Captain David Woof aboard the Nammu has been declared the winner of the 2023-2024 IGFA Great Marlin Race with tagging of a striped marlin at the Cavalli Islands.

The annual IGFA Great Marlin Race takes place from 1 October to 30 September each year. The race is a billfish research and conservation initiative where recreational anglers deploy satellite tags on the billfish they catch. The tags transmit vital information to researchers who analyse and share the data.

Since its launch in 2011, more than 600 satellite tags have been deployed on billfish worldwide, making it the largest programme of its kind.

During the 2023-2024 race, a total of 30 satellite tags were deployed on five billfish species during 14 global tagging events.

The winning striped marlin for this year’s event, caught by David Woof on 6 January 2024, travelled an impressive straight-line distance of 4,739nm from the tagging location off the northeast coast of New Zealand and popped up on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, west of the Galapagos Islands after 244 days at liberty. 

The incredible journey is not just this year's longest, but also ranks as the third longest in the program's history and the longest for a striped marlin by over 2000nm, with a total estimated travel distance of 6,517nm.

The marlin’s journey, modelled by Stanford University and Barbara Block, shows it spent January and February around East Northland, left New Zealand waters in March, navigated warm waters in May and June, and eventually reached the eastern side of the East Pacific Ridge.

"The IGFA Great Marlin Race was established to involve the angling community in citizen science," says IGFA president, Jason Schratwieser. 

"By marrying competition and conservation, we can gather data that helps ensure the survival of these magnificent species. This year's winners exemplify the heart of this programme – a deep commitment to conservation and the betterment of sport fishing.”

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by Kaz Otsubo - Ocean Legacy

As spring rolls around in New Zealand, the waters start warming up – and that means one thing for keen anglers: kingfish are back on the prowl! Spring kingfish are active, aggressive, and eager to chase down a topwater lure, making it the perfect time to dust off your gear and start casting. Whether you're new to topwater fishing or a seasoned pro, here are some tips to help you make the most of this exciting season.

1. Gear Up Right: Rods, Reels, and Lures

When it comes to topwater casting for kingfish, having the right setup makes all the difference.

A medium-heavy to heavy action rod around 7-8 feet provides the strength needed to handle hard strikes while staying light enough for long, accurate casts. The Ocean's Legacy Focal series is a top choice, offering the ideal balance of sensitivity and power for working both stickbaits and light poppers.

Pair your rod with a spinning reel in the 8000-10,000 size range, spooled with PE4-PE6 braided line and a 100-150lb mono leader. Braided line offers excellent casting distance and strength, and the softness of the mono leader helps it pass smoothly through the rod guides, improving casting distance. Also, mono makes tying knots easier, as the braid binds tightly to it, forming secure connections.

Poppers: These create splash and noise on the surface, mimicking distressed baitfish and drawing aggressive strikes.

Stickbaits: Gliding just beneath the surface, they provide a more subtle presentation – great for when fish aren’t responding to poppers. If you're new to stickbaits, sinking models are easier to control since they remain stable underwater.

Pro tip: Use lures with natural belly colours like sardine or mackerel to attract kingfish from below. Add vivid colours on the back for better visibility and control, helping you react to strikes quickly.

2. Read the Water and Find the Fish

Spring kingfish often lurk around reefs, rocky points, buoys, harbour mouths, and markers, hunting baitfish. Target early mornings or late afternoons, especially during moving tides that carry in fresh schools of bait. 

Look out for signs of activity like working birds, baitfish on the surface, or boils of fish thrashing at the top. Reefs also have pressure zones – areas where baitfish gather, creating ideal spots to cast your lure.

Position yourself up-current of the action and cast beyond the fish. Use the wind and current to work the lure naturally back toward the fish, setting the stage for that explosive topwater strike.‍

3. Master the Action

How you work your rod can make or break your session. Here are a few go-to actions:

Poppers: A steady "pop-pop-pause" creates just the right splash to attract attention. If the fish are particularly fired up, continuous popping can trigger an immediate reaction.

Stickbaits: A sweeping retrieve with pauses will glide and dart the lure through the water. Stick to the zone, and don’t hesitate to change up your rhythm if fish aren’t committing.

Many strikes happen right after a pause, so stay sharp and be ready to set the hook!

4. Set the Hook and Hang On!

When a kingfish strikes, it’s heart-pounding – but don’t rush the hookset! These fish often hit sideways, and pulling too early can cost you the hookup. Instead, keep the line tight until you feel the fish's weight, then set the hook with
confidence.

Once hooked, get ready for blistering runs and deep dives. Keep your drag tight enough to control the fish but not so tight that you risk pulling the hooks. Use your rod to lift and turn the fish – don’t give it any slack, or it might shake the hooks loose.

5. Catch, Release, or Keep?

Kingfish are incredible sport fish, and whether to keep or release one is a personal choice. If you plan to keep one, make sure it’s within legal size limits and handled properly for the best eating quality.

If releasing, handle the fish with care – avoid unnecessary contact, support its weight, and return it to the water promptly for a healthy release.

Spring kingfish on topwater offer an unforgettable challenge for every angler. With the right gear, smart tactics, and a bit of patience, you’re in for some thrilling action on the water. So grab your gear, head to the coast, and start casting – those spring kingies won’t wait!

Several catches of Pacific bluefin tuna in the Bay of Islands are turning heads – and this has the local fishing club getting excited.

Speaking to The Adventurer, Bay of Islands Swordfish Club executive committee member Andrew Johnson says the recent catches of the species are so out of the ordinary, it’s almost unbelievable.

Johnson says there has officially been five weighed in at the club (with a possible sixth being hooked-up the day he spoke to The Adventurer), ranging between 180-245kg. All tuna have been caught live-baiting.

“But there’s still many being caught. There have been twice the number of fish lost as have been hooked.”

Johnson says the club has kept records since around 1912, and it has never recorded a Pacific bluefin tuna being caught in Northland or in the club’s waters.

“We have very good fishermen here in the Bay of Islands. There's been the odd thing where people have gone, ‘Oh, I wonder if back then that such-and-such could have been a fish’. But we would've seen or heard of something before this. We would've noticed these fish over 120 years of fishing in the Bay of Islands,” he says.

If people didn't notice, what has changed?

“Perhaps it was because we were not necessarily trying very hard at this time of year,” Johnson says. 

“Perhaps the way the krill turned up in the Bay of Islands and the bait fish that accompanied them changed things a bit. Or perhaps, and probably most likely, there's been a huge reduction in long line pressure from the commercial long line fleet, both in New Zealand, but mainly from overseas, and this population of fish is just bouncing back hard.

“These fish just do what fish do, which is as their population grows, they expand their habitat. What was traditionally bluefin territory off the cold West Coast waters of the South Islands is now turning up to be springtime off the Bay of Islands. 

“Are they turning up here because the bait is really excessive, or is it because the Pacific bluefin stock is really good? I’ve certainly heard from commercial fishermen this year that at one point they had to stop fishing for bluefin tuna because they were just getting too many Pacific blue tuna caught, so they couldn't effectively catch the
bluefin tuna. 

“Whatever it is, it's just a fantastic thing.”

Johnson says the SBT have predominantly been caught close to land in traditionally kingfish territory, areas where big bait schools congregate in 20-50m of water.

“PBT are a strange species that have only ever been successfully targeted recreationally on the West Coast of the South Island in August and September,” he says.  

“They occasionally pop up in other random spots like Three Kings and are caught as bycatch while fishing for marlin, but very little is really known about them.”

Johnson says you need big gear and an experienced crew to target and catch these fish successfully.

“These tuna are incredibly strong fish – they are built to cross oceans. They have the strength and power completely unlike most gamefish in New Zealand,” he says. 

“Do not turn up to a gunfight with a knife – 80lb + tackle, suitable weather conditions, fit strong anglers, and an experienced team are an absolute necessity.”

Johnson says for those interested in learning how to catch SBT, it’s best to pop into the club.

“Go into the Bay of Islands Swordfish Club on one of our club nights, Wednesday from 6pm, talk to some of the local guys who have hooked and fought a few and get the latest intel from them directly.”

Johnson wonders if this is the future of what an abundant fishery looks like.

“We’re catching huge bluefin tuna off the Bay of Islands in the middle of winter. What’s next? Do we catch thousand-pound blue marlin regularly in New Zealand now? Is
this a one-off or is next season gonna be even better?

“I don't even know what's next, because this is literally as good as it gets.”

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The Central North Island Sika Foundation is taking significant steps to better understand and manage the Sika deer population through a new tracking collar programme.

Foundation secretary Cam Speedy says the Sika tracking collar programme aims to shed light on the less understood aspects of Sika deer behaviour, particularly the movement patterns of young stags.

"One of the kind of black boxes for Sika stags is when they're staghorn with mum," Speedy explains. "They leave mum, go on a bit of OE, and then set up a commute between seasonal fattening country and their home range," he says. 

Wallace says this period of dispersal is critical for the stags as they seek new territories and avoid inbreeding by distancing themselves from their mothers and other close relatives.

By fitting young stags with tracking collars, the Foundation will be able to gather six satellite data points per day on each animal's location. This extensive data collection will continue over the next three to four years, providing a comprehensive view of the movement patterns and behaviours of these deer.

Raising Awareness and Promoting Sustainable Hunting

Speedy says the tracking programme is not just about collecting data – it's also educating hunters and the wider community. 

"What the Sika Foundation is about is sustainability long term," he says. "How do we look after the places where these deer live so that they thrive? And then how do we look after the herds so that they produce quality venison and quality trophies and quality hunting experiences?"

The data collected from this program is poised to play a pivotal role in habitat management and conservation efforts. 

"The data will tell us how far young stags go on average and where they move to," Speedy says. 

"Longer term, that helps us plan for better habitat management."

Despite the ecological insights the programme promises, challenges persist, particularly in relation to hunting practices. Many hunters, unaware of the collars or the research, have inadvertently disrupted past studies by shooting collared deer. 

"I collared 15 stags between 2009 and 2013 and lost more than half of them to hunting," Speedy says. 

The Foundation is keen to change this narrative by fostering a better understanding of deer populations and encouraging more sustainable hunting practices. 

"We're trying to encourage hunters to shoot way less stags and way more hinds. That will control the population, improve the quality of the habitat, and, in turn, enhance the quality of both the venison and the trophies that we have for the future," he says.

"If you want quality eight-point stags, we need to understand Sika behaviour and habitat needs."

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Pelagic Charters is celebrating its best bluefin season yet.

"It was a pretty good year," Ethan from Pelagic tells The Adventurer. 

"We had probably one of the better seasons out of everyone, I'd say for the charters. We did probably do more days on the water. We finished up with 152 for the season. Our best trip was 28 bluefin for one trip. We caught the biggest weighed bluefin in the country for the season. 152 kilos without the guts – that could have been 170 kilo fish.

Ethan says bluefin fishing is getting better every year.

"This season was by far our best season. I think it is getting better and it's probably something to do with the fishery being managed a little bit better internationally with quota systems, and plus the value isn't really there to catch them commercially. So what we've found is that a lot of the commercial fishermen in New Zealand don't really start targeting them until quite late in the season, so there's a little bit less commercial pressure there. 

"One thing that we did notice this year is we on basically every single trip we have caught bluefin. I know that's not been the same for a lot of the other guys out there,” Ethan adds.

“Last season we had a couple of trips where we couldn't find the fish – but this year we've just noticed we're catching them basically every single trip.”

Ethan says they shut the doors for their season around mid August. 

"It starts to get a little bit inconsistent after then. But they're just like clockwork every single year. They start around the second week of June to the middle of August."

Ethan says the team has been pretty busy, with people super interested in night time fishing following The Adventurer article last month. 

"Obviously everybody caught a whiff of that nighttime stuff and wanted to get amongst that a lot more," he says. "We were doing back to back trips, and when everybody wants to fish every single night and all day, every single day, it can get a bit tough! But of course, it was good fun. Everybody got to experience some pretty good fishing."

Ethan says the appeal of bluefin is that it's a great trophy fish. 

"When you have the potential to go out and catch a fish that weighs more than you, it becomes quite appealing. Plus, obviously bluefin tuna is a delicacy, so people like to get them to eat," he says. 

"But we're also finding people are becoming a lot more responsible now and not wanting to kill everything they see come up to the boat. So they're happy taking a photo and sending it back."

Ethan says their release rate this year was around about 40%.

"We do set a very strict limit of one bluefin per person on those trips," he says. 

"We're finding that some guys might have a group of six or eight on the boat, and they're happy with taking three fish and then just letting everything else go. It's more just to catch the trophy."

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While trolling lures have been the quintessential method for catching southern bluefin tuna, night-time jigging is proving a highly effective technique for anglers.

Night jigging for bluefin has been a successful method for catching these fish when they are feeding down deeper at night. It gives fishermen the option to double their opportunities once they have travelled all the way to the tuna, or when they are not coming up to hit trolled surface lures.

Pelagic Charters skipper Ethan says they have had a lot of luck with jigging for southern bluefin over the last year. 

"We've been doing it on just about all of our trips this season,” he says. “And it’s proven very lucky for our fishers.”

But jigging for bluefins is not a new thing for Pelagic, Ethan says.

“On a charter trip back in 2020, we had some good weather one night, and we were just parked up drifting, having been trolling like we do every day,” he explains. 

“We had one young kid on the trip, and he dropped a jig one night, and he ended up getting a 65-odd kilo bluefin. It was pretty cool. So after that, we would do it from time to time, and then last year, we got back into it and have had a lot of success during the night over the last year.”

Ethan says feeding patterns this season have been different than in previous years.

"This season, we're finding a lot of time if you haven't hooked up and caught a bluefin by around 9:30pm, you're not gonna get one,” he says. 

“So that's when we started sort of getting into the night-time stuff, actually physically targeting them, trying to sort of work it out a little bit more on the jigs. 

“And it's been really productive, particularly this year. It almost seems as if the feeding patterns of the season are a little bit different than in previous years. |Not really sure why – every year is a 100% different. 

“It has become a little bit trickier on the lures to catch them. But in saying that, we've had some pretty spectacular fishing this year on lures,” Ethan says. 

“But it's mainly been that first thing in the morning and last thing in the day, that change-of-light bite, that's been the most productive. And we're still catching them throughout the day, but it's not as productive. 

“It's not uncommon for us to catch five or six before 10 o'clock in the morning and then catch nothing until it's dark and we're jigging. One of our better nights this year was 15 on the jigs, and we caught four during the day on the lures. And that's a relatively short time-span as opposed to a full day of trolling, which could be up to sort of 12 hours."

Ethan says Pelagic starts its season for the bluefin around the second week of June and pushes right through till the second or third week of August. Their tours run for two-and-half days, with clients boarding late afternoon or in the evening for a fully catered trip.

"If the weather allows, we are pretty much straight out to the grounds and they could be jig fishing for tuna for as long as they can handle it," he says.

What's working?

Kaz Otsubo, from Ocean’s Legacy, says jigs that have been working are mainly long slim jigs that get down to where tuna are, and that flutter down as a slow pitch jig. 

“At night, baitfish come up high and tuna follow them and actively feeding around 30-100m,” he says. 

Jigs

Long Contact jigs 170g, 210g, 270g and Deep Contact 300g, 400g are the best choices and catching heaps of bluefin tuna.”

Kaz says the following set up works well:

Rods:

Ocean's Legacy Vengeance B521H 5'2" PE4-8 rod or Ocean's Legacy Elementus Deep B611H++ 6'1" PE6+ rod

Reel:

A high-end overhead reel with 300m of PE6/PE8 line capacity

Braid:

High-quality PE6 & PE8 (100lb or close)

Leader:

Fluorocarbon leader 130+lb

Hooks:

‍Ocean's Legacy Lancet Heavy Jigging Assist Hooks 9/0 & 11/0

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Fisher Greg Potter has reeled in what he says is his proudest catch to date, with a 44.2kg bass off his kayak.

“I've ticked off a number of really impressive catches from the kayak, but this one meant a lot to me because I'd put in a lot of time out on the kayak chasing bass and hapuka,” Greg says.

“And it takes a long time to get out to the sort of grounds where you need to be to catch these fish, especially from a kayak. On average I was probably pedaling three hours at least to get out to these spots. So when you go all the way out there and come home empty handed, it's pretty hard going.

“To go out there and get straight into a really nice hapuka, which ended up weighing about 12kg, and then the bass as well. It was definitely a really special fish, given the depths we were fishing as well, which was relatively shallow for bass. We were under 150m. These fish are typically caught in depths of 200-350m, making the chances of catching one on a kayak rather slim.

“I was not expecting one of that size to be hanging around those sorts of grounds, so that's what made it a really special catch for me.”

Greg says he got really lucky with the conditions.

“There was a bit of an offshore breeze in the morning as we're heading out, but the conditions were perfect. We had a nice sunny day, next to no wind, and we had current about 2km an hour pushing us on the way out and a couple of kilometres an hour of current pushing us back in on the way back, so it really was a perfect day out there.”

The fight lasted about 10 minutes before the creature exploded onto the surface.

“The whole fight, I wasn't sure whether it was going to be a bass or a hapuka, just given how heavy this fish was at the end of the line. I was half expecting it to be a shark, but the style of fishing I was doing, which was slow pitch jigging, it would be pretty rare to catch a shark,” Greg says.

“As soon as I hooked up, I knew this was a really solid fish on the end of the line. It did some crazy runs to start with. It took five minutes to get it off the bottom.

Greg says he had to play the fish carefully. 

“It was really tense the first five minutes because every time that I'd get it off the bottom, or 5m or 10m, it would just go straight back down,” he says.

“Then finally after a good five minutes I could see it on my fish finder. It was 30m off the bottom and it was just a huge sigh of relief, because once you get to about 30m the chance of it busting off is pretty slim. Although, I’ve got to say, even after I got it to 30m off the bottom, it still put up a really good fight. It did another few solid runs on the way up through the water column.”

Greg says when it did finally breach the surface, the fish came right up by the kayak, and because of the air pressure on its stomach, it just exploded onto the surface of the water.

“And it smashed into the underside of the kayak and just erupted out of the water next to the kayak. It was insane. It was one of the craziest things I've ever seen on the kayak. A fish of that size just popping up right next to you. I was so lost for words and in such disbelief,” he says.

Greg says seeing the bass was a fantastic feeling.

“The whole fight, which probably lasted 10 or 15 minutes, I was going, it's gonna be a shark, it's gonna be a shark. And so when it finally popped up and I saw that it was a bass, I was just completely blown away. And just the sheer size of it was just incredible. I never would have expected to catch one like that on a kayak.

“I’m really over the moon,” he says.

“Just the sheer amount of work that went into catching this fish. The size of it… it’s just such an awesome catch.”

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The annual Snapper Bonanza fishing competition saw more prizes, bigger crowds and heavier fish than ever before. 

Organised by Dave Collard and John Stewart, the premier five-day event takes place on Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē 90 Mile Beach and celebrates the pursuit of one species:
the snapper. 

Since its inception in 1982, the competition has grown in scale and popularity, attracting anglers from far and wide to test their skills against the backdrop of New Zealand's coastline.

Organiser John Stewart speaks to The Adventurer about the event’s evolution over the years. 

"Back in 1982 there were probably about 600 anglers," he says, "and we've grown it since then to 1200 anglers now, which always gets sold out in a few hours." 

The event also draws a total crowd attendance of between 1500 and 3000 people each night, enjoying the entertainment and prize givings.

This year’s event offered substantial rewards for participants, with more than $80,000 in cash prizes available for people who have caught fish. On top of the cash prizes, there are numerous lucky draw prizes to ensure that every attendee has a chance to walk away with something special. This year, the total prize pool reached a quarter of a million dollars, marking a new high for the competition.

"The event will still cater for the unlucky angler that doesn’t catch a fish as the lucky draw spot prizes exceed $100k,” says John. “There's people that come for 10 years and don't catch a fish. It’s not that easy.”

The 2024 edition of the competition proved to be another success. 

"This year’s event came together really well. The weather conditions were perfect, but the sea conditions were a little bit hard work, especially later in the week,” John says.

"We caught 300-odd fish on the first day, which is quite a lot for us. It's the second highest amount we’ve had in one day. One year we had about 700, which was just crazy. But that's only happened once. Some days we've had absolutely no fish caught. But that’s where the lucky draw prizes come in.”

John says the crowd at this event was a highlight. 

"The crowd was amazing, as good as it's been. There were up to 3000 people there every night for six nights. It’s become a really family friendly event with lots of kids joining in,” he says.

John says the quality of the fish caught during the 2024 event exceeded expectations.

“The fish were generally a lot bigger than previous years,” he says. “I think that is because the beach has just been fishing so well and there were a super amount of tuatuas for food. The fish are in really good condition and they're big, they're big fish. Our average weight one day was 4.5kg.

“Our top five fish on the Tuesday were all over 7kg.”

Tickets go on sale for next year's event on the 1st of June. See below for the overall winners. The full list of can be found here: https://snapperbonanza.co.nz/winners/

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OVERALL WINNERS

Heaviest Snapper Zane Kaaka, Te Kao 8.225kg $30,000

Average Weight Snapper Damien Sinclair, Wairoa 3.63kg $10,000

Ladies Average Weight Snapper Joeleen Rogers, Kaitaia 3.551kg $2,000

Teams Average Weight Snapper Marty Black, Awanui 19.835kg $3,000

Winning Team Bounty Hunters 82.52kg $5,000

2nd Team 4UP 68.535kg $3,000

3rd Team The God Botherers 67.535kg $1000

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The 2024 Kubota Billfish Classic has been crowned the largest tournament in the world, with a massive 420 teams battling it out.

Event organiser Tom Maxwell says it is a massive achievement, with demand for the event bigger than ever before.

“This year’s event saw 420 boats take part – a number that saw the event take over the White Marlin Open as the largest tournament in the world. So that's been a really cool achievement,” Tom tells The Adventurer.

Last year’s event had 265 teams, so it is a huge increase.

“And that was even capped off, and sold out eight months ago,” Tom says. “And then we still had a waiting list of people paid up in the hope that people would pull out. So, the demand's really high.”

Tom says this year’s event went better than expected.

“We had pretty good weather. Awesome weather on day one, and then a bit of wind on the following two days, but everyone still managed to get out there,” he says.

Tom says the Kubota Classic is a huge deal for the Whitianga community. 

“Financially, we’ve estimated the event brought in about $6.3 million. Some experts have said it could be closer to $30 million, if you take into account the people that are coming in and buying properties off the back of the tournament and stuff like that,” he says.

Giving back to the community and charity was also a major focus for the event.

“We had the grandstand set up around the weigh station area and had lots of engagement with the non-fishing community. We had lots of families and kids down there watching and learning a lot about the fish and stuff,” says Tom.

“The event saw more than $28,000 raised for breast cancer, and thanks to Kubota, we've managed to get the Coast Guard two brand-new Kubota tractors to launch their two rescue vessels with.”

And for the first time in the event’s history, a food bank was set up.

“It was a hell of a hit,” says Tom. “We had a few of the teams donate the fish that they weighed to the Whitianga Community Services Trust. The fish was smoked and processed for free by local businesses, all for people in need. It was a fantastic, meaningful initiative and we'll do it moving forward from now on.”

With so many teams taking part, there were also a lot of prizes up for grabs. The total price pool was $1.5 million. 

“The Godfather was this year’s champion team, and they won more than $462,000. That’s a New Zealand record payout. No-one's ever won that sort of money before,” Tom says. 

Tom says interest for next year’s event is already buzzing.

“It's just a matter of being able to accommodate all the people and all the logistics and everything,” he says.

“The bigger the event, the harder it is to put together. It was a huge jump up this year. It’s quite overwhelming all the work that needs to be done. The event is all put together by volunteers. We’re all just fishermen and farmers and stuff. We don’t know really know what we’re doing, haha.”

Clearly, Tom and the team are doing a fine job, with demand already through the roof.

“The demand has been huge. All our inboxes have just been absolutely jammed packed full of people inquiring about next year that weren't there this year. The interest is bigger than we've ever experienced ever before,” Tom says.

