NZ Fisher Issue 66

ISSUE 66

March 2017

New

Zealand’s

First Speared and Landed

Black Marlin

www.nzfisher.co.nz 1

“Honda provides me with reliability, fantastic fuel savings, quietness on set, low emissions and incredible harmonics which pull the fish. We’re now saving around 40% on fuel from one of my previous boats running like for like horsepower engines” Nicky Sinden ADOS Addicted to Fishing

“The choice of Honda engines was simple. Our experience with Honda reliability and support has been outstanding. The power is incredible, because the engines are hardly working, the economy is amazingly good.”

Captain Phil Barchet Blue Water Adventures

“With a heavier hull on the new boat and a large array of pumps and electronics the big powerful 3.6 litre V6 with a 90amp alternator was the logical choice” Tony Orton Offshore Adventures

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL HONDA DEALER TODAY

www.hondamarine.co.nz/find-a-dealer

CONTENTS 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.

4... Editorial 6... Beach & Boat 2017 12... Epically Surprised

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

18... Snappa Slappas

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES / Phone Derrick on 021 629 327 or email derrickp@NZ Fisher.co.nz

22... A Chance to Remove Trawling

from the Hauraki Gulf

24... Aussie, Aussie, Aussie 30... Winners at the Beach & Boat

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!

34... Sunday, 5th March An Incredible

Spear Gamefishing Day

46... Reader Pics 48... Fishing Video

Cover Image: Moss Burmester with NZ’s first speared Black Marlin, weighing 163.4kg Inset: Mark Harvey with his stroppy 5kg Hauturu snapper

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EDITORIAL

I LOVE SUMMER. Not just because it’s

Joining these big boys (and girls),

warmer, there’s more holidays and the

we’ve also been blessed with some

fishing’s easier (although, that really does

sizable albacore, the odd wahoo,

help!), but it’s a time of real diversity for

shortbill spearfish and our favourite

kiwi anglers. From the (normally) end

tablemate, mahimahi.

of December anglers can expect to find many transient species in our coastal waters – from the humble skipjack tuna to the powerful and elusive swordfish and many tropical interlopers between.

This year we were blessed with a short but sizable Yellowfin tuna blitz, followed by a somewhat delayed marlin wave, fronted by some remarkable fish (including a GRANDER Blue) and many in the 70–88lb range. The blues outnumbered stripies early in the

For four months these speedy fish surround New Zealand, feeding hard and putting on condition before heading back north, often via the Three Kings and Wanganella banks.

While gamefish hog the limelight, there’s a general abundance of fish inshore bolstered by prolific bait schools – anchovies, sanma and pilchards, all feeding themselves on plankton and salps.

season, but the size of all has been

Kingfish move into shallow reefs, snapper

constantly very high.

fill the harbours and shallow bays and

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trevally can often be seen by the many

For a long time I’ve paid little attention

thousands, supping krill from the surface

to the central Queensland fisheries as

near oceanic upwellings caused when

they seemed to consist of wee brim,

reefs push water nearer the surface.

trevs and the aptly named flathead. This

Ahhh, summer – we love thee!

trip however, my eyes have been well

It’s been hinted that while late starting, this game season may be another bumper like last and possibly run later in the year.

There’s been a murmuring also that the

and truly opened to a fantastic, diverse and apparently abundant fishery – see the ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie’ article later in this issue.

stripies are heading in shallower than

I’d like to thank Naomi, our often

usual – be it in search of bait or possibly

overlooked and under-recognised

because there’s cold breaks in the right

social media manager and, this month

places – but the serious land-based

particularly, excellent contributor.

game guys are getting rather excited.

Naomi works tirelessly scouring the

How sensational would an LBG marlin

web for interesting fishing stories and

be for New Zealand! There’s been a few

anecdotes to share via our Facebook and

land-based tuna, especially skippies, but

Instagram pages, and has come to the

generally those fish cannot be found in

party with three articles this month.

sub-50m water.

For the first time I ventured across the ditch at Christmas to spend time with family, but to my surprise a fishing charter was booked out from Mooloolaba for my dad, brother-in-law and I.

Not only that, she smashed the boys at the recent Beach & Boat comp. Thanks Naomi and keep it up – we’d be bored to tears without your hard work!

Derrick www.nzfisher.co.nz 5

COMPETITIONFISHING

Beach &

Boat 2017 Getting bang for bucks

BY Derrick Paull

6 www.nzfisher.co.nz

I LOVE FISHING, and I’m partial to

I’d heard there had been a 12kg+ snapper

catching big fish. But I love it more

caught on day one and there were some

when those fish can be caught by

solid kings bought in, so we planned to

someone else on my boat and win

target the ‘other’ three species, Kahawai,

prizes in competitions!

Trevally and John Dory.

