NZ Fisher Issue 5

ISSUE 5 January 2010

Unlocking the Secrets of Rarotonga// //

Working the jigs

www.nzfisher.co.nz 1

THE RUM THAT INVENTED RUM www.mountgayrum.com Enjoy the adventure, drink responsibly

2 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Pg 6

12

16

6

Rarotonga - Best known,

best kept secret.

Game fishing feature

10

Big Snapper from

the Shallows

Kayak Fishing

12

Kingfish 101

16

First Marlin of the Season

Its all on!

20

Power Jig, Diamond Eyes

22

What is Stickbait?

24

The Clubhouse

Raglan Sports Fishing Club

26

Regional Reviews

29

Video of the month

30

Name that Species

20

Pg 10

www.nzfisher.co.nz 3

ALL NEW HP 15 HONDA it1at your

ECONOMY

Look for r local deale

E

Take your mates fishing for less than $4 each ! ‡

The all new Honda fuel-injected 115hp delivers class-leading performance with unparalleled fuel efficiency and reliability.

• Most powerful 115hp outboard on the market – actually produces 121hp • ECOmo lean burn control gives truly amazing fuel economy • BLAST (Boosted Low Speed Torque) for phenomenal acceleration HMAR_083

• Extremely low vibration and noise levels with twin balancer shaft • NMEA 2000 compliant so all engine and fuel data can be displayed on GPS screen 2.3

5

8

10

15

20

25

30

40

50

60

75

90

115

135

150

Find your local

www.hondamarine.co.nz

dealer at:

0800 4 STROKE (0800 478 765)

* Applies to non-commercial use only. Conditional on annual service by authorised Honda Marine dealers. ‡Honda test boat did 73km on a 25 litre tote tank at 40km/hr cruising speed.

4 www.nzfisher.co.nz

175

200

225

ABOUT / Short and sharp, NZ Fisher is a free e-magazine delivering

From the

EDITOR

thought provoking and enlightening articles, and industry news and information to forward-thinking fisher people.

EDITOR / Derrick Paull ART DIRECTOR / Jodi Olsson GROUP EDITOR / Trudi Caffell CONTENT ENQUIRIES /

elcome 2011! What a

(well, probability) that a stewardship fee

Phone Derrick on 021 629 327

great start to the year;

would be charged to all fishers.

or email

A licence by any other name, the fee

derrickp@NZ Fisher.co.nz

game fish of the year is a Blue Marlin.

sounds reasonable; the group would be

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES /

The snapper & kingfish have been very

voted in and funded by New Zealand

accommodating and the scallops are

fishers to represent their interests

Phone Alastair on 021 866 036

plump and plentiful. Isn’t it great to be

when dealing with Governments and

in New Zealand!

negotiating with Commercial and

blue water & the first real

or email alastairn@espiremedia.com

Customary stakeholders. The suggested

ADDRESS / NZ Fisher,

first Marlin of the year, boated by Kurt

costs might be as high as $50 or a

C/- Espire Media, PO Box 137162,

Bennetto’s team off Northlands west

dollar a week in simple terms, but

Parnell,Auckland 1151, NZ

coast. While NZ’s fishing really hot’s up

would provide the body with funding to

WEBSITE / www.NZ Fisher.co.nz

we’ve included a brief on the wonders

reach parity with our competitors own

of Tropical Rarotonga – a true island

budgets (How much do the commercial

paradise and teeming with fish.

sector spend wooing governments? =

This month we feature NZFisher’s

Onto the boring stuff.... Recently I’ve

Milions of $$$??)

been involved with the New Zealand

I am not a fan of licensing and have

Recreational Fishing Council and their

spoken against it in recent times, but

attempt to act in a way that’s a little

my mind is being changed a little by

outside the square for recreational

the thought of full control of our future

fishing bodies in New Zealand. The

in the hands of recreational fishers with

idea is to progress as the change

real ‘horsepower’ as NZRFC President

agent to create a truly grassroots

Geoff Rowling puts it. The benefits may

up representative body that has a

or may not out weight the costs, but

goal of becoming a statuted group

one thing is for sure, we ain’t winning

representing all New Zealanders non-

with things the way they are!

commercial fishers. It’s a bold move and the plan includes the possibility

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!

Happy Fishing!

Derrick

Derrick Paull is Vice President of the NZRFC. Any comments you wish to make on this editorial can be sent here [Derrickp@nzfisher.co.nz] www.nzfisher.co.nz 5

gameFISHING feature

Raro Sunset

6 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Rarotonga – Best Known, Best Kept Secret

By Derrick Paull

reckon New Zealand is a pretty

at Avatiu, you are in 100m of water less

well kept fishing secret. We have

than 1 kilometer from shore – the day

inshore fisheries envied by the

before we hit town a 70kg blue marlin

world and a management system that

was hooked 200m from shore as the

does a respectable job of maintaining

lures were being pulled in as the boat

a healthy fishery. Although we have

Reel Time came back to port.

game fish, barring a few very odd

Unlike most of the worlds other

captures, it’s a five month affair with

fine game fisheries, Rarotonga isn’t

a concentration around January and

exploited, overpriced or over stated.