“We've got a lot of a lot of planning and stuff to do before we make any decisions, but we know it’s going to be an amazing, huge event.”

Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club president Gordon McIvor sang the event’s praises.

“On behalf of the MBGFC we would like to acknowledge and thank Tom Maxwell for his huge amount of work and effort in making the Kubota Billfish Classic 2024 such a monumentally successful event – the world’s largest of its kind,” Gordon says.

“It is because of his vision, passion and dedication that Mercury Bay was able to host this world-class tournament. Once again Tom has put in the hard yards to make this event happen, and his attention to detail and ability to plan ahead has created a tournament we can all be so proud of,” he says.

“So again, a massive thank you to Tom on behalf of the MBGFC, we are already looking forward to 2025!”

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Champion Team 

1st The Godfather $462,350 2nd = Walkabout $82,562.50

2nd = Black Gold $82,562.50

Heaviest Billfish $350,000 - Mid Life Crisis 256.5 kg Blue Marlin

Heaviest Tuna $10,000 - Sea K 68.26 kg Big Eye Tuna

Heaviest Mahimahi $10,000 - The Boardroom 13.72 kg

Heaviest Kingfish $10,000 - Extreme Limits 22.82 kg

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Keen angler Wesley van den Herik has caught and landed a trophy swordfish around 50km off the coast of Tasmania – all while on a jet ski.

Wesley says that after landing his first sword from a boat, he set himself the goal to catch a swordfish from his Sea-Doo Fish Pro. 

“In my mind this was the ultimate challenge: fishing 30-50km offshore from the boat launch, dropping a bait 500m+ deep and battling a gladiator for hours would be the most extreme and rewarding experience,” he says. 

After four drops without success Wesley decided to relocate to a new spot, 12km from the first spot. 

“It didn't take long after my new drop and the line started slowly stripping away. I started cranking the reel as hard as possible. I felt a massive weight immediately and I continued putting the pressure on the fish to ensure a solid hook set,” he says. 

Wesley says the fish fought deep and then raced to the surface. 

“I couldn’t be more pumped when I saw a sword go airborne and at the same time I was nervous about losing the fish because I lost a sword the previous season when it went airborne,” he says. 

“This time I was relieved when I felt the pressure come back and a very tough fight followed.”

After getting skipper Jonah Yick on the radio, Wesley sent out his coordinates, where Jonah and his crew would offer support and transport the sword back.

“What followed was the most intense, crazy and most painful fight of my life,” Wesley says. 

“The pressure of the sword circling about 30-40m below the ski was hard on the body. My arm started to cramp up and I lost control over my hand a few times, which made it hard to crank the reel,” he says. 

“Just over two hours into the fight the sword rolled over and I was able to put a flying gaff in it, turned the gaff around for another gaff shot to grab the tail and tail roped it.”

Wesley says he couldn’t believe what happened and that he had succeeded. 

Jonah Yick and crew, Tom Srod and Cain, took photos and videos and helped to transfer the sword to Sally 2.0. 

“After this I spent about 30 minutes processing what happened and entering cloud nine,” Wesley says.

”After an unsuccessful season last year and preparing for months I did it! For months before this, catching a sword was all I could think of and I knew I had to take it to the next level with my preparation. 

“Everything was thought through a thousand times, from rigs, setting the hook, simulating a fight with my wife Patricia testing my harness set up, gaffing and thinking through communication lines with Jonah for transportation and safety support. 

“I did a last minute replacement of my top guide by Ben on my BK Custom Tackle rod days before the catch because there was a sharp edge on and didn't want to leave anything to chance.

The fish was weighed at the local tuna club with the support of Sam Nichols and Stuart Nichols at Personalised Sea Charters, weighing 132kg.

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In the coastal town of Whitianga, a story of passion, dedication, and opportunity unfolds. Meet Clinton Raynell, a local lad with a passion for boats and go getter attitude. Born and bred in Whitianga, Clinton’s lineage boasts an engineer father and a grandfather who honed his craft as a spring maker in Rotorua for over five decades.

From a young age, Clinton’s fascination with boats and fishing ignited a flame within him. Fuelled by his passion for boating and fishing, Clinton used his kiwi initiative and determination and sheer audacity, to approach Pinnacle Boats, a local boat builder, and inquired about opportunities within the trade. 

Clinton’s journey at Pinnacle Boats commenced during his spare hours outside of school. Eager to learn the boat building craft, he eagerly pitched in, assisting the team wherever needed with enthusiasm. His destiny as a boatbuilder seemed preordained, evident from his penchant for purchasing and refurbishing broken surfboards and boats, which he then sold while still attending school.  

For Clinton, the allure of hands-on work eclipsed the confines of the classroom, rendering the prospect of university education a distant consideration. He firmly believes that trades offer a head start in life. Undertaking the MAST Launch It School 2 Work program paved the way for Clinton’s transition into a formal apprenticeship in Alloy Boatbuilding, a testament to his unwavering commitment to his craft.

Grateful for the support of his employer, Clinton says the support of Pinnacle Boats, as mentors make them legends in their own right. His advice to fellow school leavers is “to get out there and do it, aim high, and pursue your passion.”

In the eyes of Alistair McEwen, owner of Pinnacle Boats, nurturing apprentices embodies a reciprocal exchange of knowledge and legacy. Reflecting on his own journey, Alistair underscores the pivotal role apprenticeships play in sustaining and invigorating the industry. Having amassed three boatbuilding qualifications and owning his own business, Alistair is a testament to the transformative power of seizing opportunities and paying it forward.

Navigating the apprenticeship process with MAST Academy proved seamless for Alistair and Pinnacle Boats. With an unwavering commitment to their apprentices’ growth and development, they commend the program’s flexibility and robust support structure. For Alistair, investing in apprentices isn’t merely a business imperative but a moral obligation to safeguard the industry’s future.

While Clinton’s Boat building journey is just beginning there is no doubt that he will reap the rewards of hard work and perseverance in the future, and  Pinnacle Boats will have a passionate trades person that they will be proud of. 

If you are interested in having an apprentice, or you want to see what the marine industry can offer you -

 go to  mastacademy.com/getstarted

or contact us at info@mastacademy.com

By Kadin Willis

“Marlin! Marlin! Marlin!” Gene yelled, “get in the water!” All hell's breaking loose. I slipped into the water and as soon as the bubbles cleared I was met by a solid striped marlin fully lit up. A mental image I will never forget.  

Pushing out with my gun, I sent a spear thundering through him and instantly he was off. Gene had front row seats watching it all unfold on the surface, only 2m off the side of the tinny. The marlin took off at full pace doing a half leap out of the water. This is when he really put the power on and he had me planing along on the surface holding onto the floats. 

Then heartbreak suddenly sets in, when in an instant the floats come to a screeching halt. The fish of a lifetime was gone. Unfortunately, the small D-shackle created a pinch point in my Dyneema shooting line and it failed.

We were absolutely buzzing from the experience, we couldn’t believe it. Gene's goal was just to raise a fish and mine was to put in a good holding shot if the opportunity arose. 

I had travelled to Northland from the mighty south with a dream and half an idea. Ever since I was a pup, shooting a marlin was the top of the to-do list for me, the absolute pinnacle. I linked up with my best mate Gene Gray from Backridge Taxidermy, and being an avid game fisherman he held the knowledge I needed to find the fish of a lifetime.

We spent the first two days of the trip inshore searching for the elusive snapper. Eventually the time had come and the weather window was shaping up perfectly. We spent the evening getting the 14ft tiller steer dinghy ready to go wide the next day, giving all the gear the once over.

After the heartbreak of losing the fish of a lifetime, we were feeling full of the pure stoke that we raised a fish and created an opportunity, so we both had the shakes setting the lures out the back again. 

Come day three, only 20 minutes had gone by when Gene suddenly yelled, and up ahead was a marlin free swimming with its fins out of the water. Considering I’d only seen my first ever live marlin the day before, I couldn’t believe what my eyes were seeing; I was literally living my childhood dream.

The anticipation was through the roof as we were heading out on day four. We had a much better idea of what we needed to do if the opportunity arose, but the reality was we had done about 10 years’ worth of game fishing on the first day, so it was going to be hard to match.

We neared our mark from the day before when out of nowhere a bill and fin appeared in our spread. “Fish!” I yelled and instantly went through my process to make sure I had all my kit on. Gene put his knowledge into action and ripped the short right in out of the way, gave me the green light and I slipped in as he slowed the boat, then turned it around me and ripped the back left in with a marlin hot on its heels. 

I looked up to see a solid striped marlin lit up heading right towards me, it was surreal to watch. He turned broadside and I unleashed the big gun, hitting him hard with a really good holding shot. 

I jumped on the boat to catch up with my floats. He was digging deep, trying to pull the first float under with his first run. Jumping back in it was now time to roll the sleeves up and go to work. 

I got up to the first float, which was attached to the 25m float line via a heavy duty shark clip, then the bungee was connected to a 5m hardline and my big Mahi float, which is a good way to have it set up in case the shark clip failed. I started working the shark clip towards the fish bringing the fight higher up in the water column. I couldn’t believe it, if I looked up from the float I could see him clearly 25m away powering forwards. I’ve never seen water so clean.

Gene chucked my second gun to me and I placed another really good holding shot. In the blink of an eye he was gone, he had the hammer down. I had to jump on the boat to catch up again. 

It was now time to seal the deal and I jumped in with the reel gun. Working my way back up the float line again I was absolutely exhausted. I got right in his zone trying to place a shot into his head, and he was turning hard left and right with his head so he could see me closing in on him. 

I tell you one thing for sure, this young southern bloke was feeling pretty intimidated by this big powerful fish. I was lining the shot up when he suddenly turned on a dime and came straight at me! That’s not the way you want a bill fish facing in a fight! I think he was trying to intimidate me and I tell ya what, it worked! I absolutely butchered my shot sending it straight over his head. 

I quickly reloaded, this time placing a solid shot and I knew things were sooner or later in our favour. 

He was trying to dive but now it was time for me to put the acid on and bring this fight to the top of the water column, and with every kick he pulled me 2m underwater. Kicking hard I finally got him close, and reality set in that I was going to have to grab and wrestle this marlin now. I’ll be the first to admit I wasn’t super keen on the idea, but I took a deep breath and swam in to grab him by the bill. I had watched a video of Darren Shields earlier in the week explaining how to do this safely. I had him by the bill with my legs around him, and I sealed the deal. 

There were yahoo’s all around, I swear all of Northland would have heard. We were absolutely buzzing! This was the fish of a lifetime for me, a dream I never thought I’d achieve being a kid from Marlborough. I had come up with half an idea and went on a hell of a mission with my best mate, we threw everything at it and we were absolutely exhausted.

It’s amazing what can be achieved when you are keen and have half an idea.

Lochie Freer's Marine Industry journey

New Zealand's landscapes are not just breathtaking - they also inspire a way of life deeply rooted in nature. For Lochlan "Lochie" Freer, that connection became the cornerstone of both his personal and professional journey. Originally from Napier, where trades and farming were family traditions, Lochie found his passions for hunting and fishing could be combined with his new career in the heart of the Coromandel Peninsula.

From school to Peninsula Marine

Lochie's journey began with a unique opportunity – a School Gateway programme. Through this programme he showcased his dedication and skills at Peninsula Marine, making a lasting impression on his future employer. This initiative not only allowed Lochie to express his interest in the job, but also gave Peninsula Marine a chance to get to know him personally before offering him an apprenticeship. Lochie seized the opportunity when it was offered and went on to complete his apprenticeship.

Choosing a path with less debt

Leaving school early might seem unconventional, but for Lochie, it was a strategic move. Fueled by a love for hands-on work, he wanted an apprenticeship to gain valuable real-world skills - and to avoid a student loan. Lochie was drawn to the marine industry, envisioning a career that would keep him connected to the outdoors.

Lochie successfully completed the New Zealand Certificate in Power Boat Systems Servicing and Repair (Technician) (Level 4). This comprehensive apprenticeship equipped him with specialised skills required in servicing and repairing power boat engines and systems. 

Reflecting on his apprenticeship journey, Lochie acknowledges Peninsula Marine's unwavering support. "Peninsula Marine have been fantastic and were very supportive, and at times honest when I needed to hear it," he says. Now, as a seasoned professional with apprentices under him, Lochie is passing on his knowledge to the next generation, mentoring new apprentices.

Advice for aspiring apprentices

For school leavers contemplating an apprenticeship, Lochie offers some valuable tips. "It’s definitely a good idea, but you must organise your fun and life around your book work," he says, emphasising the importance of balancing work and study through the apprenticeship journey. “Real - world learning also offers you invaluable life skills”.

Looking back at the challenges he faced with his apprenticeship, Lochie simplifies the experience. "Things are only as hard as you make them – if you organise and focus, it's easy after that." 

This attitude has been instrumental in Lochie's success, along with the support he received along the way from his MAST training advisors.

Alan Thomsen of Peninsula Marine Ltd

With over 35 years in business, Alan Thomsen, the owner of Peninsula Marine Ltd in Thames, sees the invaluable benefits of apprenticeships. Alan also believes it helps to ‘Future-proof’ his industry because it provides a continuity of trained individuals entering the trades. 

Alan emphasises the joy of training and molding young minds to meet the specific needs of the marine industry. He looks for young people who are keen to learn and who are ready to absorb the skills and knowledge vital to his business. Creating a learning culture and supporting young apprentices helps ensure they stay long term. 

Alan notes that Lochie demonstrated a remarkable evolution in skill development right from the start, with a learning mindset and particularly enjoying challenging work and problem-solving. According to Alan, the apprenticeship system fosters continuous learning, growth, and confidence. And with MAST Training Advisers always supporting, Alan says “there is no reason why apprentices can’t succeed.” 

The right way forward

For Lochie, the apprenticeship journey equipped him with a valuable and rewarding skill set, particularly in diagnosing faults in engines and other marine systems. Considering his future, he also plans to stay right where he is. Peninsula Marine has a great company culture and a supportive environment, ideal for their mutual and continued growth. Lochie’s journey is testament to the power of hands-on learning and a desire to combine work with adventure outdoors. 

Ready to fire up your own journey? 

MAST apprenticeship courses contribute trained technicians and trades people to the industry with the expertise required to handle the intricacies of marine machinery, materials and methods. MAST has a range of apprenticeship programmes, from production boat building to composite boat building to industrial textiles and marina operations. 

If you’re looking for a trade career, an apprenticeship in the marine industry could be the gateway to a fulfilling life adventure. For apprenticeship options - or if you’re an employer with someone you want to train - go to  mastacademy.com/getstarted

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The Gisborne area has experienced a hot start to the game-fishing season, with Gisborne Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club president Roger Faber saying it’s been the best season ever since records began. 

“We've got records back 70 years and we’ve never seen it as good as this,” he tells The Adventurer.

“We saw big eye tuna turn up just before Christmas, around the middle of December, which is very early for us to be getting game-fish. We’ve seen really good numbers and some really good fish.”

The heaviest one weighed so far is 138kg, with more than a dozen weighing in over the 100kg mark. 

“A lot of fish haven’t been weighed, especially some of the smaller fish, but we'd be thinking there'd be probably 50 or 60 big eye tuna being caught,” Roger says.

Roger says this is vastly different from previous years, where some seasons the club doesn’t see any.

“Last year we did get a few but nowhere near the same numbers and nowhere near the same size,” he says. 

“And it's been a number of years previous that we haven't had any at all. Going back probably six years, we did have a spate of them and, but they were all smaller fish in the sort of 30-50kg range, whereas this season there has been a lot of bigger fish.”

Roger says warmer waters at this time of year would be playing a big part in the increase in catches.

“The tuna turned up first, but then the marlin have turned up since then. And just before New Year we had our first marlin caught. And early in the New Year we had some excellent catches of blue marlin, the heaviest 281kg. Another one at 222kg. So we've seen a number of blues turning up, but a lot of striped marlin. 

“On an average day out of Gisborne, there's not a lot of game boats out, so we're probably seeing around a dozen game boats out if you're lucky. And most days we've been sort of getting six or seven marlin and six or seven big eye a day. So most boats have been catching fish.”

Roger says the fish are being caught not that far from Gisborne.

“It's about 18 nautical miles from Gisborne, in a couple of hundred metres of water. And that seems to be where the concentration of tuna and marlin are.”

He says there are more members targeting game-fish now than previously.

“What we're seeing is a lot of people who normally don't fish for game-fish have gone in, and I know the tackle shops have run short of game gear because there's been such a pressure from people going in wanting to grab gear and everything. And people that normally don't go game-fishing are going out and catching marlin and tuna, which is great news.”

Hunting & Fishing New Zealand has opened a new store in Whitianga. 

The new store officially opened its doors to the public in early December, marked by a grand opening event with special guests and a cook-out.

Store manager, Alex Reynolds, says the occasion was a big event for the whole hub, with a few hundred people through the doors. 

The new store has eight staff, all with experience in the outdoors. 

“All our staff are locals apart from one, who has come up from Queenstown, so we've got some good local knowledge and people that are embedded into the community already. We've got a diver, a fisherman, a hunter – they're all outdoorsy, knowledgeable people,” says Alex. 

“So they'll be able to provide good knowledge to people either visiting the area or locals wanting to just get some good information,” he says.

The new store has been a long time coming.

“So 18 years ago, my father bought the territory for Hunting and Fishing for the Coromandel, up from his store in Thames at the Kopu bridge. It was always a plan to venture into other areas depending on the population growth,” says Alex.

“And with the growth we’ve seen at Whitianga, the population is big enough to support a store here. So my dad asked if I wanted to open a new store here, and I jumped at the chance. 

Alex has managed the Hunting & Fishing store in Thames for the last seven years.

“Whitianga is a wicked place for hunters and fishers. It's got the deep wide ocean out there, and there are quite a lot of hunters in the community as well, which we weren't quite aware of at the start,”
Alex says. 

“But we've seen a lot of local interest in the hunting sector, so that's a bonus. The magnitude of the boats out here. Everyone's got a boat, everyone goes fishing
or swimming.”

“We’re a proud, Māori family-run business going hard. We’re excited to cement our place in the Whitianga community.”

By Kaz Otsubo - Ocean’s Legacy NZ

It was a long day but was worth giving it a go. We headed out from the gulf in the morning. The original idea was to have a snapper/kingfish session somewhere close, but the weather was too good, so we went further and further. 

The first spot was empty so we went even further to a 400+m spot where we saw good sign and started dropping jigs. Yes, you heard me. Jigs in 400+m. We had some electric reels with bait too but three out of four POBs fished heavy metal jigs on manual reels. 

It took around 5 minutes to get down, but as soon as you started working the jig and lifted it a couple of times [missing words?]. Bang! Got a hit! Winding 400+m on a manual reel seems one hell of a task and it is but not as hard as it may sound. 

You take time to gently lift and wind. Yes it takes time but you get use to the rhythm and the most rewarding part is when you see the fish!

We caught so many bluenose and bass. We even left the spot, still biting!

Now, this type of fishing is called deepwater slow pitch jigging (or deepwater jigging). It is vertical jigging using a metal jig. It requires a specialised rod, a specialised jig, a large spool reel and a long PE braid. We use Ocean’s Legacy Elementus Deep rod and Deep Contact jigs that are designed for deepwater jigging. 

The jig sizes we used on that day were 560g/720g so you need to choose a rod that is capable of working these heavy jigs. We spooled 600-700m of PE3.0 braid on manual overhead reels. However, you can use electric reels and still work the jig. And because you are in deepwater, you want to use a thin braid, which will have less pressure from the current and make less belly. 

The jig size and PE size are important as you want to keep the line vertically straight down to work the jig best. If the current is still strong and your line gets pushed away, you may need to control your drift speed. We also use two sets of twin assist hooks. 

When you use a long metal jig, which is supposed to flutter down, fish can bite the jig from either side, so you want to make sure that you have the best chance to hook up the fish, especially when you are fishing in deepwater.

The technique is quite simple. Once the jig hits the bottom, lift the rod, half wind the reel and drop the rod to follow the slack line. When you start feeling the jig weight, repeat the above. You get a hit when the jig is fluttering down most of the time so you must be ready to strike it when you are following the slack line. 

For bluenose, you can work the jig slowly and fast as they chase the jig well. For bass/hapuku, you need to work the jig slowly around the bottom as they are lazy and wait for the bait.

We fished in 400+m, but you can find those deepwater species in 100+m depending on where you fish. You may also encounter some exotic species. One popular species is called gemfish. They are often not target species for many anglers. However, don’t throw them away. They are actually a great eating species!

Lastly, we are specialised in all types of saltwater jigging. We have been known as the leading slow pitch jigging specialists in New Zealand. Please reach out to us if you would like to know more about deepwater slow pitch jigging.

Avid angler Kurt Ward and crew onboard Hack Attack recently bagged a 60kg yellowfin with the help of the TK Offshore Crew platform off the
Bay of Islands.

The Offshore Crew, developed by offshore commercial fishing captain TK Walker, provides detailed meteorological data for fishers targeting pelagic species.

Fishing 300-400m off the Bay of Islands, Kurt was out in perfect conditions, with a beautiful day and flat turquoise water ahead of him. 

“There was a lot of bird life around, but not a lot of visible fish, though,” he says. 

The team hit the water around 9:30am targeting yellowfin, with a hook-up occurring around 1pm.

"We'd heard there were a few around earlier in the season. There had been one caught prior. So we just thought we'd go and give it a crack, and it worked out,” Kurt says. 

Kurt says the fight was a tough one. 

“It was a bit of a fight, all right. It kept going under and behind the boat, it was just all over the show. There was no real pattern to it.”

"Very nearly saw a grown man cry," he laughs. 

Kurt said using the TK Offshore Crew helped determine where to fish.

"The night prior, I put a message through on the Offshore app saying we were heading that way and we were pretty keen on some marks,” Kurt says. 

“There was another guy hanging out there as well, so TK put marks up for both of us, which was great.”

The Offshore Crew uses world-leading technology provided by Timezero Navigation Software to provide high resolution, multi-layer data forecasts on sea surface temperature, sea surface anomalies, phytoplankton, chlorophyll, thermocline and temperature shear and other factors to provide subscribers with accurate, up-to-date forecasts on where the pelagic species will be gathering to feed.

The platform provides forecasts on Fridays for the weekend’s fishing and Tuesday mornings so the community can keep track of any changes in the local conditions. It provides full coverage of the entire coastline of New Zealand as well as Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. There are plans to expand to other areas as demand requires.

“I keep an eye on any changes and am in contact with all our subscribers so I can update subscribers in a particular area if there are any significant changes,” TK says. 

The platform breaks the coastline into regions – such as Northland, Bay of Islands, Barrier-Coromandel – and gives detailed high-resolution images for each region with the points of interest marked and numbered in the images. It also provides the long and lat details for each mark, so subscribers can load the details into their plotter and make their way directly to the points of interest, saving time and fuel. 

"The information TK puts up is quite helpful. He's happy to share information that he's heard, it works out well,” says Kurt.

Members have access to TOC’s knowledge library of “how to” videos on a variety of subjects, including swordfish strategies, how TK has set up his Timezero system, how to process your swordfish catch etc. 

“These videos are subjects that our subscribers have asked for. We have an open forum where our community joins together to discuss all topics related to fishing and share photos and stories on how their fishing has been going,” says TK.

TK participates in all conversations and shares his knowledge with the community.

"We also provide a video tour of the coastline with each forecast where we walk the subscribers through each area and explain the different conditions on the day, and why we have selected each mark so our subscribers not only have the information but an explanation of why the selected areas will be holding bait and the target pelagic species,” TK says. 

“This helps to educate our subscribers on what to consider when seeking their target species.”

Subscribers receive information using the Kajabi-based app, which is specifically designed for subscription sites. 

“The information cannot be overlaid on a plotter, you simply load the long and lat for the mark you have decided to fish into your plotter.”

A subscription to the TK Offshore platform costs $24.95 per month or $249.50 per year (two free months).