In the last five years I’ve gone from being

Focusing primarily on JDs, we started the

a hardcore fisher (I still love getting in

day off chasing live baits – the no-brainer

the mix – don’t be fooled!) to a hardcore

move to get us on the right foot. Livies

skipper who’s greatest thrills generally

were generally hard to come by but we

come from putting others onto great

were lucky to happen across a school

fish, especially personal bests. I think

of koheru inside Whangarei harbour –

this stems from seeing my boy land his

quite a (lucky) surprise. I believe kohes

new PB after a trip!

are on the decline – I haven’t seen them

After last year’s debacle I wasn’t sure

anywhere but the Three Kings in the

NZ Fisher would compete at the Beach & Boat this year, but after Nicky and Candice bought the comp we signed

last four years. Kohes are known for their attractiveness to not only kingfish, snapper and John Dory but also Marlin

up in a minute. When well run (and for

and big tuna – a bait of champions!

the right reasons), the Beach & Boat

After a few years of heading straight

(and Furuno before it) is a wonderful

to the Hen and Chicks, I decided

competition full of great fish, fishers

to hit an old haunt to the north of

and a wealth of good quality prizes.

Whangarei – in search of JDs.

I like to pre-plan as much as I can for

As has been well documented by Michael

competitions, the more you plan and

Walkley on Facebook recently, John Dory

the better you stick to the plan, the

are typically a reef dweller; they glide the

better I find the results. There’s nothing

reef edges, hiding in weed and ambushing

worse than heading out to chase kingfish

their prey with their large, extendable,

for example, and getting distracted

telescopic mouth. I had an area in mind,

softbaiting for ghosts (thinking you’re

and as we pulled up, kahawai and trevs

seeing snapper) over sand on the way

were supping krill from the surface as the

there. Before you know it, you’ve lost two

upwelling current had lifted them to the

hours and have nothing to show for it.

surface – it looked fishy as hell!

This year I missed the first day of

I whacked a kohe on the livebait set and

competition as I was committed to

went about getting a burley trail started

meetings in Auckland, and sadly only got

as my boatmates Naomi and Mark

on the water on day two, the Saturday.

(our cover inset this month!) began

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COMPETITIONFISHING

targeting the surface-borne kahawai and trevs. Before I had even got the burley wet the livey rod was going off, and I accidentally bought up a 2.2kg JD – NZFisher on the board!

After resetting the live bait I had a flick with the new Catch Squidwings. These things look the part, no doubt – they must catch a few fishers in the tackle stores – but in the water these things are lethal. I was casting them on a PE2 stickbait rod and the results were pretty impressive. Squidwings look cool, they’re heavy for their size and the ‘wing’ aspect looks like it’s going to drive the lure down, but I think it’s more of an oscillation that is imparted.

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The extra weight gives some casting distance too – brilliant for flinging when the trevs are skittish – and they sink well, perfect for getting down where the kings and snaps are lurking below.

I managed a few kahawai, nothing noteworthy, and raised a few kings without quite enticing the bite.

Mark and Naomi managed a few table fish, but no prize winners in the mix until the livey rod went off again, and this time Naomi wound in a 2.1kg JD – that looked like prize territory! Naomi’s fish was followed by one for Mark, and then a small (8kg) king for the table.

With a good burley trail pumping we nabbed a few more JDs and some table snapper, before deciding to take a look at some of the nearby deeper reefs for kings (or a nice puka bycatch!)

There were a bunch of boats on the most likely spot, and I hung around the fringes looking for sign. There was plenty to see, but it was all bait. In frustration I opened the Navionics ‘Sonarcharts’ app for a better look at the seafloor. I was surprised and very pleased to find a group of small pins about a mile away that rose from 65 to 55 – enough to aggregate fish, surely!

These pins are not noted on the standard charts and subsequently were not being fished at all. Being new to them, I did a quick reconnoitre to check for bait and more meaningful sign. It became tough as at some points the bait was so thick my 1.0kW transducer couldn’t even see the bottom through them!

We found a patch of fast moving but hungry kings and began getting some nice fish on jigs – the best a 10.5kg model by the ever-ready Naomi on her Long John Slider jig (in pink). While not big fish, we figured such a fish might be a winner in the ladies section, so made sure we identified it as Naomi’s and left enough time to get back in to weigh it.

“

As skipper I wanted my crew to land fish, and that means staying on the helm and keeping the boat on the fish, searching hard for them and making sure anglers know what depth they’re targeting.

As skipper I wanted my crew to land fish, and that means staying on the helm and keeping the boat on the fish, searching hard for them and making sure anglers know what depth they’re targeting.

It’s a job I love and one that sometimes means I don’t get to fish much myself, so it’s a boat rule that any (major) prizes are split between the crew. It’s a rule I forgot to share with a crew once and regretted it when a $1000+ prize went home with another angler. That said, he generously sent me $200, so I’m very pleased all the same!

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COMPETITIONFISHING

“

Congratulations Nicky and Candice, you guys pulled off the impossible; you ran the best Beach & Boat in years, scored amazing weather AND kept the people happy! Well done – bring on Beach & Boat 2018!

Mark was out with us a few weeks earlier, and I had the pleasure of introducing him to softbaiting. He wasn’t sure of technique and was pretty sure I was taking the piss about casting into two metre deep foul in the back of a bay at Little Barrier – until he hooked up to a very, very stroppy 5kg snapper you see gracing our cover this month. Sadly I couldn’t repeat this good fortune at the Beach & Boat for Mark, but due to our split the winnings rule, he benefited too.