February. The beauty is that just three

They have a fantastic Yellow Fin Tuna

hours flight from Auckland there is a

fishery, strong Wahoo stocks, more

12 month of the year fishery with very

Mahi-mahi than you can point a stick at

little recreational pressure.

and plenty of interloping Marlin – both

Rarotonga has a game fishery we

striped and blue with the odd black

can only dream about in the depths of

thrown in to test the tackle. I have heard

a kiwi winter. Rarotonga is the ‘main’

of a few broadbill too – but they seem

island of the Cook Island group 1700

to be more of a commercial catch than a

miles north east of New Zealand and

rec one – but that’s sure to change.

is surrounded by water so blue and so

Rarotonga’s economy is fairly slow

deep the gamefish can be caught if not

and this translates to what we in NZ

from the reefs, no more than 50m form

would consider low priced travel,

shore. Leaving the islands largest port,

accommodation & fishing charters – www.nzfisher.co.nz 7

Unlike most of the worlds other fin e game fisheries, Rarotonga isn’t exploited, overpriced or over stated. They have a fantas tic Yellow Fin Tuna fishery, strong Wahoo st ocks, more Mahi-mahi than you can point a st ick at and plenty of interloping Marlin.

sounds perfect doesn’t it!

We decided renting a beach front property was better sense than the

of Shimano & Penn with a couple of

Virtually as soon as we left the harbour

Alutechnics thrown in for good fun.

the lines were set. While we didn’t hook

It seems all the boats also soak a lot of

up straight away, this is the normal time

local resorts and very much appreciated

baits and lures with at least 6 lines being

to get your first Wahoo – they hang in

the freedom it provided. Renting a car

trolled at all times and often seven.

close to the reef and are often the first

was easy and even going to the police

Flying fish is a respected bait in NZ but

capture. What we were blessed by was

station in Avatiu was a fun afternoon

it’s suicide to leave port without a good

some very entertaining hits by Mahi-

out – for just NZ$20 and 15 minutes in

supply in Raro – they are the food of

mahi that target the baits from over

a queue, I now have a very flash Cook

choice or just about every predator that

100m away, lighting up and making a

Islands drivers license!

swims the Cook Island waters.

bee-line for them lit up like a glowing

The charter fleet is a little more modern

On board we were shown how the

blue bullet. When they do hit, the white-

& in better nick than what we had

locals rig a flying fish and the pattern for

water eruption is something to behold

expected. Avatiu is home to the majority

the lures we were to troll on day one.

– they are bulldogs of the sea, mean and

of the fleet, but a couple reside at the

George’s deckie, Cam, had a briefing on

hungry all the time with muscle to burn.

northern entrance of Muri Lagoon in

how landing fish would happen under

I’ve learned that Mahi-mahi or Dolphin

the South East corner. The big names in

Georges command and enlightened

Fish are one of the oceans fastest

Rarotonga game fishing are Reel Time,

us on the differing techniques to what

growing species, reaching maturity &

Akura, Seafari and Captain Moko. All

we’re used to in New Zealand. The most

adult size (8kg +/-) within their first year.

have good reputations and skipper’s

difficult to fathom was the fact that

Whether it’s related to this or not, the

who’d like to keep it that way.

they don’t back down on their fish. It

flesh of Mahi-mahi is very pale in colour

seemed a bit strange, but their rationale

and is rated one of the best eating, often

George on board Akura for a couple

is that most fish are lost when pressure

described as the second best in the

of trips and were not disappointed. As

is taken off the fish during the fight, as

world (behind Broadbill Swordfish).

a fisherman, the first thing you notice

can happen (albeit rarely) when chasing

about Rarotonga is the tackle. It’s not

a fish down. The other change, due to

dominated by Blue Marlin with a number

unlike what we fish with here and it’s

the no back down policy, is the rotation

of Striped & Black Marlin also caught

all well maintained (or so it appeared),

of anglers in the chair when a big fish is

annually. Our first day out was our best

but it’s just so heavy. A number of 60kg

hooked. After the fight begins anglers

with the dead flying fish skip bait on

set ups were run aboard Akura and

are swapped in the chair to keep them

the ‘shotgun’ out the back being hit by

the lightest was 37kg. There is a mix

fresh and shorten the fight.

a small Blue at around lunch time. The

We chose to hire the services of

The Marlin fishing around Rarotonga is

DP with mahimahi and 92.5kg Blue

fighting methods in Rarotonga take a

with what turned out to be a 92 kg

little getting used to. The drag set at

Blue Marlin. While it wasn’t a solo

this was a fantastic eye-opener.

about 8kg and no chasing of the fish

capture, I was pleased to see ‘my’ first

We learned a great deal and have

meant we saw a lot of line leave the reel

blue on the deck!

made some valuable connections

quickly and no backing down to retrieve

As a first encounter with Rarotonga,

Out attempts to chase Yellow Fin

for future expeditions north to this

it. The upside of this is that there’s a

Tuna were thwarted by the main FAD

virtually untouched fishery. Places

chance for everyone on board to have a

coming loose from it’s mooring after

on Raro Mission Two, to be held in

go at fighting the fish – that’s right, you

11 years faithful service and drifting off

early November 2011, will be offered

rotate in and out of the chair! While not

into the wild blue yonder. While we did

to NZ Fisher readers wishing to

IGFA legal and not what we’d do here

manage a few smaller models the YFT

experience incredible gamefishing

in NZ, we chose to take the ‘When in

fishing was very slow and not what we

in this tropical paradise. We will

Rome’ attitude & work with the Akura

had anticipated. Once again though,

be booking Akura for a full 5 days

team to their rules.

Mahi-mahi made up for their absence

and targeting YFT, GT’s, Marlin,

and we were treated to more colourful &

Wahoo and Mahi-Mahi – utilising

aerobatic fights.

kiwi techniques. Watch this space!

