NZ Fisher Issue 55

ISSUE 55

January 2016

Keepin’ it

Fresh

www.nzfisher.co.nz 1

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CONTENTS 4.. Editorial 8..

Keepin’ it Fresh

12.. Marlin: First Blood 18.. You Thought Winter Trout Fishing

was Hot? Check this out!?!?

24... Getting the Most out of Your Catch 26.. Legasea Update 28... The Dark Arts 32.. Reader Pics 34.. 2016 Beach & Boat 36.. First ‘Fin’

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

EDITOR / Derrick Paull GROUP EDITOR / Colin Kennedy ART DIRECTOR / Jodi Olsson CONTENT ENQUIRIES / Phone Derrick on 021 629 327 or email derrickp@NZ Fisher.co.nz ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES / Phone Derrick on 021 629 327 or email derrickp@NZ Fisher.co.nz ADDRESS / NZ Fisher, PO Box 47794, Ponsonby 11144 WEBSITE / www.NZFisher.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!

37.. Video of the Month 38.. Competiion Cover Images: Matt Jordan with his first Yellow Fin Tuna

www.nzfisher.co.nz 3

EDITORIAL

WELL, HASN’T 2016 kicked off in

This month we include stories of the

spectacular fashion!?!?!

first two of the season. One from July

Yellow Fin Tuna and Big Eye are back

and another in December. One east

again - two years in a row. We might

and one west, one estimated at 90kg

start expecting them every year

and the other weighed at 140kg+.

again soon. There have been some

This season’s weather has made

spectacular catches too with some

things a little tough so far, but as

fish to 85kg coming from the far north the summer progresses, there will be and the Bay of Plenty/Whitianga

plenty more calm to get out wide. Our

areas. Marlin are amongst the

cover shot this month comes from

tuna too with some regular double

Matt Jordan, a keen fisho who’s been

strikes coming and some enormous

trying to get his hooks into some

specimens arriving on both coasts.

game fish for a while. The cover fish

4 www.nzfisher.co.nz

is documented in Matt’s own words later in the issue. But its fish like these that get our blood pumping; they’re so sleek, fast and evasive it’s impossible not to want to catch one!

Inshore fishing has been hard for many with bright skies, high winds, and many boats above causing table fish to bury their heads but those who’re hitting the water very early or through the night have been doing well. The Taranaki has been producing excellent numbers, and Whanganui fisho’s have been experiencing better than average snapper numbers too. I was surprised (and impressed!) to see a 7kg+ snapper was landed from the

“Take your best opportunities and get fish under your nails, embrace the stink, search for far-flung scales and make the most of your summer chances. There’s fish out there with your name on them so get fishing!”

shore near Westport - who knew they traveled so far south?

In the Hauraki Gulf, there’s more action upon the land with the release of the Ministry of Primary Industries ‘Marine Protected Areas’ proposal document. The Legasea team cover that off more in this issue, but there’s a need for us to be aware of what’s being suggested here. The idea that the commercial industry is leaving

fish saved by the changes - it’s public relations lip service at best. Time alone shall tell.

Take your best opportunities and get fish under your nails, embrace the stink, search for far-flung scales and make the most of your summer chances. There’s fish out there with your name on them so get fishing!

the Gulf is a false one; I suspect the majority of the public will believe

Tight lines,

this is a real win for the rec sector but

Derrick

sadly there are no real numbers of

www.nzfisher.co.nz 5

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FOODFISHING

Keepin’ it

Fresh

By Neil Wagener

8 www.nzfisher.co.nz

How a well iced bin should look.

“Things have come a long way...[and] it makes sense to get the most out of your catch, keeping it in the best condition possible. Here is a quick guide to what we do at NZFisher to keep our catch fresh. ”

CAST YOUR MIND BACK a decade or so and think about how well you took care of the fish that you caught. My personal story is embarrassing but potentially typical. Coming from a rock fishing background ice was an impossibility, and a shady rock pools a luxury. Regardless, by the time the fish made it to the filleting table, it was already mushy. As a result, there was a fair bit of wastage, and what made it to the plate probably wasn’t in the best condition.

