Upload
espire-media
View
226
Download
2
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
If you love fishing you’ll love NZ Fisher e-Magazine, the fresh new digital magazine for Kiwi fishing enthusiasts…
Citation preview
wwwnzfisherconz 1
ISSUE 27 September 2013
wwwnzfisherconz
Champagne Fishing ndash Shore Boys on the WaterKiwis at the 2013 Offshore World Champs
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
2 wwwnzfisherconz
Visit okumafishingconzfacebookcomborntofishnz
A NEWOKUMA
BABY ISBORN
wwwnzfisherconz 3
Pg 6
12
20
Pg 36
CONTENTS
editorial
SPORTFISHING6 Champagne amp Fishing ndash What Did I Miss
COMPETITIONFISHING10 The World Offshore Champs 2013 LANDBASEDFISHING12 Bucket List Time in the Far North Part 2 ndash CMvD
BOATFISHING18 Monster Snapper Snared in Auckland
LOCAlFISHING20 Fishyourfeetfirst
SPORTFISHING22 Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
26 Reader Pics 30 Competition
KAYAKFISHING 32 So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
HOWTO
34 What Knot amp Why
GEARREVIEW 35 Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle Review
Visit okumafishingconzfacebookcomborntofishnz
A NEWOKUMA
BABY ISBORN
ALLNEW
GREENMACHINE
Hondarsquos brand new BF60 four-stroke EFI outboard engine combines exclusive Honda technologies in a lightest-weight-in-class package that delivers best-in-class performance
The newly-designed water-cooled three-cylinder engine incorporates electronic fuel injection Hondarsquos revolutionary Boosted Low Speed Torque (BLASTtrade) airfuel ratio and ignition-timing technology and lean burn control to deliver powerful start-up and acceleration together with outstanding fuel economy during cruising (ECOmo) NMEA2000 compatibility allows the BF60 to communicate with onboard marine electronics while ultra-smooth operation and world-leading environmental performance combine to crown the new BF60 lsquoGreen Machinersquo
BF60
wwwhondamarineconz0800 4 STROKE (787 653)
Honda_BF60_BC_FPindd 1 1862013 85844 AM
ALLNEW
GREENMACHINE
Hondarsquos brand new BF60 four-stroke EFI outboard engine combines exclusive Honda technologies in a lightest-weight-in-class package that delivers best-in-class performance
The newly-designed water-cooled three-cylinder engine incorporates electronic fuel injection Hondarsquos revolutionary Boosted Low Speed Torque (BLASTtrade) airfuel ratio and ignition-timing technology and lean burn control to deliver powerful start-up and acceleration together with outstanding fuel economy during cruising (ECOmo) NMEA2000 compatibility allows the BF60 to communicate with onboard marine electronics while ultra-smooth operation and world-leading environmental performance combine to crown the new BF60 lsquoGreen Machinersquo
BF60
wwwhondamarineconz0800 4 STROKE (787 653)
Honda_BF60_BC_FPindd 1 1862013 85844 AM
wwwnzfisherconz 5
In the middle of August Irsquom having
the pleasure of sitting at my desk in
shorts and a tee smelling the flowers
of spring and the salt air on the breeze
ndash and itrsquos August Itrsquos possibly the
beginning of a wonderful spring or just
a teaser to get our minds off the fact
that itrsquos the middle of winter I cannot
help but draw the comparison with the
Ministry of Primary Industry and their
Ministerrsquos most recent public back
down on the Snapper 1 issue
Wersquore presented with the unthinkable
a possible bag limit reduction to three
Snapper per person But wait The
Minister tells media halfway through
the consultation period that itrsquos unlikely
that there will be such significant cuts
(ldquoSnapper back-down on the cardsrdquo
as one headline in the print media
read) Do we feel a triumph on the
cards Well only time will tell but
I cannot help but feel this is a false
dawn ndash the fight must continue if
we want to know our fisheries can
be secured for future generations
As far as spring goes the fishing has
been extremely lsquospring likersquo already
as many northern fishers have already
experienced The beach fishing in
Northland has been great with a few
15lb plus Snapper taken off Ninety
Mile beach this month and as the
landbased fly guys in Auckland have
been finding unbelievable patches of
fish on the inner Islands Seeing what
our Scottish-Kiwi contributor Aaron
has been landing recently the Snapper
fishing in the outer Hauraki has been
out of character for August too
The fish are biting hard most of the
day but theyrsquore in tightly concentrated
schools that are easy to run off when
you find them Also check out Mark
Kitteridge and his enormous kingfish
landed with the Epic Adventures guys
in late July That is a serious fish and
from what Irsquom told the biggest landed
onboard Epic so far Well done Mark
and the Epic team
As always get a line in the water ndash
you wonrsquot catch anything with your
rod parked in the garage
Tight lines
Derrick
From the EDITOR
editorial
ABOUT Short and sharp NZ Fisher is a free e-magazine delivering thought provoking and enlightening articles and industry news and information to forward-thinking fisher people
EDITOR Derrick PaullART DIRECTOR Jodi OlssonCONTENT ENQUIRIES Phone Derrick on 021 629 327or email derrickpNZ FisherconzADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Phone Richard on 09 522 7257 or email richardlespiremediacomADDRESS NZ Fisher C- Espire Media PO Box 137162 Parnell Auckland 1151 NZWEBSITE wwwNZFisherconz
This is a GREEN MAG created and distributed without the use of paper so its environmentally friendly Please think before you
print Thank you
Fish of a lifetime
SPORTDfishing
Champagne amp Fishing ndash What Did I Miss
By Andrew Evans
wwwnzfisherconz 7
THE CHAMPAGNE CRICKET CLUB is
a club like no other founded on the
history of men who enjoyed cricket
champagne and socializing in the
late 60rsquos It is now being carried on
by a mix of ex Westlake and Rosmini
graduates in their late 20rsquos (two
schools with a fierce sporting rivalry)
The CCC enjoy the twilight and indoor
forms of the game only we donrsquot
want to embarrass the Black Caps
you see so a good proportion of the
club enjoy fishing In late June the
challenge was set for a Westlake vs
Rosmini fishing show down
Scrapper came up with the idea
and we were to base ourselves
in Ngunguru at his familyrsquos beach
house There was a loose itinerary
laid down with bottles of rum for the
biggest Snapper Kingfish and Most
Memorable catch With pride being
the biggest prize of all
We found ourselves heading north
from Auckland with a cold southerly
heading up the country The forecast
was to get better over the three
days so day one we were to let
the wind die out with a potential
afternoon Stray line day two would
be Snapper sessions along Tutukaka
coast and day three out to the reefs
surrounding the Poor Knights to chase
kingfish There were two boats to be
used Rosmini was equipped with a
Buccaneer billfisher named Strayliner
and Westlake on my new boat a 61
m fibreglass centre console named
Papillon Jared came up with a third
option the Boat show won Stabi
craft who went tohellipwe named this
Gaybi as in Gold Stabi Mostly out of
jealousy as we didnrsquot win it
Arriving on the first night the
Speights flowed and we didnrsquot really
realize when it turned into rum The
reports were of good Snapper in
close classic winter fishing and bait
and burley on the cards After retiring
far too late the call was made for a
late start
We awoke rusty to a brisk southerly
and a 2-3m swell hitting the coast not
the best conditions so the call was
made to go for a surf and wash away
the cobwebs After this we checked
the conditions again and again but
hangovers and Speights prevailed To
be fair it didnrsquot look amazing though
and we had two full days Donrsquot worry
we do get on the water this is a fishing
mag after all So once we settled