The fight lasted near on an hour and gave everyone their chance to tussle

www.nzfisher.co.nz 9

kayakFISHING

Big Snapper From The Shallows – Up Your Alley?

ishing the shallows can be

in order to stop the fish of your dreams

very productive, but it can

before it wraps your line round the

also prove to be frustrating

rocks and busts you off. If fishing from

and expensive due to the amount of

a kayak, you also need to take care not

tackle that can be lost to the foul. For

to over-tighten the drag as this could

those who like a challenge and are not

cause you to be tipped out by a sudden

too phased at losing a bit of gear, this

hook-up.

can be a great experience, whether

To limit the amount of bust offs, use

fishing from a kayak or from the rocks

the lightest weight possible that will still

themselves, but it certainly isn’t for the

enable your bait to reach the bottom

faint-hearted.

(when fishing off the rocks it is usually

Snapper seem to fight harder in the shallows and they will almost always run

best to use no sinker at all).

Obviously, the sea and wind

straight for the nearest rock or patch of

conditions must be taken into account

kelp in an effort to free themselves. Your

when fishing from or close to the rocks.

gear will need to be in good condition,

Too many fishermen have been swept

drags must be smooth and set correctly

off rocks. If you are fishing from a

10 www.nzfisher.co.nz

One of the good points about shallow water fishing is that the fish can be easily released once caught, as their swim bladders don’t inflate. kayak, you must

out of there fast when you need to. Be

be prepared to

sensible – if there is too much swell or

cut your line

wind, stay further out from the rocks;

if necessary.

you can always cast in to them.

Imagine getting your line snagged really close in, or a large fish pulling you towards the

One of the good points about shallow water fishing is that the fish can be easily released once caught, as their swim bladders don’t inflate. It is

rocks, with a big swell or strong wind

such an awesome feeling to watch a

gust also pushing you in the same

big old moocher flick its tail and swim

direction – you must always have your

away unharmed, and of course it is

wits about you and know how to get yourself

great for the future releasing those big breeding fish.

Pete & Ails

www.nzfisher.co.nz 11

boatFISHING

Putting bend on the new JM the

Kingfish 101. //Jig or Live Bait?

Or jig & Live Bait?

By Ed Stubenitsky

hat happens when you get 4

Plenty of preparation had taken place

BBQ, at least one of the boys had the

good keen blokes who hap-

with a good few trips to the tackle store,

food covered!

pen to be the greenest king-

and hundreds of hours of research. Four

So after a good hearty feed we headed

fish hunters you’ve ever seen with a new

keen young city slickers who have only

out to fill the live bait tank, it was a

arsenal of gear and a weekend away in the

dreamed of slaying kingfish headed away

little more time consuming that we

Coromandel? Magic! Absolute Magic!

to find out what all the fuss was about.

anticipated, though as we found later

Finally, the long anticipated Friday

on in the trip, never underestimate

arrived. We’d all put in a leave pass

Day 1

the value of these little guys and allow

with the Mrs, had is approved and met

We woke Saturday morning to the

yourself plenty of time to catch them.

early evening to load the boat and

smell of bacon, eggs, hash browns and

car to head to what we will call spot ‘x’.

all the trimmings sizzling away on the

12 www.nzfisher.co.nz

We made our way out to the area we had heard there were a few fish

.

around, found some really good mark

back of the boat as simultaneously the

Day 2

on the sounder and cracked out our

3 anglers hooked up. Unfortunately we

Started much the same way as day 1

new arsenal of rods. We had models

had hooked up into the wrong species,

with catching live baits and heading

from Shimano, Daiwa and the 2 JM 3

with some particularly large barracuda

back to the spot we thought would

King specials on board, each paired

being brought to the boat. These were

make all our dreams come true.

with an individually selected reel, a

suitably dealt with and sent back into

With the weather being a bit better

Trinidad 40N, Shimano Saragosa,

the sea.

we had some company in the area, a

Daiwa Saltiga, and JM PE5.

A few more passes and much of the

few other boats close by. Inspiration

Boys being boys wanted to play with

same. All in all the barracuda accounted

was instant when we circled round

the new gear and after a few hours there

for a few lost jigs and hooks, but a little

one boat with a young lad bent in 2

were some very tired faces and with little

entertainment. There was a foul hooked

holding on to his rig for life.

action on the jigs the boys were getting

red snapper of a reasonable size landed,

We rigged up and had 3 jigs new from

a little disheartened. I’ve never seen

and with the weather packing in we

the packet in the water to see if we

people so keen for a break from fishing

started on the very long and very quiet

could catch some dinner. After an hour

and happy to take the wheel while they

trip back to the ramp.

or so without success a familiar look

watched their mates suffer fatigue from

Back to the house, rig tying and a few

was coming to the faces of the boys. It’s

working the jig rod. Fishing was what

discussions on what to do tomorrow

not ideal when other boats around are

you might call a little ‘slow’. Then all of

provided the much needed inspiration

catching and your just fishing…

a sudden, there were 3 shrieks from the

to attack the fish again.

I decided to give a live bait a go,

Getting railed on the jig set

www.nzfisher.co.nz 13

it was a koherau?, I named the little

process making sure everyone within 20

We were very careful to ensure that we did

guy Jim. Well 2 minutes later little Jim

miles was aware we were ecstatic.

not take more fish than required; we should

got nailed and I was hooked up to

Shortly after, yet another live bait got

all make a real effort ensure we conserve

our first king fish of the day. Landed

nailed and the line started leaving the

our fisheries so in future we can take our

we estimated its weight at 12kg and

reel at a good pace, unfortunately on

kids and grand kids to these places and

measured 101cm we quickly decided

this occasion we managed to get 50-

give them these same experiences.

to keep it for dinner.

60m of braid wrapped around the prop.