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Some of TK's happy members over the last month

Sixty days, 55 blues and 21 groups of keen anglers made a spectacular two months of fishing for New Zealander Graeme 'Bonze' Fleet of Bonze Lures in the Azores Islands.

The Azores, located in the North Atlantic Ocean about 1,400km off the coast of Portugal, is known for its big game-fishing opportunities, with many anglers heading there from all around the world to land their dream catch.

Consisting of nine islands, the Azores is considered one of the best places in the world to find in abundance most species of big game-fishing, with a great possibility to catch blue marlin and tuna.

Bonze spent an incredible two months in the Azores, skippering the Brasilia.

He first ran a boat in the Azores 13 years ago, and always kept in touch with the owner.

“He asked me every year to go back, and this year I finally said ‘yeah mate, I'll go’,” he says.

Bonze runs Bonze Lures, makers of quality lures, clothing and accessories based in the Bay of Islands. Bonze’s lures have been tested in the harshest and best marlin fishing destinations around the globe, including Cape Verde and the Azores.

Bonze says the magic of the Azores is the abundance of blue marlin, and it is very different from fishing in New Zealand.

"It's a blue marlin fishery. Your average fish there is 500lb plus, it's a very different fishery to what we have here in New Zealand,” he says. 

“For the Azores, it's all about size. It's one of the only places in the world where you can consistently catch blue marlin over 500lb, that's what it is known for, that's why people go there.”

Over the two months Bonze worked the Azores, he took out 21 different groups from all around the world, including two lots of Kiwis.

“There's normally around three or four people for each charter, but we also had a guy for two weeks just by himself,” he says. 

“Not everyone catches something, but out of the 21 groups we had we only had two groups who didn't catch any fish with us. It's pretty hard to catch everyone a fish if there's four or five people in a group.” 

Bonze says there were many highlights. 

“We had two days of five blue marlin, and all of those fish were over 500lb so that was pretty crazy,” he says. 

“Meeting the people on the trips and spending time with them is the best part of the whole experience. We were very blessed with the groups we had, they were awesome people. It's not often you have a group that you wouldn't want to go to their house and have dinner with them. You end up being good friends with a lot of them. 

We ended up with 55 blues, 70% over 600lb and a solid handful in the 800lb+ region!

Northland fishers Shanon Scott and Shane Tekiri were targeting kingfish off the rocks at Cape Runaway in the Bay of Plenty when they landed a southern bluefin tuna – each!

Based at Kemp’s Farm, Shanon and Shane were at Cape Runaway for six days.

Shanon and Shane’s captures were remarkable for two reasons – the SBFT usually range a little wider and it is rare to find this within casting distance on the coast; and secondly, they were caught on topwater lures – in this case, poppers.

Speaking to The Adventurer, Shanon says the blue water was in close and there was a workup not far offshore.

“The tuna had come right in,” he says. “We didn't know what they were at first, we only target kingfish, so it was a massive surprise. 

“It wasn't really until we had one close to us swim under the ledge that we knew exactly what it was.”

Shanon says the fish weren't as aggressive compared to other game fish.

“As for the catch, from hooking the fish up to landing it, it wasn't overly long but it was a heavy fight. We definitely ran the gear as hard as we could push it. But it was a fairly quick fight considering.” 

The pair used a Cotton Cordell and a Rapala Xplode 170 for the catch.

Shanon says they were determined to land the fish.

"They weren't too worried about the live bait, and they fought a bit differently. We did have to change tack to 'fish of a lifetime, make sure we land it’.

“You seem to lose a lot of fish on the rocks and that was one we didn't want to miss, so the effort to land them changed as soon as we knew what they were.”

The fish weighed in at 36kg and 39kg. It was the first southern bluefin for Shanon.

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It was a surprise catch for fisherman Grant Hill on a recent trip out at White Island, pulling in his first ever tuna. 

Launching at Ohiwa Harbour with the intention of deep dropping for bluenose, hapuku and gem fish. Grant and his mate had been waiting for a good weather window to get to a new location just past White Island.

“We started fishing around 730am, the conditions were mint,” says Grant. 

“We caught a couple of gem fish, and then I brought in what I thought was going to be a deepwater species. When it got 50m from the boat, the line started going backwards at a great rate of knots, and I thought maybe a shark or something had taken whatever it was I had on.

“About half an hour of fighting it and getting it near the boat a couple times but not seeing it, we thought it had to be a big shark,” he says. 

They finally got a glimpse of it below the boat and realised it wasn't a shark – but didn’t think it was going to be a big tuna. After about 50 minutes, Grant got the fish to the surface and realised what it was – a massive big eye tuna.

“It was my first ever tuna, the boat's first tuna as well, not that we had ever tried before,” Grant says. 

“We were really surprised. When we saw it, we couldn't believe the size of it, it was over 100kg and 1.8m long. When it came to the surface, we thought, oh god what are we gonna do. So we gaffed it and got it onto the deck of the boat, and when it hit the deck we really could see the size of it, so we were ecstatic.” 

On top of the big surprise catch, they caught a few bluenose and gem fish as well, and returned to land very happy. 

Grant, who lives in Taupo and has a bach at Ohope, says they've got some gear to go trolling and will now intentionally go out to get some tuna.

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Fiordland outdoor adventure provider Takapu Charters has unveiled its latest package, combining diving, hunting, fishing, and a helicopter ride.

Owner Paul Jones says the experience promises to immerse outdoor enthusiasts in the “breathtaking beauty” of Fiordland while providing a “once-in-a-lifetime”
adventure.

Based in the Chalky and Preservation Sounds, Takapu Charters has been providing outdoor experiences for many years. The business was recently taken over by brothers Paul and Grant Jones. The company has a reputation for its commitment to the environment and delivering long-lasting memories to its guests.

Paul says the Dive, Hunt, Fish, and Helicopter Ride package brings together the very best of what Fiordland has to offer. 

Guests embark on captivating diving expeditions led by an experienced deckhand and captain. Divers can view black coral, red corals, schools of fish, reef communities, braciopods, crayfish, seadragons, sharks, seapens, rays, scallops and more. 

"At Takapu Charters, we are passionate about showcasing the natural wonders of Fiordland and providing our guests with unforgettable experiences," says Paul. 

"Our Dive, Hunt, Fish, and Helicopter Ride package is the ultimate adventure for outdoor enthusiasts, allowing them to indulge in their favourite activities while being surrounded by Fiordland's pristine beauty and unique history,” he says. 

“We are proud to offer this all-in-one package, combining the best of diving, hunting, fishing, and helicopter rides in and out to the boat, ensuring a truly remarkable and immersive experience."

Takapu’s boat the Parimar is equipped with a dive compressor, full size shower, toilet, fishing rods, reels & tackle, weight belts, dive bottles and full galley facilities. A cook with all meals is included in the package. 

“Combine all these features with the opportunity to dive, shoot, or fish Fiordland and you have the makings of a Never to be forgotten wilderness experience.” Paul says.

“Whether guests are seeking an adrenaline-pumping expedition or a tranquil getaway, this unique adventure is tailored to meet their desires and create memories that will last a lifetime.” 

Takapu Charters specialises in 7-day charters from Chalky & Preservation Inlet, fishing for groper & blue cod, diving for crayfish, scallops and hunting for red deer. 

The Dive, Hunt, Fish, and Helicopter Ride package is available for bookings now.

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There are three main ways you can connect to WiFi on board:

• Using marina WiFi

• Satellite internet

• Amplifying cellular data

Each way has its own pros and cons, and they wont all work every time. If you are unsure which option suits you, contact Marine Services to find a supplier in your region and they can advise what will be best for your needs.

Marina WiFi

This is the cheapest and easiest way to connect to the internet on board your boat. Most marinas have WiFi available, and you simply connect like you would any other network. You have to be close to get the signal, or else you can invest in a WiFi antenna/ extender. However, even a good quality extender will be prone to interference from weather conditions and if there are other boats between you and the original hotspot.

To set up your on-boat system, buy a long range WiFi receiver. Global marine have some great products that have been developed specifically for use on boats in the marine environment. The entire range is highly sensitive and has strong transmitter output power- a great start. If you are planning for more than one person to use the connection, you’ll need a router connected to the booster.

But what if you’re out at sea for days without returning to a harbour?

Amplifying a 4G data connection

There really is only one option that delivers real results and enables full hi-speed data for multiple users. The range of Celerway modems and routers brought to you by GMTS and Yacht Consultants can deliver 4G connectivity in a number of applications. Products are bundled with Sim cards and offer dual sim capability, unlimited data and external antenna options boasting on extended range of up to approximately 70km offshore.

Whether it’s business to stay on top of, streaming a sports game or entertaining the kids this is the one to go for.
Visit www.yachtconsultants.co.nz to see the full range available or to order.

Once this system is in place, you can happily access the net from most bodies of water in New Zealand as well as most coastal areas.

Satellite data

SpaceX states that Starlink maritime can offer up to 350Mbps with impressive latency when stacked up against fibre or wire connections. This is previously unheard of in marine and satellite solutions have been synonymous with outlandish data and hardware prices. Starlink maritime sells for $10'000 USD with a monthly fee of $5'000 on pay as you go plans, it's no wonder the maritime sector is chomping at the bit to get these.

Satellite communications systems boast a speed of "up to 10Mbps" on what they call high-speed, and a hardware cost of $30'000+ for some models. Not only is the Starlink maritime about to blow the commercial marine industry away, but the RV product has been proven to work on moving vessel too.

This sits at a much more affordable price for the every day boat owner at NZD $1040 for hardware (+ Shipping and handling fee) and a fixed rate of NZD $199 per month (Standard fee $159, roaming/portability fee $40).

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For more info on this topic or other marine related articles check out the new website www.marineservices.co.nz
Everything you need to get your boat sorted in the one place!

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by Tony Walker (aka TK) TK Offshore Fishing

Oceanographic data is crucial to finding Sea Surface Temperature (SST). It's a big ocean out there and recreational fisherman have very limited time on the water so they need accurate data to assist them. I call it ticking the boxes, and the more boxes you tick the more chances you have of finding Southern Bluefin Tuna. While SST is the most common data used by recreational fisherman, there are a few more types of meteorological data that I use to help pinpoint the bait aggregations and the old adage is "find the bait, find the tuna".

1. SST has been used by fishermen for a long time and comes from satellite observation, and for that reason it is very accurate and updated daily. You are looking for temperature breaks where the temperature varies quickly, as these fronts act as natural barriers for fish that tend to accumulate or swim along them.

‍2. SSH, or Sea Surface Height anomalies, means the sea surface is not flat! The water level rises and falls according to the water column temperature and other factors. Water which is relatively colder will be heavier than warmer water. This heavier water will cause a difference in height (SSH). High spots in the ocean surface column associated with positive values are usually nutrient-poor waters. Low spots in the ocean water column associated with negative values are nutrient-rich areas and have everything needed to attract food for pelagic fish at the top of the food chain. Many times areas found between high and low spots form "oceanic highways" where fish are most likely to be. The fish like to hunt in the low areas and rest in the high areas. Finding these SSH "fronts” is important for fishermen as tuna often like to cross this border.

‍3. Chlorophyll and phytoplankton. Small fish (bait) like to stay in high concentration areas where the food (microorganisms) can be found. Larger fish like tuna are more likely to be found around the edges of these concentrations. They will hunt in the higher concentrations where the bait is found and then retreat to the low-chlorophyll areas to find "comfort" (better visibility with more oxygen).

4. Currents. Once I have found a likely looking area of SST I look at the currents in the area to fine tune my target area. Currents offshore are not tidal-based, as they are influenced by the SSH anomalies and bottom structure like seamounts and canyons. The currents will determine where the bait concentrations are likely to be. When you have heavy cloud cover you will not get accurate SST data, and most modern weather apps will use predictive technology to predict the movement of the bodies of water while we have heavy cloud cover. The satellites will however still give very accurate data on SSH movements and the currents are associated with the SSH, so if you know where the warm water is in relation to the SSH feature before the clouds roll in you can still track the body of warm water using the SSH and current data.

While I enjoy the benefits of world-leading weather data through my association with Furuno and Timezero this technology is not available to everyone, so there are still techniques we have been using for decades to target tuna that will assist you.

5. Gossip. Check out your social media feeds, talk to your buddies, support your local game-fishing club. These are all great sources of information on where the SBT are biting.

6. Dolphins. Watch for the pods of dolphins and watch their behaviour. Are they frolicking around and riding your bow wave, or are they ignoring you and all travelling in one direction at pace? If they are speeding off in one direction they are hunting

7. Birds. Watch for the birds, as they will indicate where the bait balls are. Watch their behaviour. Are they circling and diving or are they up high searching? If you get dolphins and birds together, stop searching as you have found your tuna.

8. Watch your SST gauge as you are traveling. Any sharp rise or fall in SST is a temperature break and you will find tuna hunting these breaks.

9. Sea surface colour changes. If you see the water change colour from say a deep green to blue this also indicates a temperature or current shear.

10. Flotsam and dunnage. If you see a line of brown water with stuff floating amongst it like seaweed, or rubbish like plastic water bottles (stop and retrieve them from the water), this indicates a current shear and the tuna will be working that line.

Tick these boxes because the more of these indicators you can find the better your chances are of locating the tuna. Goodluck!

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Waikato-based Jacob Hatten went from living life on the seas to settling down in the Waikato and launching his own raw pet food brand. He talks to us about why he’s an advocate for the raw pet food diet, and how he came about launching TameWolf.

“My dream job was always commercial fishing. I couldn't shake this childhood dream of wanting to go to sea and see big icebergs, chase big storms ... so I left my job and went out to commercial fishing and had the best time of my life. I did that for four or five years before I met my wife, Tiri.”

After returning to the Waikato and taking a job at a pet food abattoir, Jacob was super-impressed with the quality control of the business, and being a dog lover
was bringing home and feeding his dog the product. 

"I only took this job as a temporary job between commercial fishing and figuring out what I wanted to do next, but I decided I was pretty keen to get into selling this pet food myself,” he says.

"I was seeing the difference the food was making in my dog's health and behaviour, and I know what's in it, it's really natural and basic. It's like a paleo for dogs. So after convincing everyone it was a good idea, I invested in a trailer and went for it." 

After launching in May last year, the company has now launched in Auckland and partnered with The Dog Den, based in Takapuna and Silverdale, who are TameWolf's exclusive stockists in the region. The Dog Den are an award-winning outfit offering daycare, training and grooming services. 

“The folks at Dog Den are super dedicated to animals, really genuine people and we are super excited to have them on board,” Jacob says.

Raw pet food can make significant changes to a pet’s health, and Jacob says pet owners can expect to see improvements pretty quickly. He says the differences to standard supermarket pet food is huge.

“There are no additives, no preservatives, no fillers – nothing that dogs can't process easily. So they get smaller stools, shinier coats, they get a lot less skin conditions and things like that, and dogs who tend to get a lot of allergens don't get them as much,” Jacob says. 

“The bones help cleanse and clear out their bowels, the frozen blocks clean their teeth really well, they get less bloating, they build more muscle rather than fat, so it's good if your dog is struggling with weight. It's an all round better product.

“We do encourage people to do their own research and talk to a few people who have been feeding raw, because there is so much contradictory information out there,” he adds. 

“You want to find out what resonates with you and find what you feel is the best thing to feed your pet. You can usually see an improvement in your pet pretty quickly, and you can tell if your pet isn't happy.”

Since launching last year, Jacob says feedback on the TameWolf's raw product has been fantastic. 

"A lot of people are finding it is a lot meatier than some of the other raw brands, with others saying their dogs won't even eat other dog food now. And people are really impressed with the value for money,” he says. 

“But the biggest thing for me is when people come in and tell us about their pets and how much they love them, how good they are looking, seeing photos of people's dogs eating a big meaty bone, seeing them eating some meat and just loving it."

TameWolf currently offers 12 different flavours of pet food including salmon and lamb, venison and lamb, beef, and chicken and hoki. 

For more information on what Tamewolf products are available and where you can find them check out their website: www.tamewolf.co.nz

You can follow both The Dog Den and TameWolf on social media.

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Despite some shoddy weather after Easter, Warren Benton and his mate Gus decided to get packed and head out for a hunt – the first time for Gus. 

"We packed in a few hours and set up camp, then shot out for a hunt – nothing seen or heard," says Warren. 

"That night it started raining, and it was still going in the morning. So we chucked the jackets on and headed out for the day."

By about 2pm the rain had cleared, and not long after Warren and Gus heard a crisp moan lower down in front of them. 

"Problem was the wind was blowing right towards him. So we made a plan to head back the way we had come and do a big arch and come up underneath him," Warren says. 

"However, by the time we had got there he had moved. This time I decided to do a light moan and to my surprise he moaned back. The wind was still blowing the wrong way and swirling. I said to Gus the wind sucks, but we've got to give it a go. So we started in his direction," he says.

Warren says with every moan he made, the animal would match with a delayed response and move away. 

"Slowly we amped the moans to roars. We did this for about 40 minutes, up and over two ridges," he says. 

"We got to a step gully and the wind changed in our favour. We were near the bottom of the gully in some thick as stuff. I roared again and he replied, but this time an aggressive long roar and sounded close. 

"I roared back and I heard him coming down. My adrenaline spiked. He stopped and I roared again, he roared back, and came down some more. He was 30m as the crow flies, and I couldn't see him but could see the pungas and trees moving as he pushed through. 

"We did this for the next 10 minutes,” Warren says. "Up and down, side to side, roaring back and forth until he stopped right on the bush. I let out another roar, which he matched, and he came charging out at 12m away, at which point I saw his head gear. My heart was pounding so hard I'm sure he was gonna hear it."

The beast stopped at 8m and Warren took his shot, but he ran. 

"Gus came running over – he was visibly shaking, as was I," Warren says. 

"I was confident in the shot, but when we got to the location there was no blood for the first 15m. The mind games began, maybe I missed? Maybe I hit it but won't find it? Maybe I was so close the projectile didn't have time to do the damage? 

"I was freaking, but then I looked up and I could see a big red bum under a log," he says. "I couldn't see his head until I got near the log but when I did I started yahooing -– so many bush hours and finally got my stag," Warren says. 

"Gus came running – we both celebrated this epic hunt and animal.

"Once we had finished retelling the story and celebrating, we thanked the good Lord and the animal for its life! Then got to butchering it up before the long hike back to camp," he says. 

"Gus said to me later that evening over a drink, 'this roaring hunting is pretty good aye'. I laughed and said I think you have to drastically lower your roar expectations. 

"It's a hunt that will be burned into my memory for a long time," Warren says. "We are blessed to have this hunting at our back doorstep."

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With New Zealand’s borders now open to international air travel, it’s time to open our maritime borders too, writes Alisha King, chief executive of New Zealand-based superyacht agency Tidal Yachting Ltd.

New Zealand’s summer season runs from October to March, with small craft, including super yachts and pleasure craft, sailing here to avoid the South Pacific cyclone season.

With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, changes were put in place to update the arrivals process for these small craft. Like many marine businesses, contractors, service providers and suppliers, this has impacted the maritime sector hugely, as we have seen with other industries such as tourism and film.

Due to the requirements in place for these small craft to enter our borders, the numbers of entries have been exceptionally low, thus impacting many clients and service-based companies. The Marine Industry Association has been advocating for the sea-borders to re-open ever since they closed. 

Each year Customs works with other government agencies and ports to plan for the summer arrival of small craft into New Zealand. With the next summer season approaching quickly, and as this summer draws to a close, many agents and marine companies remain optimistic and urge that the border opening be reviewed. 

With the New Zealand air borders now open to Australia, why aren't our maritime borders following suit? 

With companies and services in place to aid these vessels entering the country and to follow regulations, we can help alleviate the pressure on other agencies, ports, and the vessel owners themselves. Opening lines of communication and ensuring procedures are followed is needed.

We’ve become very good at helping owners and vessel representatives navigate the red tape, but it’s about time we are able to say, 'yes New Zealand’s borders are open.' 

Australia, Tahiti, and Fiji borders are now open and promoting entry with government support. These countries are taking the vessels that would usually frequent the beautiful shores of New Zealand. And we are ready to welcome them back.

People often comment about why we are helping the rich and luxurious enter the country, but when people question this, they don’t realise the amount of money just one yacht (super yacht or not) entering our borders spends, and what that puts back not only into our industry, but industries like hospitality, tourism and the refit and refurbishment sector.

Tidal Yachting works behind the scenes with local service providers as the shore-based agent for these visiting yachts. Providing services through these local service providers such as concierge, provisioning, maintenance and refit, voyage preparation and all border entry requirements. 

We have seen the refit and refurbishment facilities here in New Zealand escalate their growth, services and staff during the lockdown. With the pre-emption of a prosperous return from yachts and travelling small craft, New Zealand has some of the best maritime contractors and service providers in the world, and we need to be back on the map as an option.

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By Tim Gale, General Manager, NZ Game Animal Council

Like most hunters in New Zealand, I am busy preparing and making plans for the upcoming roar. Only a few weeks away now, the roar is the focal point of my hunting calendar and the time of year that I look forward to more than any other.

However, while the roar offers plenty of excitement and the opportunity to bag a big stag, it is also a time where the risk of hunting accidents is at its highest.

For a lot of people, the roar may be the only time that they get out which leads to having a  higher number of inexperienced or occasional hunters in the hills, which makes taking the necessary safety precautions all the more important. This year, the Game Animal Council is running a safety campaign called “Look After Your Mates this Roar,” which focuses on making sure that hunters consider the health and safety of others when making their hunting decisions.

Firstly, it is critical to make sure your hunting party makes solid preparations before you head away. This means planning around weather forecasts and ensuring all members of the party have the right clothing, food and equipment to deal with changeable conditions. It also means taking into account the experience, fitness and bushcraft skills of party members when planning the objectives of the trip. A critical part of your preparations is making sure your party leaves its trip intentions with friends or family and that you have arranged to take at least one form of emergency communication device such as a distress beacon, satellite phone or inReach. 

Looking after your mates also means making good decisions while out on the hill. Communicate and discuss plans for the days hunting so all party members know what to expect. This will not only make the hunt safer but also lessen the chances of party members getting in each other’s way and ruining the hunt. If plans change due to evolving conditions or a lack of animals, make sure everyone is kept informed. Finally, make sure that all party members are comfortable with the decisions being made, are included in the decision-making process and are able to safely return to camp if they need to.

Firearm safety also needs to be emphasised. Even if you are hunting alone, it is likely that other hunters will be around so wear blaze if bush hunting, identify your target beyond all doubt and treat every firearm as loaded. If you are sharing a firearm between two of you, make sure the person carrying the firearm maintains responsibility for checking it is in the correct state of load and pointed in a safe direction at all times. 

Finally, I’d strongly encourage hunters to be thoughtful about the age of the stags they shoot during this year’s roar. We really want younger stags to have the chance to reach their full potential before they are harvested. This requires an unselfish attitude on behalf of us hunters and knowing the key identifiers to look for in a mature stag – a filled-out body and face, low head position and pedicles will be lower with the coronets completely buried in the skull hair. It is important not to get too fixated on the number of antler points as a young immature stag can still carry a pretty impressive head.

Big mature trophy stags don’t just magically appear; they are the product of a healthy habitat, good breeding and hunters having the discipline and knowledge to leave them and keep looking for that big old grizzly mature stag. If we want to enjoy the experience of chasing more trophy-class animals in the future, we need to be disciplined enough to do the right thing now. This combined with actively harvesting more breeding-age hinds at other times of the year will lead to lower density, higher quality herds in the future.

The NZ Game Animal Council is a statutory organisation responsible for the sustainable management of game animals and hunting for recreation, commerce and conservation. 

You can contact the GAC through its website, nzgac.org.nz, or on Facebook.

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After almost a year after pulling in a marlin from a kayak, Greg Potter has another very special catch to rave about – only this time he managed to pull in a southern bluefin tuna, the first time ever someone has done so from a kayak in New Zealand.