Thankfully, things have come a long way since then, after all, it makes sense to get the most out of your catch, keeping it in the best condition possible. Here is a quick guide to what we do at NZFisher to keep our catch fresh.

Knock it on the head Actually, you want to brain spike your fish. This is a Japanese method known as ikijime and was pioneered in New Zealand by Leigh Fisheries. In the 1980’s Japanese fish market representatives came to New Zealand to show Leigh’s longliners how to best take care of their catch, ensuring that a premium product made it to the Japanese fish markets.

Not only is this method humane, but it also maintains flesh texture and taste by reducing the production of lactic acid and drawing blood into the gut cavity.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 9

FOODFISHING

Some un-loved snaps, Ice would have made all the difference

Chill out

ice by the bag from the gas station can

Get your hands on some ice, lots of ice. If we

get expensive, so we get ours from fish

are going away for a weekend, we usually take

factories that supply to commercial fishers.

a couple of chilly bins full of salt water flake

They will usually fill a large 90-litre chilly

ice, about 150 litres. Along with a third chilly

bin for $10 or less. First you’ll need a chilly

bin for the boat, this gives us plenty of ice for

bin to put your ice in, though. At around

both out on the water while we are fishing,

$300 for a large good quality bin, this is

and for packing the fillets down on the way

potentially one of the best investments

home. If it’s just a day trip, then a bag or two

you will make. One of these large bins

of ice should do. Saltwater ice is the way to

filled with flake ice should last about a

go, though.

week during summer, which is the kind of

The salt keeps the ice down at a lower

performance that will change how you fish.

temperature, close to -2° C, meaning your

So what’s all the fuss with chilling your

catch will get colder quicker. Being flaked

catch anyway? Without cooling, flesh

ice it also packs down well, ensuring lots

spoiling bacteria can proliferate, decreasing

of contact between your freshly iki’ed fish

the quality, useable life and food safety of

and the cool ice. The cooling properties of

your catch. Signs that a fish is less than

the ice can be increased further by adding

fresh include sunken and opaque eyes

a bit of seawater to make a slurry (two

(should be raised and clear), dull skin

parts ice to one part water), which allows

colour (should be bright), slimy brown gills

total immersion of your catch in the super

(should be clean and bright red), a fishy

cooling slurry. Buying large quantities of

smell and soft flesh.

10 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Deconstructing your catch

Seal it with a vacuum

There are more how to guides on filleting your

While we believe in only taking what you need, it can be worth freezing down a bit of enter into the debate here. As you fillet your fish if you aren’t able to PUBLISHING get out frequently.

CUSTOMER ROD & REEL LTD 26/11/15 fish, though, it’s worth taking a bitREP of care to SALES BRAEDEN.SAUL FISH AND GAME NZ This is where a vacuumPUBLICATION packer is worth ADVERTISING DESIGNER Unknown SECTION RUN OF BOOK keep your fillets clean. Try to fillet without its weight in gold. We use a Gourmet PROOF PROOFED 21/10/2015 6:59:38 a.m.

SIZE 19X14 crunching through the rib cage, no need to Innovations vac-packer, whichFAX does a great AD ID 6937434AA 5543 contaminate your fillet with gut bacteria if job of sealing our catch. This eliminates PLEASE APPROVE THIS AD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. NOTE THAT ANY ALTERATIONS you don’t need to. Place your fillets skin side freezer burn, where the texture of the flesh is MUST BE FINALISED BY OUR MATERIAL DEADLINE. down so the flesh doesn’t come in contact destroyed by the evaporation of liquid while with the bench. It’s a good idea to clean the in the freezer. Having meal sized portions bench periodically as well. Following simple individually sealed also means no leakage of processes like these will also mean that there smelly fish juice, easier stacking in the chilli bin or freezer, quicker defrosting and less will be fewer scales on the flesh and no need wastage. They make great giveaway packages to wash the fillets down (which can degrade for family and friends as well. ■ flesh texture if using freshwater). fish than you can shake a stick at, so we won’t

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GAMEFISHING

Marlin:

First Blood

By Naomi Peterson

12 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Derrick’s Marlin

IT SEEMED INSANELY early to hear

first Marlin for the season. Coincidently,

of New Zealand’s first Marlin for the

Kyle also holds bragging rights for the

2015/2016 Season being caught on

first Marlin of the 2014/2015 season.

the first day of the new season way

Kyle, a member of the Whangarei Deep

back on 1st July 2015. Who would have thought, Marlin in the middle of winter, but then this is the winterless north we’re talking about.