The prizegiving at the Beach & Boat was a slick affair and the prizes exceptional – I cannot commend the organisers enough for their dedication to making the event better than before. I can see this becoming NZ’s biggest and most respected competition as Nicky and

10 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Candice progress their ideas and develop the winning formula.

Naomi’s JD, King and a kahawai all hit second places, and the JD also took the average weight size – one heck of a return for one day on the water!

I took extra pleasure seeing my great friends and fierce competitors Peter and Aileen Michael picking up the early bird prize – a five metre Honda powered Extreme cabin boat! Great prize for a couple of great people.

Congratulations Nicky and Candice, you guys pulled off the impossible; you ran the best Beach & Boat in years, scored amazing weather AND kept the people happy! Well done – bring on Beach & Boat 2018! 

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GAMEFISHING

Epically

Surprised

Search for the king and end up with a bill!

BY Naomi Peterson

12 www.nzfisher.co.nz

WHEN YOUR MUM is a mad keen fisher,

Chase has been with Epic Adventures for

it seems only right that you would gift

over 3 years, and skippering with them

her a trip on a fishing charter for her 70th

for the past 9 months. Originally from a

birthday. That’s exactly what Jonty Taylor

commercial fishing background spending

did in early January this year. Being their

his free time out on a boat or diving with

first time fishing with Epic Adventures,

mates, Chase now gets to do what he

they were looking forward to a day

loves every day and get paid for it (just

chasing kingfish.

about every fisherman’s dream).

Jonty, his mum, and his brother in law

This charter started as any other,

travelled to Whitianga, where Epic

departing Whitianga at 7am to target

Adventures are based, to head out with

kingfish for the day. After loading up the

Captain Chase Wotten-Hunt on the

livebait tank with Jack mackerels, they

custom-built Senator Boats 7.5m long

headed out to an area off Red Mercury

pontoon hardtop aptly named ‘Epic’,

Island (the second largest and outermost

for what would become a truly epic day

of seven Mercury Islands to the North-

that neither of them would ever forget

East of Whitianga) which Captain Chase

in a hurry.

knew were holding some good kings.

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GAMEFISHING

It wasn’t long before the livies were

straight away it felt different to a kingi.

being smashed by some decent sized

“Bugger, I’ve got a shark,” he thought.

kings, and there were some pretty

Both Jonty and Chase knew something

happy anglers with somewhat stretched

was different, but couldn’t have imagined

arms. Jonty’s mum Raewyn was having

what was on the end of the line.

a blast catching kingis, and thoroughly

It started coming up, breached,

enjoying her birthday gift. His brother-

and jumped at the rear of the boat.

in-law Paul even caught his PB

Immediately the other crew members

weighing in at about 16kg.

yelled “It’s a marlin!”

“

It started coming up, breached, and jumped at the rear of the boat. Immediately the other crew members yelled “It’s a marlin!”

Jonty hadn’t seen it jump as he was concentrating on the reel, but it came up again. This time everyone saw it and knew it was indeed a marlin. This was the first time Jonty had hooked a marlin. The adrenalin rush kicked in and things got real pretty quickly!

What was to follow was an epic battle on gear not designed specifically for catching marlin, so the fight was at times pretty nerve wracking. In the one hour 45 minute fight, Chase’s professionalism and experience was evident as he manoeuvred the boat and coached Jonty.

The fish came to the boat then would take off again on just about the full length of line. This happened about six

Jonty had his livey rigged up on a 7/0

times before they finally got the fish to

Decoro hook on the Shimano Talica 12 on

the boat for the final time.

a Jigging Master Ocean Devil rod. They

Chase expertly leadered the fish and

were fishing in 120m of water, and Jonty

the decision was made to keep it.

dropped his livey to around 70m where

They hauled it onboard, and what

the fish were showing on the sounder. It

followed was the justified celebratory

was immediately taken and Jonty knew

congratulations and looks of disbelief

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GAMEFISHING

16 www.nzfisher.co.nz

and amazement as reality sunk in. They

The weather hasn’t been helpful with the

had just landed a Black marlin!

persistent westerlies, and it seems even

They continued to fish for kings for a

the bait life is as absent as the marlin are.

while before heading back in, where

Northland seems to be producing some

the marlin was weighed at the Mercury

good numbers of marlin and there

Bay Game Fishing Club. Because it

was a flurry of Blues being caught at

was a rare catch for NZ waters, all the

the beginning of the year, which was

details were recorded and sent off to Te

encouraging for those of us patiently

Papa (New Zealand’s National Museum in Wellington). While not a 473.20kg Black like the current New Zealand record held by A. Jorian from 2002, this 74.6kg Black on 37kg line on a Talica 12 is a pretty damn fine achievement!

While Chase himself is no newbie to catching marlin, having already caught a couple on solo missions, this was

waiting further down the country.

