NZ Fisher Issue 25

ISSUE 25

June 2013

Paua for the picking

North Queensland Barra, mate!

Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue #25! www.nzfisher.co.nz 1

:

REMEMBER

Remind Matt y to get me a new Okuma dual drag re el this wkend

RAW II

Raw I I

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SALINA II

The Okuma Salina II reel is an upgrade d addition to the sp range for 2012. The in massive DFD system can output huge amounts of drag wh ilst control it in the smoothest of fashio ns.

THE SALINA II SERIE S FEATURES: • Precision Dual Fo rce Drag System • Multi-disk Japan ese oiled felt drag wa shers • Four HPB corrosion resistant stainless bearings • One Quick-Set An ti-Reverse Roller Be aring

Salina II

CORONADO

Equipped with the patented Okuma ba it feeder system an dual felt drag wash d ers this is one of the most accessible reels in the Okuma range.

Coronado

Tri io o

2 www.nzfisher.co.nz

THE CORONADO SP IN SERIES FEATUR ES: • Patented On/Off auto trip bait feede r system • Precision Dual Fo rce Drag System • Multi-disk Japan ese oiled felt drag wa shers • 5 corrosion resist ant stainless bearing s

TRIO

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editorial

CONTENTS Pg 10 LANDBASEDFISHING 6

East Capers

29

FISHY SCIENCE 10 Iki-Jime SPORTFISHING 12

A Contest Won

16

A Brush With Barry the Barra

KAYAK FISHING 20

Beware! Kayak Fishing Is

Addictive LOCALFISHING

16

22

Fish Your Feet first

24

Reader Pics

26

NZ Fisher Competition

28

Gear Reviews

29

Prize Winner

30

NZ Fisher TV

28

Hooked Up

Pg 12

www.nzfisher.co.nz 3

The Beginning of the Future The day you caught your first fish.

The first time you climbed into a boat. These moments make up the beginning of the future.

Today, Honda’s forward thinking comes together to bring you a reliable, fuel efficient range of outboards.

From 2.3hp to 250hp.

TheBegin ing

Contact your local Honda Marine Dealer today Freephone 0800 478 765 www.hondamarine.co.nz

4 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Scan me for a free cap!

editorial

//From the

EDITOR ABOUT /

Short and sharp, NZ Fisher is a free e-magazine delivering thought provoking and enlightening articles, and industry news and information to forward-thinking fisher people.

I cannot tell you how pleased I am

decision. The consultation period ends

with Issue 24 of NZFisher. Many

at the end of July and we need to be

thanks Forsyth for filling my boots

a coherent, logical and strong voice.

while I was off sunning myself in North

Please, get involved and put your

GRAPHIC DESIGNER / Sevim Dogru

Queensland; Great job mate!

name (and dollars) behind this very,

CONTENT ENQUIRIES /

very important action.

Phone Derrick on 021 629 327

Sadly however I’ve walked back

EDITOR / Derrick Paull ART DIRECTOR / Jodi Olsson

or email derrickp@NZ Fisher.co.nz

into the maelstrom of fisheries

In much more fun news the autumn

management as the duplicitous

and winter fishing has been pretty

Ministry of Primary Industries have laid

good around the country. I hear

out a plan to limit the recreational take

the Bay of Plenty surfcasters had a

of Snapper from North to East Cape.

bumper April and now there’s snapper

ADDRESS / NZ Fisher,

There’s not a species more important

and kingfish coming in regularly from

C/- Espire Media, PO Box 137162,

to New Zealanders and here we are

the outer gulf and islands. I love this

Parnell, Auckland 1151, NZ

on the cusp of changes that will put

time of year and even got a chance

WEBSITE / www.NZFisher.co.nz

the rights of nearly Two Million people

to get a line wet at Little Barrier over

aside to serve the selfish, greedy few.

Queens Birthday weekend – there’s

I implore you to get to the Legasea

nothing quite like an autumn chill to

website and check out what is

put big snapper on the chew!

happening. There’s a document called

If you’re not out here trying you can’t

an IPP (Initial Position Paper) on the

catch anything, so grab your thermals

issue that the Ministry sets out their

and get catching!

three ‘best options’ that’s consulted on (given to the public to read and submit on) and the minister makes his

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES / Phone Richard on 09 522 7257 or email richardl@espiremedia.com

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!