Sea Anglers Club, and his mate Ross Chapman headed out from Tutukaka Marina on 1st July with one goal, to catch the first Marlin of the season. Kyle

Angler Kyle Ridling was onboard his

had been brewing the idea for nearly a

4.85-metre Surtees ‘Yonkers’ fishing in

year. While Hapuka fishing the previous

‘The Kumara Patch’, North East of the

year, he heard over the VHF of a Stripy

Poor Knights when he hooked up and

dropped behind the Poor Knights on the

tagged and released a Striped Marlin

3rd July. He knew Stripys were in the area

estimated at 100kg. This fish was logged

as they had been caught and seen out

with the NZ Sports Fishing Council as the

from Tutukaka throughout June.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 13

GAMEFISHING

14 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Angler Derrick Meinhold takes the honours for the first weighed Marlin of this season logged with the NZ Sports Fishing Council, catching a nice 142.4kg Striped Marlin out from his stomping grounds of the Manukau Harbour.

At the 130 metre mark where the water

of the mouth, but also tail wrapped. Ross

temperature was 16ºC, Kyle and Ross put

grabbed the tail and started untangling the

out a couple of Bonze lures off the bamboo

line from the fish as Kyle grabbed the bill

outriggers and a couple of small skippy

and removed the hook; the fish was quickly

lures out off the corners to try and pick up

photographed and sent in its way.

a bait if there were any around. There were gannets all around them in every direction as far as they could see, and it wasn’t long before they’d caught a skipjack tuna, which was quickly rigged up and popped back in the water as a live bait.

By 9.35am, the boys had their first bite. In the excitement, Kyle tried setting the hook too early, and they failed to hook up. Neither of them saw the fish, but when the bait was wound in it was dead with bill marks on it and the trace. The boys knew they were in the right area, so set the lures again, picking up another skippy which was quickly rigged up and put back into the water.

It wasn’t until just after 1pm when they got their second bite. This time, the Marlin had eaten the bait, hooked up and was in the air overtaking them in a matter of seconds. It

It was nearly six months later before the first Marlin for the 2015/2016 season was weighed in. And it doesn’t take long before you start hearing of more and more Marlin strikes, hook ups, tag and releases and weigh-in from all around our upper North Island Coastlines.

Angler Derrick Meinhold takes the honours for the first weighed Marlin of this season logged with the NZ Sports Fishing Council, catching a nice 142.4kg Striped Marlin out from his stomping grounds of the Manukau Harbour.

Derrick and his mate Stephen Scott are regular west Coast fishermen and members of the Manukau Sport Fishing Club. Together they fish the area hard for swordfish and Marlin.

only took about 10 minutes for Kyle to get

Boxing day saw them head out in their six

the fish to the boat, and Ross had the leader.

metre Fyran ‘Shall We’ powered by a 150hp

Kyle put the rod down and placed a tag into

Honda, with plans to bring home a swordfish.

the fish. The fish was hooked in the corner

But as you know with fishing, nothing is

www.nzfisher.co.nz 15

GAMEFISHING

Kyle Tag

Kyle Yonkers 16 www.nzfisher.co.nz

a given and plans change. Flexibility and being able to take advantage of the situation is key. As the boys came across a good work up of anchovies, plans of a sword went out the window, and they set out the lures in anticipation of a Marlin.

Derrick and Stephen run Red Gill lures and have been using Nathan’s lures for the last seven years with repeated success. Last season alone saw them catch three Marlin and two Swordfish out from the West Coast, with a total of more than 10 Marlin since they have been using Red Gill lures.