They seem to be slowly making their way down with a few stripeys caught off the West Coast (Manukau and Raglan) and some Blues, stripeys and even another Black on the East down to Tauranga, and a few stripeys from Waihau Bay over the past few weeks.

the first marlin for Jonty. And what

The hype that followed the Grander

an unforgettable one at that. He was

Blue caught by Muriwai Sports

stoked with Bill’s catch, and so was his

Fishing Club members got us all

mum! The marlin was taken to be

excited – the second largest Blue

smoked and has been shared around

caught in NZ waters! Unfortunately

and enjoyed by some very grateful (and

it missed the cut-off for weigh in

lucky) family and friends.

for the NZSFC Nationals, but the

So far the marlin season hasn’t been

number of fish caught during this

what we’re used to of previous years,

competition is encouraging for

with the Sea Surface Temperature

those of us still wanting to get out

taking longer than normal to warm up

there and hook a bill fish. There

for this time of year and for the warm

is talk of it being a later marlin

currents still to flow down.

season this year – let’s hope so!! 

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LADIESLOVEFISHING

Snappa

Slappas

Fishing for a great cause

BY Denise Bowler and Naomi Peterson

NZ FISHER MAGAZINE was a proud

to dress in pink, which resulted in some

sponsor of the Snappa Slappa’s First

fun outfits and photos.

Ladies Fishing Competition, held in the

With 63 entrants from as far north as

Coromandel in January. Organised by

Orewa and as far south as Wellington, 51

Denise Bowler, this competition raised

of them weighed in 79 Snapper and one

funds for Breast Cancer New Zealand

Trevally. Unfortunately there were no size

while at the same time bringing a group

kingfish caught on the day, but we did see

of keen female anglers together for a great

some slightly undersize kingfish caught

weekend. Entrants were also encouraged

that were let go to live another day.

18 www.nzfisher.co.nz

RESULTS: • Heaviest Snapper 5.1kg, Rebecca Welsh We were all very lucky with the weather being absolutely spectacular for the morning fish, a far cry from what it was later in the day. Fishing out from the Coromandel means you are limited to launching and retrieving times from most of the boat ramps, as they are tidal. A 2.30am high tide meant an early start for many anglers, but they were rewarded with a spectacular sunrise.

While this competition was all about the ladies, the men ended up on weigh station duty or charter boat cook. Noel Smith, Daniel Duffull, Matt Gubbins and Scott Matthews did an awesome job running the weigh station. Jeff Hollier and Rogee Ainscow from Broncos Spit Roasted Feasts Ltd supplied and cooked the BBQ meat for the hungry anglers on the fishing charter.

• 2nd Heaviest Snapper 4.01kg, Marie Maddox • 3rd Heaviest Snapper 3.81kg, Nikki Stephenson • Trevally 0.51kg, Kim Brett All of these ladies took away some cool prizes from Smart Marine, Pinnacle Marine, Early Bird Thames and NZ Fisher.

• $500 cash Average Weight Snapper 1.38kg, Kathy Browne.

• Early Bird Prize Draw: UFO Cooker from Bronco’s Spit Roasted Feasts Catering Co, Norah Manu.

As there were no kingfish weighed in, these prizes were handed out as spot prizes with Maggie Mullet Moosh (Maggie Moana) winning the awesome $650 Smada Fishing Charters voucher.

1st Snapper

LADIESLOVEFISHING

2nd Snapper

MC, event organiser and NZ Fisher representative 1st and 2nd Snapper

In total 48 spot prizes were handed out,

a few tears out there, as Breast Cancer is a

with most of them being goody bags

topic close to the heart for some of these

with lots of little goodies in them from

women (and men).

Smart Marine, Stoney Creek NZ, Fishy

We are still working on how much

Fingers Soap and Affordable Sinkers. I want to make special mention of the $600 Houtomo Photography voucher that Angela Giles and her beautiful family won.

money was raised for the Breast Cancer Foundation, as we are still adding up costs and have lots of change to count. There were a few extra expenses than were

Prizegiving was held at the Admiral’s Arms

planned, as we didn’t have a sponsor for

in Coromandel Town, and the outrageous

the average prize draw. All up it was an

MC for the day Jan-Maree Franicevic did

absolutely awesome weekend, and we

such a quality job as expected, keeping

have already started working on next

the crowd laughing and completely

year’s plans with some bigger and better

entertained. There might have even been

ideas on the way. 

20 www.nzfisher.co.nz

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21

FISHERIESMANAGEMENT

A Chance to

Remove Trawling from the Hauraki Gulf A good look at the long game is needed

A NEW INITIATIVE to restore

abundance inside one of New Zealand’s

abundance and diversity in the

favourite fishing areas. The removal of

Hauraki Gulf Marine Park was

these bottom contact methods would

presented in early December.

allow the fragile seabed communities

The SeaChange Tai Timu Tai Pari,

to recover, providing more suitable

Marine Spatial Plan is the result of

habitats and food sources for all species.

three years of collaboration by a wide

This would mean abundance would be

range of stakeholders from within

spread across the whole Marine Park,

the Marine Park. This bold new plan

not just restricted to your favourite

proposes the complete removal of

Spot X anymore.

outdated, destructive fishing methods,

The commercial representatives

such as bottom trawling, Danish

requested some time to action such a

seining and dredging.

big move, so, starting next year the plan

This is a significant victory and would

would incrementally remove bottom

be a major step towards rebuilding

contact fishing methods.