A few minutes later I landed another

If there is one bit of advice I could give

I can’t say I recommend this approach,

for all those looking to get into jigging,

on a jig this time, similar size and just as

although it is pretty easily achieved. Half

get good gear and don’t underestimate

much excitement in the back of the boat.

an hour later we had sorted the mess

the amount of effort it takes to pump a rod

One of the lads joined me and put his

having been hung over the back of the

all day long, you’ll need plenty of patience

first ever keeper in the bin.

boat with the guys holding onto my feet

and perseverance Having said that there is

(and wearing a life jacket of course).

nothing like a kingi freight train hitting you

A short while later my live bait got hammered by what was to be a 24kg

Two more, smaller fish around 10-12kg

in mid water without any notice.

monster. The fight was relatively short,

were landed, bringing our total for the day

but after 2 long days my arms were

to 6. There were 2 very promising fights

home, memories to last a lifetime and

killing me! The fish surfaced after 5-6

where line was disappearing from the reel

the need to apply to our respective

minutes and was landed in the boat.

and rods well bent which resulted in bust

partners for another leave pass to get

We were all fairly vocal throughout the

offs and plenty of tales for the way home.

out and do it all over again!!

In total we had 1 fish each to take

  

Ask for the Active Duty sun and bug skin defence range at selected pharmacies and retailers throughout New Zealand or order online at www.skinshield.co.nz

“If 14itwww.nzfisher.co.nz works for the NZ Army, it’ll work for you!”

As used by the NZ Defence Force!

The fruits of our labour (Credit: Graeme Cox) www.nzfisher.co.nz 15

gameFISHING

Derk fighting his first Marlin

n

First Marlin of the Season //It’s all on!

By Kurt Bennetto

he season is now well and

which turned out to be a Mako Shark. For

came free. Gutted! Well, that’s one word

truly under way and I am over

three seconds there I was very excited

to describe it although I recall adding a

the moon!

until I realised what we had hooked but as

few others at the time. However, I had

The start of this season has been very

soon as we did we were more concerned

a funny feeling in mind that this wasn’t

different to the last but that’s not a bad

about getting the lure back! The Mako’s

going to be the only action for the day

thing. A lot of Blue Marlin have been

proved to be present in large number as

as it was still only mid morning!

caught early and most people believe

the day progressed which is quite unusual

are attributing this to the higher than

to see out where we usually catch the

temperature rose and the fish appeared

usual temperatures on the east coast -

marlin. In fact they were so thick I lost

to go slightly off the bite. However at

which I would tend to agree with.

count of how many I saw.

roughly 2pm the reel started singing

In the last edition I wrote about “

The water was unusually blue and all

As mid day approached, the

and we were in again. We saw the fish

sharpening up” and getting that gear

the signs were there - we could sense

crashing around on the surface and

ready. I must say I am glad I got it sorted

it was just a matter of time before we

instantly knew it was a good one. We

before Christmas because Northlands’

were pleasantly interrupted and when we

screamed towards the fish in reverse

West coast has started with a hiss and a

got a call from another boat less than a

with the angler grinding away and after

roar as early as it gets!

kilometer away informing us of their triple

all of a few minutes the leader popped

strike, the confidence went sky high!

up and we took our early chance. As we

On the 7th of January we headed off the beach with high hopes as we had been

As we continued trolling I turned

pulled the fish onto the boat, our first

given the word from a few of the boys

around to see the electric blue pectoral

time angler was peaking with excitement

that there were marlin around in good

fins of a marlin which instantly bit the

and that is what its all about.

numbers. The water was blue behind the

short corner and we were hooked up!

The fish weighed in at a very

surf at just 16 meters and as we set the

After a short fight we had the fish along

respectable 125.2kg. It was a great first

gear in 60 meters of water we didn’t have

side. As the leader approached the rod

trip of the season to the west coast to get

to wait long before we raised our fist fish

tip the fish shook its head and hook

off the mark and long may it continue.

16 www.nzfisher.co.nz

That look says it all

After a bit of h uff and puff, Der k’s fish is on boa rdl

n

- you never d n u o s & e f a s Home, Coast! t s e W e h t f f o know A proud and satisfied crew www.nzfisher.co.nz 17

NEWproduct

Power Jig, Diamond Eyes

//Slowly slowly catchy monkey Snapper By ‘Esspresso’

18 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Temptation

ebbing of it is the underlying reason why

in the predatory space close to the sea

This typical several pound pannie just

these Diamond Eyes work.

floor. So we’ve spotted something many

Imagine you and I are a couple of

metres away that could be food…right,

temptation is what killed the cat wasn’t

sizeable snapper…swimming along

time to investigate! We swim over closer

it (for fish in this case)? Temptation is

looking for an opportunistic snack, and

now and it drops back down into the mud,

the key to the success of the Power

over there, out of the corner of your eye,

motionless, exhausted, dead. Oops, it’s

Jig, Diamond Eyes. Highly luminous

quite some distance in fact is a small

not quite dead yet as it desperately tries

weighted head, big bright eye and

glowing odd looking creature and a

to swim away from our close scrutiny – it

trailing dangly bits that give it life in

small plume of mud rises as it swims up

must have spotted us and tries to flee to

aquatic environs - looking like fins/legs/

the water column in an effort to escape

higher ground out of sight. Pathetic, you

flappy bits in a bit of trouble. Life or the

our now attentive gaze and stay alive

got no show bro’, no way Jose’ you’re all

couldn’t resist the temptation. And

www.nzfisher.co.nz 19

NEWproduct

A fantastic addition to the soft baite rs arsenal, same type of style, boat and rod se tup, so as you change out your soft plastics wi th colour and shape, and I am personally a gr eat fan of the use of highly luminous materia l for fish attraction - try a Power slow jig mine… odd looking but firmly in our

Play It Again Sam

vision down in the dark depths…stupid

Within the glowing morsel are two

be experienced time and time again,

thing it’s still glowing and look at its

strong and exceptionally sharp little

tap, nibble nibble, drop, tap tap…

flailing fins at the back, no match for

hooks that easily penetrate tough fish

whack! Permanent hookup. And now

me! Right let’s just see if this can be

mouths. Care is needed and use of

like with most patient tasks in fishing,

my next tasty treat let me grab it and

drags (after all that’s why reels have

be patient, no need to strike ripping

see…oops hang on, no thumbs, buga.

drags, to be used) so that fast fighting

the hooks out defeating the purpose.