Tight lines, Derrick

www.nzfisher.co.nz 5

LANDBASEDfishing

East

s r e p Ca Leave pass Paua

of the baby for a couple of hours,

a bit optimistic; 30 cm was more

By Ian McLeod & Darren Parsons

and you can sit on the beach in the

like it. This wasn’t looking like the

rain for the next two days while I

glamorous diving I had been craving.

go free diving. I had to get on or in

We were still confident of getting a

GOING OUT FOR A FISH or dive

the water so I pitched the idea of

feed of paua though. With belligerent

can be costly; I’m not just referring

a family holiday on the East Coast

persistence we dove down in search

to the cost of petrol, maintaining a

to the wife and called up my mate

of our quarry, keeping our arms out

boat, or a new set of free diving fins.

Ian to invite him on a fishing and

to stop us crashing face first into the

Life gets really busy when you have

diving trip.

rocks. We couldn’t really go below

a young family and a mortgage to

The forecast was not promising,

pay, making leave passes to head

howling westerlies anyone? Luckily

to the coast increasingly difficult

we knew of a place that would give

to get. The months had flown by

us a bit of shelter close to shore. We

and I hadn’t had a decent fishing or

decided not to take the boat or the

The visibility didn’t get any better

diving trip all year. Is it possible to

fishing gear and stick to the snorkel.

further out either and we virtually had

mix a family holiday with a mate’s

Unfortunately, the heavy rain had

to grind our masks over the rocks

fishing trip? In these situations it’s

also left the water thick with mud.

to see the paua. I would have taken

all about give and take. I’ll take care

Our early call of 1m visibility was

some photos, but I think you get the

6 www.nzfisher.co.nz

2 metres deep either, as it was pitch black down there. We had no luck on the first few dives so we kept paddling further out along the coast.

LANDBASEDfishing

the water had cleared so that we had close to a full metre of visibility!

What a difference it made. With the assistance of vision (as opposed to brail) the places we had looked at yesterday were now revealed to be brimming with giant paua. This was picture. At one stage I dropped my

was laden with paua. Paydirt! Using

more like what we had come all this

knife while standing in the water.

the tree we got our bag of paua and

way for. We took a couple more paua

We searched for 10 minutes but it

dragged them for the 2 km swim back

and then put the extra vision to use

was impossible to find in the murk.

to the beach. We made it back just

to search for some crayfish for dinner.

Eventually we started finding paua in

on dark with a mob of goats watching

All in all we caught about five crayfish,

the guts and cracks. Then luck came

us from the cliffs. I guess if you want

including a nice packhorse which we

upon us, Ian found a great crack with

paua you really do need to get to

put back. To top the day off we also

a dead tree in it. By holding onto a

remote places.

found the knife I had lost the day

branch of the tree at the surface we

Some more horse trading with baby

before and a mask and snorkel. It

could hold our position until we’d

duties that evening and we had a

was like shopping to order, Ian had

caught our breath, and then follow

couple of hours free again the next

recently broken a mask, so this was a

the branches down to the crack that

morning for another dip. This time

great find. www.nzfisher.co.nz 7

LANDBASEDfishing

Crayfish mornay

Darren’s leav e pass

paua

So next time you have had a fishless couple of months

the other end of the shell and pull back towards yourself.

go the extra mile and don’t be put off by a couple of

This should pull the meat completely out of the shell while

hurdles (e.g. a 1200 km road trip, lack of vision and 8 km of

leaving the guts behind. You’ll probably want to remove

swimming). The rewards just might be waiting for you. My

the guts from the shell though. This way you can wash the

wife wasn’t so convinced by the spikey crayfish toy I offered

shell off and give it to your wife as a peace offering for

my daughter, but the crayfish mornay and fried paua slivers

leaving her on the beach (yes they are attracted to shiny

went a long way towards being granted a leave pass for my

objects much like magpies). Remove the teeth from the

next fishing trip.

meat with your thumbs and you are ready to go. If you

Editor’s postscript note: The above article and images are

have a couple of campground pigs handy they should be

entirely fictitious. Darren never actually went diving. If you

eager to clean up the bucket of paua guts at this point.

are single go fishing while you can.

