NZ Fisher Issue 57

ISSUE 57 March 2016

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CONTENTS 4... Editorial 8... The unwritten code

of Fishing Etiquette

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

12... LegaSea Update

CONTENT ENQUIRIES / Phone Derrick on 021 629 327

14... Sting’s,Kings, Kahawai & Whitewater

or email derrickp@NZ Fisher.co.nz

17... The Frewza F18 Hardtop

Phone Derrick on 021 629 327

18... Beer Battered Fish, Craft Beer Battered 20... Fishing & Adventure 22... Reader Pics 24... Get your Bait right, and

the Fish Will Follow

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES / 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!

25... Got Old Bait? Salt it Down 26... Competition

www.nzfisher.co.nz 3

EDITORIAL

WELCOME TO AUTUMN! It might be

Niño. This has meant we had a colder

hard to tell with the continuing warm

Tasman sea, warmer East Coast and

winds from the North. At the time

increased frequency of Northerly

of writing this, there’s yet another

(which appear easterly to me) winds

tropical cyclone threatening the upper

instead. I’m also told to expect a dry

north and pushing more warm water

and windy Autumn - here’s hoping

south, likely holding a bevvy of tropical

they’re wrong again!

fish to enliven fisho’s days out wide.

I received a volley of feedback on last month’s El Niño article, most of it voicing the suggestion that we’d got it wrong and, based on their anecdotal evidence, the waters were warmer, winds more easterly than westerly and the east coast wetter, not drier.

You may remember the writings of Martin Salter, our UK correspondent and Patron of the Angling Trust.

Martin has recently been working hard on overturning some dangerous and ludicrous (Atlantic) Bass fishing rules imposed on anglers there.

And I agree, this year does appear to

The species has been in decline as

be an odd El Niño. I followed these

destructive commercial methods like

calls up with our scientist sources,

gill-netting have been employed to

and I’m told it’s a very strong El

catch as many Bass as they can each

4 www.nzfisher.co.nz

season. Despite strong evidence that

(sub 30cm) snapper in close, picking

an 80% commercial reduction was

baits and frustrating fishers. These

required, the annual catch was up

little snapper are being accompanied

30% last year. The response to this

by their bigger, but still not legal

was to ban catch and release fishing

cousins, Kingfish. A lot of fun, but not

(ridiculous!) and limit recreational

fit for the table at the typical size of

catch to one fish per angler per day.

60 to 70cm.

This is largely unenforceable,

As you can see from the cover shot,

ineffective on the fishery rebuild and

the Hawke’s Bay is firing, when the

punishing the recreational sector who

weather allows access. James landed

fish sensibly (with a high percentage

half a dozen fish near the 20kg mark

of catch and release) and contribute

and he and his boat mate kept these

£2million to the economy each year,

two 18kg examples. A great day’s

that’s ten times the value of the

fishing in anyone’s books.

commercial catch. This situation may seem crazy or, at least, strange, but it’s happened, and they’re now facing the ramifications. Have a read of Martin’s Blog here.

Back here in New Zealand, the fishing has been hot and cold, depending mostly on your focus. The game season has been nothing short of phenomenal and is shaping up to be the best in history for New Zealand.

Sadly the inshore fishing hasn’t been

Further North at North Cape, Houhora and the Three Kings there’s been multiple 10-fish-a-day Marlin adventures by both rec and charter boats bolstered by the return of trophy sized Yellowfin Tuna.

Despite my often ranting editorials, I firmly believe that New Zealand has one of the best fisheries in the world and with the right management will remain at the top of the list.

as hot with quite a few zilching’s, especially in the Hauraki Gulf. It appears there’s a wealth of small

Derrick www.nzfisher.co.nz 5

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FISHINGETIQUETTE

The unwritten code of

Fishing Etiquette

BY Neil Wagener

THE FIRST TIME THAT I realised there

down and walked towards it.

was an unwritten code to fishing was on

Before I got there, however, our local

a rock fishing trip about twenty years ago. We had lugged 20kg of bait and burley into a remote and extremely fishy rock ledge known for its big kingfish.

mate had beaten me to it, and without saying anything he lifted the kahawai up, cut my line and secured the livie for himself. I was lost for words; surely this

We had planned to meet up with

wasn’t happening. Why isn’t there a set

another fisho who lived local to this

of fishing laws and regulations to put a

spot, and when we got there, he already

stop to such injustices!

had the burley going. “Any livies around”,

In hindsight, I was completely under

we asked, to which we received a single shake of the head. Not a good sign.

gunned to be live baiting a 2kg kahawai and it was exciting seeing him get

We all deployed stray-lined pillies

smoked by something capable of

and spinners to try and catch kahawai

stripping 37kg mono off a Tiagra 80

for livies. After an hour and a half, I

wide! Unfortunately, my story isn’t

hooked into a decent fish and its telltale unique; everyone has a similar yarn, so sideways movement told me it was a

we thought we’d compile a list of things

kahawai. Finally, we had a livie. I lifted

to avoid while fishing so you don’t come

the fish onto the rocks, put my rod

across like our line cutting mate.