Come on think man, this glowing bug

fish don’t rip the hooks out and return

Merely continue to wind, gently pump

thing is swimming slowly up and away

momentarily to their previous routine,

and wind as you normally would retrieve

from us, it’s now or never, swimming up

usually momentary is all, either the

a fish. While a relatively inexpensive

behind the bug-fish thingy relentless

same fish or other fish will continue to

purchase they can also become an

in its quest for freedom – tough

bite at the Diamond Eyes as it appears

exceptionally cheap way of catching a

luck, time for lunch. Oh and even

to be a tough little morsel but with

lot of fish as they can be successfully

though you’re a mate and going to

its tantalizing escape route– all too

used over and over again.

the same snapper school as me, this

often fish keep striking at it and if not

is lunchtime cuz and although we’re

hooked up straight away, usually all it

both not that hungry it’s eat or be

takes is to keep the tease going with

•

Zero boat mess, smell and muck

eaten, so you shoulder me out of the

patient continuous and slow winding,

•

No bait freezer, stinky fingers

way so you can…CHOMP! And that’s

or drop back to the bottom and start

•

Used time and time again

all she wrote!

the play again.

•

Effective when the bite has stopped

•

Various weights colours and sizes

This experience of hilarious thrills can

Great Points:

to use for various situations •

Simple, effective, great for novices and Rod Holder expertise too

20 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Note the hooks often spread the load

you can throw these well out back

how they will catch their next fish…a few

over different mouth areas reducing pulled

because of their inherent heft and

sloooooww retrieves up off an apparently

hooks – but be careful the hooks work just

use the slow retrieve back to the boat

feature and fishless sea floor will often

as well on you too, pliers to remove them

routine. Because of this weight you can

provide the surprise you’re looking for. Be

from a struggling fish are a good idea.

cast well back to where the bigger fish

prepared though, like many things they

lurk in your burley trail…then simply

can be looked at initially with skepticism,

reduced significantly due to the lack of

provide the temptation of a disturbed

until you use one successfully that is.

scent with the visual action and vibe of

fish-thingy swimming slowly and oh

the jig being key as with many successful

so quietly, don’t look at me, there’s

arsenal, same type of style, boat and

styles of catching fish without bait.

nothing to see here…get me outta

rod setup, so as you change out your

Although called a jig I tend not to use

here man!!! Bugger, spotted by another

soft plastics with colour and shape,

the bouncy bouncy approach, just the

snapper, you know the rest.

and I am personally a great fan of the

Catching smaller fish and reef fish is

A fantastic addition to the soft baiters

drag along behind in Rod Holder or the

Slow jigs can be kept on board as

slow wind up, far higher than you think

an effective fish catching tool and as

attraction - try a Power slow jig and

fish would swim up and bite actually,

a ‘check out how good I am’ too – by

surprise yourself with a fat pannie or

then the drop and repeat process. It’s

this I mean, next time you are out there

three for dinner. A little knowing grin

not tiring, so great for younger and less

and the fish have stopped biting, you’re

is allowed as the open mouths of the

experienced fishers to use, no casting

drifting along, nothing’s happening…

dis-believers aboard gape at what you

required and can be used on spinning

put one down as others aboard flag the

caught your fish on. Best have two or

or overhead reels. If you’re anchored,

fishing and snooze, eat or just wonder

three aboard for times like these.

use of highly luminous material for fish

BIG FISH

SMALL REELS

The new Accurate BX/BX2 Range

The Boss Extreme BX & BX2 range of Accurate reels are now in stock at all serious tackle stores nationwide. Made from 6061T6 aircraft aluminium these reels are in a league of there own, a must for all serious fisherman.

Availiable in wide or narrow spool.

• Patented Twin Drag System pushing out 15kg of drag.

• Seven Class 5 ABEC stainless steel bearings.

• Greased AccuDrag system • Titanium friction washers.

• Stainless steel gears • Boss reel bag • One year free service • Life time manufactures warranty.

For more info check out the Accurate website www.accuratefishing.com Freephone: 0508 545 545 Email: kane@decoro.co.nz Tel: 07 575 5130 149 Totara St Fax: 07 575 5914 PO Box 4138, Mt Maunganui Check out our new website www.decoro.co.nz Become a member now! www.nzfisher.co.nz 21

fishingTIPS

What is a stickbait?

Derrick with 20kg King on Alive Stickbait 22 www.nzfisher.co.nz

?

Stickbaits

Stickbaits

ell, here’s the web’s an-

Stickbaits come in many different

and have great, easy to use actions

swer “Stickbait — a hard

shapes, sizes & weights and a very

for newbie’s. They also catch fish – the

or soft lure that is gener-

wide range of prices. The ones that are

image below

ally long and slender and designed to

considered the very best (Carpenter,

emulate a baitfish”

Hammerhead & Orion to name a few)

taken on an Alive stickbait on it’s first

retail, at anything from $120 to NZ$350.

outing.