down and put the funnel away the plan
was made for a 530 am start
We awoke to two boats covered in
ice We loaded up and got everything
in order Although Scrapper and I
have done a fair bit of fishing we
both have had the dream fish of over
20lb elude us I have come close off
the far north bricks with one 19lber
and Scrapper more so with multiple
19lbers So close
We spoke on our last trip up north
about the quest for 20lbers often
overshadowing good trips as we
have been so keen to get them
that the quest can overshadow the
moment But this weekend wasnrsquot
really about us we both had crew
that although keen were very much
new to this level of fishing
None of my crew had even stray lined
before so it would be a mixture of
fishing a few baits and helping out
the lads so we could all have a good
time and ultimately win the comp It
was all on
As we left the Tutukaka ramp we
steamed up around the coastline
to find a likely looking area The
place is filthy with fishing potential
and the opportunities for greatness
are endless We both settled within
sight of each other in shallow water
Papillon a little wider in 10 m but
there was foul everywhere and it was
great Snapper territory The burley
was sent in and rigs were prepared
The very first bait thrown in by G
smashed by a respectable pannie it
was looking good A quick VHF call
between boats determined that both
of the Mattrsquos were feeling a little
under the weather so we werenrsquot
going to run out of burley
We had a stream of small fish and a
one up to the 50 cm mark so the bin
was no longer vacant No big runs
had really started however that was
about to change I had cleaned out
the freezer before I left and along with
a Skippy and an old flounder I had an
XOS jack Mack
SPORTfishing
Getting the best out of the little ones Place worthy
8 wwwnzfisherconz
Having set the boys up for now
I decided to take the head and a
good bit off the body of the XOS
Mackie and attached it to two 100
hooks and cast out with the 6500
baitrunner Waiting I felt it settle on
the bottom I was about to reposition
it in the water column when the bait
runner took off with an absolutely
screaming run
The instinct to strike was quelled
from my past experiences of
dropping fish during big runs ldquoLet
him have itrdquo I told myself It was a
big bait but I had the feeling that
this fish had sucked it right down
considering it wasnrsquot stopping
With adrenaline pumping like it
does when you are about to strike
I cranked the handle and struck It
came up tight but the line didnrsquot slow
downhellip it kept charging at full speed
A slight increase in drag only saw me
pulled off balance Finally it slowed
allowing a few pump and winds
before it took off again My initial
thought was kingi But it couldnrsquot be
I got nervous It slowed again and we
got into a dog fight
I am fairly quiet when on a good fish
SPORTfishing
Big Snapper I have seen in the past often look old and ragged but this fish was in its prime big and broad the only blemish what looked like an old spear wound by its dorsal Gee I was glad the spearo missed this fish
not wanting to jinx anything only
telling the boys to get the lines in
and concentrating on the job at hand
Getting line in when I could as the
fish tired I began to make ground and
I could feel the weight of it heavy
After a few minutes of this I was
waiting for colourhellip and I soon saw it
and it was big and red
The boys started hollering and after
a tense moment it was directed into
the net - just fitting The first thing I
noticed was the tail and the wrist of it
Big and powerful the fish was lifted
onto the deck
Shouting and high fiveing ensured I
was elated knowing this was definitely
my first 20lber and it looked well over
This was the biggest Snapper I had
ever seen when I saw the hook was in
the lip and the great condition of the
fish there was no doubt in my mind
it was going back Big Snapper I have
seen in the past often look old and
ragged but this fish was in its prime
big and broad the only blemish what
looked like an old spear wound by
its dorsal Gee I was glad the spear
missed this fish
I rushed the boys with the goal of
release in mind ldquoMatt get water in the
big livie tankrdquo which was soon filled
and the Snapper put in Cameras
were readied and the digital scales
sorted out It was when I lifted her out
I realized the weight I fixed her on
the scales with G and I watching them
settle on and around the 115kg mark
Not only over 20lb but over 25lb
I was ecstatic and proceeded to have
quick photos with the fish before I set
her back in the water after a kiss on
the head of course Holding the fish
for a while till she re-gathered her
strength it was two kicks of the tail and
powerfully she swam off I couldnrsquot
really believe it I had no expectation
of a fish like that on this trip and it was
safe to say the swans (Westlake) will
be hard to beat in the Snapper stakes
I had a Speights to calm the nerves
and take it in Finally I had done it and
could now relax knowing I had a trophy
Snapper to my name
The beauty for the lads was that
now I had clocked Snapper fishing I
happily became the deck hand and
so tied knots taught lessons on bait
presentation letting the fish run and
striking fish The boys did well there
was the odd bust off but we got in a
stream of nice eaters one of my baits
later in the day bought in another 10
lber Another good fish
We were considering heading out in
search of a kingfish but the wind was
around that 15 knot mark and still
swell around so we decided to leave
that till tomorrow and wrapped up the
Snapper session to return to the pad
and compare fish and stories Rosmini
were very congratulatory on my fish
and looked at the photos On looking
in their bin they had a great day also
with three Snapper around the 15 lb
mark to three different anglers and a
good bag of fish for a feed
The comp was hot and PBrsquos fell both days
wwwnzfisherconz 9
SPORTfishing
It had been a classic winterrsquos day for
the crews tentative bites and the
occasional big Snapper every other
hour We settled into a relaxed night
with hot smoked Snapper heads a
good roast and a few beverages The
Mattrsquos both worse for wear after a
long day at sea both guilty of a spit
over the side I couldnrsquot stop grinning
like an idiot and prompting everyone
for one more drink but no one could
finish watching Aus beat the Lions in
game two and it was off to bed for an
early start
We awoke again to a crisp calm
morning ice needing to be scraped
off the boats again Launching with
haste team Rosmini was down a
member due to Grandmarsquos birthday
Westlake would have four jigs in the
water could it make the difference
We steamed the 45 minutes out to the
local kingi joint and both boats circling
and searching for sign of balled up
bait and kingfish It wasnrsquot there ldquoerrr
this looks ok have a drop hererdquo was
going to be etched into my brain as I
said it over and over The fish had to
be there but their mouths were shut
tight We had been jigging for over
two hours now really should have got
some livies I thought
It was about11am when we finally
had a breakthrough None of the
lads had done much jigging but it
was G cranking the spin set who had
the first fish Never having caught a
king before he thought he was on the
bottom and I heard a yell of ldquowhat
do I dordquo I turn and see the rod kick
ldquoPump and windrdquo I yell He fought
the fish to the boat I could tell it
wasnrsquot massive but a king rose about
85cm right in Rossminirsquos face Could
Westlake have a clean sweep
Gareth was stoked and surprised by
the strength of the fish tired I got
him to hold it up for a few snaps
The fish was weighed bled and put
in the bin and I turn to see Rosmini
hooked up (had they called in divine