22 www.nzfisher.co.nz

By 2025 these would be out of the Marine Park altogether. There will be full reviews to address the declining hāpuku and crayfish stocks, with management measures to rebuild populations back to acceptable levels.

The plan also takes a look at other methods to protect sensitive habitats, implement environmentally responsible aquaculture, reduce sedimentation, and improve water quality.

The proposals include a range of new Marine Protected Areas in popular fishing areas. There are four types proposed: 1. Type 1 marine reserves 2. Type 2 benthic protection areas – these restrict fishing methods impacting the seabed 3. Special Management Areas – these are areas with specific focus on

The SeaChange plan is an incredible opportunity to create a Marine Park that will be able to provide for the public and create something future generations can enjoy.

NZSFC clubs and affiliated members are encouraged to support the plan because of the potential growth in fish abundance and marine diversity.

There will be pressures to pick and choose the favourite parts of the plan, but to do so would risk completely unravelling so much valuable work.

To achieve a goal as bold as restoring abundance and protecting sensitive habitats, there will be short term costs.

But given time, these sacrifices will pay off, and for the first time in many years we will see dramatic change in the Hauraki Gulf. 

high value recreational fishing, with targeting management restricting the harvest of certain species and all commercial fishing 4. Ahu Moana – proposed to extend from high tide mark to one kilometre offshore, to allow specific management decisions to be made by mana whenua and local communities around their vulnerable intertidal zones.

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 publicfriendly information about a variety of processes that are important to restoring abundance in our fisheries for future generations.

SPORTFISHING

Aussie, Aussie

Aussie Top Catch on the Sunshine Coast

WORDS AND IMAGES BY Derrick Paull

NOTE: Derrick paid for his trip.

This is not an advertorial piece.

24 www.nzfisher.co.nz

AS KIWIS, WE don’t usually cut the

boat) and starting Top Catch, one

Aussies any slack and we certainly

of the most successful Queensland

don’t let them think there’s much of

charter boats to date.

a fishery over the ditch; but this year

Trent’s love of fishing goes beyond

I found, much to my surprise, that

just the charter business, he’s got

there’s actually a bit of fun to be had

salt in his veins and spends more

chasing Aussie bottom dwellers!

time than he’d like to admit chasing

The trip was actually a gift from my

big fish in his own time too. Trent

Aussie whanau. I was sent out with my

prefers chasing big barramundi and

dad and bro-in-law aboard the 50ft Top Catch from Mooloolaba Marina, and we left at the reasonable hour of 7am.

Arriving at the boat we were met by Darren, already chopping bait and readying gear for us and the other punters (three of us in total). Skipper Trent introduced himself, got the safety briefing out of the way and headed us out through the marina, over the bar and towards the Murphy’s Reef system, about 6 miles off shore.

Jacks in the inshore estuaries and canals in his down time. Unlike his day job, the best bara are caught late at night and early, early morning – on big tides under a moonless sky – something for next trip maybe?

The day we picked was a cracker – hot, proper, end of January, Queensland hot and humid like I cannot ever remember.

Once underway the heat became bearable, and soon after anchoring up a slight sea breeze came up and

Trent was a prawn fishermen off

kept things sufferable. The breeze

the Sunshine Coast for nine years

also aided our drifts later, allowing

before buying Nautic Boy (the

us to cover a lot of ground and get into some interesting territories.

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SPORTFISHING

26 www.nzfisher.co.nz

We were dropping pilly chinks, and by the rate they were disappearing I’d say there’s a pretty healthy stock of fish on Murphy’s Reef! As so often happens, things started off slow and as the morning wore on, a few nice fish were put in the bin. While the size wasn’t huge, everything was new to me. I love landing new species and this trip added about a dozen to my species list.

I wasn’t lucky enough to snag a bigger than average fish myself, but was there to witness one angler owned by a big cobia and another land a small, but legal one. These are referred to as black kingfish and seeing their power, it’s a fitting name – they’re dirty fighters too, using the reef to dig in and break you off.

My best fish, a spangled emperor, measured in the mid-50s and fought hard on the softbait set I wrangled off the skipper for a little fun.

The fishing’s a bit different to home to be fair. Using large diameter Alvey reels, we were dropping standard twin 6/0 octopus hooks on dropper rigs with 8oz sinkers, not entirely different to the West Coast rigs we use, but with shorter leader loops and much heavier trace.

At first glance the rigs and the tackle are pretty rudimentary, but in action it just works. I can imagine for the majority of their punters there’s a high risk of failure with anything more complicated, but to be honest the gear was fine, just a little clunky.

We landed a number of table fish, including a pair of Maori Cod, sweetlip and pearl perch plus a gorgeous (albeit undersized) Red Emporer – a stunning fish and one I was glad to see let go.

Throughout the year there’s different seasons, and we were here on the cusp of the pelagic run where Spanish mackerel, mahimahi and various tuna species arrive. I’ll plan next year’s visit a little later in the season as these species all ring my bells.