Darren’s leave pass fried paua slivers

Cooking the paua: A sharp knife is essential here. Cut the paua meat into the thinnest slivers possible. This will take a bit of time if you have a few paua, but it’s worth it. Heat a frying pan to a

Ingredients:

medium high heat with a dollop of butter and a splash of

•

Paua (you’ll need about one paua per person

allows you to infuse your seafood with buttery goodness.

for a decent feed)

Fry off a small amount of garlic (paua flavour is delicate, so

•

Olive oil

not too much) and then add the paua slivers. If you have

•

Butter

•

Chopped garlic

olive oil. The oil raises the burning point of the butter, but

a few paua to cook, cook in batches so as not to reduce the heat in the pan too much each time you add a batch.

Let the paua cook for about a minute, or until it starts to

Shucking the paua:

curl. There is no need to mince the paua into fritters, but it

For this you need a pair of hands. At the shallow end of the

little bit chewy, but by cutting it thin and cooking it quick

paua shell force your thumb nails between the shell and

it allows you to have a beautiful slightly resistant texture as

the paua meat. Once the meat has lifted pull it back till it

well as retaining the subtle paua flavour. Yum, that has to

has nearly disconnected. At this point grab the meat at

earn you another fishing trip!

8 www.nzfisher.co.nz

is crucial not to overcook the paua. Paua is meant to be a

www.adventuresmart.org.nz

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO The Boating Safety

CODE Before you go boating on our seas, lakes and rivers, get familiar with New Zealand’s Boating Safety Code, no matter what kind of boat you use.

1

Life jackets

5 4

Take them – Wear them.

3

Skipper responsibility

Marine weather New Zealand’s weather can be highly unpredictable. Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes.

Boats, especially ones under 6m in length, can sink very quickly. Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water.

2

simple rules

to help you stay safe:

5

Avoid alcohol

The skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat. Stay within the limits of your vessel and your experience.

Safe boating and alcohol do not mix.

Things can change quickly on the water. You need to stay alert and aware.

Communications

The Water Safety

Take two separate waterproof ways of communicating so we can help you if you get into difficulties.

Also available:

CODE

The Outdoor Safety

CODE

For more information about safe boating education and how to prepare for your boating activity, visit www.adventuresmart.org.nz

www.nzfisher.co.nz 9

FishySCIENCE

Snapper x-marks-the-spot

Iki-Jime

t i g n i l i a N

10 www.nzfisher.co.nz

FishySCIENCE

By Derrick Paull WE OFTEN LEAD NZFISHER with articles about how to

the brain. When performed correctly, the fish will be killed

catch fish but we have never dealt with the messiest bit –

immediately and its body will go limp.

killing them. The word Iki (an abbreviation of the Japanese phrase ‘Iki Jime’) is pretty well known to most of us, and

This new website http://www.ikijime.com/www/ has

to those not in the know; it means to kill a fish with a sharp

taken the art of Iki Jime to a new level and now includes

spike to the brain. Knocking fish on the head with one or

horizontal and vertical X-ray images of common (Australian

more sharp blows is the easiest method of humane killing.

and NZ) fish species with the correct Iki spot identified. The

The iki jime process requires more precision, but results in the lowest levels of stress to the fish and improves eating quality.

X-ray image can be overlaid with a colour image to give a very accurate and informative view.

Method: Quickly and firmly insert the spiking tool into the

Have a look and check out some of the more unusual

areas indicated, and wiggle the tool around to destroy

species. Here’s Snapper to get you started. www.nzfisher.co.nz 11

sportFISHING

A contest WON

Leanne Dixon with the winning kingfish (25kg) at the Whitianga Small Boats 2013 Tournament

By Toby Kemp COMPETITIONS are a relatively new concept for me,

some 110 boats attending, it was going to be one of the

sure I have fished in a few over the years, mostly private

biggest contests on the Coromandel. Unfortunately I had

small affairs but recently I have been getting into more

other commitments so I missed the first one but turned up

serious contests for a number of reasons but primarily

supporting the club by downing a few ales and cheering

to support the fishing club in my local region. With many

when my mates won some loot. This showed me another

clubs struggling these days to make ends meet each and

side of contests, the camaraderie between teams and their

every individual makes a difference; much the same as us

fantastic attitude which made me decide...right I’m going

rec fisher supporting Legasea - every cent counts towards

to do this and give it a dam good crack!

protecting our fishery and it’s no different for our local clubs. They need us to fish contests, stand on committees, be hands on game day, turn up to club nights to buy raffle tickets and socialise with fellow fisho.