It only took 15 minutes of trolling around the workup for their RG2 Evil lure, rigged with a Bonze Platinum light gauge hook set, to be taken. After about an hour, Derrick had the fish at the boat, and the decision was made to take it back to the club for weighing, followed by a fair bit of celebrating.

The next couple of months will see numerous reports coming in of Marlin, Striped, Blue and perhaps even the elusive Black. There is nothing quite like Summer Big Game fishing season and as these two anglers have shown us, it just goes to show that you don’t necessarily need a big boat with all the flash gear, you just need to have the right attitude and be prepared to put in the hard yards (or nautical miles as the case may be) and the hours as you hunt these magnificent fish.

I once heard ‘Marlin Fishing is 80% boredom and 20% excitement’, and in that 20% when chaos reigns, you know it’s all worth it, especially if there’s a New Zealand Sport Fishing Council record attached to it. ■

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www.nzfisher.co.nz 17

TROUTFISHING

You Thought

Winter Trout Fishing was Hot? Check this out!?!?

Summer on the streams, a new challenge but so rewarding

By Neil Wagener

18 www.nzfisher.co.nz

LAST YEAR WAS ONE of the best Taupo and Central North Island trout years in memory.

The Rainbows were fat and plentiful as they ran up streams to breed. As a reasonably new trout fisher I have never had a season like this - smashing PB’s throughout the day, record numbers and in spectacular condition.

understanding of summer vs. winter fishing.

First up, I’m not a great caster, so winter fishing using the ‘Czech Nymphing’ technique meant I could ‘fly’ fish without the long cast required, but the R&R team let me know pretty quickly that summer trout are a lot warier (due to the clearer

After the days of mayhem on the Hinemaia,

and usually lower water), so don’t like

Ngongataha and Tongariro rivers, I have

anglers walking in their pools, so I needed

spent months dreaming of once again

to get my casting game sorted. For this I

battling big trout but I’ve been short on

practiced a little on football fields but got

ideas as the water warmed, they became

the best benefit from joining the Strip

much more shy and were less interested in

Strike Saltwater Fly Fishing club - there’s

nymphs - Suddenly I’m out of my depth!

much more wind on the ocean and better

I went back to the hub of all things trouty,

still, these guys have casting sessions on

Rod & Reel in Newmarket, to get a better

land within Auckland - a double win.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 19

TROUTFISHING

Secondly, it’s you will have shots at both brown’s and rainbows in streams and rivers throughout summer. Whereas winter fishing is usually predominantly rainbows, that are running up the rivers, out of the lakes, with only one thing on their mind! That’s fine by me but I learned pretty quickly they’re partial to dry flies, so I’d need to get my head around them too.

Browns are a spooky breed, and you need to approach in a way that doesn’t alert them to your presence or mean when you cast your fly-line, the fly floats across their feeding path (not the line). They can spook at the hint of anything ‘different’ or ‘not the norm’.

Dry flies are more delicate, lighter and a damned sight harder to present to fish than

With low water levels and little rain the

nymphs for a novice like me. The upside is they’re much easier to land on the water. The lack of weight means the fly line floats, rolls and lands much more like in the promotional images than when you’re nymphing.

find a fish it’s worth taking some time to

20 www.nzfisher.co.nz

water should be very clear so when you do wait, watch and observe it’s behavior. What it’s eating, where it’s eating (moving from the slow to the current to sup insects) and if there’s more than one fish.

Get sneaky, stay low and fling far

If you can find out what they’re eating, be

then there’s a real likelihood that the trout will

it by what’s flying around, what’s actually in

be feeding on them.

the water or under rocks, it’ll make a huge difference to your chance of catching him. If you can’t figure it out, try a brown beetle early in the summer, Royal Wolff or Cicada pattern

Once you’ve established what you think they may be feeding on, find the best casting location to get your fly upstream without the

later - they’re generic enough to entice a strike

line running over the fish. You need to land

a lot of the time, but you might need a better

your dry a meter or more in front of the fish,

understanding of the tougher customers. Keep

so it flows across the fish’s normal feeding

your ears open too, if you can hear cicada’s,

path. This is where things get real.