Greg says he started to get the itch to embark on another game-fishing adventure from his kayak, so when he heard that southern bluefin tuna were passing down the West Coast of the North Island, he started to hatch a plan to catch one of the elusive fish.

“I first ventured down to Taranaki on 22-23 January to try my luck,” Greg says.

After 80km of paddling over two days with Tim Bertram, Greg returned to Auckland tuna-less.  

“I wasn't done yet though,” he says.

“Unbelievably, a second weekend of amazing West Coast weather presented itself – and back down to Taranaki I went.”

Greg paddled more than 50kmsolo on Saturday, and landed numerous incredible fish, but no tuna.

“I woke up on Sunday feeling broken to say the least, but I hadn't driven five hours for nothing, so out I went,” he says.

“Twelve kilometres went by with not a fish or bird in sight. Then the water suddenly changed to a bright, crystal blue and I spotted some birds sitting on the water just up ahead of me. I paddled through them, and shortly after one of my lures got hit.”

Fifteen tense minutes of screaming runs and messy tangles later and Greg landed what he considers to be the fish of a lifetime – a magnificent 11.090kg southern bluefin tuna.  

“The first one ever landed from a kayak in New Zealand waters – an achievement I am incredibly proud of,” Greg says.

Last year at Waihau Bay, Greg pulled in a marlin off his kayak, becoming only the third New Zealander to do so, joining the ranks of Terry Flowers and Matt Watson.

We’re looking forward to seeing what Greg and his trusty kayak will do next!

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Catching a snapper off your own deck may sound like the ultimate fantasy, but it's one that came true for Taranaki man Brent Davies.

Brent's deck at his coastal Taranaki home overlooks the ocean, and its proximity to the water meant he has always wanted to catch a fish from it. Turns out, he managed to catch the biggest snapper he's ever caught – a 14.5kg one using a drone.

"I love fishing any way you can get it, whether that's surfcasting, drone fishing or boat fishing or spear fishing... as long as I'm fishing, I'm happy," Brent says.

"I tried to surfcast a few times, but it wasn't quite cutting it, I was getting it in the water but just not far enough," he says.

"So, I got myself a drone and have been fishing off the deck since early summer. It gives you the opportunity to get the line up and over the rocks and well over the back, going as far out as 500m."

The day he caught the snapper, Brent says the tide was looking about right and there wasn't much wind, so he got the drone out. His uncle happened to be over, who didn't believe him when he said he had been fishing using a drone.

"He called me a bullshit artist," Brent laughs.

"I got the gear out and I baited up, flew it out, and he was pretty impressed. I put the rod back in the rod holder, we talked for a couple of minutes, and then it just bent over, and I thought, oh that's a good fish. I started winding it in and knew it was a good fish straight away.

“When he was probably 80m out, I could see him on top of the water. I thought it might be six or eight kilos. So, from the deck I wound him in until there was a bit of a swell and caught him on a wave and surfed him up on the beach. Then I raced down the beach, it takes about a minute to get down there, and when I saw him on the sand he was a lot bigger than I thought he was!

"I've been fishing for 30, 40 years and I always wanted a 30lber. Normally I would release a big fish back into the ocean, but he was quite buggered, so I'm not sure he would have survived.

"The way I see it is if you take three 10lberss, that's got more of an effect than taking one 30lber in your lifetime."

Brent says he will get the fish mounted.

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The first ever Youth Nationals tournament is getting ready to launch, with organisers expecting a good turnout for the debut event. Taking place over the April school holidays 15 April – 1 May, the event is open to kids from all around the country The event was put together by a youth committee as part of the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council.

Cié Robinson-Bates, secretary and manager at the Tairua Pauanui Sports Fishing Club and also second chair for the youth committee, says the tournament has been about one year in the making.

"We started a youth committee made up of six people with the Sports Fishing Council last year, and from that we made a sub-committee with club members from across the country, and there's kids a part of that committee as well," she says.

"With Nationals being on we came up with the idea to do a Youth Nationals that would run for two weeks over the school holidays. That came about because a couple of the clubs figured schools wouldn't want kids having a week off to go fishing, so we thought we'd time it for the school holidays."

There are 24 species participants can fish, including marlin, tuna, kahawai, snapper and kingfish.

Cié says clubs from all around the country are keen for the tournament.  

"We've had a lot of interest, and the youth we have spoken to are really enthusiastic," she says.

"We are trying to encourage kids who don't often go fishing or kids that are not members of the club to join in. They can come along with a friend who is a member and for $10 can join in on the competition for the whole two weeks.

"We have a sponsor on board for the Tairua club who will pay for all of the kids from our club to enter, so that's awesome."

Tournament entry is $5 for members and $10 for non-members. Youth can enter via their affiliated fishing club or online at nzsportfishing.org.nz

Tauranga-based Thibaud Dos Santos and a few of his mates had an epic spearfishing session to kick off the new year, nailing some really big kingfish at White Island.

"We made the call to drive to Whakatane for the day, to go spearfishing at White Island. The plan was to check out two spots, with one of them proving a winner.

"I jumped in first with Mike, Garrett was in the boat. Straight away in the blue I saw a massive tail," he says.

"At first I thought it was a marlin, but turns out it was a mako!

"That made it a bit more interesting – it's pretty tricky to spear big kingie when you have a big shark around, especially a mako. A bronzie you can play with, but with the mako, you need to be a bit careful."

Mike managed to spear a 15.7kg kingie before the boys decided to change spots.

"It was a beautiful dive, but only an average sized kingie for the place, so we decided to go back to the first spot," Thibaud says.

Straight away the boys could see a school of bigger fish.

"But because all the fish were the same size, it was really hard to get a guess on the size. We ended up swimming for 30 minutes with them."

Garrett and Thibaud thought the fish looked around 20-25kg.

"So after a while Garrett just decided to just give it a go."

Watching Garrett, Thibaud could tell he had a pretty solid fish.

"With this big mako around, we wanted to get the fish back in the boat as quickly as we could."

Thibaud says as soon as the fish was in the boat, they couldn't believe how big it was.

"It meant that all the fish in this school were probably above 30kg."

"We were all excited. I jumped back pretty much straight away with Mike. The kingie were still there, and I took a shot at a fish. Turns out that one was almost bang on 30kg. We were stoked," he says.

"Seeing a school of 30kg fish swimming like this, it's pretty intense.

"When you realise that they are that big, you just try to look for even a bigger one. And there were some bigger fish, there were probably fish about 40kg in this school."

His first time to the notorious spot, Thibaud says he cannot wait to go back to White Island.

"There was heaps of smoke coming out of the volcano. It was my first time there, same for the boys.

"It's pretty intimidating when you arrive, especially knowing what happened there. You can smell the sulfur, even in the distance."

Thibaud says the waters around White Island are full of life.

"Even the size of the blue maomao is massive, and there are some really big trev, the biggest trev I've ever seen,” he says.

"We all want to go back there.”

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By Tim Gale, General Manager, NZ Game Animal Council

Those who have been lucky enough to win a wapiti ballot over the last few years or are familiar with the work of the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation (FWF) will completely understand my claim that the Fiordland wapiti are the best-managed public-land deer herd in New Zealand.

Built through a long-standing partnership between DOC and the FWF, hunter-led and funded management has resulted in a lower-density, high-quality wapiti herd prized as one of New Zealand’s great hunting experiences.

Just announced in the last few weeks was the next stage in this successful management regime; a project jointly developed by the Department of Conservation, FWF and the Game Animal Council to target 300 female hybrid and red deer in sensitive conservation areas west of the Murchison Mountains and south of the established wapiti range.

Less WARO over recent years means work is needed to reduce animal numbers generally, protect sensitive alpine species and prevent red deer incursions into the wapiti range. The most effective way of doing that is to target females. Female are the breeders in a deer population and management can have the biggest impact if the number of females is kept under control. This strategy also means mature and immature wapiti bulls, which are the primary hunting resource, are not affected.  

With the FWF partially funding a part of the project, through the contributions of hunters who participate in the annual ballot, it is hoped that some of the deer close to the wapiti boundaries will be recovered.

The development of this programme and the ongoing collaboration between the hunting sector and DOC in Fiordland is a model for progressive game animal management in New Zealand. It is also an illustration of how well-planned management benefits both conservation and hunting with the reward for hunters being better animals in an improved ecosystem.

The Game Animal Council is committed through both the work we do with DOC and our hunting sector partners to make sure the best outcomes are achieved for both hunting and conservation. We firmly believe that New Zealand has the opportunity to have the best of both worlds – thriving ecosystems where native species flourish as well as high-quality, low-density game animal herds that produce world class hunting.

While our hunting foundations and clubs are leading the way, the reality is that it is going to take the actions of everyday kiwi hunters in order for hunter-led management to succeed. If ultimately, we want the thrill of harvesting quality meat animals and chasing trophy-class animals, we need to be judicious about the animals we harvest and disciplined enough to leave younger males behind. This combined with actively harvesting more breeding-age females will lead to good herd outcomes in the future. The simple fact is that if we don’t hunt in this way the opportunity for managing deer for both their impacts and their benefits will be taken away from us and more blunt control-based policies will be implemented. If the folks down in Fiordland can do it, so can the rest of us.

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A massive 240kg blue marlin has been caught off the coast of Hawke’s Bay, smashing the local club’s previous record.

Caught by anglers, Ryan and Jacob Bassett, the catch came after only five minutes after the cousins put their lures in the water.

Jacob spent about an hour-and-a-half reeling in the big marlin, while Ryan was at the helm of the Wild Kiwi boat as skipper. He helped lead the fish until it got tired.

The pair didn’t realise how big the marlin was until they had it next to the boat.

Blue marlin are fairly rare in the Hawke’s Bay, with the striped marlin much more common.

The fish was weighed in at the Hawke’s Bay Fishing Club in Ahuriri, Napier, coming in at 242.2kg. According to club president, Neil Price​, this is the second ever blue marlin weighed at the club, topping the club’s only record, a 181kg blue marlin caught a few years ago.

The marlin was to be hung on Jacob’s wall, with the back half to be smoked.

There are quite a lot of marlin being caught throughout the country at the moment. While striped marlin tend to be more common this time of year, and the blue marlin species seemed to have arrived a couple of weeks earlier than usual, likely due to warmer sea temperatures.

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Since writing this there has been a second blue marlin landed in the Hawkes Bay

Whangamata Ocean Sports Club member, Brooke Shanley, has a pending New Zealand record on her hands after she pulled in a massive 370kg black marlin off Whangamata.

After a day out with nothing to show for it, Brooke and her group decided they might as well stop and try to get a kingfish.

It had been a really nice hot day, with good conditions, and the group went into an area between the Aldermans and Whangamata where you can normally get a kingfish.

“We’d been gone for many hours and not caught anything,” she says.

“I mean it's quite common to not come back with anything when you're out game-fishing, well for me anyway.”

When one of the rods went off, Brooke initially thought they had just caught some more seaweed.

“Then all of a sudden this huge marlin came flying out of the water, and so obviously it got quite serious for a bit,” she says.

“We were thinking it was around the hundred kilo mark. Then it did a few more jumps, which is when we realised it was actually a lot bigger. Then we saw its head, and how big it actually was.”

Unfortunately, the fish headed straight to the bottom, and Brooke says it was clear it had died.

“This made it very hard, because during this whole time it was so choppy and windy that we were trying hard to not go over the top of the line. We almost did twice – it was very stressful, there was quite a bit of yelling,” she says.

“Then Dad could see on the sounder something decent at the bottom of the seafloor, and it was obviously the fish. So then I had to just try really hard to just winch it up basically, so I spent quite some time on it. It got to the point where I was almost not able to do it.”

Brooke spent just over three hours on the fish.

“I think it was probably the last 45 minutes to an hour just winding tiny bits at a time, just trying to get some in and just trying to not let it snap, and I was also at the same time very worried that a shark was going to get it,” she says.

“Then finally it started to raise a bit and then I started to get more and more in every time, and then it's head came up to the surface.

“We got it to the boat and then my dad, my brother-in-law and our cousin were trying to heave it on the boat, but it was too big to fit through. They could not physically get it on after trying and trying and trying.

“Then I saw a shark swimming out behind us, zigzagging towards us, and there were all these birds flying around… so they just put another gaff in it and tied it on, and we just had to take off!”

The group ended up towing the fish the whole way, taking up to two hours to get in.

Brooke said she was in absolute shock when the fish was pulled out of the water at the weigh station.

“I still didn't actually know how big it was because we hadn't seen its whole body, so it was a pretty big shock when it started getting lifted,” she says.

“I couldn't really believe that I’d managed to wind it in. Even my mum said she couldn’t believe it. I think most people there to be honest were pretty shocked.

“Dad was pretty speechless. He’s a big fisherman, and has caught lots of marlin and tuna and all sorts of stuff, but he's never caught a black marlin. No-one I know has ever caught a black marlin.

“It was a pretty amazing once in a lifetime thing for me.”

Brooke’s 370kg catch is a pending New Zealand women’s record.

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There’s nothing like some friendly competition when you’re out fishing – and that’s exactly how Hooked-up 100% Aotearoa Fishing’s Hamish Beesley likes it when he’s out on the boat with his son, Noah.

On a recent trip out of Kawau, Hamish and Noah were doing their usual battle to see who could pull in the biggest snapper – and this time Hamish managed to bring the big one up – overtaking his previous personal best while he was at it.

“We were fishing at Kawau, where we usually fish each year. During lockdown, I had been looking at my fishfinder at little bits of rocks and areas that I would want to fish when I was out next. So I had a pre-marked spot that I hadn't tried yet, about 30m off Kawau out in the deep,” Hamish says.

The battle was on straightaway, with the first bait down seeing an epic fight with a big fish.

“We were pretty sure it was a kingi, or it could have been a shark. But then about 10 minutes in we lost it! But the next bait that went down, we got another big fish, and we thought it could have been a shark or kingi too,” Hamish says. “But as it came up, we saw a bit of colour, and she was actually a huge snapper!”

The snapper turned out to be Hamish’s personal best, weighing in a 12.4kg, beating his previous record of 24lb on 3kg.

“That one was pretty awesome itself, and then this one came along and took it out,” Hamish says.

“When we saw it come up – when you see that deep colour – we got cold shivers. It looked 3lb when it came up, it was so big.”

Hamish said that while he may have got the big one that day, Noah, 14, always gives him a run for his money.

“Every time we're out, it's biggest snapper wins, and Noah loves a bit of competition because we do so much fishing together,” Hamish says. “He was in the boat when he was a baby, and he’s been properly fishing since he was about four years old. He's caught 20lbers before, huge kingfish and trevally – he's definitely a bit of competition.”

Hamish says one of his favourite things about fishing with Noah is that they can just enjoy themselves.

“There’s no pressure – we just go out and I can do whatever, it's cool that he's really into it,” he says. “He's been a bit spoiled actually – when I think back to when I was his age, I absolutely loved fishing, and my biggest fish was like a 450 kahawai, whereas when he was 12 caught huge 15-18kg kingfish! So yeah, spoiled!”

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by Karl Sawyer

Despite having to only endure a three-week lockdown during the latter half of winter and still able to get a decent amount of time in on the Tongariro River I was amped for the start of the new Fish and Game season which commences 1 October. Work commitments meant I was unable to fish the first but a plan was hatched with good mate Bevan Gedye to get into things on the second. We left Hamilton at ridiculous o’clock and headed south, hoping that getting to the carpark before daylight would give us first crack at things.

Fortunately for us we were the first there and despite fresh vehicle marks indicating there had been fisherman there the previous day I knew we would be in for a good day. Bevan hadn’t fished this particular stretch before and was keen to get into things, so I let him have first crack. The river looked in perfect order and not overly high, which was a little bit of a surprise given there had been some reasonable rain the week prior. It didn’t take long for Bevan’s indicator to dip and was soon into a feisty rainbow of around 3lb. By the time I had finished rigging up my double nymph rig Bevan had hooked another couple of rainbows, and he was starting to realise that I wasn’t all talk about how good the river can be. My first fish was a bit of a washed-up older rainbow which I picked up out of a little depression from the head of a run that just had to hold fish.

When we reached the next fishable pool, it became apparent from the lack of boot prints that the anglers fishing the opening day had concentrated on water closer to the carpark. This was a massive score for us as some of my favourite water was still to come, with what I hoped would be plenty of unpressured fish who hadn’t seen any flies for over three months. The next two pools both yielded three fish, with Bevan nabbing the first brown of the day. At a touch over 4lb, it was a clean silver fish in good condition, which was no doubt a reflection on the stable river flows over the winter period.

A short stretch of pocket water was next, and we both had turns hooking into some good fish with a 6lb rainbow hen that took me into the backing multiple times on its way downstream the best of. By about 10am we had already landed about a dozen fish as we approached a pool that is often stacked with fish. I made the fatal mistake of talking it up a bit too much, with only a fish each coming to the bank and another missed strike.

As we made our way further upriver it became apparent that a lot of the fish weren’t in the usual big pools and were holding in the smaller runs and pockets. I assume that this is because some would have been holding over post-spawning and the lack of pressure hasn’t yet forced them back into the safety of the larger water. The fish weren’t fussy to what was offered with Cadillacs, Simon Uglies and trailing Hares ears and pheasant tails doing the damage. I was trialling out my new Scott Centric 905/4 and Lamson speedster set-up after retiring my Scott S4 906/4 which had done a lot of mahi over 10 seasons.

Despite having a particular soft spot for the old S4 I was completely blown away by the centric. Light in the hand with plenty of power for throwing the double nymph rigs on long leaders, yet it performed superbly at close distances to some browns in some pretty skinny side water. The Lamson reel is super smooth, with a nice drag system, and balanced the rod perfectly. My Dutch heritage means I don’t splash out on the latest kit very often, but this time was a worthy exception.

With Bevan’s breathable waders blowing out towards the end of the stretch we planned to fish we made the call to turn back a little early and return downstream. Despite daylight saving having kicked in the prior week it was pretty dark when we hit the car. On the trip back to the Waikato we reflected on what had been a hugely enjoyable day, and perhaps the angling gods had smiled on us given that the yet then unknown further lockdown was just around the corner.

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Another month of up and down weather. Some was excellent for chasing snapper and some gave the snapper all the protection they wished. Reports though were really good when the weather allowed and these good results were right through the Firth. Snapper 3-4kg and bog gurnard coming from the shallows. Just a point – have you ever tried smoking large gurnard (the same way as for snapper) as they are delicious?

We also had a southern bluefin tuna landed from 5m of water out from Miranda. Some doubted this, but it is true – 27.5kg gilled and gutted. There was more than one in the area. Plenty of food and excellent water quality. The same reason for the shallows fishing so were so well all year with snapper and gurnard.

The fish are all in top condition preparing for spawning. Lots of big males coloured up ready to join the females when the temperature tells them to spawn. A point to remember – try to release those big fish if they are okay. These are the fish that provide the bulk of our spawning fish and good fishing in the future relies on successful spawning.

The farms are fishing well with large fish plentiful – remember keep an eye open for the big work-ups as the snapper will
be under them. Jigs, softbaits, kabura all work well.

Let’s hope for a good November weather-wise. The fish will be there.

Tights lines and safe fishing.

Doug Edwards

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Another month of thinking about fishing rather than actually doing it charter-wise, unfortunately, but on the brighter side here at Strikezone Charters it has given us a chance to wet a line ourselves. The odd charter that has taken place has been from locals, so this is very much appreciated for the support.

This spring season is running a little bit behind schedule, with good numbers of snapper schooling up on the open sands not occurring until early to mid-October rather than September. This spring run of fish usually doesn't last too long, with the bulk of these spawning fish moving on by early November. Kahawai schools are numerous along the coast, and it's good to see a lot of trevally are mixed in with them, but these fish are usually quite difficult to catch.

The odd kingfish is being caught inshore and these fish will grow in numbers as the month progresses, but better numbers are on the deep reefs through spring doing their spawning thing, with jigs the preferred method of catching them. Limiting your catch at this time of year especially is encouraged as these fish are producing our future stock.

Let's hope we can enjoy a less restricted December ahead and everyone can once again enjoy traveling to our beautiful part of the country.

Jason Harris- Strikezone Fishing Charters Tairua

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Awesome news all around, weather’s great along with the fishing, and finally we have moved alert levels to allow us Westies to make the most of the season. Generally speaking, it is usually all about the 60m mark around this time, but even in level 3 there has been some great catches from inshore.

The Kontiki and Drone fisherman have been doing very nicely out to a few hundred metres offshore from both Ruapuke Beach and the main surf beach at Raglan.

The beach fishing further north up off Te Akau has been producing nice snapper around the 8lb mark also.

The boat fishing was just starting to ramp up and get consistent up until we got shut down but indications were very positive. There was some spectacular fishing down off Aotea between 40-50m, with some fish coming it at 30lb, along with plenty of others well into the double figures. As we head out for the first time in a few weeks, my pick is going to be somewhere around the 45m mark, and hopefully the gurnard are still around in good numbers.

As we also predicted the whitebait run definitely started to get a whole heap better as the little buggers started to run half-way through the month, with some nice consistent catches around the 5lb mark. Hopefully they come through again on the next decent tide.

That’s it from me at the minute. Due to no fishing over the past few weeks the offshore reports have been nil. But going by the amount of shop traffic since the level change announcement we will have a far better handle on things in our next report.

Good luck and see you out there.

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Jason Clark - Tasman Tackle

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Hay Fishos

The weather is playing its part with some long flat periods allowing lots of fishing time.

The snapper have been firing hot around the 25m mark. Heavy berley trail and that change of light is definitely the key. Straylines have been the hot pick with bonito working best. Pilchards, however, don't take much to bite off and have been getting chomped. Keeping in touch with your bait is how you get the connection to the bite. Picking the right amount of weight for your bait to drift down as naturally as possible while keeping in touch with the bait is advised. Tide is an important part of straylining as that spreads your berley and also drifting baits down the trail is how the big reds get nailed.

Sliders have been a good way to find a patch of fish as drifting covers more ground than berley.

Tarakihi are in their usual numbers. Hunt around for a patch and do a good anchoring and you will be into them. Small hooks with pipis or squid.

In deep water knolls the species kingfish and bluenose will be beginning to come up on top of the knolls. Bait fish will begin to ball up for the kingfish, making top water and live bait the best options.

Barracuda or squid have been getting bites from bluenose and hapuka. The early bird gets the worm in that game so a change of light is the trick.

Get out there and get some bent rods.

Happy fishing.

Brett Waterhouse - Wai Whare charters

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by Tony Holden - Kilwell

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This is a common question and the first of many questions we often get asked when people are setting up their boat to go gamefishing.

Kilwell has been manufacturing outriggers for many decades for the local and overseas markets and for many years they were very basic glass riggers between 12 and 14 feet long, with the traditional wingnut or bent butt bases or the basic Longreach versions used on launches.

Three years ago, we were fortunate to catch up with Bonze Fleet of Bonze Lures fame and started some collaboration work between Bonze, Jason Daniels in our Fibretube division and our Kilwell Sports product team. We quickly learnt there was a lot more to these products than just a simple tip and roller troller rigging set up on a basic outrigger pole.

We worked on several key areas as follows:

• Making the riggers light and stiff, yet robust enough to be able to withstand bangs and knocks when traveling both at sea and on the road

• They needed to look sharp as a lot of these riggers are being put on rigs worth a lot of money and presentation is a big part of that

• Most of all they need to be fit for purpose and by that they need to be stiff, easy to use and take a minimum of a double halyard on each rigger.

Back to the initial question of why should I run outriggers on my boat? Well the answer to that question is “Do gamefish need to see your lure or bait in order to get it to strike?” The answer is a resounding yes. Boats when underway put out a lot of whitewash not only from the prop, but also from the bow and stern quarters, and this whitewater will inhibit a gamefish from being able to see and in turn attack and attempt to feed on your offering.