The first time we entered was buy chance; the weather was atrocious, SE gales for the whole contest so I had cancelled the charters and bought a ticket just to support the club.

I was joined by my fishing buddy Leanne and basically we

I’m fortunate enough to be part of the Mercury Bay Game

hid out of the wind and waves and prayed for something

Fishing Club and throughout summer they host a wide

humongous to take a bait, unfortunately a bronzy liked

range of tournaments and I thought it only fitting to at

the bait more than the snapper but we had a great time,

least attend one per year, along with supporting them on

I managed a kingfish at 98cm (1m min) on the soft plastic

club night once a week. The first time MGBFC hosted the

which was my best effort while my mates about 100m away

Trailer Boat tourney John Mort raised a massive 160k in

nailed some primo snapper taking out some insane booty

prizes, which is a fantastic effort for a first time contest,

in the snapper section. On the last day forecast NE 25 -35

this got my attention and many other anglers also with

left us wondering if it would be a up the estuary day but

12 www.nzfisher.co.nz www.nzfisher.co.nz

sportFISHING

some brave soul got on the radio and said it was only 10

boat over and over and over, oh and win the kingfish prize

knots ...that’s all I needed and we bolted up to a new spot

each day and maybe a marlin if the gods were looking

that’s the week before had produced my biggest ever king

down on us! The boat was running sweet, I had good Intel

on a jig so I was hoping they would still be there. We had

where the fish might be and after the compulsory pre

a great trip up there in 3m swells and only about 3 knots

departure good luck ritual we were ready.

of wind, but as per normal as soon as we reached the spot the wind slowly started to build, 15 NE made it lumpy on the 3m rollers. Fortunately we were strait into fish and in no time we had a fish each and one for the lion’s auction.

Within the space of thirty minutes it turned into solid 25ne and starting to get rather lumpy, that was all I needed to get the hell out of Dodge and we bolted to shelter. Leanne won the heaviest kingfish on the last day and heaviest overall in the contest which came as a surprise to both of

Live bait was the first order of the day and they were thick.

We had 40 odd baits within the hour, brilliant! I was amped; the forecast was fantastic, a slight roll and 10knts of wind.

Sanity ate up the conditions and we were heading east at good pace. On arrival I couldn’t believe my eyes, not one single boat where we wanted to fish, how perfect is this working out!!! It was time to get the gears out and see what was lurking below!

us and introduced us to the other side of a well organised

Mark was using the new Avet Raptor in a the JM Ocean

contest...the booty!! One fish won Leanne nearly 4k worth

Devil and Lee had her JM PE3 on the MC Works. It was

of sponsor’s product and that was it, I was going to make

time for a scrooge around the spot to see where the fish

this an annual event. A year passed agonisingly slowly and

were hanging, the fish finder just lit up, I couldn’t believe

finally March came around. It was time to get a little bit

my eyes, massive bait ball with very large kingfish feeding

more serious, we had a title to defend after all and I was

on the bait, my heart jumped and I slammed it into

going to do my best to get a team member on that stage

reverse..”Drop it down 6 colours team!”

to hit pay dirt!

Live baits deployed down to the desired depth and

This year I was joined by two of my trusty fishing buddies,

...BOOM!!! Mark was slammed into the side of the boat,

Leanne was back, naturally, she’s such a fish magnet and

his slight frame was just not expecting the hit and he went

another fishing buddy Mark joined the team. The night

straight down on his elbows, nothing like the power of the

before we hatched a game plan at my pad and as the

kingfish to wake you up! Line was screaming off the reel so

skipper I needed to find out what mark and lee wanted to

I wondered over and put the drag up to sunset...” Jesus

achieve out of this contest. Mark was simple snapper and

you’re an a-hole Kemp”...Mark protested, no way that fish

kingfish, Leanne was simple: A big kingfish to defend her

was going to get to the bottom...” you want a tissue bro...