8 www.nzfisher.co.nz

How a well iced bin should look.

“Give way to your right, stick to the right when passing other boats head on, and always give way to unpowered boats” Collision imminent! The worst kind of poor etiquette Before we go any further, it’s worth noting that many fishing etiquette fails are related to real laws and regulations.

All boaties have a responsibility to abide by the ‘rules of the road at sea’.

We aren’t going to go into this in detail, but when driving powered boat you should know the following: give way to your right, stick to the right when passing other boats head on, and always give way to unpowered boats

kayak. It’s amazing how often even these simplest of rules are ignored or unknown. Ask yourself how many times you have had to stop in your tracks to avoid a boat on your right bearing down on you.

Don’t take our word for it though; there are lots of great resources out there. A good place to start is Maritime NZ’s website, and they have some very useful video’s available on their YouTube channel.

(like kayaks, they have right of way if your boat has an engine). Also, reduce your speed to 5 knots if within 200m of the shore or a boat with divers and also within 50m of any other boat.

Another useful tool is the MarineMate app, which uses your phones GPS to show you local boating rules and also has lots of other features such as local boat ramp information, tides, VHF channels and fishing rules, etc…

Having spent most of my life fishing out of small boats, I’d like to emphasise the latter of these rules. Even if more than 50m away, be considerate of how your wake will affect a small boat or

While you are at it, consider a coastguard boating education course.

We can’t speak highly enough of the good work done by Maritime NZ and Coast Guard.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 9

GAMEFISHING

Between boat etiquette

how they are fishing and ensure that you give

Beyond avoiding a collision with another

them a wide enough berth so the fish they

boat, only slightly less annoying is when

are working or their tackle are not disturbed.

other boats do their best to scupper your fishing. A classic example is when you are fishing a school of feeding fish on the surface.

Generally in this situation, you will take

nce

care not to disturb the fish, either setting up a drift to cast lures at the school or trolling around the edges so only your lures pass through it. Usually, the school will stay on the surface happily feeding, that is until a giant gin palace or know it all douchebag steams through the middle of it scattering all the fish and cutting off your trolled lures in the process.

A similarly annoying situation can sometimes happen when you are straylining in shallow reefy water. Here stealth is the key to fooling that wise old snapper. So when you have invested hours quietly and methodically burleying the fish up so they are on the bite, it’s not

On boat etiquette Now we are getting into dicey waters discussing etiquette between fishing mates. We all have something that gets under our skin on an average day’s fishing, though. For me, it’s live baits. While they are one of the most effective ways of catching big fish, if not properly attended they can wreak havoc, swimming around and tangling multiple lines, potentially costing lots of valuable fishing time.

So if you are going to put a livie out, make sure that you keep it clear of your mates gear rather than forgetting about it while you fish another rod. If there is a reasonable current or wind, or you are drifting at a reasonable rate, this should allow you to keep the livie out the back

appreciated when someone noisily anchors

well clear of everyone’s lines.

up within spitting distance of your stern, flies

Another pet peeve also relates to the

past your boat at 30 knots or swims up your

direction of your boat’s drift or the water

burley trail with a speargun.

current when fishing from an anchored

From a rock fishing perspective, these

boat. If you cast your lure or bait across

scenarios are even more frustrating when

the prevailing drift or current, you will

you’ve walked for hours to get to your spot

substantially reduce the amount of

and someone spoils your efforts on the

fishable water left for your mates. Aside

back of a five-minute boat ride. And if you

from limiting your mates, however, it’s

are contemplating fishing off a rock that

always a good idea when you first set

someone is already on, it’s worthwhile asking

your drift or anchor up to ascertain the

if that’s OK. In general, before approaching

direction and strength of water movement

another boat or fisho, have a think about

your tackle will experience.