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TROUTFISHING

First, find your quarry

If you’ve managed to get the first steps right

squid season there is no greater excitement

and your fly is in the right place, get’s the

for me now than seeing the water disappear

fishes interest and you manage a take - wait.

beneath my fly as a golden browny opens his

Just a second, but wait. There are no more

gob and sucks it down.

fish lost on the take/strike, than any other

Once hooked Browns are hard battlers, they

time. It’s the simplest instruction but the hardest to follow. Let him eat it!

Aside from kingfish attacking a stick bait in

22 www.nzfisher.co.nz

don’t give an inch and the big ones run hard and fast for snags, rapids and anything to get between you and them.

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

I’ve now landed a few 5lb+ browns and lost a whole lot more.

Summer was always snapper season for me, but now I’m getting the hang of dry fly fishing, my passion is growing with every trip. The buzz of finding, luring and landing a summer trout is akin to the buzz I used to get when kings turned up in the burly when rock fishing. You know you’re in with a chance, but it’s the excitement of the chase as much as the fight that keeps you going back for more. ■

www.nzfisher.co.nz 23

COOKINGFISH

Getting the

Most out of

Your Catch

Kingfish steaks - BBQ Broiled

By Michael Walkley

24 www.nzfisher.co.nz

NZ Fishing Community Admin Michael Walkley has shared his new favourite for fresh kingfish - an especially summery dish utilising the BBQ and a damned good reason to crack open a beer and enjoy the last of the suns rays at the end of a great day on the water.

BBQ Char-Broiled Kingfish INGREDIENTS 1kg Inch thick steaks, fresh is best as they tend to dry out when aged (cut through backbone as steaks) Whole lime grated and juiced 1 red chilli finely diced 1 whole onion largely chopped 2 cloves minced garlic Salt and pepper to taste Olive oil

METHOD Mix lime juice oil chilli and garlic in a bowl along with a splash of oil add kingfish steaks too bowl and rub marinade in. Once coated leave in the fridge for two hours to chill and infuse.

Take out from fridge 15 minutes before cooking.

Heat up bbq to low heat.

Lay tinfoil down on BBQ grill and place steaks well spaced to get even heat.

Add salt and pepper and lime rind before Flipping.

You want it to char broil as opposed to fry so low heat five to eight minutes a side depending on heat so steaks are still pink in the middle.

Serve with fresh salsa verde, potato has or coleslaw. â–

www.nzfisher.co.nz 25

FISHERIESMANAGEMENT

Legasea

Update

Will recreational fishing parks succeed?

Update by Trish Rae, Legasea

AT FIRST GLANCE RECREATIONAL fishing

interests (customary and recreational)

parks with limited commercial fishing in

are provided for and protected under the

the Hauraki Gulf and Marlborough Sounds

Fisheries Act 1996.

seems like a good idea. However, we need to pause and consider the costs and test any potential conservation benefits in the government proposals.

Another challenge is the prospect of a network of marine reserves. After years of striving for more abundant fisheries the spectre of closed areas

Four types of Marine Protected Areas,

with no active management and no

including the parks, are discussed in

real controls on excessive commercial

a consultation document calling for

catch and effort is disgraceful.

submissions by March 11th, 2016.

Instead, focus goes on families who are

LegaSea will be promoting the New Zealand

fishing to both put healthy food on the table

Sport Fishing Council’s views via our online

and get the kids away from screen-time.

channels and we welcome your feedback.

Recreational harvest is touted as being

In one sense the proposals are an admission

unmanaged and increasing, this is far from the

that fisheries managers have failed to sustain

truth. NIWA has conducted boat ramp surveys

fish populations at healthy levels.

in the Hauraki Gulf for more than a decade;

Responsibility for the inshore space shifts

this ongoing research shows recreational effort

into the hands of Conservation. This is a

is decreasing and harvest has reduced by more

serious change, as non-commercial fishing

than 50% since 2011-12.

26 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Summary

caused from land use. We need effective

At this stage there is no clear problem

measures to reduce the high sediment and

statement, just a reference to reducing spatial

contaminant loads coming from agriculture,

conflict and enhancing recreational fishing.

forestry and urban developments.