title and a 20lbe snapper. Not so easy. And me? Well I just

Suck it up, buttercup”. No way was he going to let this fish

wanted to get Mark slammed hard against the side of the

play domination games and in no time had the fish under

www.nzfisher.co.nz 13

sportFISHING

control and steadily coming up. On the other side of the

ear crossed her face. I lined the team up and they sent

boat Lee was also hooked up and set about regaining her

the baits down, lee started telling us a story, she’s a chatty

biggest king title from last year and set to work getting

one at times and I turned to have a swig on my beer,

the fish to the surface, not a monster and released back

after about three seconds I noticed lee wasn’t talking no

to fight another day. Mark was still going great guns and

more...”you hooked up”? I asked without looking at her,

soon had a fish around 18kg at the boat...”u wanna weigh

upon turning my head lee was looking at me, eyes wide

that”?.....”’Kin oats” he nodded...Great to get a good fish

like she had seen a marlin jump over her head, rod pointed

in the bin.

strait down and I could hear the line leaving the reel. I

We swung around and reset the gear...my turn while lee controlled the boat, again Mark was on form and bingo, I was hit hard. Line was really peeling off the PE3,

could see that she was at sunset already...”thumb it girl stop the frikkin thing”..She did and burnt her thumb too, welcome to the club little lady!

“ooooooo crap” I said, thumbs on the spool, burnt fingers

Finally after what was probably thirty seconds but felt like

and finally the fish relented and I made some line back...

five minutes of utter nervousness preying she had done

only momentarily mind and before I could curse the gods

enough to stop the fish reefing her the fish relented and

the fish took off again. Now most kingi hunters know this

lee got to work turning this fish upwards. After a long

feeling and the goal was to keep it out of the rocks. Mark

bruising fight the fish was finally boat side and it was a

had another solid fish around 18kgs and put it back for

beauty, I called it for a solid 27kg, I knew that it was good

tomorrow. I plugged away and soon a solid fish was boat

enough to place lee very close to the top and it was most

side and also went to the bin for weigh in, I knew it was

definitely the biggest kingfish that lee had caught and that

a good one so felt confident we would be in the money.

alone is always a very special achievement for any angler.

We did drop after drop both Mark and I just kept cranking

High fives and whoop whoops, lee had a well deserved

them in and letting them go, forever after a bigger one.

vino while Mark and I carried on hoping for something to

Lee was busy in the cabin fossiking...”Hey Lee wanna do another drop” I asked, “Oh all right” a grin from ear to

14 www.nzfisher.co.nz

come closer to her weight but it wasn’t to be and it didn’t matter, we were a team

sportFISHING

and one team member had kept us in the running. It was

had snapped...gutted I was, never had that before on this

an awesome day with over 35 kings released, and all of us

brand of hook before. Mark in the meantime hooked up

thoroughly buggered. Back at the weigh in which, was at

on a solid fish that was pulling line and drop...”Someone

the wharf, the fish were being auctioned off and all funds

cut us some slack “ I yelled upwards.

were going back to Lions Club so we gladly donated our fish to help the cause. It’s another fantastic way to support

Out with another bait and in no time I was hooked up

the community doing something all fisher folk love doing

again and this time it was skull-drag time, none of this

....Going Fishing!

gently, gently. The fish never pulled off line and soon it

The forecast for the next day was pretty marginal so the plan was to target snapper all day and see if we could get something over 8kg to get in the money for the snapper

was in the net. It wasn’t the winning fish but I was hopeful it would place us for a daily prizes. And that was pretty much it for us and we called the day early hopeful that

section and I knew the exact spot to go to in the SE 30knts,

at we had done enough to be in the money. As a team

the same place my mates placed last year.

we did well in the comp. Leanne won heaviest kingfish

Once we made it out of the bay in the very heavy swell the call was made by the organisers to limit the area due to conditions and it just so happened that where we

day two and heaviest kingfish overall defending her title with her 24.9kg fish and won heaviest game fish by a lady angler. I won second heaviest kingfish overall at 20.8kg

had anchored up was inside the area and we set about

and heaviest snapper (6.93kg) day 3 and second heaviest

targeting a horse snapper. Mark is somewhat of an expert

snapper overall. Mark got pipped by a good buddy of mine

and has won many local comps with beauty snapper so I

for third heaviest kingfish over all by 300g and won a lucky

was just a little bit confident that we could make the grade

draw prize so we did very well and achieved what we had

for the day due to the limitations. We set about getting the

set out to do.

burly flowing and rigging up, the wind against tide made it difficult but not impossible and soon smaller snapper started coming in and going back for another day. We were having some good runs but not sticking up until