intervention will those days of bible
study pay off) No it was a smaller
rat and was returned we are looking
good The call was made to give it
another 30 minutes
That was when the old Joey the
hunter on team Rosmini decides to
have a little flutter with an Inchiku
Well it paid off the smaller jig enticing
the smaller kings that were obviously
around He was hooked up and after
a good scrap on Snapper gear a king
around the same size as ours was put
in the boat It was going to be close
After that with sore arms and
shoulders Rosmini decided on heading
in to the mainland so the Mattrsquos could
go for a dive We searched for any
other likely looking kingi territory
around the place went for a quick
Snapper jig both to no avail We met
up with the lads as they finished their
dive Steaming back into Toots the
final day was a wrap and targeting
kings in winter needs a bit more
thought it seems It was to be a quick
turn-around as the admin associated
with any big fishing trip ensued There
was cleaning and packing and dump
trips and more cleaning and before
the filleting a weigh in
The kings as I said were small ours
had pulled the scales to 77kg with
Joeys visibly bigger at 85kg Their
rat trumped ours Rosmini was saved
embarrassment Scrapper awarded
me for my catch with biggest Snapper
and Most Memorable catch going to
Westlake for my 255lb Snapper
I really thought Most Memorable
catch could have gone to Evan for
catching two sea birds but was happy
with the result That Snapper was a
magnificent fish will be very hard to
top and whatrsquos better is that it is still
out there charging around growing
bigger making babies and perhaps
one day being a 30lber to be caught
With that we started the trip back to
Auckland all of us agreeing that this
was to be an annual event Scrapper
is expecting a child in the coming
months so the next one maybe a
family affair Thanks needs to go to
him for organizing a great weekend
well done Also to your sometimes
Editor and self-proclaimed land based
guru Forsyth thanks for the lend of
your wagon
For me it is another fishing goal ticked
off the next one a big Kingfish I have
introduced a couple more friends to
the passion we all share in fishing they
are hooked and may be expecting a
20lb+ Snapper to come aboard every
triphellip little do they know it took me
four years of targeting big Snappers
to get that fish They can find reality
out the lsquohardrsquo way
10 wwwnzfisherconz
competitionFISHING
My good friend Pete the Panel
beater has been telling me
about his international game
fishing trips for years and finally
he let me see the photos
It seemed immediately that Pete
might actually be telling the truth
which in fishing circles is a rare and
beautiful thing Petersquos great fishing
mate Mike Wood has been fishing
the Tongan International for 12 years
and when they won in 2010 fishing
aboard lsquoLevenuellarsquo they decided
to go through and fish the World
Offshore champs in Cabo San Luca on
the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula
Their 2011 WOFC trip was fun but
the fishing hard ndash bordering on
boring they tell me
So when they won the Tongan
International again in 2012 it was with
trepidation that they decided to head
to Costa Rica At $9800USD to enter
the costs are pretty high for anyone
but as good Kiwis do they saved hard
bribed their wives and made a plan to
get some real fishing done this time
Their name this year was lsquoSalty Dogsrsquo
and the Salty Dogs earned their stripes
with some great sailfish and Mahi-mahi
captures during the tournament
The team is made up of four
members Tony Smith David Swan
Mike Wood and Peter Lineham
All are keen fishers but travelling
halfway around the world to fish
for species we donrsquot even see
in New Zealand is tough
By the Cockpit Cowboys
The World Offshore Champs 2013Hard fighting kiwis from Tonga to Costa Rica
wwwnzfisherconz 11
competitionFISHING
The tournament format sees teams
draw their daily boats and skipper
from a ballot this evens the field a
little but therersquos no substitute for
experience as the local US and central
Pacific teams took an early lead Day
one for the Salty Dogs involved a lot
of trolling and only one sailfish (other
teams landed 6 ndash 8)
On day two they drew Spanish Fly
a very successful boat on day one
and their luck changed immediately
All four members of the crew landed
sailfish that day while Pete and Mike
landed two each and saw a bunch
more Team Salty Dogs were the top
ranked team on Day two ndash outclassing
all others and putting themselves in
the mix for the final day
Day three while eventful (they were
surrounded by a huge pod of lsquoSpinner
Dolphinsrsquo at one point) didnrsquot see
enough fish landed by the boys and
they faded to mid pack
To even make the grade to win entry
is a huge achievement wersquore stoked
to see they got some great fish and
had a ball You can see some of their
fishing highlights here
Well done Team Salty Dogs what a
great trip
12 wwwnzfisherconz
LANDBASEDfishing
Bucket List Time in the Far North Part 2 ndash CMvD
AS WE GOT DOWN towards Maria
we could see a couple of boats fishing
off the back of the island and it wasnrsquot
long before we saw one and then the
second hooked up into what looked
like good solid fish Fair to say the
excitement levels were going up
Whenever we go and fish somewhere
new I like to take a bit of time and
have a look around the area you just
never know when yoursquoll get a chance
to come back
The north side of the island goes
straight onto sand and only a few
metres deep Everywhere we looked
in the clear water were Kahawai
massive numbers of them and we
know what likes eating Kahawai The
current running through was pretty
strong and even if we had been
allowed to land on the island (NB
yoursquore not) we couldnrsquot see how wersquod
get an anchor to hold in the sand with
enough pressure to get the bungee
anchor system working
The south-facing side of the island
was still getting the SW swell but it
looked much rockier and deeper and
exactly the kind of place yoursquod want to
fish if you could Coming back round
the island we ran through the channel
separating it from the mainland and the
current was absolutely racing through
creating standing waves at one end
We finally decided on some awesome
looking ledges just inside the Cape
parked the boat up did the big
unload and started getting into it As
always the rule is that no-one fishes till
all the rods are setup and before this
starts the berley goes in the water
With live bait rods popper rods and
Snapper and livey-catching gear by
the time wersquore done the berley is
always pumping and often wersquoll get
5-6kg fish chewing on the bag and
nailed first cast
This time Andrew was first in the water
with a bait and it was only a matter of
minutes maybe not even that long
and he was into a solid fish that set off
Cape Maria van Diemen ndash in a DinghyBy Forsyth Thompson
wwwnzfisherconz 13
LANDBASEDfishing
on a heavy run But within less than
another minute it was over and hersquod
been utterly dealt to by what looked
for all money to be a big Snapper
Quick retie filthy big bait and the
exact same thing was repeated This
one if anything seemed even bigger
and I genuinely thought he might be
into his first 20 and then it ended in
disaster in the same way Shit these
west coast Snapper werenrsquot messing
around Two massive hook-ups
followed by two complete hidings
and Andrew was getting schooled
Naturally as fishing mates Will and I
were supportive and offered plenty
of encouragement Well thatrsquos how I
remember it anyway
By now the Kahawai were everywhere
and all three of us were swimming
livies and watching them with
apprehension Having had a few
legal kings but no big ones we were
hopeful this was going to be our shot
