One Base also got into
up. We’ve done a mission to Mayor
marlin including a 300kg+ blue very
as well and found some good kings
wide of the Aldermens and Tobes had
on the 100m line out there. There are
a Blue cruise past the boat while kingi
also some good kingfish to be had
fishing at Cuvier yesterday so the fish
hard in on the coast amongst the bait
are still there.
now the murk of the last downpour
Snapper
has disappeared.
Fishing the deep for kingfish
The kingfish are all in great conditions
sometimes the snapper have been
and feasting up hard before winter,
more prevalent than kingfish on baits
so it is a great time to get into an
on the deeper reefs. Plenty of good
aggressive kingi bite.
fishing in the shallows on softbaits
Damo from the Charter Connection
too, with good schools of bait around
(Diversity) has these words of
in 15m round the sand and fringes of
advice on the Hauraki at present too
the kelp.
– Cheers Damo!
Bluenose These fish have to be one of the tastiest in the ocean and right now is the time to chase them. Don’t need bait either – jigs are
The Hauraki Report
So…when the weather gods allow, plenty of awesome fishing
www.nzfisher.co.nz 19
NEXTmonth
IN NEXT MONTH’S NZ FISHER • Mid-Winter Far North – What, where, when & how • Building your own rods - A beginners guide • Auckland Trout. Really?
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