As always, prize giving is a very social event and it’s a great opportunity to meet old hands you haven’t seen for a year, meet new people and create new friendships for

finally the Fin Nor started losing line and I knew it was a

the future. There is so much more to contests than just

goodie, big head nods and hopes were high it would stick,

winning, it’s about being part of a bigger picture for your

but no, fish fell off and a little foot stomp and cussing by

local community and I for one will be back next year, I hope

me in frustration made me feel a bunch better. The hook

you will be too! www.nzfisher.co.nz 15

sportFISHING

A brush with Barry the Barra Alan Radcliffe and Scott Macindoe - keeping the Chesters comp on target for 23 years

By Derrick Paull

16 www.nzfisher.co.nz

sportFISHING

FOLLOWING ON FROM DARREN’S FAMILY fishing

I’ve ever fished tropical estuaries and we decided early

adventure to East Cape, it makes some sense to show the

on to forgo the reef in search of some muddy water prey

importance of a good balance between family and fishing.

– especially Barramundi. After a few trips to local fishing

In my case we were headed to North Queensland for my

stores and the local information office we had narrowed it

Sister Karynne’s 40th birthday. Six months in the planning

down to two local charter boats. I rang one and mentioned

and all I could think of was fishing! The up side of the trip

we were an NZ fishing mag and they said outright they

was that I’d get a chance to wet a line with Dad who now

didn’t do discounts for magazines so they couldn’t fit us

resides in the sunnier climes of the Sunshine Coast and we

in. Taken aback (as I hadn’t asked for a discount) I asked

barely get a chance to fish together any more.

if there were any days free regardless of price. Strangely

A family holiday is a great thing; catch up on the news,

they said no and hung up! Not the best start! I made the

reminisce about the good and the bad and generally relax.

same intro to Janice at Out and About Charters and they

But when you’re done relaxing, there’s always some water

happily booked us in for the next day – no question of a

near by to test the local sport fish.

discount, just prompt booking!

Next day at 7am we were at the wharf primed and anxious to get into some of the local fish. Our skipper Steve had pre-caught a swag of live herrings and we were off up the estuary to some local holes in no time.

The sedate nature of the estuary is misleading. The sounder was constantly alive with fish (mostly bait) and snags – which included many sunken yachts and cruisers, bought up here by un-ethical owners and left to rot.

The first stop was a snag in about 7 meters of water. There’s no burleying, just lob your weighted, live, herring towards the snag and wait for a hit. And you don’t need to wait long! There was a constant stream of Mangrove Jacks and Moses Perch, which despite their small size would destroy a live herring in seconds. The best fish at the fist spot was a 2kg Mangrove Jack, which while being a nice table fish, was no Barramundi!

We made some moves and the fishing remained constant, making up for the lack of sizable fish with the sheer number that came aboard. As the day wore www.nzfisher.co.nz 17

sportFISHING

18 www.nzfisher.co.nz

sportFISHING

on it seemed unlikely we would latch onto a Barra and sadly that’s the way it ended – Barra-less but full with a nice haul of very tasty Mangrove Jacks and Brim (not unlike our snapper and similar fighters).

With appetite whet we made plans to nab a Barra on the Daintree and sadly that petered put to a nice cruise on a beautiful and croc infested river.

Not to be completely out-foxed I found a local stocked Barra pond and made a bee-line on out last day.

Hook-a-Barra is a Barramundi fish farm about half an hour north of Port Douglas and offers fishing in their stocked ponds for unlucky, poorly skilled or busy fishos to land a Barra fairly easily. Now under normal circumstances I’d turn my nose up at such lazy fishing, but with the family in tow (particularly three year old Oscar) this was the perfect family fishing adventure!

I’d never fished for Barra but as most fisho’s I’d heard of their fantastic fighting ability and the power of their strike. There’s no doubt the strike and first run are very powerful, but its their aerial displays that really take the cake. Barra launch themselves like marlin, fully leaping while undertaking heavy head shakes to dislodge the hook. Of the Nine I hooked any 4 made it to shore - -testament to the great jumps and head shakes.

There’s no doubt I will head back to tropical north Queensland, even with family in tow – but next time I’ll be hitting the outer reef (Ohhhh, all those GT’s just waiting to be caught....) and dedicating a few more full days to get up close and personal with the mighty (wild) Barramundi! www.nzfisher.co.nz 19

kayakFISHING

Beware!