The next thing we know Andrew is
shouting and pointing at what was
pretty much just a hole in the ocean
as far as we could see Big shark
apparently ndash Will and I frankly didnrsquot
pay much notice figuring it was just a
regular bronzie
Wersquod had a few decent Snapper by this
point but no sign of a king when two
turned up at once buzzing everything
but refusing to take poppers stickbaits
baits or livies There are few things
more frustrating for LBG fishermen than
this but when theyrsquore not in the mood
and yoursquove tried everything therersquos not
much else to do
Then one then two of our balloons
came tearing into the ledge and then
across in front of us and it was my turn
to do the pointingshouting thing
behind them was by far the biggest
bronzie Irsquod ever seen top of its tail
sticking what looked like nearly a full
meter out of the water and the bulk
of it looking like a family-sized car as
it cruised past and just inhaled one
of the unlucky baits As it took off
and felt the resistance it went crazy
Evans amp Will
Andrew Evans with a prime Far North Trevally
14 wwwnzfisherconz
right there in front of us and whilst
there was never a chance in a million
of landing it it was something to see
Again and again as it turned out from
memory the same fish had four of our
livebaits throughout the day and Will
(who has done a lot of game fishing)
called it for an easy 200kg+
I couldnrsquot even guesstimate at the size
but Irsquove seen a lot of sharks including
some big makos and threshers
and this was way way up there on
the scale An extraordinary sight
and a reminder that we really were
somewhere just a little bit different
Strangely this huge resident shark
even in feeding mode didnrsquot kill
the fishing off and we had plenty of
Snapper although no monsters and
then finally the ratchet went off on my
livies set and this was definitely not
LANDBASEDfishing
our shark but one seriously grumpy
king I was on the same gear Irsquod got
the 20kg one at E Cape not long
previously and this fish was giving
me a much harder time No question
I had PB in my mind as I tried to get
it in close enough for a gaff shot We
finally got a look at the fish and it was
clearly nothing like the size of the last
one but it was still going hard and we
spent probably another 5-10 minutes
before we made the call to keep it
and put a gaff into it At only around
13kg it was no monster at all but the
fight it put up on an Everol 50 with
37kg was absolutely ridiculous for a
fish its size Obviously they just breed
them tougher out on the west coast
The rest of the day passed with a
few more Snapper a couple of kings
wwwnzfisherconz 15
LANDBASEDfishing
sighted but not hooked and a few
more sharkings for Andrew
No trevs had shown up until later
in the day as we started dumping
all the leftover bait and we had
them coming right up to the ledge
taking baits Andrew got a good 4kg
one I lost one and we saw some
significantly bigger ones cruising the
berley But with such a crazy number
of Kahawai in attendance we just
couldnrsquot get baits to them Still
the sight of huge west coast trevs
within a rod length of where we were
standing was pretty cool and we had
one in the bag for sashimi
None of us wanted to leave but there
was no way on earth we were going to
round the Cape in the dark so despite
the Snapper bite coming back on in
a really serious way we just had to
Layng into the fish of the day
16 wwwnzfisherconz
do the sensible thing I canrsquot imagine
therersquos a fish on earth that would
make me think that Reinga in a 35m
boat would be ok in the dark Like
the first two days wersquod not cracked
any PBs and wersquod not actually caught
any really big fish but the experience
wersquod had (even just getting there)
and the country wersquod fished had been
absolutely special and one I genuinely
wonrsquot forget
Wersquod finished three days in the Far
North with a trip I never thought Irsquod
be able to do in the little stabi and
wersquod had some awesome adventures
and seen some amazing things So
wersquod got no PBs and really hadnrsquot
landed any monsters at all but it
just didnrsquot matter in the slightest
Sometimes you need to remember
that the truly great trips donrsquot always
have to be the ones with the biggest
fish getting out and having real
adventures with great mates will
always keep me coming back
LANDBASEDfishing
The beach kisses the ocean
Rounding the cape
Out of the sun they saw us
wwwnzfisherconz 17
1
2
3
4
5
5 simple rulesto help you stay safe
Life jacketsTake them ndash Wear them
Boats especially ones under 6m in length can sink very quickly Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water
Skipper responsibilityThe skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat Stay within the limits of your vessel and your experience
CommunicationsTake two separate waterproof ways of communicating so we can help you if you get into difficulties
Marine weather New Zealandrsquos weather can be highly unpredictable Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes
Avoid alcohol Safe boating and alcohol do not mix Things can change quickly on the water You need to stay alert and aware
For more information about safe boating education and how to prepare for your boating activity visit wwwadventuresmartorgnz
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The Boating Safety
Before you go boating on our seas lakes and rivers get familiar with New Zealandrsquos Boating Safety Code no matter what kind of boat you use
CODE
wwwadventuresmartorgnz
The Water Safety The Outdoor Safety
CODE CODE
Also available
18 wwwnzfisherconz
boatFISHING
IF YOU WANT TO catch that fish
of a life time you need to get out
of Auckland right Not necessarily
Whangaparaoa resident Tony Hurley
not only caught the fish of his life time
in June he caught the fish that nearly
every Auckland boat owner is after and
he did it within sight of the Sky Tower
At 34lb 4 ounces (1554 kg) and 95 cm
long Tonyrsquos Snapper is of Moby Dick
proportions So how did he do it
ldquoThinking positively is a big part of
itrdquo says Tony In fact Tony goes as
far as saying that he knew something
special was going to happen that
day After anchoring up at his usual
shallow water spot at Tiritiri Island
Tony and his mate settled into a
pretty good fishing session Six fish
between 10 and 18 lb were landed
before Tony hooked into the monster
fish on a half pillie The fish was
netted after a 4-5 minute fight and a
handful of surging runs
Tony describes the fight of these
big Snapper as much like that of a
stingray He should know he has
caught plenty of large Snapper to 24
lb at his Tiri spot
Upon arriving home parking capacity
on Tonyrsquos street became in hot
demand as word of the big fish got
around All up Tony splurged five
bottles of top shelf liquor on the
impromptu guests
The big Snapper is currently being
mounted by a taxidermist and will
be put up on the wall of Top Catch
Whangaparaoa
By Darren Parsons
Monster Snapper Snared in Auckland
wwwnzfisherconz 19
20 wwwnzfisherconz
localFISHING
Fish Your Feet First
I AM CONSTANTLY searching for
new rocky coastlines to explore with
a fly rod to catch Snapper in winter
One of the tricks to catching a fish on
a regular basis is knowing when to
fish and where Part science and part
intuition multiple factors swirl around
right to the last minute before the
final commitment is made to head in a
certain direction Transport company
tides and of course the weather all play
significant roles in the final decision Itrsquos
the transport option that has played
the biggest role in some of my recent
fishing experiences and in a city like
Auckland which offers so many options
being restricted to land is not always a
bad thing I have many options to be
boat fishing and often decline the big