As an addition to any fishing trip, Trent

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SPORTFISHING

also offers the chance to drop pots for

my interest a little more in fishing the

a local crustacean delicacy, spanner

Sunshine Coast, and after this trip i’ll

crabs, so called for their very spanner

definitely be knocking on Trent’s door

looking claws. Spanners are a very

again for a spot onboard Nautic Boy.

tasty crab and can be found (generally) in good numbers off the Sunshine Coast. They have a unique swim fin, not unlike our paddle crabs, but it’s so densely hairy that it gets easily caught in a nylon net (see the pics).

If you’re after a taste of the reef, Top Catch do five hour trips with full and ‘maxi’ day trips for the hardened angler. We paid $140 per person for the five hour trip and on the scale of tourist prices, that’s a steal. Trent and

On our trip the spanners played hard

Darren gut your fish and bag them for

to get, but we managed a few for

travel, but filleting and cooking is your

the pot including one huge one that

responsibility. The crabs however are

would comfortably feed two people.

steamed while you’re underway so

It’s these little differences between

they’re fresh and ready to eat when you

our fisheries that is beginning to raise

hit the shore – bloody great service! 

28 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Long John

Slider Jigs Proven on the countries toughest battlers - The mighty Kingfish, Bluenose, Hapuku, Snapper and more. The Catch Long John Slider comes rigged with 11/0 SJ51 Style Stainless Steel flashed hook, 450lb Kevlar assist, Stainless 450lb solid ring and 180lb split ring

COLOURS: Orange Assassin, Ballistic Blue, Green Reaper & Shady Lady. Available in 3 weights: 150g, 200g, 300g.

Product Video here: http://bit.ly/2n8FmR4 www.nzfisher.co.nz 29

FISHINGISWINNING

Winners at the Beach & Boat

NZFisher congratulates the biggest winners

Aileen with her first fish on the new rig 30 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Launching for the first time

WAY BACK IN 2010 my good friend and fishing mentor Peter Michael graced the very first issue of NZFisher. I think we’ve come a wee way since then!

(Check it out here).

While I missed day one of the Century Batteries Beach & Boat I learned really quickly that Peter and his effervescent wife, Aileen, had won the early bird prize of the Honda powered Extreme 545 boat package.

Peter & Aileens’ win was the spark that got the whole show rolling.

Nicky and Candice did a great job hosting the 2017 event, with plenty of prizes up for grabs, including Zara Clifton picking up the first place snapper with a 12.2kg beauty.

Our great friends at Honda Marine were heavily involved once again including bringing along an incredibly well appointed white pointer with triple Honda BF250’s to display and fish from. Supporting the Beach & Boat crew were also Fishy Business, the ADOS Addicted to Fishing with their Vessel, plus many other Honda Powered boats fishing the tournament.

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FISHINGISWINNING

“

On my previous boat we were doing 11 l/ph on trolling speed cruising at seven to eight knots and with the Honda we’re doing 6.9 l/ ph comparing like for like horsepower engines, saving me over 40% on fuel.

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Pete's first fish on the new rig

Some fantastic prize were on offer on the Honda Prize Wheel with plenty of Honda Marine, Shimano, Extreme and Beach & Boat goodies available for a free spin on the wheel! We look forward to seeing you at the next tournament!

It’s pretty cool to release this info (not that it’s a secret now :-) ) but Beach & Boat owner plus TV Show host extraordinaire (ADOS Addicted to Fishing) Nicky Sinden has recently combined a new Extreme 750 Game King powered by the awesome Honda BF250 for the new ADOS Addicted to Fishing series.

The handshake that seals it from Honda GM, Ian Biddick

The great moment that changes lives and amped the comp right up!

Nicky is naturally very excited

Being a fishing show, Nicky and her crew

with the new set-up and is already

need to be fully charged and have quiet

experiencing significant fuel savings

onboard, whilst also drawing on the

from her previous engine.

harmonics renowned with the Honda

Nicky states, “on my previous boat we

engine to pull in those big fish on film!

were doing 11 l/ph on trolling speed

Nicky’s new rig has already proved its

cruising at seven to eight knots and

worth on fuel economy but it’s also

with the Honda we’re doing 6.9 l/ph

quickly raised its first gamefish too - a

comparing like for like horsepower

beautiful stripy (tagged & released)!

engines, saving me over 40% on fuel.”

Check Nicky's outstanding rig out here. 

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SPEARFISHING

Sunday, 5th March An Incredible Spear Gamefishing Day STORY ONE: Potential New Zealand and World Stripy! BY Naomi Peterson

34 www.nzfisher.co.nz

WHEN BILL GEORGE and girlfriend Gemma Miller headed out from Totara North in the Whangaroa harbour on Sunday 5th March, they had no idea that by the end of the day they would be heading back in with a striped marlin in the boat, and looking at potential New Zealand AND World spearfishing records.

It had been a long quiet morning.

That morning Bill and Gemma, both members of the Port Valley Spearfishing Club, loaded up their 13ft Sea Nymph for a day of spearfishing with Bill's 1400 homemade gun with Riffe components and four 16mm rubbers, his 1300 gun, and supplies for the day. They headed out to an area about 150 metres deep in between the back of Stephenson Island and the Cavalli Islands. The day’s plan – to spear and land a marlin.

his shot. His spear penetrated the fish

Bill had previously caught a marlin on rod and reel, but his dream was to spear and land one.