If we are serious about improving fishing

As a solution LegaSea proposes establishing

success then we need to start with

an inshore zone limiting commercial

enhancing our nearshore waters and

fishing, managing to higher environmental

increasing abundance, because there is

standards and lowering commercial catch

far greater value in the recreational use

levels, thus motivating and incentivising

of marine resources when compared with

people to conserve fish. In our view this

commercial exploitation.

is the most effective package of measures

It is nonsensical to discuss marine

to restore abundance, improve catchability

protection without addressing the loss of

and provide for the public’s expectations,

productivity and ecosystem degradation

health and wellbeing. â–

Call 0800 LEGASEA (534 273)

Subscribe at www.legasea.co.nz

Email us info@legasea.co.nz

Read more at www.facebook.com/legasea

LegaSea is a public outreach initiative of the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council. The Council has an experienced fisheries management, science, policy and legal team. On behalf of the Council LegaSea raises funds and provides public-friendly information about a variety of processes that are important to restoring abundance in our fisheries for future generations.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 27

FISHINGFORFOOD

The

Dark

Arts

When sustenance beats sport By Neil Wagener

Predator autonav electric package

SOMETIMES THERE’S MORE to fishing than the thrill of a fight on a line. At certain times of the year, it’s hard to catch a feed from the shore or often from the boat, so some anglers look to more reliable forms of fishing to feed their families. These other methods extend from the humble trident spear for Flounder and eels to more damaging gill nets but as long as they’re legal and managed responsibly they can be great providers of sustenance just about

28 www.nzfisher.co.nz

anywhere in the country. One of the most popular methods of late is the Torpedo or powered Kontiki device. The Kontiki is a device that pulls a long line of up to 25 baited hooks offshore to where fish are more likely to be feeding.

The powered Kontiki replaces the Kite as the favoured shore based longline deployment device. The kite is still used but tends to be quite limited on the west coast due to prevailing westerly winds.

Tony Brake setting up his Contiki on the West Coast. Photo Credit: Brooke Brake

to get a feed and some quality time on the beach despite the conditions.

The kontiki is a pretty simple rig that, as with a lot of things these days, has become more and more technological over the years, but the simple rig.

Tony Brake with the result of his west coast drop. Photo Credit: Brooke Brake

Kites and kontikis both serve anglers well as they have the ability to get the full line of baits up to a kilometer and a half offshore - in some places this is required to access the good fish stocks.

On the west coast, big swells often prevent both boats and surfcast fishing, so the kontiki and kite allow fishers

But due to losses of this expensive gear to shark and need to avoid crabs, Kite fishing pioneer Paul Barnes came up with this ‘Shore Thing’ - a kind of caddy for the longline itself and the pre-baited hooks. It’s pretty clever really and means the baits make it to their intended destination without the risk of the mainline being bitten off by sharks. This video gives a pretty good idea of how it works.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 29

FISHINGFORFOOD

Perfect for the surf

Long lines are not only deployed from the shore. As a safety net for new or nervous fisho’s the longline deployed over a sandy bottom from the boat can provide something of an insurance policy on quiet days or when you’re in a bit of a hurry to get a feed.

There are often when fishing is a bit harder, like the middle of winter or immediately after Christmas and at these times there’s no shame in relying on the longline to provide for the family. You can purchase a longline form most tackle stores and be ready to get providing very quickly. The tried, and true baits are mullet, squid and if you have any on hand, barracuda - all three are very hardy and are chosen because one, fish eat them and two, they stay on the hook long enough to last until the bigger fish come by.

30 www.nzfisher.co.nz

I’m convinced circle hooks hook more fish, and I’m equally sure the Target Longline Hooks from Paul Barnes are a necessity on longlines. Quite simply the Target hooks virtually eliminate hooking undersized fish but don’t reduce the hookup rates of legal fish. If there’s one rule of longlining, it’s this: Don’t use anything other than Target Hooks.