trips away what I really enjoy is the fast
and spontaneous adventure available
by jumping on a ferry to one of the
many Hauraki Gulf islands
Recently a northeasterly storm
whipped up Northlands east coast for
several days On Saturday the wind
eased but the swell was big enough
for the inner city beaches to offer head
high waves Many points and reefs
that are not surf spots for 364 days of
the year came alive with quality surf
I joined the multitude of Auckland
surfers to savor these rare waves so
close to home
Sunday the wind shifted again and the
swell had eased to offer just enough
surge to make the fishing interesting
On the ferry at 9am a short hike
and a scramble down to some rocks
wwwnzfisherconz 21
localFISHING
I was greeted with green murky
water stirred by the recent storm
These conditions can often produce
great fishing as Snapper forage the
shallows for easy meals in the surge
and discoloured water but on other
days it just makes it hard see your fly
or believe the fish are there Arriving
at a spot that I would have previously
dismissed as a fishing location due to
the shallow water rocks and weed
I set about seeding some gutters
with tiny pilchard pieces Nothing
appeared in the first 40 minutes
baitfish and Kahawai who are the usual
first arrivals did not intercept the tiny
pieces as they sunk to the bottom
Knowing there was more to be gained
by retiring from the rock I had chosen
to hide behind than continuing to
work the small gutter I set about
putting together a 9wt fly rod and
re-positioned myself along the coast
where I found another gutter with an
equally good elevated hiding position
These days I choose my fishing spots
for the potential to conceal myself as
much as any other factor Returning
to the first gutter and just as I was
beginning to think ldquoI should have
been here yesterdayrdquo when the swell
would have been really stirring things
up for the Snapper a large Kahawai
blasted past That first Kahawai was
the first arrival of a small pack that I
kept active for the next ten minutes
Often the Snapper will move in to
investigate a fishy commotion and
depending on their mood will either
find the buzzing Kahawai off putting
or competitors that need to be
pushed along
Soon I had a Snapper claiming some
dominance over the Kahawai which
were twice its size Kahawai know
that speed is their only weapon and
as the competition hotted up over
the tiny morsels a few more Snapper
moved in and pushed the Kahawai
out We witnessed this relationship
in spectacular fashion last year on
the Coromandel where the Kahawai
were numerous and lightning quick
however when a Snapper of about
3kg size appeared it set about chasing
them away right up towards the
surface I have no doubt that Kahawai
have deep respect for the predatory
potential of the slower moving
Snapper and the short bursts of speed
they are capable of Itrsquos witnessing
this sort of near natural behaviour
that really appeals to me when using
stealth but it was time to start fishing
two hours into a my four hour trip and
I had not put a fly in the water
What followed was a session of
continued activity from 400-450
mm Snapper that eclipsed normal
experience My usual approach is
to present a fly to a sighted fish and
then leave the area to rest while I
work another spot close by However
the mood of the fish meant that a
momentary pause was all that was
required between catches at least 8
fish were caught and released before
I switched focus to the gutter just 100
meters north Once again the Kahawai
appeared and soon after some feisty
Snapper started to win the race for
whatever made a tell tale splash on
the surface With knowledge of an
upcoming bone fishing trip I dropped
my leader down to 45 kg and tied
on a small size 4 fly Whether it was
the light gentle approach with which
each fish was fought or the mood of
the fish that day I caught another 12
reasonable Snapper before it was time
to pack up to make the ferry home
While there were no fish caught that
warranted trophy status the pleasure
I took in watching my tiny fly being
approached by respectable Snapper
and the excitement of letting them
pull line from my reel to ensure I was
not busted off made for a fantastic
dayrsquos fishing something to chuckle
about as I joined the afternoon crowds
walking up queen street in the middle
of Aucklandrsquos downtown
While there were no fish caught that warranted trophy status the pleasure I took in watching my tiny fly being approached by respectable Snapper and the excitement of letting them pull line from my reel to ensure I was not busted off made for a fantastic days fishing something to chuckle about as I joined the afternoon crowds walking up queen street in the middle of Aucklandrsquos downtown
22 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
VANUATU HAS A well-deserved
reputation for exceptionally good
game fishing in the heavy and light
tackle classes as well as newer
techniques like jigging and surface
fishing with poppers and stickbaits
From the 1000m contour line and
the renowned lsquoMarlin Highwayrsquo which
runs hundreds of miles in a north
south direction close to Vanuatu to
the various FADrsquos just offshore and
often itrsquos only a short trip with the
hammers down to get you into some
hot fishing action
Vanuatu is one of the worldsrsquo top
blue marlin fisheries with a number of
world records to its credit as well as a
good number of lsquogranderrsquo blues that
have been taken in the area Most of
the regular game fishing charter boats
would catch around 100 per year with
many being tagged and released to
conserve the fishery
Best times and species
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year
round however the ideal times are
March through November as this
is the time when the weather
and water conditions are usually
optimal Itrsquos also rather nice
timing in that it gives Kiwis and
Aussies the excuse to escape the
clutches of winter and head for
warmer climes and some fishing
By Grant Blair The Fishing Website
Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
wwwnzfisherconz 23
sportFISHING
While being a renowned blue marlin
fishery with frequent catches in the
100-200kg range the odd XXXL
model does turn up in the gear and
the current record stands at a very
respectable 515kg or 1135 old-
fashioned pounds
Other species that are targeted and
frequently caught in the area include
black marlin sailfish striped marlin
yellow fin tuna mahi-mahi wahoo
Spanish mackerel sailfish dogtooth
tuna coral trout job fish and red bass
Yellow fin and dog tooth tuna
reach some very large proportions
Dogtooth grow to around 80kg and
yellow fin to 100kg while rare are
quite possible
The most important thing about
Vanuatu is the surrounding waters
are rich in a wide range of species
and therersquos plenty to interest anglers
of all abilities and interests be it
trolling for pelagics jigging the
drop-offs or surface fishing with
poppers and stickbaits
Where to go
The main game fishing
operations operating in Vanuatu are
found on Efate - Port Vila and on
Santo - Luganville From Port Vila it
can be only a 10-15 minute trip to be
into sailfish and yellow fin action in
Mele Bay at certain times of the year
however it takes longer to get to the
FADS and out to the marlin highway
Possible destinations with local charter
operators include the Marlin Highway
Blue Hat 366 Nguna Volcano the
Erromango Sea Mounts and Hat
Island From Santo the journey is
considerably longer however there is
good fishing along the way
On some of the smaller islands there
are fishing options in various states of
development and itrsquos even possible
to rent a small dugout and create
your own adventure in and around
the reefs and drops close inshore
catching a variety of species on lighter