Kayak fishing is addictive

By Shane Kelly

20 www.nzfisher.co.nz www.nzfisher.co.nz

kayakFISHING

HI I’M SHANE AND I’M A KAYAK FISHING ADDICT. It all started for me in 2007 with the words “We’re having a baby”! Awesome; I was so excited and couldn’t wait but then it suddenly hit me: Oh boy this is going to cost! All the while trying to convince myself that my new Stabicraft 589 was an investment and not a toy. It had to go; That’s ok I’ll get a bigger and better one next time. But what to do in the meantime?

I’d heard about this fad kayak fishing but it was next to impossible to find any info locally so I tried the net and found Grant at Viking Kayaks in Matamata I must also admit I had no idea where Matamata was. “Must be in Auckland I thought” (sorry) I now know better.

Well it was to me anyway. Never had I experienced fishing like it. I’d found myself in the middle of a huge workup and thought to myself, ‘this is crazy cant they see me’?

Grant was awesome he gave me more time of day than

I’m invisible! Not quite but I realised on the kayak I am

people did when I was looking to buy a boat. So you want

very very stealthy and even though all I was catching were

to fish from a Kayak? What do you target he asked also

Kahawai after Kahawai I was having the time of my life!

querying my height and weight and then said the Profish Predator 440 would be perfect. “Sounds good, how much? Sorry say that again?” Thinking I’d misheard him, a Kayak setup already to go fishing for a little over 2k no way! SOLD! A week later my green/yellow beast arrived and it wasn’t long before I was wheeling it down the road to the Petone foreshore for a little paddle out to Somes Island. After an hour of paddling into the wind and chop I thought

I soon found myself wanting to get on the water whatever the weather and being self employed I’d come up with every excuse from vehicle break downs to various ailments just so I could recapture that feeling. I was hooked (If the pun may be excused).

Whatever your reason fishing; for a feed or for a thrill, Kayak fishing offers it all. The hunter gatherer in me is strong so a lot of my outings are focused on putting food

to myself it didn’t look that bad from the beach? I was

on the table Please click here.

buggered. Oops I haven’t thought this through to well

In upcoming issues I’ll be introducing you to my fishing

as she’s a bit a bit different to the boat. This time, I’m

buddies sharing our stories, photos, films and lessons

the motor.

learnt along the way some lessons that may help you avoid

Several hours of cursing and one two three four strokes.

some beginners’ mistakes.

Stop. One two three four. Stop….. you get the idea. I’d

It hasn’t all been smooth yakking so far. But the good times

finally made it back to shore. Needless to say no line saw

are far more memorable! In the next issue I’ll be sharing

the water that day.

some photo’s and film of the final round of the NZ kayak

A few days later, a bit worse for wear and very sore I tried

fishing series I’m currently leading so fingers crossed until

again; this time it was super calm and flat and it was EPIC!

then stay addicted. www.nzfisher.co.nz 21

localFISHING

22 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Fish Your Feet First

localFISHING

Fly Flinging in the inner harbour

By Derrick Paull & Matt von Sturmer FOLLOWING ON from the brief introduction to fishing local and in this case, on Saltwater Fly, I’d like to introduce Matt Von Sturmer. Matt’s a thinking man’s fisherman and his techniques for hunting, attaching and then hooking snapper and other target species in places you’d normally not expect to find them.

Matt’s techniques for finding and catching fish are simple but very effective.

In winter he heads out to the inner

with just a little bit of pilchard – not

gulf islands, Waiheke, The Noises and

a hearty burley trail. These fish are

Motutapu etc. While the majority of

happy to take scraps on the surface!

us ignore these apparently barren

I first met Matt in the shallows of

This is a cool video of some fishing

coastlines in the colder months, the

the sand banks off Point Chevalier in

on Waiheke Island by the looks –

videos below will give some idea

and there’s snapper taking dry-flies!

of how productive our inner gulf

(Thanks Jeremy Coombes for this

shorelines can be if you’re patient and

video)

Auckland as he flung a saltwater fly to hungry snapper in meter deep water.

I’d never heard of anyone catching anymore than sprats up there, but

sue stealth instead of bravado!