By using outriggers of the right length for your boat you are able to get your lures out into clear water where they can be seen and entice the fish and get that long-awaited strike. You also cover a greater area and run your lines at different heights, which helps reduce the chance of line tangles along with being able to set your lures where they run best. We would also encourage you to run all four or five lures out of the riggers, hence the double halyards, and also a shotgun or centre rigger. This again is to make your lures visible to the fish and increase your chances of getting them to strike.

One of the other enhancements we have worked on is putting lightweight spear tips on the top of the riggers to stop your rigging from tangling at the ends. The reason we have not gone to metal spear tips is because the extra weight detracts from the performance/action of the rigger, so we have machined a purpose-milled lightweight nylon spear tip. We have also set up special jigs for drilling and installing strategically placed eyelits in order to keep all the rigging in a tidy, functional and easy to get to place for quick access and adjustment.

Another area of improvement from our collaboration with Bonze was to include spigots specifically made to fit the different bases on the market and have a firm and flush fit. We have also made longer and stiffer bent base riggers for use in rod holders, which can run double halyards and be tied back to take the stress off the rod holders. To see the best example of these riggers, check out Dwayne Sweeney’s boat Mini Chiefie that was set up by Bonze using all the latest gear available.

We can also custom-build riggers to suit and the finish now comes in many different forms, including Carbon 12 k, Carbon 3 k or a custom-paint finish. Kilwell can supply riggers up to 9.5m long.

Some of our recent highlights has been building and suppling riggers to Riviera Boats in both New Zealand and Australia. Also set-ups for Eddy Lawler from Peak Sportsfishing, Built to Fish, iFish Australia on their NZ Built Extreme and the Fishing and Adventure Boys, along with Bonze Fleets’ own purpose-built Gamefisher.

Another part of the puzzle is what sort of rigging should I use? Should I run Roller Trollers, release clips, rubber bands off shark clips, and do I need taglines and return weights? The answer to this question is probably the most complex and depends on a lot of variables such as rigger position, rod holder positions, cockpit size and boat layout, along with personal preference. Our suggestion here would be to look at the set-ups on successful boats you know like the previously mentioned Mini Chiefie or your local top club teams who are continuously catching fish. Our team at Kilwell are also more than happy to try and help you out and can also put you on to their specialist partners around the country who can help you with the supply of gear and set-up.

I do hope this answers some of the questions around rigger choice and set-up and realise these add-ons are a functional part of the set-up and not there just to look cool.

Cheers from the team at Kilwell and good luck for the coming season. We can’t wait! Of note, I have increased my strikes on the short corners by over 25% since running these positions out of my riggers!

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Free diver Hayden Ensor couldn't believe his luck after an anonymous tipoff saw Hayden bring home a bluefin tuna from the Tauranga Harbour, Hear his story below!

I was enjoying a lovely family holiday away in Taupo, when suddenly I received one of the best phone calls of my life! “There’s a bluefin tuna in the Tauranga harbour”

I received an anonymous tip off and sent a message out to my group chat asking if any of the lads wanted to get in on the action which all I received were laughs and doubts

The tip off I received was “commercial boys dropped a bluefin tuna while unloading them into a truck, go and find it”

I somehow managed to con the old man and older brother into the mission but they didn’t wanna hop into the water - simply spectate

After 30 minutes of grid searching in 50cm vis and cold water I was quickly giving up hope.

The commercial boys were giving me a rough idea of where it might’ve gone but I was thinking the tide likely swept it away!

To my surprise as I did my last dive down, there she was! Gutted, gilled and wrapped in cloth! Perfect condition for the dinner table.

I yelled out that I found the bastard and everyone was cheering me on!

I took it straight home and got into cutting the sucker up, I didn’t want to freeze any so thought the best option was to keep what me & my family could eat over the next two days and give the rest away!

The one fish fed 15 different families and gave me a great yarn to tell!

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by Trish Rea - Legasea

It’s great to be alongside Ngāti Hei celebrating the Minister’s recent approval for a 2-year rāhui banning all scallop harvesting around the eastern Coromandel until September 2023. On the flip side, it is ominous for the sustainability of other scallop beds that remain open around the Hauraki Gulf and Bay of Plenty.

People around Omaha, Great and Little Barrier Islands are worried that commercial effort will now be focused on exploiting their local beds using the same benthic-destroying box dredges that were used around the Coromandel. In the last two seasons there have over 2300 scallop dredge events across the management area.

What’s more, there is no concurrent reduction in the total allowable commercial catch of 50,000 kg of meat weight even though the closure reduces the Coromandel fishery area by over 2400 km2.

LegaSea is one of many voices calling for a more holistic approach to fisheries management. Currently there is strong support for the Minister to close the Coromandel and Hauraki Gulf scallop fishery to all scallop dredging, otherwise we are just shifting effort to someone else’s waterfront. That is not okay. We must address the fundamental issue of dredging.

In 2000 the Government established the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park to protect in perpetuity the natural environment of the Gulf, for the benefit of all New Zealanders.

Twenty one years later it is hard to reconcile the statutory requirement on the Crown to sustain the life-supporting capacity of the water and marine ecosystems while dredging and bottom trawling continues in Park waters.

As we said in our thank you letter to the Minister, Hon. David Parker, if a dredging ban is good enough for the Coromandel it’s good enough for the whole Gulf. Likewise, it’s good enough for the whole country.

The rāhui sends a strong message that alternative harvest methods that have minimal impact on the environment are the future for marine wild stock harvest.

There are unseen barriers to achieving a nationwide ban on the use of destructive fishing techniques such as dredging and trawling in inshore waters. The Quota Management System has created a powerful lobby of commercial interests that oppose meaningful initiatives to rebuild depleted fish stocks and eliminate damaging harvest methods. This power bloc reaches into the realms of policy, science outcomes and even officials’ advice to Ministers.

This influence was highlighted in the Supreme Court hearing on kahawai management in 2009, when the Chief Justice questioned Crown Law if fisheries decisions were being made “interorum,” made in fear of consequences or a lawsuit. The Solicitor-General responded, “We’ll have to wait and see”.  

A new stock assessment for the Coromandel scallop fishery is due by the end of the year. The first since 2012. The assessment will determine the sustainable catch limit and may give the Minister enough information to reset the total allowable commercial catch. It may even empower the Minister to ban scallop dredging throughout the fishery and promote hand-gathering instead.

A decision of that magnitude would be a win for all the people of the Gulf and give hope to other concerned communities around the motu. If you support a ban on bottom trawling and dredging from inshore waters, sign our petition at rescuefish.co.nz/petition.

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With the continual rigours of a salt water environment boat trailers are continually at its mercy.

Although a galvanised boat trailer holds up for a few years, once corrosion starts to take over its time to give surfaces a coat of corrosion protection to extend their lives. ‘Prolan’ (made here in New Zealand) has created natural rust protection products to stop rust in the harshest environments.

The beauty of a coat of Prolan Extreme applied to internal and external surfaces is that the product once applied stays on for a long period of time and cannot be cold water-blasted off. A recoat is only necessary once water does not bead up on the surface – depending on the extent of use, maybe every one to two years.

Internally, the cavities on a box trailer start rusting from the inside out – so it’s a good idea to spray a coating of Prolan Extreme into them. The Prolan works like a wax as it will seal off any existing corrosion – protecting from salt and moisture attack. At the same time, the ability of the product to creep into hard-to-reach areas ensures that protection gives full coverage.

Prolan Extreme is best applied using an airless or compressed air spray system. The coating can feel thicker in cooler temperatures, but with a quick warm-up of the tin in a bucket of hot water the product becomes more liquid and easier to apply.

Even on existing rusty trailers minimal preparation is required – a quick wire brush or scrape on flaky rust – then a coating applied directly over the top. A saving on using rust removal products or having to reapply another galvanised coat.

The Prolan Anti-seize grease is an excellent product to be applied to pins/bolts/bushes. Internally on brake drums the Prolan grease can be melted and applied with a paintbrush onto zinc-coated bolts and springs as this ensures the longevity and protection of these areas.

Prolan also has a degreaser in their product range, which will remove any Prolan coatings within 20 minutes. This is excellent if a trailer needs a recoat to keep it looking good for resale.

Prolan’s main ingredient is lanolin out of the sheep’s wool – this product is natural, safe and environmentally friendly. It is safe on the user and easy to apply. Users say Prolan saves downtime on maintenance and parts replacement and increases resale values on assets.

More time fishing is great for the fishos out there. As the old saying goes, “Fishing adds years to your life, and life to your years.”

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The Challenger boat brand is back – with a new owner, new branding and a new plan of attack. The brand has been launched by new owner, Peter Bridgens, based out of the Waikato, who purchased the brand after deciding he wanted to do something that incorporated one of his biggest passions – fishing.

After milking cows for 30-odd years, Peter sold his cows and says he was looking for something else. “I wanted to purchase the company because it had been on sale for a few years and it piqued my interest. When I found this, I thought, oh that would be just the right ticket, because I've always been a keen fisherman and boatie,” he says. “I've always been around boats, having bought my own when I was 15. I thought it would be great to do my passion and give it a go.”

Peter says the brand had good potential, having been around since the mid-90s. “They had a good name, it had everything going for it,” he says.

Peter says his main goal for his first year in business is to produce and sell 25 boats, as well as get the Challenger name back out there. “We want to let people know that we are back, and we're back for good,” he says.

The company has already finished production on the Challenger 650 hard top, with a 720 hard top now in the works. Two Challenger 595s will soon join the line-up, Peter says.

The vessels are being produced with the Challenger’s original hull moulds. “Once we get the build process down to a fine art, we should be able to make a boat every two weeks,” he says. “Once we've done one or two it should get quicker and quicker and get easier from there. At the
moment, we can supply a boat in six to eight weeks.”

Peter says the boating and fishing community has been enthusiastic about the brand’s return. “It's been great. Everyone is really supportive and says it is great to see the boats back. Everyone has been
really positive.”

Challenger attended the Tairua Boat Show, which Peter says was a great experience. "To get the boat out there and see people and to see their reaction, there was a lot of interest in it."  

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By Tim Gale, General Manager, NZ Game Animal Council

Covid-19 alert levels permitting, Spring is a great time to head into the hills and harvest some free-range meat for the summer BBQ. With hinds not dropping their fawns until late November/early December hunters can ‘kill two birds with one stone’ over the next few weeks as harvesting breeding-age females will not only supply quality protein for your family but also make a big contribution to deer management.

In places where deer numbers are getting up and impacting herd quality and native vegetation, hunters have an important role to help bring those populations down. Achieving lower density, healthier deer herds mean working towards better male-female balance where the number of breeding animals (females) are reduced and younger males allowed to fully mature. This has the added benefit of providing for better hunting during the roar as more males compete for a fewer number of females. Alternatively, if hunters shoot spikers and young stags now, they shouldn’t be surprised if there aren’t too many mature stags around during the roar.

You can learn more about game animal management principles and why they are important at https://nzgameanimalcouncil.org.nz/game-animal-management/.

Moving on to the issue of firearms licences and renewals. As a lot of hunters know the Police have a serious backlog in applications and renewals, which has been exacerbated by the current lockdown and Covid-19 alert level restrictions. It was pleasing therefore to see the Government recently acknowledge this by granting extensions to licence holders with expiring firearms or dealer licences, if renewal dates land in the following situations:

• Those who had applied for a licence renewal between 25 September 2020 and on or before 16 August 2021, and the application was not resolved before this date. These licence holders can legally continue to possess, procure, or use a firearm or ammunition for up to 12 months after the original expiry date, or until the licence application is determined by Police.

• Those who have a licence renewal date between 17 August 2021 and 30th November 2021. These licence holders are given an additional four months from the date of licence expiry to apply for a licence renewal. Then they will be granted an extension of 12 months, from the original expiry date of their licence, or until the licence application is determined by Police.

While these extensions will not be accompanied with an updated firearms licence card, Police are launching an online licence checker that will allow licence holders to present their expired licence card to a dealer, who can check the Police firearms licence database to confirm an extension has been issued.

Finally, like so many of you I was disappointed to learn of the postponement of the 2021 Sika Show. However, under the circumstances with changing alert levels for the Waikato region, the organisers really didn’t have much choice and made the right call. The Game Animal Council looks forward to being involved in what should be an even better event on 26-27 February 2022!

The NZ Game Animal Council is a statutory organisation responsible for the sustainable management of game animals and hunting for recreation, commerce and conservation.

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by Kaz Otsubo - Ocean's Legacy NZ

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It was a perfect day to get out for a slow pitch jigging session in deep water, so a group of us took a day off and headed out to Little Barrier.

We arrived at a 50+m mark where there were no work-ups or no signs on the sounder, but we knew there was a good current coming in and always bringing a good amount of food for fish, so we started our free drift and dropped our lines.

It did not take long before we got a hit by a nice pig fish, followed by a 15lb snapper and many others such as kingfish, trevally, gurnard, kahawai and then even frost fish. We managed to get seven different species, which was great, but it is not uncommon to catch a variety of species with slow pitch jigging.

For those who are not familiar with the term “slow pitch jigging or SPJ”, this is not slow jigging like kabura, sliding jig or inchiku-type fishing, or the traditional mechanical jigging. The traditional fast jigging or mechanical jigging method is a way to make the jig swim away from the predator fish, so your target species must be hungry enough to chase the fast-moving jig. With slow pitch jigging, you will have a metal jig that flutters down like a dead bait or a dying bait, which is often the prime target or an easy target for many species.

Slow pitch jigging is very effective as you can target many different species, you can target fish in many different states (e.g. active/non-active), and you can fish in different water conditions too. You can keep the jig around the bottom to target bottom fish or you can wind up higher and target pelagic species. You can pitch slow and/or fast to change the jig speed, as long as you are letting it fall and give the fish time to hit the jig.

The technique really focuses on the fall. You lift the jig and let it fall and lift it again as soon as you feel the jig weight so that you keep the jig moving horizontally for as long as you can. You would wind the reel at the same time so you can work the jig in different depths. You can also use the rod to lift the jig higher which creates a longer falling time. And to give it consistent fall actions, you need to make sure that your line is down as vertically as possible. It gets harder to create good falling/fluttering action when the jig is pushed away from the boat. Therefore, it is important to use the right jig weight and a sea anchor to control the line angle.

As it imitates the dead or dying bait, nine out of 10 or close to 10 out of 10, you will get a bite during the jig’s descent. When you feel the line slackening longer than it should, it’s most likely that the jig is taken by the fish so start winding!

Another distinct feature of slow pitch jigging is the fighting style. When you get a hook up, you don’t power lift the rod. Your rod is super-soft and designed to constantly feel the jig and precisely control it. Therefore, if you lift the rod too high, it may snap. You need to keep the rod tip as low as you can and use the reel (and the drag) to negotiate with the fish. Having said that, there are some new slow pitch rods in the market that are designed to perfectly slow pitch but also power lift the fish.

So, let me talk about the slow pitch jigging set-up and some variations of slow pitch jigging.

A typical slow pitch jigging: a 6’2–6’4” specialised overhead rod which has a soft but responsive tip to flip the jig. Or another specialised rod in 7’3” length if you like to lift the rod for long fall actions. Use PE 1.5–2.5 and 30–50lb leader. The jig is also made for slow pitch jigging. Look for an asymmetrically shaped jig which creates better fall actions, weighs around 100–200g. Hooks are important too. Because the jig swims horizontally, you won’t know which side the fish attacks your jig from, so it is recommended to rig a twin assist hook on both eyes of the jig.

Super light igging: a light version of slow pitch jigging. A short spin rod in 6’7–6’11” length with PE 0.8–PE 2.0 with 20lb leader. The jig weight is less 30–70g. This is an easy for the body fishing style so you can fish easily all day. When fish is feeding on a small bait, it is super effective! And super fun to fight with the light set-up!

Power slow jigging: a heavy version of slow pitch jigging to target bigger species such as extra size kingfish and tuna. Use a 6’2–7’3” specialised overhead rod with PE3.0–PE6.0 with 60–120lb leader. The jig weight is around 150–300g. The technique is the same as slow pitch jigging, but everything is more powerful!

Deepwater slow jigging: a slow pitch jigging in 200+m deep water, targeting hapuka and bass. A typical set-up is an overhead rod in 6’1–6’3” with PE3.0–PE 6.0 and the jig weight goes from 300g to over 1kg sometimes.

Ocean’s Legacy New Zealand – specialise in lure fishing gear in slow pitch jigging, slow jigging, super light jigging, deepwater slow jigging and many others, available at selected retail stores or www.oceanslegacy.co.nz

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Cody McMillan and friends set out from Raglan in search of a marlin, only to come back with a decent yellowfin tuna that surprised all on board. Here’s his story.

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“The day started with high hopes as three crew had never caught a marlin and it was our first troll for the season. However, as we got further out conditions were not as good as forecasted and crew were settling in for a long bumpy day. As skipper, I had looked at the forecast the night before and knew it was going to flatten out.

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“So we trolled on seeing signs of bait and bird life around the 120m mark and picked up a small albacore and a skippy by 9 am. Brandon was feeling a bit sick after having injections in his eye at the hospital the day prior so he was sleeping on deck and another crew member was catching up on some sleep in the cabin.

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“At 9.55am the shotgun rod went off and within a matter of seconds everyone was up and looking for a jumping marlin, as the adrenaline set in everyone went to work clearing the gear while Brandon picked up the screaming reel. By the time we cleared the gear the spool was 3/4 gone, so it was time to chase the fish down. As time passed we still hadn’t seen the fish and thoughts were going around that we had a large shark, then the fish went deep which made us think it could be a blue marlin.

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“I started working the boat in circles around the line to try to get the fish up, however, what line we got back soon disappeared. As the adrenaline settled, Brandon realised he was still sick and let out a power chuck all over him and the reel but he wasn’t giving up and after 1.2 hours we saw colour for the first time and it was grey!

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“Hearts sunk as we all thought we had a shark, however when I grabbed the leader and Luke took over the helm, the grey sparkled and before I could process that it was a shark, up popped this big yellowfin and within seconds the flying gaff was in and it was in the boat. It was almost too hard to believe and a yellowfin out from raglan is a rare and unheard of catch. “We sat in the boat for 20 minutes almost in shock as we realised what we had caught and to do it on our home turf. It was an experience that my crew and I will never forget. The fish was caught on a Bonze lure ‘the heat’. I must say thank you to my dad, without him we wouldn’t have had a boat to use and the knowledge I’ve learnt from him. Also to Sheryl and Richard Hart and the rest of the Raglan Sport Fishing Club for the weigh and keeping a great fishing club.”

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by Fish and Game NZ

Rotorua’s trout fishing is renowned around the world, attracting thousands of visitors hoping to catch one of the region’s magnificent rainbow or brown trout.

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But like anywhere, local knowledge pays off.

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If you want to get out fishing with your family this holiday season, Fish & Game has some advice to give your trip a better chance of success.
The first thing to think of is water temperature.  While holiday makers like warm water for swimming, trout like cooler temperatures up to about 16-17C.

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As a result, when the lakes start heating up, trout will be found in deeper waters where temperatures are more comfortable for them and where they can find their food.

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Fish & Game’s Rotorua-based staff say that means for boat fishing, the deeper lakes like Rotoiti, Tarawera, Rotoma and Okataina are the places to go using fishing methods such as jigging and deep trolling.

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Fish & Game Officer Matt Osborne advises anglers to look for what is known as the thermocline – a band of water where the temperature changes.
“Trout are most likely to be found in or near the thermocline so being able to locate it is important for anglers,” says Fish & Game Officer Matt Osborne.

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The easiest way to pinpoint the thermocline is to check the Bay of Plenty Regional Council website and look at the ‘Live Monitoring’ links to the Rotorua lakes.

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Shallower lakes such as Rotorua, Rotoehu and Rerewhakaaitu pose different challenges.

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These lakes warm rapidly and trout don’t have the luxury of being able to escape to deeper cooler areas, so they go in search of cool springs or tributaries entering the lake.

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“When you find this cooler water entering the lake, you can target trout by shallow trolling or harling, spinning and fly fishing.  Often the early morning or evening angling are best as fish are more actively feeding at those times,” Matt Osborne says.

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But Mr Osborne warns that boat anglers must check the regulations to make sure where they are allowed to fish and remain 200 metres from a stream mouth or landmark pole.

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For anglers without boats, Fish & Game officers reckon it’s hard to beat Lake Rotorua’s shoreline fishing where the streams empty out into the lakes.
As Lake Rotorua warms to around 23C, the Awahou and Hamurana stream mouths are the spots where trout congregate.

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“The Awahou itself is closed to fishing and within 200 metres of the mouth, it is fly fishing only, while the Hamurana area is fly and spin,” Mr Osborne says.

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“If fly fishing, a floating line with woolly bugger or smelt patterns work well, or try a nymph under an indicator. Quite often anglers can sight fish these areas.” 

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Spin fishers should try a black and gold toby or light purple Tassie pattern, he advises.

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The mouth of the Ngongotaha and Waiteti streams also offer good summer fishing opportunities.

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On other rivers around the region, Matt Osborne advises to keep an eye on increasing insect activity as the temperature rises.

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“Look for rises that indicate surface feeding on mayfly, caddis or cicadas. This is very exciting way to fish. 

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“If trout are feeding subsurface, try rough nymph imitations such as the hare and copper that mimics caddis nymphs, or pheasant tail to represent mayfly” he says.

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For more information, contact Mark Sherburn, phone 07-357 5501, Mob 021- 244 1774, or email: msherburn@fishandgame.org.nz

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by Tim Simons – Dutchy’s Tairua

Shore diving is a great way to put food on the table without all the boat hassle, if it’s done right. You will need to do a bit more homework and generally swim a little further. If you have done a few shore-dives, you may be already doing the things talked about below without even realising, but for people just getting into it this will be a good guide.

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Conditions:

You will have a fair idea of what the conditions are like when you are at your destination looking at the water, but key things to consider are:

Swell

The smaller the better. If the swell is big you will get lots of whitewash which doesn’t help with the underwater visibility and makes diving in-close difficult. Big swells will cause surge which can be dangerous and is very annoying to dive in, making everything harder.

Tides/current

You want to know what the typical tides are for the spot you plan to dive and be able to end up where you want to, instead of two beaches down the coast and having to hitchhike back. A good rule of thumb is to stick to areas you know or have dived before, get some local knowledge, and do some homework.

Underwater visibility

The clearer this is, the better. A lot more hunting options become available with better visibility. If the visibility is rubbish, you will find shooting fish hard and may be stuck looking for crays or paua.

Equipment:

You need to be safe and comfortable and have the right gear for the job.

– Gun

Depending on the visibility, I like to run a 120cm gun which keeps my options open and means I’m able to shoot anything from moa moa to kingfish. Check your rigging and keep it in good condition and feel for cuts and scratches––you don’t want to have issues out there or lose a nice fish because of it. It’s only $6 to replace your shooting line so don’t be tight.

– Float & float-line

You can either use a streamline float or a float boat. I used to run a float with a catch-bag, but it was too heavy through the water and made doing big swims harder than they needed to be. I switched to a float-boat and have never looked back. You can put everything inside and keep it away from pesky bities, out of the sun, and keep the drag to a minimum. You want to be visible, so make sure you have a dive flag on your float or float-boat. Keep your float-line at a good length, about 20m or slightly less is good. Keep in mind that sometimes you need to pull the float in a bit closer when swimming around points to stop it from getting caught in the rocks.

– Wetsuit & fins

You need to be warm and comfortable since you will be doing lots of swimming. A 5mm 2-piece wetsuit is a pretty good start and an all-year-round option. It’s always better to be hot than cold. If you do find yourself getting hot, you can let some cold water into your suit every now and again.

– Torch & measure

Always carry these because you will want them when you least expect it. Be sure to measure your fish out there, and return to the same location to give them the best chance of survival.

Locations:

Some areas are better than others, but you don’t have to go far to find some good diving. At this time of year, the shallows are very alive, and if the visibility plays its part, you can come back with a trophy mixed bag. You want to try spots with easy in-and-out access where you don’t waste all your energy before even getting into the water. Places like Sailors Grave, Hot Water Beach, and Opito Bay on the East Coast of the Coromandel can all make for beautiful dives and have great access.