Earlier in the day Bill and Gemma had picked up a couple of skippies, and were towing one behind the boat with Bill in the water above the bait.

Cruising along at about one to two knots, Bill was ready in the water for when the marlin showed up.

Around midday, Gemma spotted a work up ahead of them with dolphins and gannets which they decided to head towards. They worked the area for about 25 minutes before Bill saw the two marlin approaching his livebait.

He quickly decided which fish he would go for, and as they circled, Bill took about 20mm below its spine. The fish didn’t take off as Bill imagined it would have, which was a surprise considering its size, thus suggesting a fatal shot.

The marlin remained near the surface for about 30 minutes, towing Bill and the two floats along. Soon after this, the marlin dove deeper. Bill managed to start to get some bungee back.

After roughly 15 minutes, Bill dove to approximately 17 metres where the fish was, and put a second shot into it. The fish gave up and Bill started pulling it in. He swam down, grabbed its bill, and brought it to the surface.

With the fish floating alongside the boat, Bill caught his breath as the reality sunk in – he had just speared and landed a marlin! No longer just a dream, but a reality.

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SPEARFISHING

36 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Then came the challenge – getting

With the details recorded, they began

the fish into the boat. It wasn’t easy

processing the fish. Interestingly, when

but after a bit of a struggle, together

they opened up the marlin, there were

Bill and Gemma had the marlin in

24 Jack mackerel in its stomach – which

the boat. Bill called up his mate

they estimated at about 12kg alone! Bill

who contacted the weighmaster at

took the slabs home and decided to get

Whangaroa Sport Fishing Club, and they began the 50 minute trip back to get the fish weighed.

Bill had initially estimated the fish at around 120kg. When the fish was raised and the scales read 164.8kg he knew this was a potential New Zealand record.

With the knowledge that he had a pending NZ record, Bill contacted his

the head mounted.

His family and friends enjoyed some fresh marlin steaks at a celebratory dinner the following night. The rest of the meat was sent to the local smoker, and is yet to be enjoyed by many more.

Although it will still be a while before the records are recognised, Bill can bask in the glory of knowing he has realised

friend Nat Davey about the process to

his dream of spearing and landing a

get it recognised. Nat then informed Bill

marlin. To those of us reading who are

this would also be a World Record. Bill

still chasing the dream of catching that

and Gemma took the fish to Nat, who

once in a lifetime fish, be inspired. As

recorded the fish’s length and girth, took

Dean Karnazes said, “Keep chasing your

photos and helped with paperwork.

dreams, one day you’ll catch them”.

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SPEARFISHING

STORY TWO: New Zealand’s First Speared and Landed Black Marlin WORDS BY Naomi Peterson & Moss Burmester IMAGES BY Nat Davey and Rochele Potter

38 www.nzfisher.co.nz

WHAT DO YOU GET when you put an

is at home in the water and a very

Olympic and Commonwealth Games

accomplished ultra-distance open

swimmer in the ocean with a speargun?

water swimmer.

A day that Moss Burmester and his crew

Sunday 5th March saw Moss, Nat,

will never forget.

Rochele and Rosie head out from

Being around water has always been a

Rangiputa in Nat’s boat ‘Allstar’.

part of Moss’s life. He grew up in a family

Competing in the Ocean Hunter Summer

who always loved being on, in, and under

Slam Spearfishing competition, they had

the water. His own love of the water took

chosen to target kingfish, trevs and get a

him from the pool to the ocean, where he

few pink maomao on the day.

has just achieved something many of us

Anchoring at the ‘Shallow Patch’, an area

can only dream of doing.

that rises from around 40 metres to eight

Since joining the Auckland Freediving

to ten metres and great for holding the

Club in mid-2013, Moss became more

targeted fish, (and where occasionally

involved in freediving and spearfishing

the odd Black has been caught) Moss and

through the club. Here he met good

Rosie were in the water about 50 metres

friends Nat Davey, and later Rochele

from Nat and Rochele.

Potter. Both Nat and Rochele hold

Rosie calmly turned to Moss, “Moss,

multiple records for spearfishing, and you can follow some of their ventures at The Adventure Club.

there’s a marlin,” and pointed back towards the boat. He looked, and suddenly swimming towards him was

Moss’s flatmate Rosie Sharman, a very

indeed a marlin. Then within about four

keen new spearo, was also up North

metres, it turned broadside and slowed

for the spearfishing weekend. Rosie

to look at him. This was the first marlin

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SPEARFISHING

he had seen in the water, and in those

replayed in his head ‘about 10cm above

brief seconds, Moss was in awe of its

the pectoral fin’.

magnificence. Initially estimating it about 100kg, he wondered if it was big enough to worry about spearing. But this was the stuff of childhood dreams, he had always dreamed of landing a marlin, although he had thought it would be on a fishing line from a boat!

Because of the fish Moss was targeting, he was using his Pathos 120 Carbon gun.