But, there’s more to it than that. Many

Shows Derrick with a very nice kingfish

of us have fished with Poppers before

Thankfully their not lost as often as jigs,

and to some good effect, but the

so they tend to last a bit longer and for

Stickbaits. Here is s a pic of a 15lb

common answer is they attract kingfish,

that price you’d be thankful!

Snapper taken on the surface on a NZ

but they don’t often hook up.

Well, the crafty Japanese fisher’s have

Stickbaits are not generally a simple

Not only Kingfish will be taken on

made ‘Cannibal’ stickbait in 2o meters

cast & retrieve kure. There is a need for

of Water. Many kiwi anglers are now

developed a type of ‘popper’ that runs

the angler to impart a little action to get

experimenting with these great lures and

on or just bellow the surface, called a

them working really well. Interestingly

it’ll only be a matter of time before a

stick bait. It does emulate a baitfish, or

the mosty expensive Stickbaits often

marlin is landed on one!

rather a baitfish in distress. There has

need the most skill, but do provide the

been a lot of hype recently about the

ultimate action. Some brands produce

try casting it in likely spots (Around reef

effectiveness of Stickbaits and from our

‘entry’ models for new users. The

wash or around work-ups) and see what

experience if there’s kingfish around they

Tailwalk by ‘Gunz’ and the Alive range

happens – you never know how easy it

are deadly!

are such entry level lures ($50-$75)

might be!

The best idea is to purchase a stickbait,

www.nzfisher.co.nz 23

theCLUBHOUSE

Raglan Sports Fishing Club he club was formed in 1999 by some of Raglan’s keen fisherman and woman and caters for all fishing interests from game fishing to surf casting. We have been overwhelmed by the support we have received from the fisherman who fish the rugged West Coast off Raglan and our membership has grown to over 500.

Members mostly fish out from Raglan but we recognise the fact that our members fish all around the country and we accept all fish caught and weighed within New Zealand waters.

Our weigh station is situated at the rear of the Harbour View Hotel and weigh masters are only a phone or V.H.F. call away. Call (Raglan Sport Fishing) on channel 86 The club runs several very successful fishing tournaments each year. The Fish City Icebreaker in October/November.

Manu Bay Fishing contest on Auckland Anniversary weekend and the Rollos’ Mixed classic, which coincides with nationals, in February.

Raglan Sport Fishing Club member Richard Hart has won the NZSFC ‘Saul Trophy’ for most game fish in a season three times and the trophy was won by Richards crewmate Shane Hartstone in 2010. Richard has not tagged & released over 1000 Yellowtail Kingfish. Raglan is a very fishy spot with an abundant snapper fishery – a place where it’s not if but when 24 www.nzfisher.co.nz

you’ll get the big one and where bag limits are the norm not the exception.

We are a member of the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council. This enables

Our anglers regularly get bag limits of Snapper in the spring with several fish over 10kg.

The Game Fishing season usually starts

members to have access to courtesy

in mid January and runs through to

weighing facilities and clubrooms in most

April. Marlin can be caught as close as

coastal areas. We are also members

the 50m mark.

of the I.G.F.A. and the New Zealand

The club prides itself on its Tag and

Recreational Fishing Council which

Release both for Marlin and all other

advocates for recreational fisherman for

species within the tagging programme,

more fish in the water. So as a member

and with this supplies two free tags to

of the Raglan Sport Fishing Club you

each paid up member, these are replaced

will be supporting and improving the

free of charge when the completed tag

West Coast fishery and the environment

form is re-turned to the secretary.

affecting this catchment.

The club has initiated several large

We endeavour to make the West Coast a safer place to be, and twice a year in

projects in the Raglan area. Namely the

conjunction with the Raglan Coast-guard

installation of the floating pontoon down

run a Bar Orientation day. This is an

at the main wharf, the rebuilding of the

event to familiarise users with the Raglan

Kopua Boat Ramp and the installation of

Bar and its many seasonal changes. This

the V.H.F. on Mount Karioi along with the

event is a must for all regular and new

ongoing upkeep of the Manu Bay Boat

users of this area.

Ramp and break-water.

As a club member you will receive

Club members are friendly and helpful so please, don’t hesitate to ask

regular newsletters and e-newsletters if

them for help with the bar or weather

you have this facility, this is all aimed at

conditions. So if you are interested

keeping you informed on club activities.

please fill in the membership form

We also supply you with a fishing update

linked here and we will look forward to

so you are able to catch some great fish.

having you onboard.

Back to the

26 February– 6 March 2011

future

&

traditions

of the

history

—the culture,

SEA

Kia kaha tangata moana!

Seaweek 2011 follows a five year series of themes, this time exploring where we come from in relation to our ocean, what it means to us and why - and how that influences the furture. Loads of great ideas and resources with developing event information can be found on our website at:

www.seaweek.org.nz

www.nzfisher.co.nz 25

regionalREVIEWS

Coromandel/Tairua Source: Carl Muir/Epic Adventures

five years since we did our first charter.

When we sent out our last newsletter we

Doubtless Bay/ Karikari

were in the middle of an awesome bite of big kingfish with plenty of 20-30kg+

he fishing in the bay has been

models and that trend

more often great than poor,

certainly carried on

huge thanks to everyone who has been a part of it and helped make it the best yet!

There’s been plenty of milestones.... marlin on jig rods, a Blue on 15kg in the Nationals, 100 kingfish days, Tobez joining the team, Sanity joining the Epic fleet, our first Ozzie TV footage and filming with the JM and Daiwa guys. But the biggest buzz over the year as always has been seeing the smiling faces day in day out as people have fun on the water and in a lot of cases achieve something new for themselves. Its been a blast! The last three months have seen plenty of that with some huge kingfish, plenty of new PB’s for lots of anglers and some awesome surface action. You’ll find plenty of pics and stories from the last few months action in this newsletter.