Methods:

If you are heading out and coming back to the same spot, something I like to do is head through the shallows snooping for snapper and looking for spiny rock lobster (crays) and paua on the way out. Then on the way back, stay out deeper working the weedline looking for fish. You can also set some ground berleys with kina and fish on your way out and revisit them on your way back.

When you are looking for crays or paua, a handy trick is to mark the spot with your speargun so you don’t lose it, and then you have both hands free. Once you get onto a cray, be sure to have a look around since there are usually more in the same area.

Finally, always tell someone where you are diving, and dive with a buddy.

If you need anything for your shore-diving missions, come see us at the Dutchy’s, located at the Tairua Marina. We stock everything spearfishing, with the best brands such as Rob Allen and Beuchat in store. Follow us on Facebook for local updates and videos.
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Regards
Tim Simons
Dutchy’s Limited 12 The Marina, Tairua, Mob: 021 882 827
dutchys.co.nz

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by Dwayne Sweeney

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It’s that time of year again people. The warm weather is here but most importantly the water temperature is on the rise and it’s getting bluer by the day. Game Fishing Time!

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Yes, the time of year when all of us keen game fishermen pull out the expensive toys, all the favourite lures, and the boat fuel bill gets a hell of a lot higher.

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Now I’m no expert and when it comes to marlin fishing but one thing I do well is annoy the shit out of anyone that is. I’m always asking questions and making sure I’m getting all the advice I can from anyone that is willing to share their knowledge with me; probably a trait I have picked up from my career as a professional rugby player, always wanting to learn and be better. For those of you that are new to game fishing or keen on giving it a go it’s not like snapper fishing where you guard your favourite spots or secret tricks with your life. A lot of people are willing to share their knowledge and good areas to fish (some more than others).

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In the years gone by, game fishing was only for the rich and famous with their big boats and all the top-end rods and reels but the growing innovation of boat builders and keen fishermen alike has seen a huge shift in game fishing of late. The trailer boats available in today’s market are amazing, giving fishermen the freedom to take their fishing weapon anywhere in the country where the action is hot, therefore increasing chances of catching the exciting marlin!

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Now I want to talk about targeting these amazing fish in small boats. When I say small boats they don’t get much smaller than mine. I’m the proud owner of “Mini Chiefie”, an FC465, which has been built to target marlin. Yip, that’s right, a 4.65m which I caught my very first marlin from and, yes, I do get some very funny looks and even funnier comments, but there is no better feeling than seeing those guys back at the ramp with a big striped marlin tail hanging over the back of ya transom.

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I’ll say it again, I’m no expert by any stretch of the imagination but I’m willing to share with you all how I’ve been lucky enough to get out there and experience catching some of these amazing fish in my little boat.

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First thing is first is safety! Yes, my boat is very small but it is very safe and a very stable sea boat. I make sure my 60hp Mercury is regularly serviced, everyone is wearing their lifejackets and I have a good UHF fitted. A Coast Guard call on leaving the ramp with the info of where I’m headed, how many on board and a likely time of return (if this changes you should always update the coastguard). I always have my cell phone on board as it’s always good to have two forms of communication and great for sending pics to ya mates when ya catch one!

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Boat Set-up and Preparation

Having good gear set up incorrectly is not going to help you catch fish. Little things like rod holder and outrigger placement can make a huge difference to the quality of your fishing. Learning your lure spread is another key. You need to understand what swims well where in your spread. Most lure companies will state this about each lure, and if they don’t, then just run it in a few different positions and you will soon see where it runs best. You want your lures to have as much action as possible.

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The other cool thing is to have your boat set up with tuna tubes or a good live-bait tank. Catching Marlin on live baits is very effective and can be a cheaper option for catching them. Same as any form of fishing … “find the food, find the fish!” If you are in an area with a lot of bait then catch one, rig it up and chuck it over. Make sure when you get a fish on you clear all your gear. You will need the whole boat when you’re fighting marlin. Ensure there are no lures and hooks on the floor, as you don’t want one of those in ya foot.

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Preparation is another big key. Now, when I say preparation, it’s things like having all your line in good condition, strong knots and crimps, lures rigged correctly, and sharp, sharp, sharp hooks. Good quality rigging is a must, because marlin are an extremely strong, fast and erratic fish (which makes them so exciting to catch) and they will test you, your crew and most of all, your gear! There are heaps of awesome rigging tutorials on YouTube but it is very time consuming and, trust me, it needs to be done right! Any doubts, then just rig it again! For those of you that need to get rigged up and don’t have the time or just want some really helpful advice, then ya need to get in touch with Shaun Thomsen from STBluewater Services. He’s based out of Peninsula Marine in Kopu on the Coromandel, which is also a great place to get ya boat serviced or rigged and set up for game fishing by Shaun himself. Shaun has a wealth of game-fishing knowledge, and has crewed on boats catching well over 500 Marlin from Mayor Island to the Three Kings, and even the Great Barrier Reef catching 1000lb black marlin.

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Lastly, Efficiency and Perseverance

When I say efficiency I mean using your time efficiently. Having a small boat you are going to be limited to the days you can fish and you need to be sure you are fishing the right areas, so do your homework, talk to people that have been out recently, or ask about likely hotspots that have always produced marlin in past seasons. In small boats you are going to struggle to cover large distances on the water, so you need to make sure you know where you’re going before heading out. Then you can spend more of your day fishing and less travelling.
Now perseverance; for me this is the biggest key to seeing fish! Perseverance is going to a hotspot which is known to produce marlin or finding nice warm blue water with lots of bait sign and staying there all day. Don’t work the area for 20mins then get bored and decide to head somewhere else. Stay there!! It can be a very boring form of fishing to start with but once you see the results you will quickly forget about being bored! Marlin don’t feed all day, and if the food is there then the marlin will be. Stay there all day if that’s what it takes, or even go back there next time you are out and check if the bait is still holding. They will come on the bite and you want to make sure you are there when they do.
Now something my dad always tells me before I play a big game; “There is no such thing as luck; you make your own luck.”
Couldn’t be more relevant than in game fishing, it just seems to be, the more you prepare and study and pick the brains of the good guys, the luckier you will get.

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Tight Lines and I’ll see ya out on the water!

Winter fishing time is one of my favourite fishing times and I firmly believe the snapper taste better during the winter months due to their beautiful condition. Also New Zealand produces some stunning crystal clear 5 knot days during winter that are not to be missed.
There are 3 methods that I use during Winter and all work well depending on the conditions.


1. Deep Water Jig Fishing


2. Wash Fishing/Shallow Water Soft baiting


3. Deep Water Softbaiting


The one I want to focus on today is deep water soft baiting as this has been working particularly well this season with some very nice snapper between 8-15lbs caught using this technique. The thrill of landing a fat winter snapper on light gear using soft baits is very addictive and has been getting me out of bed early on a cold winters day for some years now.


What are the best conditions for deep water softbaiting?


The best conditions are low wind and a slow drift. It is much easier to get to the bottom and keep in contact with the soft bait when you are not rocking and rolling or screaming along on a strong tidal stream. Also a slow drift allows you to use a lighter jig head, even in deep water which can be more productive.

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How do you fish the soft baits in deep water?


In deep water there is no need to cast, simply drop the soft bait directly under the boat and work it very gently on the bottom.

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What Colours work?


There is one colour and one size I will always put focus on first, and that is 5” Yellow and Brown soft bait. There are a range of these baits available through the different manufacturers and my preferred brand is the Zman Bruised Banana 5”. This soft bait produces solid snapper consistently in shallow and deeper water and is a tough resilient bait. Yellow is the colour I will
always start with and test before anything else. Other options are to test more natural colours such as anchovy and pilchard coloured soft baits. The colours can vary throughout the winter season but start as above.

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What are the best areas to fish?

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We have always found the better fish in 40-60 meters and the first thing I look for when coming to a new area, are ridge lines on the map as shown below. I particularly look for lines that run parallel with the tide and have a variance in depth between the ridges. Drifting along the edge of these areas and working the softbait very gently, will produce the bigger fish even when no sign shows on the sounder. This technique has produced snapper from 8 to 15lbs this season.

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What sized jig heads work best for winter softbaiting in deep water?

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With 3 anglers on board last week, it gave us the opportunity to compare notes and see what had worked the best on the day. We analysed the different weights and leaders used to see what produced the better fish.On this occasion 3/8 oz jig heads did the business and the heavier jig heads were not as productive. Also interesting to note the 15lb leaders were more productive
than the 20lb however be prepared to test and change out on the day and it changes regularly.

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The following week a 2 ounce jig head was more productive as example. I do tend to start off with a heavier lure in deep water such as the Nitro Elevator 2 oz jig head as shown below

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What are the best Rod and Reel to use


Successful winter fishing in light conditions equates to having light gear. A very flexible light rod with a strong butt section
and a light but strong quality reel increase your chances considerably. Gentle movements with the soft bait have the best hook up rate so keep the bait moving gently. Having light gear also increases the user experience considerably and for me there is nothing better than the sound of line pulling and a flexible rod putting the hurt on a winter snapper.

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What can you do to increase your chances?


Slow pitch Jigs, inchiku jigs or soft baits all benefit from some enhancements particularly over winter. I use Ocean Angler Secret Sauce (Drag Juice) on the inside flap on the softbait and find this can help. I also like to put a dollop inside the skirts on the Inchiku Jigs particularly outside of workup season when extra help can be required. I also like to alternatie and use 6 inch gulp baits also which on particular days will outfish the more rigid baits.
So next time you are out try deep water softbaiting on the ridges and see how you get on. It is very addictive.

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Cheers Craig Connelly
Peeex Rods

I am the first to admit I am a sucker for new gear particularly when it is from my favorite supplier, however 2016 has seen me end up with too much of it. Soft baits, Jigs, Reels, Rods, my garage and boat is filled with them and I was determined not to buy any more gear... ...until I saw Daniel De Jong post on facebook about the new Sinking Stickbaits by Fish Inc (distributed by Ocean Angler Auckland)  and the XL snapper he was nailing in Whangaparoa Bay. That was my downfall and the “Stay Away From The Tackle Store” enforced ruling was broken.  So what are these new lures, why should you use them and more importantly how do you use them to catch the good sized fish.

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Fortunately I was able to speak with  Daniel and glean some information from him which I can pass on to you. Daniel has more than proved that the lures work with XL Snapper and Kingfish boated in the last month. So let’s take a look and cover off some of the more common questions you may have.

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What rod to use?


No need to buy new rods here, a well made soft bait rod with 7’7 length, a whippy end and strong butt section is fine for use with sinking stick baits. The longer rods make the long sweeps back to the boat easier (More on that later) .An ideal rod is Ocean Angler Microwave Rod version one or two. A fine whippy end and a solid butt that can take the big fish. Quite different to the usual rods we associate with stickbaits.

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What are the different types of Sinking Stick Baits


Fish Inc have released three models in New Zealand with a wide variety of colours in each lure and of course different weights aimed to increase your chances of large snapper and other species. The Fish Inc Sinking Stick Baits are named and weighted as follows:

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Flanker at 28 gram 5 Colours


Wing at 50 grams 8 Colours


Prop at 62 grams. 5 Colours

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The Flanker is the smallest and thinnest of the lures, while the Wing has the appearance of a normal stick bait used for surface fishing. The Prop is similar but has a heavier body and is lethal on King Fish. The Sinking Stick baits as the name suggests sink slowly to the bottom wobbling as they go to attract maximum attention from would be predators.

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Colours range between bait styles such as Mackerel and Sardine through to some Pinks Greens, Golds and Blues. It’s a bit early to pick a winner as the lures have only been on the market for 3 weeks and reports are all colours are doing well on a wide variety of species. As example the Prop Sinking Stick Bait in Green, Gold and Blue caught a beautiful Trevally last week, weighing in 4 kilos in just 12 metres of water. All the lures come with a large 3 hook profile and very strong bodies designed for New Zealand conditions.

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How to fish a Sinking Stick Bait.


It would be fair to say that you can fish these in a similar manner to  a 7’ softbait. The best conditions are low wind and a slow drift as the lure is designed to attract attention on the way down, much like a large soft bait. Having said that the lures were battle tested in very windy conditions and proved a winner there too. (little flicks up and down on the sea bed proved too much for some XL snapper who smashed them). The best technique to use with a sinking stick bait is to cast ahead of the boat so the lure will be near the bottom by the time it passes the boat, much like Softbait Fishing. In doing so remember to keep in contact with the line for any strikes on the way down. This way you can cover most of the water column including the midwater where snapper also hang out when spawning. Once on the bottom, use big slow sweeps back to the boat, and hang on tight. Slow and steady wins the race with these lures. Be careful of foul as the 3 hook rig is a bit more prone to snags than a jighead for a softbait as example

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What are the best areas to fish?


Ridge lines and drop offs are a great place to start if you can not find the schools on the sounder. If you are new to an area look for ridges that run parallel with the tide. I also look for a gentle current and a variance in depth between the ridges. Drifting along the edge of these areas and working the lures to annoy the fish (short flicks on the bottom and a slow retrieve) will produce the bigger fish.

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What can you do to increase your chances?


Slow pitch Jigs, inchiku jigs, soft baits and sinking stickbaits all benefit from some enhancements particularly over winter. I use Ocean Angler Secret Sauce (Drag Juice) and find this can help. It may be that extra boost you need to get the big boy to smack the lure hard.

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So next time you are out  try the new sinking stick baits and see how you get on.  It is very addictive. As always be safe out there, always let someone know where you are going, and remember to update your crew and passengers on safety at sea, things can change very fast out wide.

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Keep safe


Craig Connelly

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Live-baiting skipjack tuna can be a very successful form of game-fishing especially for marlin and big tuna, and is a fairly simple process. If you’re fishing on a budget this can save you a bit of extra cash, travelling at a slower speed, using less gas, only one game rod is needed, and you catch your own bait.

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Live-bait game-fishing is generally a lot more accessible. Even in a small boat this style of fishing can be performed with some outstanding results. This is due to the large schools of skipjack tuna we have here in our New Zealand waters, and their location is generally in 100m of water or sometimes even shallower. An age-old adage says, “Find the bait, find the fish.” We will run through a few tips and techniques to get you started.

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Equipment

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Tuna Tubes – These are great if you are planning on doing a lot of live-baiting. There will be times when you will lose bait from either a shark or marlin, so having one ready to go in the tubes can be very handy. There might be a hot bite in an area where skippies are hard to come by, so filling up your tubes and then planning to fish the area can pay dividends. Otherwise, without tubes, once you have caught your skippy you will have to rig up straight away and get back in the water quick smart, which is not all bad because if there are skippies in the area so there could also be the predators that feast on them. Contact your local marine dealer for tuna tube and pump options to best suit your boat.
Trace: Use a 350lb to 400lb leader, and a 13/0 to 15/0 circle hook. You can attach your hook either by using a snell knot or by simply crimping it to the leader, so it pays to have a few leaders ready to go.

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Rigging 

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There are a couple of different ways of rigging skippies. The quick-and-easy cable tie and docking-ring method we mentioned in last month’s Adventurer, and there is also the button-dacron method. However, the one we use most of the time is with a needle and dacron, as in the example below.

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Setting your line 

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Once you have your bait in the water and your engine just in gear, let your bait out behind the boat (around 30m). When running two baits, run one short and one long as this helps to keep the baits from coming together and tangling. Having one of your baits in short is also a great visual aspect. If you watch the bait you get to see the bite a lot of the time.

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Once in the preferred location, you need to set your line for a bite. I find the best way is to hold your line (wrap a rubber band around your mono and hold the rubber band). We prefer this method as it lets us feel what is happening. When you can’t see the bait, you can usually tell when there is a fish on your line as the skippy will get very agitated and swim around a lot more. At times like this, if you have your bait in a release clip and the skippy trips out of the clip before it is eaten by the marlin, this can upset the bite altogether and may cause the marlin to either miss the bait and get tangled in the leader, or even not be able to catch the skippy. So holding the bait is a great way to know what is going on back there, plus I find holding the bait and getting the bite is a real buzz, or alternately you can clip your rubber band in your outrigger.

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The bite

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When something turns up you will feel your skippy get very excited; once you feel a heavy tug from a larger fish that’s when you let go, so I like to run a drawback of line about six to eight metres in length. We use this method so when your bait gets hit and you let go there is a split second of slack line which gives the fish more chance of swallowing your bait. You should have the drag on your reel set just above free spool, so the line can run freely without birds nesting. A lot of people ask how long you give the marlin to eat the bait before you put the drag up. This is a hard question as every bite is different. You don’t want to give the marlin too long because you don’t want him to get the bait all the way down in his guts, or too short and you will pull the bait off him. Generally, we give it around 10 to 15 seconds, then slowly start bringing the drag up to strike, then hopefully we have a clean hook-up in the corner of the mouth. This is not always the case though, as the marlin sometimes find themselves getting bill-wrapped and tangled in the trace, or just swiping at the bait. If this happens, get another bait in the water quick smart as you might get him second time round, or there are likely to be other marlin nearby.
Get out there guys and girls and give it a go, make the most of this fine summer we are experiencing. If you would like to know more, flick us a message on our Facebook page, and we would love to hear how you get on.
Good luck and stay safe.

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Handy Hints

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• Lively active baits are always better, if you have been dragging your bait around all day or may have been damaged when rigging they can tend to be a bit lifeless, replacing with a fresh bait is recommended to send out as much vibes as possible.
• Small to medium size skippy’s are the recommended size, too big and the fish can choke on them without swallowing the bait down.
• When handling your live skippys use a wet towel/cloth to hold them, and hold upside down to stop them from kicking, try not to make them bleed at all.

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After failing our mission to get amongst some roaring stags the day before, I gave up on them and decided to chase some pigs in a forest near Taupo. This day started off like any other day when I go hunting, but we had one hell of an event ahead of us. We collared up the dogs, put them on the bonnet and away we went. We checked a few areas that were known for pigs, but we were unsuccessful. Unfortunately, It started getting late in the day, and I was losing faith in the dogs to produce the goods so on our last stretch of the forest I decided to get my mate to walk the dogs around the block while I walked to where I thought the pigs would cross in front of me. On my way to the crossing, I stopped and let my holder out to relieve himself and ran him down the road to let him stretch.

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While Boss (the holder) was doing his business, I looked at the GPS and noticed the dogs were moving faster than usual towards the crossing I was heading to. Instead of putting Boss back in the box like I usually do, I made him get on the bonnet, and we headed to the crossing fast. On the way to the crossing, my GPS beeped which meant it was 20 barks per minute. Still 700 metres away I looked at the GPS to see them cornered on the road.

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Thinking it was the big boar I had been after, I was feeling pretty amped but when we came around the corner, I was blown away to see a stag on the road trying to fight my dogs. Boss was still on the bonnet, and he flew off to help his mates, only for him to run straight into the stag’s antlers which gave him a solid jab to the shoulder. My other bitch flew in to help, but before she could bite it, the stag turned his head while low to the ground and he drove his antler through my bitches gut and out the other side, then raising his head and waving my dog around like a rag doll.

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The stag broke and was pulled up again on the edge of the cliff. My mates snuck down the gully thinking that was where he was bailed, only to find the stag looking down at my friends on the edge of the cliff. One of the guys closed the bolt on the faithful 303, squeezed the trigger and dropped him right on the edge. The team went up to the stag to get closer and were blown away at the effort the team went through to get this stag. Being close to the road it made for an easy carry. We checked the dogs and were surprised they were not as bad as we first thought. It wasn’t that big black boar I had been trying to catch but we got the kai, and that was the main thing. My bitch is doing well considering what we had witnessed, but that goes to show hunting is not for the faint-hearted and always expect the unexpected.

by Rob Fort

The kayak and softbait are so well suited to each other for a number of reasons. Firstly, a fishing kayak has the same likeness of a stealth fighter and moves through the water quietly without being detected by most fish life. Softbait fishing involves casting and retrieving non-scented/scented lure type bait which, when worked properly, imitates a wounded or sick baitfish. The obvious advantages are that you can move around quietly whilst hunting down your prey, with this style of fishing in mind. Presenting the softbaits into areas where fish are either feeding or resting up, without any detection, obviously has even more benefits in comparison to the sound of a running motor coming from a boat in a similar situation. Another benefit is, getting into places that the boat just can’t go, like in the shallows where kayaks can safely navigate.

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During kayak fishing, it is wise to be vigilant when using natural baits. Any juices or scents from natural bait that leech out from your scupper holes can attract unwanted visitors, such as predators like sharks. This highlights another benefit of softbaits, as you have no mess or leeching juices from them and no smelly hands; you don’t have to pre-cut your baits before you go out. Berley can also be excluded if you know were to find the fish; this further eliminates any unnecessary risk of attention from unwanted predators. Kayaks require minimum amounts of tackle to be carried on board and the soft bait system allows for this. The rods and reels used are relatively small and light weight. Softbaits are available in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes that you can easily carry without taking up a lot of deck space. When compared to the amount of normal bait you would need in comparison the softbaits have huge benefits to the kayak fisherman. Lastly, you can take these away with you on any extended trip without having to worry about your bait going off. Softbait fishing, as mentioned previously, is an active form of fishing.

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To be successful you must work the lure, and what you are trying to do is replicate a wounded bait fish; this in turn will bring out the predatory instinct of fish, resulting in some larger than normal hits. When it comes to finding your target there are a number of different types of terrain where you can fish. This can range from structure (pinnacles and reefs), to shallow calm waters, white water wash, deep drop-offs, current lines, mussel farms and pretty much anywhere that fish can be found. With the kayak you have a lot more stealth on the water, so use this to your advantage. The shallows are one such place that kayaks have a huge advantage over boats when softbait fishing, and quite often in the early morning and late evening large snapper will be resting up there.

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As with softbait fishing from a boat, using your sea anchor (drogue) to slowly drift around areas while casting out your softbaits, also works well and will increase your catch rate. When softbait fishing from a kayak, always remember to keep track of how many fish you have in the back. This type of fishing is so successful from the stealthy kayak it is easy to get carried away. I personally have caught and released over fifty fish in one day while fishing this way. Take only what you need; put the rest back for another day and conserve for future generations. If you are interested in learning more about using softbaits from a kayak, then here’s a useful video clip we’ve produced that is on our You Tube channel. It features an 18lb snapper caught on a 4” softbait.

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By Rory MacLeod

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We always knew catching a sailfish from the 3.8m tinny we were dragging around Australia was ambitious, but if there was one place we stood a chance, Broome, Western Australia (WA), was it. Renowned for sailfish and marlin during the dry season (April – September) and home to some of the top tagging charter operators in the Indian Ocean, the shoals north of Broome are truly a world-class fishery.

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With tides running up to nine metres, it’s easy to get caught out launching from the creeks and beaches. Getting it wrong, or staying that extra half an hour can mean a long wait until the next high tide, a swim back to shore in croc country, or even turning your car into a submarine. In our case, it meant our fishing window was limited to about two hours either side of the high tide. Four hours to catch a sailfish with man, woman and dog being pushed along by just enough horsepower to get us on the plane.

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As far as the fishing goes, the plan was pretty straight forward. Jig up some fresh baits on the first bait ball, then troll swim-baits with a string of teasers and have a rod ready to pitch a live-bait if anything turned up in the spread. Twenty minutes in and everything was going to plan as the sounder lit up on a bait school and we quickly got a dozen fresh baits, some kept live and a few rigged up to troll. Two hours of trolling later; not a single bust-up, no bait showing on the sounder, no strikes, no fish raised and no birds working on the horizon to point us in the right direction. Things were looking bleak.
It was nearly time to head back in when some small patches of bait started showing on the sounder, albeit scattered and mostly on the bottom. A small mackerel hitting the swim-bait provided a couple of minutes fun before something took it, my reel screamed and the hook pulled. I assumed I’d been sharked. I was wrong.