Luckily Rosie’s warning gave him time

Pausing on the surface, Moss carefully lined up his shot. Time slowed and his focus narrowed. As he squeezed the trigger, the spear went straight where he was aiming – 10cm above the pec fin. His spear pierced the fish, but presumably stopped at its spine as the fish didn’t explode away powerfully as expected.

to remain calm and set himself up. He

With his spear and float line only

had previously talked with Nat about the

attached to a small 12 litre float, he

best place to shoot a marlin (should the

immediately yelled at Rosie to clip

opportunity arise) and this conversation

her float on too as he was towed

40 www.nzfisher.co.nz

past her. With the spear not passing right through the fish Moss became worried that it would pull out, so put very little drag on it.

it altogether and it possibly dying.

Nat and Rochele, now aware of what had happened, raced to meet Moss as he was towed along. Nat’s vast experience took one look at the situation and he knew it wasn’t big enough to be a world record and with the spear not going right through, yelled for Moss to secure it ASAP by shooting it through the tail, where the fish was less broad. Moss agreed it was more important to land the fish than go for an unassisted record and risk losing

Beuchat 105 roller-gun. He dove down

Nat had been taking underwater pictures so had no gun. Rochele had caught up so handed Moss her loaded beside the fish to second shoot it, which also didn’t exit the other side!

Nat yelled to Rosie for her speargun.

Moss took her little 1m gun to third shot it, however this didn’t punch through. Surely three shafts were enough to ensure the fish wasn’t lost.

Nat now instructed Moss to dive down, grab the bill with one hand and icky the fish with his knife through the top of its

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SPEARFISHING

head with the other. “Holy crap, how is

how the marlin was pausing between

this going to go down,” thought Moss,

kicks and to time his icky attempt with

and just as he was getting the courage

the pause.

to dive, the marlin dove deeper.

With a racing heart and adrenaline

Nat left to get the boat as they were

pumping, Moss dove, timed his grab

getting dragged further away from it.

with the pause and stuck his knife into

Rochele took over as advisor and yelled

the fish; except he missed the exact

at Moss to start sliding a float up the

icky spot and the fish went mental,

line closer to the fish in an attempt to

throwing him off.

tire it and bring it closer to the surface.

He chased and jumped back on, holding

After a few minutes of gutsy hanging on and sliding the float, he got it nearer the surface.

on for grim death as he was taken for a ride reminiscent of a rodeo cowboy on a wild bull. From the boat, Nat couldn’t

Rochele saw this as his opportunity

help but laugh as he watched Moss

to try to icky it again, and pointed out

being thrown around like a rag doll,

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SPEARFISHING

surfacing then disappearing under the

pics then radioed the Houhora Game

water again.

Club and raced in to weigh it.

After a few minutes of this madness,

Nat and Rochele’s expertise was

the guns and float lines had got tangled

invaluable to Moss. They remained

around Moss’s legs and neck. This was

calm and collected the whole

the scariest point for him as he started to

time and their guidance and

tire. If the fish dived he would have been

assistance ensured a successful

dragged underwater with it.

landing of the first Black marlin

The thrashing marlin was finally

speared in NZ. Weighing it in,

starting to tire and become less

the scales read 163.4kg!

violent, but was now in an awkward

Moss has had the fish processed by a

position for Moss to finish it off.

local Northland smoker and it is being

Already knowing the record was

enjoyed by his family and friends with

forfeited, Rochele and Nat helped

the head and tail getting mounted by

successfully icky the fish.

a taxidermist.

The reality of what had just happened

So how does the experience compare

then sunk in – the first Black marlin

to swimming in an Olympic race and

speared and landed in New Zealand!

receiving gold medals at the World

There were lots of yahoos and cheers,

and Commonwealth Champs? “Pretty

followed by untangling Moss and the

comparable actually”. Both were

fish from the lines. They took time to

something Moss had always dreamed

savour the moment, followed with

of achieving, but the circumstances

some amazing photos taken of the

surrounding both made them extra

magnificent fish in the water.

special and memorable.

Removing the spears, all four of them

If you want to keep up with his

hauled the fish in over the transom

other endeavours, you can follow

of the Stabicraft. Nat estimated it at

Moss on Facebook, Instagram,

around 150kg. They took a few more

Twitter and Linkedin. 

44 www.nzfisher.co.nz

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READERPICS

>

Fly flinging fisho’ Gary Stone with a magnificent Tauranga Harbour flats king

Pics

>

Ethan & James Benge with a pair of NZACA Nationals snapper

46 www.nzfisher.co.nz

>

Reader

Ethan Benge with a 7.5kg Far North surf caught snapper at the 2016 NZACA Nationals.

>

Asher Morley with his first King, a 13kg model from the yak!

> Kylie Holgate with an 18 & 20lb Snapper - Unbelievable effort Kylie! Well done!

Tim Fairhurst with a MEGA Bass caught late last year aboard Epic adventures

>

FISHINGVIDEO

The

Great Kiwi

Backyard

WE’VE BEEN BLESSED with some fine weather again recently and Connor Scott wasn’t going to let the opportunity be missed!

This is a great video from a

48 www.nzfisher.co.nz

sunny Sunday in March. The goal? To explore new grounds and nab a feed while doing it.

Check out Connor’s latest, awesome video.

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

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