Also in this newsletter is the latest

but there are still those hard

for the last three

days. Success for snapper fishers was

months. The big fish

more focussed in the middle of the

carried on through

bay before Christmas, but as spawn-

November with the

ing slows the reefs are turning up

two fish pictured opposite both taken on livebaits, Deano on Sanity and

more and more good fish.

Kingfish were hard to come by before

Andrew on Epic both with fish well into

the break but a number of very healthy

the 30kg’s.

fish have been taken off Karikari and

There is not much that will compare to a 30kg+ kingfish hell bent on finding the

over some of the deep reefs.

Those enjoying a post Christmas fish

reef below, and I’ll be the first to admit

have been spoilt by a wide variety of

walking away with my hands shaking

species including Skipjack tuna, Albacore,

after helping someone thumb down on

Kingfish, Gurnard, snapper, Pink maomao

the reel ! The adrenaline on board after

and sadly still some hardy couta.

someone has just landed one of these monsters is something else.

If tangling with some of these monsters is something you want to do in 2011 then get in touch and start

Crays have taken a hammering during the peak season, but you can still get a few if you’ve got a tank on your back, most of the shallows are pretty bare.

The next two months (if the wind

planning your trip now. Check out our

ever stops!) will see an influx in

calendar for some dates here.

Marlin being caught. They come in

Let 2011 be as bountiful as 2010 and we’ll all be happy!

so close to the peninsular you could (and some try) almost get them form the shore. I’ve heard on one Yellow Fin being caught off the Garden

developments on our new Senator

Patch, but they’re pretty scarce – it

RH750 custom sports fishing boat which

would be good to see a few more

will be in the water early next year.

come by... but everyone’s saying that!

This week we knock off another

Whatever your target, February is

milestone, and that is five years in the

the best moth in the Bay and we look

fishing charter game. Yep, 22 Dec marks

forward to seeing you up here in the Northern paradise!

26 www.nzfisher.co.nz

West Coast / Taranaki arlin everywhere! Pretty

after teasing them up! It’s marlin mad-

our video of the month - he’s really

simple really. Raglan,

ness at its best! The short answer is, if

cracking into them!

Manukau, Kaipara, Hoki-

you have a suitable boat the go to the

The easterlies have meant pretty

anga & Ahipara have all registered

west coast to catch a marlin (with all

good diving too. There are a lot of

marlin for the season and most boats,

these easterlies, why wouldn’t you?!?!)

good crays on the west coast and

if not landing them, are getting solid

Other fisheries have been

a few paua too – definitely worth a

bites with most seeing marlin free

performing pretty well too. There’s

crack if you wander in off the beaches

jumping throughout the day. Lures

snapper on the 50-60meter mark most

near rocks – just be very careful if

and livebaits are both getting atten-

of the way up the coast and kingfish

there is a swell – the west coast can

tion and one boat has even been

too if you know where the reefs are.

be deceptive and dangerous – but

deploying spearo’s to chase them

See Ben Brown’s video linked in to

rewarding if it’s flat with good viz!

Free casio watch

Biscayne

with every Fin-Nor rod & reel combo AHAB

valued at

15000

$

Ask instore for details.

Marquesa

™

www.fin-norfishing.com

www.nzfisher.co.nz 27

regionalREVIEWS

Hauraki Gulf Source: Grant ‘Espresso’ Bittle

Hot stuff

and rewarding summer fishing season

Hot, wet and humid weather has been

so look after your throw backs, a little

the order of the day, and along with it

care in handling lets them shake off the

some very hot fishing out there in our

trauma of capture quickly and get back

salt water playground. Snapper have

to getting bigger!

been playing the game and kingfish

West Coast / Raglan & North

are everywhere too, small, medium

Workups v’s Channels

and big marauding specimens flashing

Inner channel fishing has been the

through berley trails inquisitive to most

better bet lately, many miles searching

potential morsels whether live-baits,

for quick and limited workups not only

dead baits or soft baits, even hooked

means a lot of gas burnt but so many

snapper being reeled in, you name

fish are right in and around the big

ots of easterlies have meant

it the kingies are checking them out.

volcano and pretty much all other gulf

we’ve had some good days on

Mind you so are the prolific number

islands, breeding feeding and when the

the water, but the northerly

of sharks, so fish on the line can come

bite is on… it’s on!

back in halves! The snapper condition

Slack tide and lots of fish on the

aspect has also meant those days have been very sloppy.

When we’ve had time on the water

is in general much better condition

sounder – no bites…patience, as when

than a month ago as the recent feeding

the tide starts to get going especially

there’s been plenty of fish, just no

takes its positive effect. Throw a SP or

the incoming, the fish have been eager

monsters and as of mid Jan, no Marlin.

surface popper close to any marker

to please and very good average size

buoys as you go past, definitely worth

too.

The fishery’s in pretty good nick, plenty of healthy snapper and plague

a pause as there are many kingies

Whether anchored with bait thrown

proportions of huge gurnard, so

hanging around them looking to

out the back, or deftly picking your way

getting a feed’s been easy. The

provide some fun.

through hundreds of fellow fishers on

crayfish are good if you can find them,

the drift, it’s all good really. Colours for

but there’s a few people coming home

Serial Spawners

soft plastics have been significant to

empty handed sadly. What we really

No, not yet another sci-fi movie - but

help fill the bin with brighter ones and

need is the warm water up around the

due to the water temperature being

real bait doing well at the start of the

Manukau to wash on down and bring

warmer earlier this year and with the

bite, then darker SPs taking over the

us some of those magnificent Stripies

continuing nor-easterlies the water in

snappers attention and bites mid tide,

they’re getting into! We wait patiently

the gulf has been a balmy 21+c and

with bait back into the winners circle as

& enjoy the Albacore as they make

looks like staying that way for a few

the tide slows down again.

their way down and on to our tables!

months. Apart from pleasant swimming and other water borne activities this

Such a variety of fish and techniques to

warm water combined with a good

catch them, all so close to home – the

food supply apparently means snapper

perfect excuse to go fishing!

can spawn more than once over

Cheers

summer. This is great news for a long

Espresso.