10 www.nzfisher.co.nz

This allows you to correctly weight your

letting out loads of scope from an up-drift

tackle for the most natural sink rate and

position relative to your buddies line.

also to cast in a direction that keeps you ROD & REEL LTD PUBLISHING 26/11/15 in direct contact with any CUSTOMER bites while also SALES REP BRAEDEN.SAUL PUBLICATION FISH AND GAME NZ ADVERTISING maximising the amount of DESIGNER time your tackle Petty etiquette Unknown SECTION RUN OF BOOK PROOF PROOFED 21/10/2015 19X14 is is in the bite zone. This is generally directly 6:59:38 Thea.m. final category of fishingSIZE etiquette AD ID 6937434AA FAX 5543 with the current or drift, not across the the lamest of all; nobody wants to be the PLEASE APPROVE THIS is AD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. NOTE THAT pull ANYtheir ALTERATIONS front of where your mate fishing. guy or gal that doesn’t weight.

MUST BE FINALISED BY OUR MATERIAL DEADLINE. So make sure you get your feet wet A similar scenario can also develop when

multiple people are fishing from a drifting

launching the boat (even in the depths of

boat with jigs. This can be a recipe for an

winter), take your turn pulling the anchor

expensive braided line tangle. While this is

up and chip into the kitty for tackle/

not a one size fits all situation, have a think

bait/lunch/petrol. After all, if you don’t

about your sink rate compared to your

contribute you probably won’t be asked

mates and try and ensure that you aren’t

back for the next trip. 

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FISHERIESMANAGEMENT

LegaSea

Update

Are marine protection reforms a smokescreen?

Update by Trish Rae, LegaSea

SPECULATION ABOUT NEW LEGISLATION

sanctuaries and seabed reserves, all aimed

for marine reserves has been rife for years.

at biodiversity protection.

Earlier attempts stalled against a wall of

First things first. The Government needs

opposition. The latest Marine Protected

to clarify its objective, aside from fulfilling

Areas proposals are fraught because they

a pre-election promise to establish a

include two recreational fishing parks

recreational fishing park in the Hauraki Gulf

in amongst marine reserves, species

and Marlborough Sounds.

12 www.nzfisher.co.nz

http://www.storm

“LegaSea would prefer a near-shore zone up and down the coast established under the Fisheries Act” A network of marine reserves The proposed legislation will support the creation of a representative network of marine reserves out to the 12-mile limit, closing sizeable chunks of the sea to all fishing. The aim is to protect biodiversity, but this will displace fishing effort and catch to neighbouring areas with potentially disastrous consequences for abundance and diversity in those areas.

A solution LegaSea would prefer a near-shore zone up and down the coast established under the Fisheries Act, with consistent standards and controls on fishing designed to increase fish abundance and productivity.

Marine reserves could be established within this coastal zone if they have local community support.

If complete biodiversity protection is the goal, then a marine reserve would need to be huge, like for example The Kermadec Sanctuary. Otherwise, biodiversity loss is mwatertackle.co.nz/ best addressed by increasing abundance across all inshore species.

Fishing parks The proposed recreational fishing parks will be ineffective if commercial fishing is permitted, current commercial catch levels are retained, and if compensation is given legislative support. No liability for compensation exists so why would the Government volunteer it and lock in that liability, in perpetuity?

Fishing giant, Sanford, has been vocal in their support for recreational fishers to report their daily catch in the Hauraki Gulf.

Environment Minister Nick Smith has since ruled out mandatory self-reporting as a way of managing fish stocks.

It is incomprehensible why people who know better continue to ignore the world class methodology now used by NIWA to estimate recreational harvest in New Zealand. Turning a blind eye will not make it go away, it merely raises questions as to their motivation.

Corporate chiefs have often highlighted the benefits, including higher profits, of gaining Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification for snapper stocks. But stocks can only be certified if there are tight management controls on recreational fishing. This marine protection debate may not be about biodiversity after all; it could be just a smokescreen to lobby for stricter controls on recreational fishing. 

Call 0800 LEGASEA (534 273)

Subscribe at www.legasea.co.nz

Email us info@legasea.co.nz

Read more at www.facebook.com/legasea

www.nzfisher.co.nz 13

SPORTFISHING

Sting’s,Kings

Kahawai & Whitewater South Island Kings on fly!

BY Neil Wagener

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER I bought a

me, but I dream of the take, the strip

Saltwater Fly rod from a local tackle-

strike, the scream of the reel as my

store shop assistant who saw me as an

fish goes deep and strong. SWF is as

easy target when I showed an interest

close to the ultimate adrenaline rush

in SWF. He sold me his ancient,

for a fisherman and I love it - that’s

second hand glass two handed 10

why I chose these videos to sum up my

weight and a crusty old centrepin

favorite sport.

loaded with rope - for far too much money. More fool me...