Hooks Target Snapper

Pakiri Sure Thing catch

Inspecting the haul

A good return over the high tide

I mentioned nets earlier, and they are

first. Don’t ask for their hot-spots but find

considered no-go, but when used sensibly

out where not to set to avoid having your

they’re very effective for catching some of the

net destroyed by stingrays, sharks or getting

tougher species to land on a line like Mullet

a bag full of unwanted species like parore.

and Flounder. Gill nets for these species are

While parore is a reasonable table fish it’s not

dispatched in shallow harbour bays or slow

targetted and you will get a lot if you set the

moving river estuaries like the Waikato River

net too close to sea grass, weed or structure.

and Rangiputa Harbour in the North.

You might score a few bonus Trevally, John

Gill nets can cause serious harm to other

Dory or even snapper but if you only run a

species, and there are some very prescriptive

90mm ‘mullet’ net, you’ll need to return any

rules around what you may ‘take’ before

of these to the water, dead or alive, as they

heading down to your nearest harbour, I

require a 100-125mm mesh depending on

seriously recommend thoroughly reading the

species. I admit the system is convoluted, but

regulations that you can find here.

you need to work on it, or you risk the wrath

If you do get a net and want to target these

of fisheries infringement notices and the

tasty vagrants, I suggest you speak to locals

likelihood of a confiscated net. ■

www.nzfisher.co.nz 31

READERPICS

>

>

10-year-old Georgie Workman with A Coro Mussel Farms king she dropped a live piper to and landed amongst calls of ‘Jesus its big!’, your work Georgie!

Bryn Hastie with massive 10lb Kahawai, caught at roughly 35m mark out from Manu Bay

Reader

Pics

>

>

Andrew Evans with his first Big Eye and landed solo.

James Webb with a 20lb Rangi Channel King landed aboard MV. Seahawk, taken on a strip of Pilchard

32 www.nzfisher.co.nz

>

James Webb with a 20lb+ Snapper taken on good old bait between Tiri & Kawau Is

> Darryn Yern sharing the love of Kingfish

>

Jason Christiansen with another tasty landbased Northland King

Jordan Putt with the haul he and a few mates landed from a Lifesaving RIB!

>

Winner!ďƒƒ

www.nzfisher.co.nz 33

FISHINGCOMPETITIONS

2016 Beach & Boat

February 19th and 20th – Marsden Cove – Ruakaka THE CENTURY BATTERIES BEACH AND BOAT FISHING contest is back in 2016, and will be celebrating its 11th anniversary at Marsden Cove Marina. The event still has tremendous support from the South Island fishermen with contestants traveling from Invercargill, Dunedin, Christchurch and the West Coast.

The Beach and Boat fishing contest is the largest snapper fishing contest in the southern hemisphere.

Since its inception, the Century Batteries Beach and Boat has generated over $17million for the Northland economy and has awarded over $2million in prizes. More than $45,000 has been donated to local schools and over $90,000 to Coastguard.

There will be huge changes in 2016. From new prize categories to exciting new food stands, a new layout to accommodate the growing crowd and no more ‘funny’ money. Thanks to Surtees, in 2016 we will be making use of the AWOP system, a smart cashless payment system specially designed for events.

We are pleased to announce that Isuzu has once again come on board and will be giving away a brand new Isuzu D-Max Ute to one lucky contestant. There will be prizes and promotions up for grabs, including two Surtees Honda Boat packages worth over $45,000. The Ultimate Snapper prize is a Furuno Fish Finder and will also include a $10,000 cash prize in 2016 and five Viking Fishing Kayaks will be given away as mystery weight prizes. Over the

34 www.nzfisher.co.nz

last few years, we have seen a tremendous increase in the number of children entering the competition and we are delighted to confirm that the children’s section will also be returning for 2016 with fantastic prizes from The Warehouse on Friday and Saturday. Junior awards include ages 6 and under, 7-10 and 11-15.

The 2016 Century Batteries Beach and Boat will again see the $100,000 Tagged Snapper Challenge. Three days before the weekend of the event, Graeme Sinclair from Gone Fishing will ‘hopefully’ catch, tag and release a snapper. If the tagged snapper is caught during the event, one lucky angler will catch $100,000 Cash thanks to Lion Red and Century Batteries.