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Not more than 20 seconds later, a flared-up sail came charging in under the tinny, so close you could reach out and touch it (literally). In an instant, the other swim-bait was dropped on its head. This peaked its interest, but it wouldn’t take the fresh scad. A live-bait quickly followed, provoking an immediate reaction from the already fired-up fish. Being so close to the action, you could actually see the hungry sailfish take the bait as a flurry of scales erupted around its mouth. After counting out the longest five seconds of my life, and flipping the bail arm over to set the hook, we were on.
For anyone who’s experienced the chaos when a fish strikes on a game-fishing boat, imagine doing the same thing in a rocking bathtub and you’ll come close to the excitement of it all. Pulling the teasers in and clearing the lines turns into a drunken dance with two people and a dog in a dinghy. A calm head is needed and some prior thought to the setup really pays off. Having the teasers on large overhead outfits makes them quick and easy to retrieve and having everything non-essential stashed away is a must.

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The fish really put on an acrobatic display, jumping several times over the 15-minute fight and making my Stradic 5000 scream at will. After the third good run, we manoeuvred the sail alongside, only to find it wasn’t done yet as it charged away, burst out and tail-walked less than 10 metres from the boat. A truly impressive sight, and just what was needed to get the upper hand on it. Soon we were able to manoeuvre alongside it again and with my rod free-spooled and leader the in one hand I was able to reach over and grab it by the bill. Game over.

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Note: I wouldn’t normally condone bringing billfish on board for a photo as it drastically reduces their chance of successful release. Getting one in the dinghy was the first and only time I’ve done it, and it will definitely be the last. It took around 20 minutes of swimming it until it was kicking strongly and biting on my hand before release. Thankfully, this one swam off steadily to fight another day.

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You would be excused for thinking that sea charts have got continually better, with increasing detail over the years. While some chart producers may have put more effort into interpreting local data, that data may be many years old, and in fact, some areas around New Zealand have not been hydrographically surveyed since the 1800’s. People often ask about chart updates, hoping for better bottom detail, but while navigation and safety features should be accurate, the bathymetric information can be a bit average. But does that matter?

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Not if you are a cruising yacht happy enough to miss dangerous rocks, but if you are a charter skipper targeting kingfish, or a keen fisho trying to locate hapuku, then the more bottom detail you can see the better. A small rise on your chart may actually include a steep face that, when the current is right, creates an upwelling that concentrates food for baitfish, and where there are baitfish …

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Local knowledge of tidal flows and prevailing currents, combined with a detailed seafloor map, can greatly increase your chances of finding fish by knowing where to start looking. So if you have a Lowrance (Insight Genesis) or Garmin (Quickdraw Contours) capable of it, then get stuck in and use it. More knowledge equals more fish!

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by Jason Harris – Strikezone fishing charters

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Remember the good old days of jigging for snapper (and other bottom-dwelling species) back in the mid-eighties, and the jig-mania videos where Grim Reaper, Lethal Lures, and Mister Twister soft-rubber lures were at the forefront of lure design? The days when we used glass rods and 10-15kg monofilament lines with large overhead or 850-size spinning reels? Well, they say history always repeats, and in the last 7-8 years this once-almost-forgotten art of catching snapper on lures has been re-born. Things have come a long way over the past three decades, and the way many people catch snapper (and other species) has been completely transformed.

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Let’s start with the rods. Gone are the 7ft glass rods where you needed to use two arms to impart any sort of action into your chosen lure. Modern-day jig rods are lighter, stronger, more fast-actioned pieces of thinly tapered graphite or carbon (or a mix of both), and some incorporate nano resins to make them even lighter and stronger––no two arms needed here, just a flick of the wrist can impart the right action and this can be done all day without getting fatigued.

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The reels too, that go with these rods are only a fraction of the size and weight of yesteryear. With what most would once have considered a reel suitable for catching sprats, these new generation of reels can handle almost any fish you want to catch. Aircraft-grade alloys and carbon-infused graphites with high-quality internal components make up these powerful little reels. The tackle giant, Berkley, has even developed a new braided line that sinks just like a fluorocarbon (until now all braided lines have floated), and so, assisting the lightly-weighted lures we use.

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The lures themselves have also come a long way over the years, and the one brand that changed the game was actually in its early stages of development way back when we were shoving our old VHS videos into their players––that’s right, thirty years ago an American scientist, named John Procnow, was working on a fishing lure that resembled the very successful rubber lures that worked so well on the bass-fishing scene in the US, not made of rubber but a biodegradable substance that, if lost or eaten by the fish, would have no harmful effect on the environment or the creature that swallowed it. About 10 years ago ‘Gulp!’ was released onto the market, and it took the fishing world by storm.

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I remember working for Pure Fishing at the time of release, and to say demand was high would be a complete understatement … it was phenomenal! A marketing drive of seminars and magazine articles educating people and proving this new way of fishing produced the goods, created a massive demand for not only the lures but the tackle required to make it all work. Flying-in 40ft containers from the US on a weekly basis was required to meet this demand, and so, the softbait revolution was born. Gulp! is a unique product because it not only has an incredible action (like a lot of ordinary soft-rubber lures), it has an irresistible smell infused into it which fish find very attractive, and of course, it’s friendly to the ocean if lost or eaten by the fish. The combination of action and scent make this lure number-one in the eyes of most serious fishos.

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So, we have talked a little about the history and the right tackle to use, but all of this is useless unless the right techniques are employed to be consistently successful at catching fish. Many articles in fishing magazines and even entire books have been written about catching snapper with softies, but as a charter skipper I am constantly asked by clients about catching fish with softbait, do I think it works better than bait, how do I use them, and many other questions. I also see some common mistakes anglers make when using them, so the purpose of this article is to point out the key things to remember to hopefully make newcomers and even experienced lure fishermen more successful in their fishing adventures.

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Jig-head selection

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Two things to consider here are, firstly, weight selection and secondly, hook size. The most important point here is weight selection. Ideally, you want your lure to sink as slowly as possible while still being able to reach the bottom before you drift past the point of where your lure entered the water after casting. Go to heavy and your softbait will plummet to the bottom, lose all its action, and not be attractive and visible to the fish. It will also be harder to work effectively from the rod. Go to light in weight and your lure will not get to the bottom or will not be there long enough to attract many strikes. Generally speaking, the bottom third of the water column is where you will hook most of your snapper, so the longer you have in this space, the more fish you will catch. There are times when the snapper will be close to the surface and lighter weights will be required, but we will talk about what is normally the case. The weight you use will be dependent mainly on two things. Drift speed, and depth of water.

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Hooks

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Let’s now look at hook size. Determining the ideal hook size is quite simple. Snapper attack a baitfish normally from the belly up to the head region, so you want the hook to be about halfway down your lure, around opposite the belly area. Go to a bigger size in your hook and you will take away some of the action of the lure, and you will also miss some strikes. Anglers often say to me that they get the tails bitten off, and if they had a bigger hook that came out nearer the tail they would catch more fish, but this is not the case. Leatherjackets and other reef fish are the culprits here and not snapper which are biting the tails off––trust me on this one. Generally speaking, a 2/0 to 3/0 is the correct size for a 5-inch bait and a 5/0 good for the larger 7-inch baits.

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Casting ability

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This is one area that lets many anglers down. Basically, the further one can cast, the more fish they will catch. A long cast allows your lure to be in the strike zone for longer, therefore increasing the chances of a hook-up. As we are always drifting with this style of fishing, being able to cast well-forward of the drift is a huge advantage because you are covering more ground before having to wind in and cast forward again. Being able to cast a long way when wash-fishing is advantageous as well, enabling you to keep your boat and crew well away from dangerous swells breaking onto the shoreline. So, being able to cast good distances will certainly increase your catch rate and make you a better lure fisherman.

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Working the bait

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As with any lure-fishing, the action the angler imparts via the rod tip often determines whether you go home with a feed or not. Softbait lures need to be worked! I have seen many clients turn up on the boat with all the good gear but struggle to catch fish often because of one or two simple errors, with neglecting to work the bait being a common one. There is no right or wrong way to work your bait with everyone having a different technique, but the point here is to impart some sort of action into your lure. Try to visualize what your lure is doing under the water, and how an injured baitfish might swim if it was in some sort of distress. After casting well forward of the drift I give the lure ample time to reach the bottom. Then I pinch the line with the hand holding the rod to make sure I get tight wraps on the reel as I wind in the slack line till I can feel the slight weight of the lure. I then give the rod tip some short, sharp jerks at the same time as I’m winding in line very slowly. Once I get the lure close to the boat I continue to work the rod, but I stop winding as by then my line will be under me or I would be drifting away from your lure. At this point I let line out again to get back to the bottom, remembering we want our lure to be in that bottom third of the water column for as long as possible. Once your line is at a 45-degree angle away from the boat, wind in and start the process again. I try to visualize hopping the lure back to the boat after casting making sure I’m close to the seabed at all times.
While we are on the subject of casting, it is important to point out that having the correct sort of braid on your reel is essential. One chink in the armour of someone who turns up on my charter boat is almost always the braid on their reel. Because braided line has only a fraction of the diameter of an equivalent nylon line of the same breaking strain, it has a tendency to knot itself very easily. This is especially so with knitted braided lines. Knitted braids are soft to touch and very limp in the hand––fine for little bait-cast style of reel, but hopeless on spinning reels which the majority of people are using.

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A fused braid is far superior, will feel slightly stiff to touch, and will not have quite the same limpness as the soft braids previously mentioned. A good fused braid will not have the tendency to knot itself while casting. Without sounding like an ad for Berkley, my opinion is that their Fireline braid is second-to-none when it comes to selecting a braid for your softbait reel. Unfortunately, many sets sold in tackle stores already come with braid on the reel. These supposedly free braid sets rarely come with quality line and it’s also unfortunate that the guys in the stores are not educating their customers, or are uneducated themselves as to which products are best for their particular application. Remember, it’s the line that’s between you and the fish, so make sure you have the right one for the job.

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There is a huge variety of softbaits or soft plastics on the market nowadays and they all work on their day, so it’s up to you to experiment which ones work well for you and your area. I will say though that taking a variety of styles and colours on your fishing journeys often pays dividends when your favourite go-to colour or style doesn’t produce the goods.

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There is much more we could talk about like, which rods, fluorocarbon leaders, areas to fish, etc. but we won’t go into those things now. The points talked about earlier are basic fundamentals to lure fishing success and are things I most commonly see anglers struggling with on soft-baiting charters, so I hope I have enlightened or reminded some of you who are thinking of giving it a go, or those who may be finding it hard catching fish consistently on lures, particularly snapper.

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Like it or not, lure fishing for snapper is here to stay and once mastered is a wonderful addition to your fishing arsenal. I would suggest when starting out to leave the bait and burley at home, and force yourself into just lure fishing until you are finding consistent success. When the wind is blowing opposite to the current, and that burley and your bait keeps going under the boat, bring out the little rod––you may be pleasantly surprised at the result!
Tight lines and screaming little reels!

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Jason Harris
Strikezone Fishing Charters Tairua
Ph 02102315760 or 07 8648190

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By Rudee Lim

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Location and What to Look For

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Things to be looking for are weedy areas with rocks and currents. Depths ranging from 0.5m to 5.0m are the most ideal in our experience, and areas with a lot of light present for night time egi-ing as the squids will be feeding on the baitfish present around the lights.
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Selecting your squid jig

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Choosing the appropriate squid jig is important to egi-ing success. To have a range of squid jigs with different sizes, colours and weights gives a better advantage of catching over the person next to you. I find every location has its ace jig that seems to work so this is what I have broken it down to. The three main factors are as follows:

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Size

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The common jig sizes range from 2.0 up to 4.5. Personally, I have not used the 4.5 as I find it unnecessary for NZ waters. Typically, a range of 2.5 to 3.5 is ideal for NZ.

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Colour

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However, squids have monochrome vision and are unable to distinguish between colours in the water, although they do see various shades and tones in monochrome. Therefore, I find a particular coloured jig more effective than another depending on certain times and locations. We’ve been having a lot of success with this basic rule of thumb where we go from natural prey colours during the day and darker colours during the night. In my experience, luminous or not, the one big factor for a consistent catch rate relies more on the action of the jig.

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Sink Rate

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Various jigs have different sink rates, and this is where a little knowledge and experience comes to play. There is no ‘one ultimate jig’ for every location, as there are a few factors to take into account. Current and depth are the two biggest factors, whereby a stronger current and a deeper-water location will need a faster sink rate. A slower current and a shallow-water location will need a slow-sinking jig. Do not be intimidated by the actual size of the jig and have the thinking that smaller jigs equate with slow sinking and bigger jigs equate with fast sinking. With the amount of jigs being manufactured, every different brand has their own different sink rate. For example a 2.0 sized jig on one brand may have exactly the same sink rate as a size 3.5 jig on another brand. The best way to tell these apart is from the original box the jigs came in, which will give you a better understanding of how fast per metre the jig sinks. In our experience, we find the 3-5 second sink rate per metre is ideal for NZ waters.
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Rods, Reels, Line
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The rods used are 7-8ft long. These dedicated egi-ing rods are sensitive on the tip to ensure any taps or hits by the squid don’t go unnoticed. With saying that, the backbone of the rod has to be stiff to be able to work the jig in every condition. The ideal reels will be a shallow 2000-3000 size. The proper egi-ing line to have will be a PE 0.8-PE 1.5, and the difference between normal braid and egi-ing braid is the likelihood of sinking to eliminate the line bellying in the water. The ideal leader to use will be 1-1.5m of anything from 10-20lb soft fluorocarbon. Why fluoro and not mono? It is factored for low-light refraction and it is more abrasive than mono.

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Action

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The two actions commonly used are the twitching and the whipping action.
The twitching action involves working the lure to simulate a small prawn/shrimp darting through the water column. Cast the jig and, when it sinks, flicking the rod in a short wrist action upwards will create the jig moving to one side. This will create a small slack in the line, so let the jig sink, reel in the slack and hold it. Now repeat the action of flick–reel, flick–reel, flick–reel and pause. Let the jig sink and sit to give the squid a chance to tap and hit the jig.
The whipping action will be slightly vicious where you cast the jig. Let it reach the seabed and whip the rod upwards aggressively for about 2-4 times while reeling in the slack, then pause and wait a good length of time before repeating the process again.

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by Carl Sawyer

When my partner and I were planning a month-long trip to South America, I knew that I had to incorporate some sort of fishing excursion as part of the trip. Golden Dorado immediately came to mind and from my limited knowledge, Argentina is one of the best locations to chase them.

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Whilst we weren’t going to be travelling to Argentina, my partner’s parents live in the south of Brazil meaning Argentina wasn’t too far to get to (in South American terms, that is). So, a plan was hatched to get to Rosario in the north eastern corner of Argentina, where I would hook up with the Golden Dorado River Cruiser operation for four days. It was a six-hour drive from my partner’s parents place in Zortea to Porto Alegre where I caught a two hour flight to Rosario. Rosario is the third largest city in Argentina and is located on the banks of the Parana River. The Parana River is an enormous system, second only to the Amazon in terms of length and spans over 4800km in length. From its source in the south of Brazil, it flows on a largely southern course through Paraguay, picking up volume from the numerous large tributaries before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean north of Buenos Aires.

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From the marina at Rosario we crossed the Parana River before taking a side branch of the Parana. It would be about an hour’s journey to the Gypsy Pirana mothership that is stationed on the Los Laureles River. As we still had three to four hours of daylight, we fished our way towards the mothership. Malcom Covers, who would be my guide for the week, hadn’t fished this lower stretch before so was keen to see if it had any promise. I quickly rigged up my eight weight Scott Radian which was matched with an Air Flo Bruce Chard floating line, six feet of 30lb trace and a 20cm wire tippet to protect the trace from the Dorado’s razor-sharp teeth.

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A size 4 Black and Red Andino Deceiver is one of the go-to flies for chasing Dorado and soon I was working the various snags and structures that lined the river banks. Dorado are voracious predators that generally lie in ambush around structures for unsuspecting baitfish to come within striking distance. The Min Kota electric motor was used to position the boat on the upstream side of the structure, and we would work the water for three to four casts before covering the water behind the structure. The water was very murky, and the flies had to be presented right in front of the Dorado which meant hooking snags was inevitable. We fished for about an hour before I came tight on my first Dorado. The fly landed about two metres in front of a snag and I let the lead eyes drag the fly down before a long slow strip of the fly. Just before the second strip, a Dorado latched onto the fly and a quick strip strike set the hook. At about 3lbs it wasn’t big, but I was happy to be on the board! Dorado have all the hallmarks of being a great species to target on the fly. Their aggressive nature, willingness to take a well-presented fly and aerial antics when hooked, sit them near the top of the echelon of bucket list fly fishing species. We hooked into a few smaller Dorado that evening before calling it a day.

Whilst day two dawned clear there was already quite a steady wind blowing and it was apparent that the river was rising as great clumps of reeds and debris were making their way down the Los Laureles. Before my visit, the river had been low and clear with good sized Dorado present behind a lot of the larger tree stumps and structures. Unfortunately, with the rising river level, the larger Dorado had vacated their usual haunts and all we caught from these main lies were 1-2lb Dorado. With the rising river levels, I experimented with shooting taper sinking lines in order to get the flies deeper. Whilst I got strikes, I sacrificed some accuracy due to the taper configuration and quickly reverted to floating and sink tip lines. With the fishing for Dorado being on the slow side after lunch, we went chasing Tararira or Wolf Fish. These gnarly looking fish sit idle amongst the weeds and lily pads, and ambush any prey that get too close. A popper fly cast right amongst the lilies and blooped back through and over the weeds drew some savage strikes. Whilst not the best sporting fish (they roll over and give up easily), it was fun to add another species to the list.
The weather on day three had deteriorated further with rain and strong winds, a far cry from the hot sunny days that had preceded my trip. Malcom had initially planned on taking a packed lunch and spending the whole day away from the Gypsy Parana, but given the weather and a cooked lunch, it was too good to turn down the day; it was split into two sessions as usual. Again, the fishing was tough but we managed to get into some Dorado, including a 5lb specimen that fell to a small live catfish, which bounced along the bottom, on conventional bait casting gear. The crappy weather dictated that other methods from fly fishing had to be adopted and not many guys can say they have stray lined for Dorado! Whilst we called it a day early, a warm shower followed by a few beers and the best meal I am likely to ever have on a fishing expedition made it not such a tough call in the end.

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The weather forecast for the last day was for improving weather and with that in mind, we decided to fish all day and do a massive loop spanning 30 odd kms of river. We got things off to a good start hooking into approximately 20 Dorado over a shallow gravel bar. It was a lot of fun and whilst there were no big fish, the constant action made for a great morning. Still without a decent Dorado in the boat, we set about working some classic looking water and soon had a nice Dorado in the boat. At the next snag, Malcom positioned the boat nice and close and as the fly swung up in the current I had another thumping hit. Unfortunately, for me my trout fishing instincts took over and the trout strike didn’t set the hook on a behemoth of a Dorado that showed itself briefly as I was left ruing what might have been.  Another trout strike and another missed opportunity rounded out the rest of my afternoon and trip.

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The hospitality I had received from the Gypsy Parana staff from when I first stepped onboard to the day I departed had been top notch. Whilst the fishing and weather didn’t quite live up to the pre-trip anticipation, that is fishing and ensures that we as anglers don’t take things for granted and makes the memorable days that much sweeter.

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It’s been almost 100 years since the Tauranga Sport Fishing Club first opened its doors, back on Mayor Island/Tuhua in 1923.

Back in those days, the club was an informal society of members. Fishing was based at Southeast Bay, with the first available records of any game fishing coming in 1929. That season saw 86 marlin and 37 mako shark landed.

Only five launches operated at the time.

“The galley and club rooms which were built in South East Bay/Opo Bay, saw a mind blowing amount of marlin and shark catches, numbers that are unheard of today,” the club says.

The club was officially known as the Tauranga Big Game Fishing Club after becoming incorporated in 1937.

What started as an informal group of members, it officially became the Tauranga Big Game Fishing Club in 1937.

The most successful season for the club was from 1948-1949, which saw 749 marlin and 39 sharks being landed. Only six boats were fishing during that season.

According to the club, many fish were dumped at sea once weighed or photographed.

“Unfortunately the overfishing issues that we are aware of today were not so apparent back then,” it says.

“These records really put into perspective how abundant the oceans were and how much it's changed over the last century.”

In December 1952, the club had a meeting with the Trustees of Mayor Island with a view of obtaining a lease of land at Opo Bay for a big game fishing club base. In February 1953 the proposal was agreed to, and a lease was signed on 17 January 1955. From here the Mayor Island Club house was built, kitchen facilities were rebuilt with an oil stove installed, electricity provided and a water supply from up the hill.

The office, which was on Coronation Pier at Tauranga, operated as a mainland base, which was in radio communication with the island.

The club was eventually relocated to its current base at Sulphur Point, Tauranga in 1991, and today boasts more than 3000 members.

The waters around the Tauranga coastline are known for its marlin, tuna and kingfish with mahi mahi, shortbilled spearfish and broadbill captured from time to time.

Knowing how to bone and roll a pheasant using Dunninghams stuffing mix and springnet opens up new opportunities with this favoured gamebird, and it's easier than you might think

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‍Step One:

The first thing we will need to do after the pheasant has been hanging for a while is to pluck it.

Your pheasant should be hung in a chiller until you can pull the feathers out easily, this should take around a week and will increase the flavour.

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Step Two:

Once your pheasant has been plucked you will need to gut it, remove the feet and head, and take off the wings.

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Step Three:

Now that the pheasant has been prepared we can start the boning process, the first step is to mark either side of the tail and cut down the middle of the back all the way to the neck.

Step Four:

From here we need to take one side of the meat off the frame. Simply follow the frame down to the bottom of the breasts.

Step Five:

Once that has been done you will need to do the same to the other side, then removing the frame is as easy as pulling the frame out from in between the breasts which should be the only thing holding it there.

Step Six:

The only bones that should be left in the pheasant should be the leg bones, simply cut either side of the leg bones then cut down the back to remove them.

As with all game birds there are multiple bones in the in the bottom of the leg so we need to make sure we get them all out.

Step Seven:

Here we have our Dunninghams stuffing mix. All you have to do is add water and its good to go.

Once you have the stuffing to the right consistency just place however much stuffing you like in between the breasts then fold the breasts together and wrap the boneless legs up and around the thin end of the breasts. This should make your roast nice and even.

Step Eight:

This is what your roast should look like, now all we have to do is put some springnet around it to hold it in place.

This is the springnet that i use, like all my products that i use you can get them easily through Dunninghams.

Note: This is the springnet that i use, like all my products that i use you can get them easily through Dunninghams.

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Step Nine:

Using a Dunningham net loader or you can use a piece of plumbing pipe or something similar to put your springnet over, tie off one end then feed your roast through making sure to keep the springnet tight. If you have a large roast you can wet the sides of your pipe so the roast will go through easier.

Here we have it, our pheasant roast ready to go!

The Old English Stuffing from Dunninghams is awesome and i use this stuffing for the majority of my roasts whether its wild pork, chicken, beef of wild birds.

Luke Gilbert and his mates have a boys fishing trip every year. In April this year, they headed to one of their spots near Carnarvon off the rocks in Western Australia to chase the likes of Spanish mackerel, tuna, cobia, and other big fish. The last thing they expected to see was a sailfish, but not only did they see one, Luke caught it too.

It was the last day of their trip and Luke and his mates thought they’d head out for one last morning fish to balloon off the rocks and try for some big hookups.

Weather conditions weren’t perfect, with the wind blowing North Easterly, which stopped the balloons from going straight out and made them drift along the cliffs. But with a Penn International spooled with about 800m of braid and about 100-200m of 150lb top shot, Luke still gave it a go.

“It’s a funny story really. My mate Jakob was with me at the time of the hookup and maybe 10 to 15 minutes before it we were joking about catching a sailfish, as we had seen something pretty big free jumping out further past our balloons,” says Luke.

Not long after that, their other mate Ed, who was further up the rock than them, told them that he saw a big splash on Luke’s bait underneath his balloon. They had no idea that it was a sailfish, but it kept smashing his bait on the surface.