tackle Be careful eating reef fish due
to ciguatera A tip we heard from the
locals ndash cut a small section from the
fish and leave it outside overnight If
the ants eat it it should be OK to eat
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year round however the ideal times are March through November as this is the time when the weather and water conditions are usually optimal Itrsquos also rather nice timing in that it gives Kiwis and Aussies the excuse to escape the clutches of winter and head for warmer climes and some fishing
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
2 wwwnzfisherconz
Visit okumafishingconzfacebookcomborntofishnz
A NEWOKUMA
BABY ISBORN
wwwnzfisherconz 3
Pg 6
12
20
Pg 36
CONTENTS
editorial
SPORTFISHING6 Champagne amp Fishing ndash What Did I Miss
COMPETITIONFISHING10 The World Offshore Champs 2013 LANDBASEDFISHING12 Bucket List Time in the Far North Part 2 ndash CMvD
BOATFISHING18 Monster Snapper Snared in Auckland
LOCAlFISHING20 Fishyourfeetfirst
SPORTFISHING22 Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
26 Reader Pics 30 Competition
KAYAKFISHING 32 So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
HOWTO
34 What Knot amp Why
GEARREVIEW 35 Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle Review
Visit okumafishingconzfacebookcomborntofishnz
A NEWOKUMA
BABY ISBORN
ALLNEW
GREENMACHINE
Hondarsquos brand new BF60 four-stroke EFI outboard engine combines exclusive Honda technologies in a lightest-weight-in-class package that delivers best-in-class performance
The newly-designed water-cooled three-cylinder engine incorporates electronic fuel injection Hondarsquos revolutionary Boosted Low Speed Torque (BLASTtrade) airfuel ratio and ignition-timing technology and lean burn control to deliver powerful start-up and acceleration together with outstanding fuel economy during cruising (ECOmo) NMEA2000 compatibility allows the BF60 to communicate with onboard marine electronics while ultra-smooth operation and world-leading environmental performance combine to crown the new BF60 lsquoGreen Machinersquo
BF60
wwwhondamarineconz0800 4 STROKE (787 653)
Honda_BF60_BC_FPindd 1 1862013 85844 AM
ALLNEW
GREENMACHINE
Hondarsquos brand new BF60 four-stroke EFI outboard engine combines exclusive Honda technologies in a lightest-weight-in-class package that delivers best-in-class performance
The newly-designed water-cooled three-cylinder engine incorporates electronic fuel injection Hondarsquos revolutionary Boosted Low Speed Torque (BLASTtrade) airfuel ratio and ignition-timing technology and lean burn control to deliver powerful start-up and acceleration together with outstanding fuel economy during cruising (ECOmo) NMEA2000 compatibility allows the BF60 to communicate with onboard marine electronics while ultra-smooth operation and world-leading environmental performance combine to crown the new BF60 lsquoGreen Machinersquo
BF60
wwwhondamarineconz0800 4 STROKE (787 653)
Honda_BF60_BC_FPindd 1 1862013 85844 AM
wwwnzfisherconz 5
In the middle of August Irsquom having
the pleasure of sitting at my desk in
shorts and a tee smelling the flowers
of spring and the salt air on the breeze
ndash and itrsquos August Itrsquos possibly the
beginning of a wonderful spring or just
a teaser to get our minds off the fact
that itrsquos the middle of winter I cannot
help but draw the comparison with the
Ministry of Primary Industry and their
Ministerrsquos most recent public back
down on the Snapper 1 issue
Wersquore presented with the unthinkable
a possible bag limit reduction to three
Snapper per person But wait The
Minister tells media halfway through
the consultation period that itrsquos unlikely
that there will be such significant cuts
(ldquoSnapper back-down on the cardsrdquo
as one headline in the print media
read) Do we feel a triumph on the
cards Well only time will tell but
I cannot help but feel this is a false
dawn ndash the fight must continue if
we want to know our fisheries can
be secured for future generations
As far as spring goes the fishing has
been extremely lsquospring likersquo already
as many northern fishers have already
experienced The beach fishing in
Northland has been great with a few
15lb plus Snapper taken off Ninety
Mile beach this month and as the
landbased fly guys in Auckland have
been finding unbelievable patches of
fish on the inner Islands Seeing what
our Scottish-Kiwi contributor Aaron
has been landing recently the Snapper
fishing in the outer Hauraki has been
out of character for August too
The fish are biting hard most of the
day but theyrsquore in tightly concentrated
schools that are easy to run off when
you find them Also check out Mark
Kitteridge and his enormous kingfish
landed with the Epic Adventures guys
in late July That is a serious fish and
from what Irsquom told the biggest landed
onboard Epic so far Well done Mark
and the Epic team
As always get a line in the water ndash
you wonrsquot catch anything with your
rod parked in the garage
Tight lines
Derrick
From the EDITOR
editorial
ABOUT Short and sharp NZ Fisher is a free e-magazine delivering thought provoking and enlightening articles and industry news and information to forward-thinking fisher people
EDITOR Derrick PaullART DIRECTOR Jodi OlssonCONTENT ENQUIRIES Phone Derrick on 021 629 327or email derrickpNZ FisherconzADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Phone Richard on 09 522 7257 or email richardlespiremediacomADDRESS NZ Fisher C- Espire Media PO Box 137162 Parnell Auckland 1151 NZWEBSITE wwwNZFisherconz
This is a GREEN MAG created and distributed without the use of paper so its environmentally friendly Please think before you
print Thank you
Fish of a lifetime
SPORTDfishing
Champagne amp Fishing ndash What Did I Miss
By Andrew Evans
wwwnzfisherconz 7
THE CHAMPAGNE CRICKET CLUB is
a club like no other founded on the
history of men who enjoyed cricket
champagne and socializing in the
late 60rsquos It is now being carried on
by a mix of ex Westlake and Rosmini
graduates in their late 20rsquos (two
schools with a fierce sporting rivalry)
The CCC enjoy the twilight and indoor
forms of the game only we donrsquot
want to embarrass the Black Caps
you see so a good proportion of the
club enjoy fishing In late June the
challenge was set for a Westlake vs
Rosmini fishing show down
Scrapper came up with the idea
and we were to base ourselves
in Ngunguru at his familyrsquos beach
house There was a loose itinerary
laid down with bottles of rum for the
biggest Snapper Kingfish and Most
Memorable catch With pride being
the biggest prize of all
We found ourselves heading north
from Auckland with a cold southerly
heading up the country The forecast
was to get better over the three
days so day one we were to let
the wind die out with a potential
afternoon Stray line day two would
be Snapper sessions along Tutukaka
coast and day three out to the reefs
surrounding the Poor Knights to chase
kingfish There were two boats to be
used Rosmini was equipped with a
Buccaneer billfisher named Strayliner
and Westlake on my new boat a 61
m fibreglass centre console named
Papillon Jared came up with a third
option the Boat show won Stabi
craft who went tohellipwe named this
Gaybi as in Gold Stabi Mostly out of
jealousy as we didnrsquot win it
Arriving on the first night the
Speights flowed and we didnrsquot really
realize when it turned into rum The
reports were of good Snapper in
close classic winter fishing and bait
and burley on the cards After retiring
far too late the call was made for a
late start
We awoke rusty to a brisk southerly
and a 2-3m swell hitting the coast not
the best conditions so the call was
made to go for a surf and wash away
the cobwebs After this we checked
the conditions again and again but