Buy your tickets before December 31st and receive an amazing Early Bird package worth over $40 and stand the chance to win a $5,000 early bird prize sponsored by Universal Food Ovens. The 2016 Century Batteries Beach and Boat event will be limited to 2000 entries, so get in quick as tickets are selling fast!

The Century Batteries Beach and Boat is a unique fishing contest for the serious and not-so-serious angler. It is a meeting place for families, mates and people from all walks of life that enjoy the ocean, fishing and just having a great time. If you haven’t attended a Beach and Boat, put it on your list and become one of the thousands that return year in and year out. ■

$50,000+ 2 SURTEES BOATS TO BE WON WORTH

$45,000+ CASH PRIZE OF

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!

$10,000

MORE AMAZING PRIZES!

PHOTO COMPETITION

FURUNO SNAPPER

WIN A SHIMANO CM-1000 SPORT CAMERA

The winning snapper will be mounted and entered in the world cup

MYSTERY WEIGHT PRIZES

ULTIMATE JUNIOR

5 VIKING KAYAKS TO BE TAKEN HOME!

Awesome prizes up for grabs.

So bring the kids and have the best family weekend ever!

Tickets on sale at

& beachandboat.co.nz

www.nzfisher.co.nz 35

GAMEFISHING

First

‘Fin’

You want to get one?

Be prepared.

By Matt Jordan, care of the NZ Fishing Community Facebook page

I CAN’T HELP BUT share these few, wise

to change it, but I said to my wife, “I’ve got

words from Matt Jordan our cover boy this

a feeling if we get anything it’s going to be

month. Matt’s done all the right things to get

on that shotgun rod”. So we stuck it out and

his first ‘fin’, and it paid off handsomely. Well

began skull-dragging skippies in one after

done Matt & family.

another. However, after a few hours of it goes again, really screaming off this time.

Fishing report (I’m glad this happened before I hit 30) On 12th January 2016, I headed out from Matauri Bay with my wife and son on our fourth try at big game fishing in our FC580.

The swell was up around two metres, but the wind was down around 10 knots. We sat in the shelter of the Cavalli’s and got the gear ready, then decided to head out and

I set the drag to strike but this time, it peeled a little line. I just thought that’s a fat Skippy! We left the gear out, and my wife slowed the boat down to a couple of knots. It didn’t take long to get the little guy to the boat, but then he shot down deeper. I got to the leader and started lifting it to the boat then I saw a flash of bright yellow!

see how we go, we could always head back

“GET THE GAFF! GET THE GAFF!”.

in if it was too much for the young fella,

Then with the help of my wife we got this

who is five. He was tough, though.

little, but very momentous, yellowfin tuna

We don’t have outriggers yet, so we’re

on the deck of our we boat and all jumped

running four rods. One behind our fathom

around, and yahoo’d like we had broken the

dredge, shotgun next to that way out back

world record. Can’t wait to get out there and

with a small lure, then two more on the

get some big buffers one day soon!

other side.

Special thanks to Dave Gurr at Fishing

Off we went, we were plagued by skippies

Direct Silverdale for all the help and

on the small lure in shotgun, and I was going

awesome gear! ■

36 www.nzfisher.co.nz

VIDEOOFTHEMONTH

Maxi Does

It Again

Kingfish Time!

Our Wellington based French Fishing Finatic Maxi’s landed his first legal LBG king and posted this vid.

Cannot help but love his enthusiasm. Well done Maxi and good on you for sending it back to the depths!

www.nzfisher.co.nz 37

COMPETITION

Competition!

Share an Awesome Photo and Be in to Win!

Share a fishy photo this month and be in to WIN a $100 Go Fish Vouchers!

SHARE AN AWESOME photo of you with

vouchers from Go Fish to spend on anything

a fish to our Facebook page, or email it to

you like from their website or in store.

derrickp@fisher.co.nz by February 27th

This month’s winner is: Jordan Putt with his

2016 and you’ll be in to win one of five $100

haul. Happy spending, Jordan! ●

38 www.nzfisher.co.nz

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

Winners

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

www.nzfisher.co.nz 39