First up, here’s a short vid from some anglers in the Upper South island.

Long story shortened, as a beginner it

They’re spotting kings following rays

was impossible to fish with and I hated

across the flats and hurling flies at

the experience - putting SWF back on

them. Some of the tkes are spectacular,

the shelf for a few more years before

reminding me of topwater hits they’re

being re-introduced to it through Matt

so aggressive. The fights are over an

von Sturmer of SaltFlyFish.

hour long (but the vid’s only two

These days SWF is a passion that

minutes) and the results are some

doesn’t get the love it deserves from

beautiful kings

14 www.nzfisher.co.nz

This video is from our mate Maxi, the travelling french fisho who’s currently in the south Island chasing all sorts of

species. This video is more like what we can all experience- Kahawai on fly; so much fun!

www.nzfisher.co.nz 15

SPORTFISHING

Last up, our editor Derrick posted this one a few years back. i’ve included it just to show how much of a dick he is!

16 www.nzfisher.co.nz

(Nice fish DP; why’d you let it go!??!)

It’s a pretty rubbish quality video, but it’s a funny story so here you go! 

FISHINGBOATS

The Frewza F18 Hardtop A boat for all seasons and some donkey fish!

NZFisher has been running a Freza F18 for about a year now and we thought

we’d share a few things we love about it and why we like what it does for us.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 17

COOKINGFISH

Beer Battered Fish, Craft Beer Battered Do it right

18 www.nzfisher.co.nz

C

M

Y

I LOVE FRIED FISH. There is simply no better way to serve fresh fish than coated in a light, crispy, hot batter and at home I find beer batter the very best way to create this kind of batter constantly.

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Beer batter is not exactly a health food, but if eaten on occasion and using the healthier (if there is such a thing) unsaturated oils like rice-bran or canola, this dish is well received.

The Craft Beer Batter featured in this video is pretty tasty with almost any beer, but a stronger, more malty beer gives a better flavour in my opinion. Hoppy, IPA style beers are not great and honestly they’re better drunk than shared with your fish batter!

This recipe is simple, delicious and perfect for a quick meal at the end of a day one he water Bon appetite!! ď Ź

www.nzfisher.co.nz 19

GAMEFISHING

Fishing

& Adventure Sword Fighting Westie Styles

THE FISHING AND ADVENTURE guys

however sums up the total joy and

have been doing their thing on TV for

frustration of fishing as a whole but more

a few seasons and I have to admit I

so fishing for new species.

love their show. This two-part episode

Part 1: Check out the first part here.

20 www.nzfisher.co.nz

And see part two here:

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READERPICS Ian McLeod with a (tasty) Lil Barrier king on softbait gear.

>

>

Connor with a mighty Northland landbased Snap caught on a slab of fresh kahawai

Reader

Pics

pg

>

Joel McLeod with his new PB landed under the Tutelage of Saul Harman.

22 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Jon Doherty and his first Puka, caught while (humourously) learning how to jig

>

>

Jon Do showing that even 10 year old Savage rods catch fish in the Bay

Naomi with a mean (second place) Beach n Boat JD

>

Winner!

>

Phil Brown with his new (18kg) PB king from the Bay of Plenty

>

Two hours Later, Joel beat hos own PB by 2kg!

www.nzfisher.co.nz 23

BAITFISHING

Get your Fishing Advisor shows the best Bait right, way to bait a pillie on a and the Fish single hook Will Follow BY amazing fisher, LegaSea Advocate and sharer of fishing goodness Mandy Kupenga of FishingAdvisor

I’VE CAUGHT A LOT of fish over the

useful video on the art of threading a

years on pillies, usually on single

pillie successfully.

hooks. it’s the simplest bait to rig, but

The fishing Advisor team have a

done wrong you’re feeding fish, not

wealth of great information in both

catching them. Mandy and the team

videos and via their network of

have put together this short, very

experienced Charter Boat skippers. ■

24 www.nzfisher.co.nz

BAITFISHING

Got Old

Bait?

Salt it Down

Old baits a pain in the backside, but as Daz explains, it can be saved

www.nzfisher.co.nz 25

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 a fish to our Facebook page, or email it to

from Go Fish to spend on anything you like from their website or in store.

derrickp@fisher.co.nz by April 20, 2016 and

This month’s winner is: Phil Brown with his

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

new (18kg) PB king from the Bay of Plenty.●

26 www.nzfisher.co.nz

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

www.nzfisher.co.nz 27