28 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Bay of Plenty Source: Mark Amistead

nce again we have had a

new rods, lures and plenty of other toys

battles were won by the anglers but the

great time with our friends

to ogle over. The new rods look great

fish also managed to find the reef on a

from Japan, we have just

and they were put to the test on some

few occasions and busted off.

had two separate trips, one with Mogi

decent fish, the catch of the trip was a

Keep an eye out for some of the new

San and a few of his friends and the

28Kg fish caught on a PE5 rod out of

model rods coming out this year, I even

other was with Konishi San and anoth-

8 metres of water, it was a tense battle

managed to have a swing on one and

er couple of very competent anglers.

driving it out of the reef and avoiding

caught a nice little king, Konishi relished

The first trip was a lot of fun, the lady

all of the cray pots in the process. The

the job of captain and appeared to

angler on board would have been lucky

fish was absolutely massive and had it

have a lot of fun helping drive the fish

to have been 40 Kilograms but she was

been in prime condition it would have

out of the reef.

a star pulling in some really good fish.

been a mid thirties fish.

We have lots more exciting trips coming

On this trip it was the jigs that did most

A lot of the fish in the Bay have now

of the damage with the fish tending to

spawned and are in poor condition, but

Whakatane Tuna tournament and a week

hang a bit deeper.

this does not deter there fighting sprit

off fishing for myself. And what do I do on

with some pretty tense battles. Some

a week off; well of course I go fishing.w

Konishi San arrived with a truckload of

up in the near future including the

Summer dayfishing on NZ’s West Coast Producer: Ben Brown (BenBrownNZ on You Tube) his month we bring a video shot by local fisher, Ben Brown off the west Coast of the North Island, out from Kawhia Harbour.

This video sums up pretty much everything NZ Fisher loves about New Zealand Fishing: Lots of fish, great action, beaut weather & time on the water with your mates. What more could you ask for?!?!?!

Here’s Ben’s explanation: “Gotta love these Easterly weather patterns. The West Coast has been primo! Shot out for a day last week with the boys and got amongst some nice Kingie, Snapper and Albacore action. Threw a little vid together of some of the days action” Enjoy Ben & his mates video here [ http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=mdloPRL44Qw ] www.nzfisher.co.nz 29

competition

Name the species

ave a look at the pic beside & email us to win this month’s prize.

You can email Captain Snappy here [derrickp@nzfisher.co.nz] to go it he draw for an ‘Active Duty’ prize pack, but for real bang for your bucks, go here to our Face Book page, enter your guess and go in the draw for a day’s fishing with Mark Armistead on Board Extreme Fishing Adventures – Mark is an awesome skipper, focussing on top water gamefishing & jigging for Kingfish. Check out Mark’s site at www.extremesportfishing.co.nz This month’s fish is a bit of a sporadic catch in NZ – but he’s common to our tropical north!

This is a huge prize but can only be won by clicking ‘like’ & entering your answer on Facebook – do it now!

Open 7 Days!

23 Westhaven Drive Westhaven Marina Auckland NZ

Bar and Restaurant

Serving New Zealand’s Best Seafood For Over 13 years!

If you love seafood you’ll love Swashbucklers Bar and Restaurant!

Located at Westhaven Marina on the edge of the shores of the magnificent ‘City of Sails’, pop in for lunch or dinner seven days a week or enjoy a cold ale in our Boatshed Bar. Phone 09 307 5979 for bookings or just come on down. Open ‘til late!

Proud to support the launch of NZ Fisher e-Magazine!

Check out our fantastic menu at www.swashbucklers.co.nz 30 www.nzfisher.co.nz

// In the next issue of NZ Fisher…

• Top-water experts share their secrets

FEEDBACK

It’s always nice to get feedback and it sure makes the job of getting the magazine out more of a pleasure than a chore. Here’s a couple of comments we received in January: Well done Derrick and crew ,I very much enjoyed the read and pic’s of your latest edition .i’m looking forward to your next issue ,keep it up people ,it’s great..Baz

Barry Smith, Orewa

Hi guys, keep up the the good fishing news. I have been with you since issue one and think its been a great idea and Neil Cadman

read , keep ‘em comin’

Hi Derrick, Just thought I would let you know that I love your magazine and look forward to receiving it every month.

Awesome.

Gaylene Kelly, Secretary, Rotorua Fishing & Casting Club

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 third Wednesday!

Next edition out 2011

Kayak Fishing Range Because one kayak won’t suit everyone

PROWLER ULTRA 4.7 Image courtesy of Rob Fort – Coromandel Kayak Adventures

Some fishing kayaks may excel in one or two areas, the Prowler Ultra 4.7 excels across the board, with an inpressive range of features making it the benchmark when it comes to design and performance.

“This boat is the benchmark in kayak fishing design” Rob Fort - Coromandel Kayaks

K AYA K F I S H I N G R A N G E

Scrambler 11

For more information and to find your local dealer visit:

Prowler Elite 4.1

Prowler Elite 4.5

Prowler Ultra 4.7

www.oceankayak.co.nz

Torque

Designed in NZ, made in NZ & exported around the world