And lastly, this is not one of Matt’s,

Matt’s caught his fair share of solid

In this video Matt shows how docile

but they put on a great show with

table fish.

and easy snapper can be to raise

kings just for fun! www.nzfisher.co.nz 23

READERpics

A great early moring fish captured

by Barry Williams

Dante Searle with his first kahawai

Haku the terrior meets his namesake Haku the Kingfish - The kingfish was releasedbut Haku pup got to stay dry 24 www.nzfisher.co.nz

A stunning looking 14KG King caught off Sand Spit by Ruben Ryan in his 12 ft tinnie Love Boat

READERpics

Justin Weck with a knarly old snapper

Jake and Connor with their Eel they stalked landed in Browns Bay creek

Ethan Benge with a big fat gurnard from Dinahs beach.

Doug Wilson with a 32lb Snapper taken form the bricks near Fantail Bay. Sady it was gut hooked couldn’t be released.

Donald Seales with a huge Red Cod - not a fish I used to seeing - well done Donald

www.nzfisher.co.nz 25

NZFISHERcompetition

Win a trip on Diversity thanks to Charter Connection & Tackle-It Every subscriber is in the draw NZFisher IS SENDING one lucky angler on the water with Diversity every month and you can be in the draw just be sending us your latest fishing image or posting it here.

Every image you post will put you in the draw. Images must include a fish or fishy scene. Please include your name, e-mail address, where the pic is taken and who is in the photo.

26 www.nzfisher.co.nz

www.nrc.govt.nz/upload/2412/Marine%20Pests%20-­‐%20Section%206.pdf

www.nzfisher.co.nz 27

gear REVIEWS

Boaties Revive it By Pure Air Alan Radcliffe and Scott Macindoe - keeping the Chesters comp on target for 23 years

By Derrick Paull

FROM NZ FISHER: Check out the video review of Revive it right here This was not a paid review.

28 www.nzfisher.co.nz

prize WINNER

Congratulations Congratulations to the winner of the Okuma Salina II popper combo prize; Sharon Lear, who kindly allowed her land-based fisher husband Karl collect on her behalf.Sharons image was of Karl & their son Oscar with his first snapper.

Well done Sharon (and Karl) and thank you to all our readers who submitted their images. All images will feature in NZFisher this month or the next issue. Don’t forget to keep sending in your images to be in the draw for a trip on Diversity every month.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 29

boatFISHING

NZ Fisher TV Alan Radcliffe and Scott Macindoe - keeping the Chesters comp on target for 23 years

By Derrick Paull

AFTER MANY YEARS of watching

Check out the video on You Tube

some amazing amateur fishing videos

here and leave a note in the com-

Daz and I decided we’d get in on the

ments on what you thought. We’ll

game and whip a video up for the

have a place on the next Little Bar-

NZFisher readership. We wanted to

rier trip for the best comment left

get across a few points on ‘how to’

before 31 July – so get watching and

but also just open your eyes to the

let us know what you think!

way we fish and what leads to our reasonable success.

30 www.nzfisher.co.nz

VIDEO

Fishing Video of the Month

THIS IS A PROMO video for Studio Ocean Mark (Possibly the world’s best jigging reels IMHO) – but the fishing looks sublime!

And for those who like nothing more than a wee spot of GT fishing in the tropics – drool over this!

www.nzfisher.co.nz 31

HOOKED UP!

CO

HOOKEDUP!

U

LD

IT

Every issue, all NZ Fisher subscribers* go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters.

To find out if you’ve won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize. Sweet as!!!

B

E

YO

U

?

Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner Jock Brown from Opotiki

Allan Preece from Pukekohe You’ve won this month’s awesome Hooked Up prize pack including: •

Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of Reel Adventures

•

A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from GoFish.co.nz

•

A super tough 3-tray tackle box from Flambeau (contents not included)

•

Plus two 500ml bottles of Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay!

To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferl@espiremedia.com before 5pm Friday 5 July 2013 . Easy!

*To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw. A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors! Please support them!

32 www.nzfisher.co.nz

f sher

NEXTmonth

In next months issue: - - -

North Cape in the Baby Stabi Blood & Guts – the heart of winter trophy snapper fishing The original Snapper Harvesters

Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher? It’s free!

Simply visit www.nzfisher.co.nz to get a copy of NZ Fisher delivered straight to your inbox every month!

www.nzfisher.co.nz 33