“Eventually after about the fifth hit, I hooked up and the reel started screaming. That’s when we all realised what was happening and started screaming at each other too. Then the fight was on and the battle started,” he says.

“When I first realised it was a sailfish I instantly had the biggest adrenaline rush – my legs and arms started shaking and I was just hoping the fish would not throw my hooks.”

As the fish got closer and closer, Luke explains that he felt more confident that the hooks would hold, and they really were going to land the fish.

“After about 20 minutes the sailfish got close to the rock ledge and I got very lucky and had the perfect set of waves to wash it on the rocks. Then my mates Ed, Brook and Jakob grabbed the bill, got a gaff shot and got the fish up the rocks,” Luke says.

“It was the catch of a lifetime. And off the rocks too. I was ecstatic and overwhelmed with emotion and my friends and I were screaming, swearing and hugging. We were just so excited we had landed this fish.”

Luke and his mates measured it to be roughly around 2.16-2.20m long and weighing around the 40-50kg mark. To see more of what Luke and his mates get up to, check them out on Instagram at Fish the Ledge.

Very few hunters can resist the scent of bacon sizzling, hot soup bubbling, a favourite back country meal or freshly brewed tea simmering away on your cooker while out on a brisk morning hunt, its almost a magical aroma.

With the latest cookers & cookware being so compact it makes it very easy to carry all the essentials in a day bag pack now-a-days, and having two young sons that are mad keen on hunting this is ideal choice of equipment. Stopping for a hot meal and hot drink is a great way to keep the kids interested, and get refuelled for the next leg of the journey also becoming a fun part of the day, as they enjoy helping out with the cooking and learning some useful outdoor tips at the same time.

Quality and light weight cookware is key, I recently purchased the Companion Pro nano solo cookset and put it through its paces on a recent trip with my son in the West Coast of the South Island, we were not disappointed. Made from hard anodised aluminium (strong, lightweight, abrasion and corrosion resistant), heat resistant handles make it easy for the kids to hold or drink out of.  prefect for either day hunts or nights away in the bush.

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It comes with a silicone lid perfect for rapid boiling, two pots(1.2L & 0.6L) the 0.6L can be used for frying, also comes with a scourer pad making cleaning a breeze, a 227g gas can fits perfectly inside the 1.2L pot, all stored away in a mesh storage bag that takes up very little space in my day pack. I carry my Kovea Hikers Gas Stove on my hunting belt, and then its just the food you want to take with you. The Back Country meals are great, very lightweight and taste delicious as well, the kids love the 2 minute noodles so we always have a couple of them in the pack, mixing a back country meal with the noodles is a great option, soups are also a good one to include, then bottle of water, coffee/tea, hot choc sachets and a bit of condensed milk or milk powder to add and maybe a couple of marshmallows for the kids to toast and we are set to go.

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It comes with a silicone lid perfect for rapid boiling, two pots(1.2L & 0.6L) the 0.6L can be used for frying, also comes with a scourer pad making cleaning a breeze, a 227g gas can fits perfectly inside the 1.2L pot, all stored away in a mesh storage bag that takes up very little space in my day pack. I carry my Kovea Hikers Gas Stove on my hunting belt, and then its just the food you want to take with you. The Back Country meals are great, very lightweight and taste delicious as well, the kids love the 2 minute noodles so we always have a couple of them in the pack, mixing a back country meal with the noodles is a great option, soups are also a good one to include, then bottle of water, coffee/tea, hot choc sachets and a bit of condensed milk or milk powder to add and maybe a couple of marshmallows for the kids to toast and we are set to go.

If you want compact, super portable, lightweight, and easy to use, both cooking and cleaning the Companion Pro is the cook set for you, At a very respectable price from EquipOutdoors I would recommend his product for any Kiwi adventurer.

It’s physical, challenging, thrilling, and you are constantly learning about the underwater environment. You can’t beat the unbridled simplicity of hunting underwater. It’s just you and the fish.

To help get you out in the water with a little bit more knowledge under your belt, we caught up with seven-time New Zealand spearfishing champion, Julian Hansford.

Julian has managed to merge his passion into a full-time business and now runs a free diving and spearfishing retreat based in Kuaotunu, and caters from beginners to the experienced.  For more information go to www.spearocamp.nz

What should I look for when picking a spot to dive?

When picking a spot to dive, it depends on what you are after. If it is kingfish, I look for a point with a current. If its snapper, try looking for an area that gives you good cover to sneak around, like big cracks or boulders to hide behind.

What are some techniques to improve holding my breath?

The best way to improve your breath hold is just spending time in the water. You can’t beat that.

I’ve just started spearfishing, what is a good fish to target first?

When learning to spearfish, it’s really good to target trevally or kahawai. If you can hit these fish, which there are plenty of, then you can hit almost any fish and start to target more difficult fish like snapper and kingfish.

What is the best way to set up ground baiting for spearing snapper?

If you are setting a ground bait, find an area that you can sneak up on without being seen. Then crack some Kina exactly where you would want the fish to be when you approach.

What are some of the biggest mistakes you see new divers make?

A big mistake people make is not having enough weights on their belt when approaching a berley, and don’t realise their legs are way up above their head scaring the sniper away before they have had a chance to shoot.

What is the right length speargun for me?

A good all-round length of spear gun for NZ is 110cm. It is easy to move around which stalking fish in the shallows, also long enough to spear a kingfish.

How often should I Re-Rig my Speargun?

Always check your trace from barrel to spear before diving for damage or wear because the day you run into your best fish will be the day you didn’t realise your face line is old and worn!‍

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Julian’s Top Five Tips:

1. Be aware of your surroundings, not just what’s right in front of you. People tend to lose concentration on what’s happening around them, e.g. drifting away in the current.
2. Try not to overpower your speargun, or take long shots. An overpowered speargun becomes inaccurate and taking wild long shots really increases the chance that you will injure or miss your target. Get close and kill it quick.
3. Be prepared for panic. Small things can lead to big problems; if you are not prepared in your own head, like getting you flipper stuck in a rock, you could panic, struggle and then drown. Or, you could remove your foot from the flipper and swim up with one leg! Stop. Think. Act.
4. Have the correct weighting. If you’re hunting in shallows, use more weight. It helps to hold your body low to the ground, so you’re more stealthy. When you’re giving deep, less weight. As you get deeper, you get less buoyant, and it’s easier to swim up.
5. I generally use a 110cm speargun around NZ to target most of our species. At Spearo Camp we try to give our divers a foundation to become a competent spear fisherman and free diver, so when they move forward out on their own, they have some good skills to work on developing further.

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Ngati Providers Kai Mo Te Tēpu was created last year by Travis Tawera as a social media movement to provide for friends and family and to teach the younger generation the art of hunting and gathering – now it is saving lives.

Around 10 years ago, after losing family and close friends to suicide, Travis moved home to his whanau land on the East Coast to get back into nature, but he also had a close call himself.

“I planned to end my life in the bush where nobody would find me. Luckily, I didn’t follow through with my plan as I felt something really strong come over me in the bush that day,” says Travis. “That’s when my life as a hunter-gatherer began. I would walk for days on end in the bush not returning home until I found food not only for myself but for my elders and family in Waipiro Bay.”

Travis started the Ngati Providers Kai Mo Te Tēpu Facebook page last September after his friends and family encouraged him to share his adventures online. Now a page with over 5,000 likes, he has also created a mental health programme called Te Ora I Te Wairua, which means Keeping Our Spirits Alive.  Through the programme, Travis shares the healing power of hunting, fishing, gathering and gardening, getting back into nature and his own journey, while helping other men through theirs.

“I invite them to Waipiro Bay and teach them how to live off the land and talk about their feelings,” says Travis. “The public’s reaction has been crazy, to say the least. I made a video sharing my story through social media and it erupted getting over 150,000 views as well as thousands of likes/loves and shares.”

Travis has a list of hundreds of men who have reached out for help, including Chad Butcher who suffers from bad anxiety and depression.

“When I was down and out from my depression and anxiety I put a post up on Facebook to try and find a hunting mate to go out hunting with. A member of the public tagged Trav on it, and he connected with me,” says Chad. “The movement plays a big part in my life and the outdoors and gathering lifestyle calms me and clears my mind. Travis is always there for me and being able to fill up not only my freezer, but all my whanau’s, is also awesome.”

Travis really hopes that the programme will help to get the suicide rate down which he says is really high on the East Coast. He believes that by reconnecting back with the land and being able to speak up and ask for help they can achieve it.

“I’m proud to have changed lives already, and I feel like we are really onto something good with the programme,” he says. “I’m hoping one day soon others with similar resources as me can start up other programmes around New Zealand as it can be really hard doing counselling and having people judging you in an office with a pen and paper.”

At the moment the programme is seeking sponsorship to help with funding and have already had assistance from a local forestry company, and he’s also had lots of interest in the movement from high-profile Kiwis like Piri Weepu and Peter Peeti.

“We have also received donations of hunting and fishing gear from some awesome Kiwis out there and we can’t thank them enough,” says Travis. “I’m very thankful to have their support in this as I can’t do it all on my own, and I also want to say without my family and friends sticking by me I wouldn’t be here today. I’m now happily engaged to my fiancé and have added another addition to my family.”

For anyone wanting to get in contact with Travis or if you would like to follow his story, you can connect through the Facebook page – Ngati Providers Kai Mo Te Tēpu.

Marco boats in Morrinsville have been hard at work releasing their newest model the 600 Souwester hard top, which had been rigged and set up by the team at Peninsula Marine for a happy customer on the Hauraki Plains.

I got the chance to join Dayne Horne from Marco and Alan Thomsen from Peninsula Marine on the maiden voyage in the muddy waters of the Waihou river.

This boat is an all new hull design featuring raised sheer line and fully welded gunwale; it keeps the same 16 degree deadrise from the original 600 it replaces, but with a finer entry to soften the ride when hitting head on into a sea.

Sitting on the trailer you can tell this boat packs a lot of punch for its size, with plenty of deck room for fishing and a spacious wheelhouse providing a decent amount of head space, alloy spoked steering wheel and hydraulic steering. There are storage areas under both seats, underfloor between the seats, hatch on the passengers’ side, as well as the shelves running along each side. I was impressed with bolster seats giving it that extra bit of comfort while at the helm or as a passenger these seats are standard in the new Marco range along with the new bunk squab material.

Marco has run the cabin on into the bowsprit to keep the lines similar to the 625 and larger models, and intends to bring a similar looking 560 version out as a cabin boat along with the 800 Souwester to complete the new range for next year.

Peninsula Marine colour coded this model to match the customer’s ute with a 3M metallic blue vinyl wrapped wheelhouse/cabin done by Marine Protection Solutions.

The customer has gone with a Livebait tank which is situated below the walk thru transom, sealed into the corner of the boat so water and dirt can’t get behind or under it, and it is drained straight out through the back of the boat to save any scales or sand clogging up the bilge pump. The live bait tank is an optional extra.

Performance

The boat was rigged with a Mercury 115XL Command thrust 4/stroke outboard, fitted with a 19” Vengence stainless propeller.

The 115 was a good match for the 600Sw; holeshot performance was excellent, well under 10 seconds, pushing on the plain with ease, settling at a cruise speed of 46KPH at 4500rpm. A quick burst at full throttle gave us a speed of 60kph at 5950 rpm.

The hull performance felt good, the hull was stable on the plain, and was very comfortable on hard turns. The finer entry in the hull design was certainly evident in a short chop, making for a softer ride.

At rest as a fishing platform, the boat felt solid and steady, with 2 guys leaning against the gunnel on one side, the boat moved slightly to the flat of the chine then steadied, easy enough to pull a big Kingy into the boat. With a walkthrough transom and fold down T ladder, perfect for diving.

The package included a Marco 600 Sou Wester to standard specification, including rod holders, bilge pump, navigation lights, wiring and switch panel, interior lights, carpet lined cabin and hardtop, glove box, cleats, bow rail, rocket launcher, bunk squabs, underfloor fuel tank, underfloor storage, battery locker. Package is on a Dmw braked mulitroller trailer, rigged with a Mercury 115 xl CT outboard.

Options included in this package, walkthrough transom, t boarding ladder, bait station, live bait tank, auto anchor winch, Garmin 9’’ sounder /chartplotter, vhf radio, Fusion stereo, top side wrap. Price as tested: $78,000.

All in all, this 6m boat has a lot to offer and is a great contender for the NZ market using space and comfort well; the protection of the hard top for a boat of this size makes this very capable for heading out wide for a day’s game fishing or trips out with the family. If you would like to know more information, contact the team at Marco Boats.

Recently I was given the opportunity to visit the Lunn family’s hunting block ‘Hunting Opotiki’ a hunter’s paradise situated 30minutes south of Opotiki.

With 400 acres of native guts, manuka faces, grass clearings with fallow and red deer roaming freely, there was certainly no hesitation in taking up Dave’s offer.

Having a four-year-old son who is mad keen on tagging along with dad on all my adventures, I thought this would be a great opportunity for Isaac to experience his first deer stalking adventure.

So Isaac, Poppa, and I headed off from Thames and arrived late afternoon at the lodge to be greeted by Dave who was finishing off some final touches to his newly renovated lodge, immediately we felt welcomed and were shown around the property. The Lunns have created the perfect balance between top quality comfort and a unique kiwi hunting experience. The lodge features all modern house-ware equipment and has two bedrooms with bunk beds set up sleeping four in each room, a comfortable lounge and a veranda overlooking grass clearings where deer are spotted regularly and a running stream below. It’s the perfect place to unwind after a day of hunting.

After a rundown of the lodge, it was time to explore the property. The 400-acre block has 4×4 and quad bike access making it accessible for all ages and the entire property is ring-fenced for safety satisfaction. We all piled into Dave’s 4×4 and made our way up the bulldozed track to the top of the block, on our way we spotted a number of deer shooting off into the scrub and spotted some nice stags sunning themselves on the opposite sides of the gullies. At the top sits the famous ‘Rock Hut’; a hut built into the side of the hill moulded around volcanic boulders, with expansive views of the ranges in the distance, which we explored before we ventured back down to the lodge.

By this time the sun was slowly starting to go down which was the perfect time to head off along the bottom flats in search of a bit of meat for the freezer and hopefully a nice spotted skin to try my hand in tanning. Dave gave us a quick safety briefing and description of where we would likely find shootable animals and we were off on foot. It wasn’t long until we came across a couple of chocolate yearlings and hinds which we had the opportunity to have a crack at but thought we would carry on in search of a spotted young stag.

Isaac pointed out five fallow stags together that he could see in the distance about 400m away but getting close enough for a shot was the challenge! As we closed the gap, the deer had spotted us and moved high up in the scrub, so the decision was made to climb the ridge to see if we could get one last shot at them before dark. I made it to roughly three-quarters of the way up the face when I spotted the first stag, a mature fallow heading across the top of a slip at the head of the gully followed by four other stags, two being young prickets with beautiful spotted coats, just what I was after!

I got in position and calmed my breathing and gave out a quiet whistle stopping the stags for a split sec as I squeezed off my shot. After a little stumble, the stag was over and rolling down the slip towards me, YES, nailed it with a clean heart shot!

Pop and I dressed the animal and made our way down the steep face where Isaac and Dave met us with the quad for the short trip back to the lodge. Isaac was very excited and was telling us all about the close encounters he had with deer.

What an awesome afternoon, topped off with a few coldies and a barbecue on the veranda in the comfort of the lodge.

Whether you are after some meat for the freezer, looking for that trophy head, or to get the kids away from the computer games and experience a New Zealand hunting adventure, Hunting Opotiki caters for all levels of hunters and offers plenty of opportunities to take an animal home. Topped off with great hospitality and superb comfort at a very reasonable price. If this sounds like you, give Dave a call on 0211472979, or visit their website www.huntingopotiki.com.

“Once you’ve used it you can never go back to the old ways”

The boat owner who made this comment is of course referring to the Balex Auto Boat loader, a NZ invention that is taking the world by storm.

The Balex ABL2500 launches and retrieves your boat completely hands free and is so well built the marine industry is wondering why no one thought of it before now. The product has been commented by industry experts as the most revolutionary product in the trailer boat market and is ticking all the boxes for boat owners around the world.

Who is Balex Marine?

Balex Marine are a manufacturer based in beautiful Mt Maunganui and have a pipeline of innovative marine products, the first of which is in the Balex ABL2500 automatic boat launcher.
The ABL 2500 automatic boat loader is a disruptive new technology and innovation, which can launch a boat in 20 seconds and can retrieve a boat in just 30 seconds.

Who is buying the Balex ABL 2500?

You may be surprised to know that the product is sold to the older and younger generations for both new and used trailers. It appears that a wide range of people do not like the manual system of launching boats which involves negotiating slippery boat ramps and getting wet.

What is the Balex ABL 2500 made of?

The automatic boat launcher from Balex has high quality marine grade materials  that will provide years and years of corrosion free operation.

How does it work?

The ABL’s wireless remote control initiates and controls the launch and retrieval at the touch of a button. This can be done on board the boat or from dry land. The ABL2500 model can pull up to 2.5 tonnes and its patented technology uses a powerful, marine grade hydraulic system to load your boat quickly and safely on and off the trailer, with maximum control. The unit is comprised of 3 pieces as shown below.

Where can I buy one?

The Balex ABL 2500 are sold through a network of dealers and these are listed here.

Can I see one being used?

The team at Balex will be running demonstration days in November:

11 November
Trev Terry Marine, Motuopa Marina
Another great Demo with Trev Terry Marine – this time at the new marina. Make sure you come along!

12 November
OBC, Tamaki Drive, Auckland
A special day for OBC members – a Q&A session followed by a boat ramp presentation at the OBC Clubhouse in Auckland.

Summary

The ABL can transform a new boat trailer or be retro-fitted to an existing one, giving you a smooth, controlled launch and retrieval.
The ABL adapts to your lifestyle – whether out on a solo trip or with family and friends.
It’s simple and intuitive to use, giving you a controlled launch or retrieval without the need for strength.

To enquire about your Balex Automatic Boat Loader please ring 0800 2253 962 or register your interest on http://www.balexmarine.com/abl/

All game fishermen know the age-old adage of “beginner’s luck”. You hear many stories of the guy or girl’s first trip out and they catch a bloody marlin. Then there is the other side of the coin where people go years and years without ever seeing a marlin, let alone catch one.

For those of us lucky enough to have caught a marlin, or even just had the pleasure of being hooked up to one of these beautiful fish, you know the adrenaline rush that consumes you and keeps you going out day after day hunting these powerful creatures.

This story is about a good mate of mine, Woody, a good, honest (sometimes hard-working) Kiwi bloke. He made the mistake of taking up the invite of a day’s game fishing on my boat, Mini Chiefie. Beginners luck would have it that on his first day ever out game fishing we caught a striped marlin. I was the fortunate angler on the rod but man, that fish was special for all three of us on the boat. A big, beautiful lit-up stripey in the gear with an outstanding bite that all three of us witnessed, and an even better aerial display after the hook had set. After an hour we had boated a 114kg striped marlin with Woody doing an outstanding job on the leader for his first attempt on his first-ever day out. I looked into his eyes after we boated that fish and I said to myself, “You poor bugger! You are hooked.”

What followed was talking his Dad into a bigger boat set up for game fishing, 50/50 split on the costs, a full set of Penn 80w rod/reel combos (x4), too many lures to count, 1000s of hours of YouTube watching marlin tips and tricks from rigging to just cool-as videos of people catching them, the hours and hours of time on the water hunting them and the GAS bill. Also not to mention, the hours spent talking about them that our better halves have to listen to and put up with.

Woody had an eventful start to his Game Fishing addiction with a nice 30kg yellow fin early last season. Then a month or so later came the day that has kept him awake at night. With a few close mates who had had zero experience game fishing, they hooked a big blue marlin that came in and smashed the Red Gill RG4 in short corner (this lure will feature again). What followed was a 31/2 hour battle that resulted in a snapped mainline and the fish winning its freedom; having the fish on the leader half-a-dozen times but with the inexperience of the crew, they couldn’t manage that last metre to sink the gaff. First taste of real heartbreak!

The next dose of heartbreak was dished out last month when Rodney Thomsen (owner of the Adventurer newspaper) and I decided to take Mini Chiefie out West for the first time, Raglan being the location of choice. With beautiful conditions and a good bite on, we were pretty confident in getting Woody his first marlin. With lots of bait schools on the sounder and nice, warm, blue water we seemed to be in a good area so we worked it all morning. Then 12 o’clock came and our first dose of heartbreak for the day! Here he was, a nice striped marlin on the Long Corner Red Gill RG4, the same colour as Woody’s when he lost his blue marlin. Bang! The rigger released after loading a lot more than normal; the marlin started jumping, but no reel was going off? I glanced to the rod, and then I saw that the mainline had snapped. Must have somehow got caught in the rigger clip (never ever heard of this happening before)!

We licked our wounds and continued working the area. Two hours later ––bang! The short rigger went off! Then the bugger started jumping! ‘Yes, let’s hope this one sticks!’ we thought. No! Heartbreak again! This time the heat-shrink over the eye of the hook is pulled down, fully covering the tip of the hook and barb, so zero chance of that hook setting. More sleepless nights for poor Woody (Rodney and me also now)!

On 6th of March, 2018 came a day that Woody will never forget!

With a good forecast we decided Raglan was the location again and we went straight back to the same area. We came up on the spot where we had dropped our second marlin and there was a big bait ball in mid-water. Had to be a sign! We worked the area all day with very little action apart for the skippies that seemed to be everywhere. With the wind dropping away to non-existent, and a sleepy and bored crew, I decided it was time to spice things up and catch some fresh bait. So while I was sitting spotting from the roof out went the skippy lure with plenty of laughs. We caught two fresh skippies from the roof for the tuna tubes and boy, would they come in handy within the hour. With the high tide 20 minutes away and plenty of bait both on the surface and on the sounder, I tossed Woody a Red Bull and said, “You are gonna need this, we are in the right spot.”

No more than 10 minutes later, there he was! A striped marlin on the surface; then another one joined him only 30-40m off our bow. The water erupted in front of them with mackerel jumping and the marlin went into a feeding frenzy. So we trolled our lures back and forward, past them, over them, between them, and not one bite. We tried using the dredge to pull them away from the bait-ball, but nothing would work. After watching the footage back, this went on for a good 12 minutes as we continued to spot them feeding on the surface and even had them swim under the boat. With a bit of quick thinking and very nervous shaky hands I cleared the shotgun and rigged a live skippy to be pitched to the marlin as they were feeding. With the bait rigged and the marlin spotted feeding on the surface just ahead of us, it was the moment of truth. We rushed over to them, slowed the boat and I deployed the live skippy just as one was swimming on the surface beside us. Then, just as I had hoped, he grabbed it. I gave him plenty of time to eat the bait then slowly increased the drag.

Nothing; no weight at all; couldn’t even feel the skippy. So I continued to wind the line and tell the rest of the crew, “I think our skippy is gone.” Little did I know he was swimming towards me. Then I felt a couple of strong head nods, the rod loaded, and out of my mouth with huge excitement came the words, “THIS AIN’T A SKIPPY BOYS!” He then surfaced 30m behind the boat as the crew cleared the gear and Woody fitted his gimbal. “We got him on boys.” I could see he was hooked well with the VMC circle doing the trick, and it was time for Woody to go to work.

After a 40-minute tough battle on 14kg of drag, we now had the fish boat-side, and with nervous, shaky hands, again I grabbed the leader. As crewman Bryce held the boat alongside the fish, crewman Bones sank the gaff, I grabbed the bill and I’m pretty sure then you could have heard us on land as we jumped around hugging as if we had won the Rugby World Cup!

Then it was off to the Raglan Sports Fishing Club which is at the Pub (how awesome is that) where some of Woody’s friends and family were present to witness his awesome achievement. The fish went 122kg and tasted absolutely beautiful smoked. Definitely one fish that the four of us will never forget.

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