hangovers and Speights prevailed To
be fair it didnrsquot look amazing though
and we had two full days Donrsquot worry
we do get on the water this is a fishing
mag after all So once we settled
down and put the funnel away the plan
was made for a 530 am start
We awoke to two boats covered in
ice We loaded up and got everything
in order Although Scrapper and I
have done a fair bit of fishing we
both have had the dream fish of over
20lb elude us I have come close off
the far north bricks with one 19lber
and Scrapper more so with multiple
19lbers So close
We spoke on our last trip up north
about the quest for 20lbers often
overshadowing good trips as we
have been so keen to get them
that the quest can overshadow the
moment But this weekend wasnrsquot
really about us we both had crew
that although keen were very much
new to this level of fishing
None of my crew had even stray lined
before so it would be a mixture of
fishing a few baits and helping out
the lads so we could all have a good
time and ultimately win the comp It
was all on
As we left the Tutukaka ramp we
steamed up around the coastline
to find a likely looking area The
place is filthy with fishing potential
and the opportunities for greatness
are endless We both settled within
sight of each other in shallow water
Papillon a little wider in 10 m but
there was foul everywhere and it was
great Snapper territory The burley
was sent in and rigs were prepared
The very first bait thrown in by G
smashed by a respectable pannie it
was looking good A quick VHF call
between boats determined that both
of the Mattrsquos were feeling a little
under the weather so we werenrsquot
going to run out of burley
We had a stream of small fish and a
one up to the 50 cm mark so the bin
was no longer vacant No big runs
had really started however that was
about to change I had cleaned out
the freezer before I left and along with
a Skippy and an old flounder I had an
XOS jack Mack
SPORTfishing
Getting the best out of the little ones Place worthy
8 wwwnzfisherconz
Having set the boys up for now
I decided to take the head and a
good bit off the body of the XOS
Mackie and attached it to two 100
hooks and cast out with the 6500
baitrunner Waiting I felt it settle on
the bottom I was about to reposition
it in the water column when the bait
runner took off with an absolutely
screaming run
The instinct to strike was quelled
from my past experiences of
dropping fish during big runs ldquoLet
him have itrdquo I told myself It was a
big bait but I had the feeling that
this fish had sucked it right down
considering it wasnrsquot stopping
With adrenaline pumping like it
does when you are about to strike
I cranked the handle and struck It
came up tight but the line didnrsquot slow
downhellip it kept charging at full speed
A slight increase in drag only saw me
pulled off balance Finally it slowed
allowing a few pump and winds
before it took off again My initial
thought was kingi But it couldnrsquot be
I got nervous It slowed again and we
got into a dog fight
I am fairly quiet when on a good fish
SPORTfishing
Big Snapper I have seen in the past often look old and ragged but this fish was in its prime big and broad the only blemish what looked like an old spear wound by its dorsal Gee I was glad the spearo missed this fish
not wanting to jinx anything only
telling the boys to get the lines in
and concentrating on the job at hand
Getting line in when I could as the
fish tired I began to make ground and
I could feel the weight of it heavy
After a few minutes of this I was
waiting for colourhellip and I soon saw it
and it was big and red
The boys started hollering and after
a tense moment it was directed into
the net - just fitting The first thing I
noticed was the tail and the wrist of it
Big and powerful the fish was lifted
onto the deck
Shouting and high fiveing ensured I
was elated knowing this was definitely
my first 20lber and it looked well over
This was the biggest Snapper I had
ever seen when I saw the hook was in
the lip and the great condition of the
fish there was no doubt in my mind
it was going back Big Snapper I have
seen in the past often look old and
ragged but this fish was in its prime
big and broad the only blemish what
looked like an old spear wound by
its dorsal Gee I was glad the spear
missed this fish
I rushed the boys with the goal of
release in mind ldquoMatt get water in the
big livie tankrdquo which was soon filled
and the Snapper put in Cameras
were readied and the digital scales
sorted out It was when I lifted her out
I realized the weight I fixed her on
the scales with G and I watching them
settle on and around the 115kg mark
Not only over 20lb but over 25lb
I was ecstatic and proceeded to have
quick photos with the fish before I set
her back in the water after a kiss on
the head of course Holding the fish
for a while till she re-gathered her
strength it was two kicks of the tail and
powerfully she swam off I couldnrsquot
really believe it I had no expectation
of a fish like that on this trip and it was
safe to say the swans (Westlake) will
be hard to beat in the Snapper stakes
I had a Speights to calm the nerves
and take it in Finally I had done it and
could now relax knowing I had a trophy
Snapper to my name
The beauty for the lads was that
now I had clocked Snapper fishing I
happily became the deck hand and
so tied knots taught lessons on bait
presentation letting the fish run and
striking fish The boys did well there
was the odd bust off but we got in a
stream of nice eaters one of my baits
later in the day bought in another 10
lber Another good fish
We were considering heading out in
search of a kingfish but the wind was
around that 15 knot mark and still
swell around so we decided to leave
that till tomorrow and wrapped up the
Snapper session to return to the pad
and compare fish and stories Rosmini
were very congratulatory on my fish
and looked at the photos On looking
in their bin they had a great day also
with three Snapper around the 15 lb
mark to three different anglers and a
good bag of fish for a feed
The comp was hot and PBrsquos fell both days
wwwnzfisherconz 9
SPORTfishing
It had been a classic winterrsquos day for
the crews tentative bites and the
occasional big Snapper every other
hour We settled into a relaxed night
with hot smoked Snapper heads a
good roast and a few beverages The
Mattrsquos both worse for wear after a
long day at sea both guilty of a spit
over the side I couldnrsquot stop grinning
like an idiot and prompting everyone
for one more drink but no one could
finish watching Aus beat the Lions in
game two and it was off to bed for an
early start
We awoke again to a crisp calm
morning ice needing to be scraped
off the boats again Launching with
haste team Rosmini was down a
member due to Grandmarsquos birthday
Westlake would have four jigs in the
water could it make the difference
We steamed the 45 minutes out to the
local kingi joint and both boats circling
and searching for sign of balled up
bait and kingfish It wasnrsquot there ldquoerrr
this looks ok have a drop hererdquo was
going to be etched into my brain as I
said it over and over The fish had to
be there but their mouths were shut
tight We had been jigging for over
two hours now really should have got
some livies I thought
It was about11am when we finally
had a breakthrough None of the
lads had done much jigging but it
was G cranking the spin set who had
the first fish Never having caught a
king before he thought he was on the
bottom and I heard a yell of ldquowhat
do I dordquo I turn and see the rod kick
ldquoPump and windrdquo I yell He fought
the fish to the boat I could tell it
wasnrsquot massive but a king rose about
85cm right in Rossminirsquos face Could
Westlake have a clean sweep
Gareth was stoked and surprised by
the strength of the fish tired I got
him to hold it up for a few snaps
The fish was weighed bled and put
in the bin and I turn to see Rosmini
hooked up (had they called in divine
intervention will those days of bible
study pay off) No it was a smaller
rat and was returned we are looking
good The call was made to give it
another 30 minutes
That was when the old Joey the
hunter on team Rosmini decides to
have a little flutter with an Inchiku
Well it paid off the smaller jig enticing
the smaller kings that were obviously
around He was hooked up and after
a good scrap on Snapper gear a king
around the same size as ours was put
in the boat It was going to be close
After that with sore arms and
shoulders Rosmini decided on heading
in to the mainland so the Mattrsquos could
go for a dive We searched for any
other likely looking kingi territory
around the place went for a quick
Snapper jig both to no avail We met
up with the lads as they finished their
dive Steaming back into Toots the
final day was a wrap and targeting
kings in winter needs a bit more
thought it seems It was to be a quick
turn-around as the admin associated
with any big fishing trip ensued There
was cleaning and packing and dump
trips and more cleaning and before
the filleting a weigh in
The kings as I said were small ours
had pulled the scales to 77kg with
Joeys visibly bigger at 85kg Their
rat trumped ours Rosmini was saved
embarrassment Scrapper awarded
me for my catch with biggest Snapper
and Most Memorable catch going to
Westlake for my 255lb Snapper
I really thought Most Memorable
catch could have gone to Evan for
catching two sea birds but was happy
with the result That Snapper was a
magnificent fish will be very hard to
top and whatrsquos better is that it is still
out there charging around growing
bigger making babies and perhaps
one day being a 30lber to be caught
With that we started the trip back to
Auckland all of us agreeing that this
was to be an annual event Scrapper
is expecting a child in the coming
months so the next one maybe a
family affair Thanks needs to go to
him for organizing a great weekend
well done Also to your sometimes
Editor and self-proclaimed land based
guru Forsyth thanks for the lend of
your wagon
For me it is another fishing goal ticked
off the next one a big Kingfish I have
introduced a couple more friends to
the passion we all share in fishing they
are hooked and may be expecting a
20lb+ Snapper to come aboard every
triphellip little do they know it took me
four years of targeting big Snappers
to get that fish They can find reality
out the lsquohardrsquo way
10 wwwnzfisherconz
competitionFISHING
My good friend Pete the Panel
beater has been telling me
about his international game
fishing trips for years and finally
he let me see the photos
It seemed immediately that Pete
might actually be telling the truth
which in fishing circles is a rare and
beautiful thing Petersquos great fishing
mate Mike Wood has been fishing
the Tongan International for 12 years
and when they won in 2010 fishing
aboard lsquoLevenuellarsquo they decided
to go through and fish the World
Offshore champs in Cabo San Luca on
the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula
Their 2011 WOFC trip was fun but
the fishing hard ndash bordering on
boring they tell me
So when they won the Tongan
International again in 2012 it was with
trepidation that they decided to head
to Costa Rica At $9800USD to enter
the costs are pretty high for anyone
but as good Kiwis do they saved hard
bribed their wives and made a plan to
get some real fishing done this time
Their name this year was lsquoSalty Dogsrsquo
and the Salty Dogs earned their stripes
with some great sailfish and Mahi-mahi
captures during the tournament
The team is made up of four
members Tony Smith David Swan
Mike Wood and Peter Lineham
All are keen fishers but travelling
halfway around the world to fish
for species we donrsquot even see
in New Zealand is tough
By the Cockpit Cowboys
The World Offshore Champs 2013Hard fighting kiwis from Tonga to Costa Rica
wwwnzfisherconz 11
competitionFISHING
The tournament format sees teams
draw their daily boats and skipper
from a ballot this evens the field a
little but therersquos no substitute for
experience as the local US and central
Pacific teams took an early lead Day
one for the Salty Dogs involved a lot
of trolling and only one sailfish (other
teams landed 6 ndash 8)
On day two they drew Spanish Fly
a very successful boat on day one
and their luck changed immediately
All four members of the crew landed
sailfish that day while Pete and Mike
landed two each and saw a bunch
more Team Salty Dogs were the top
ranked team on Day two ndash outclassing
all others and putting themselves in
the mix for the final day
Day three while eventful (they were
surrounded by a huge pod of lsquoSpinner
Dolphinsrsquo at one point) didnrsquot see
enough fish landed by the boys and
they faded to mid pack
To even make the grade to win entry
is a huge achievement wersquore stoked
to see they got some great fish and
had a ball You can see some of their
fishing highlights here
Well done Team Salty Dogs what a
great trip
12 wwwnzfisherconz
LANDBASEDfishing
Bucket List Time in the Far North Part 2 ndash CMvD
AS WE GOT DOWN towards Maria
we could see a couple of boats fishing
off the back of the island and it wasnrsquot
long before we saw one and then the
second hooked up into what looked
like good solid fish Fair to say the
excitement levels were going up
Whenever we go and fish somewhere
new I like to take a bit of time and
have a look around the area you just
never know when yoursquoll get a chance
to come back
The north side of the island goes
straight onto sand and only a few
metres deep Everywhere we looked
in the clear water were Kahawai
massive numbers of them and we
know what likes eating Kahawai The
current running through was pretty
strong and even if we had been
allowed to land on the island (NB
yoursquore not) we couldnrsquot see how wersquod
get an anchor to hold in the sand with
enough pressure to get the bungee
anchor system working
The south-facing side of the island
was still getting the SW swell but it
looked much rockier and deeper and
exactly the kind of place yoursquod want to
fish if you could Coming back round
the island we ran through the channel
separating it from the mainland and the
current was absolutely racing through
creating standing waves at one end
We finally decided on some awesome
looking ledges just inside the Cape
parked the boat up did the big
unload and started getting into it As
always the rule is that no-one fishes till
all the rods are setup and before this
starts the berley goes in the water
With live bait rods popper rods and
Snapper and livey-catching gear by
the time wersquore done the berley is
always pumping and often wersquoll get
5-6kg fish chewing on the bag and
nailed first cast
This time Andrew was first in the water
with a bait and it was only a matter of
minutes maybe not even that long
and he was into a solid fish that set off
Cape Maria van Diemen ndash in a DinghyBy Forsyth Thompson
wwwnzfisherconz 13
LANDBASEDfishing
on a heavy run But within less than
another minute it was over and hersquod
been utterly dealt to by what looked
for all money to be a big Snapper
Quick retie filthy big bait and the
exact same thing was repeated This
one if anything seemed even bigger
and I genuinely thought he might be
into his first 20 and then it ended in
disaster in the same way Shit these
west coast Snapper werenrsquot messing
around Two massive hook-ups
followed by two complete hidings
and Andrew was getting schooled
Naturally as fishing mates Will and I
were supportive and offered plenty
of encouragement Well thatrsquos how I
remember it anyway
By now the Kahawai were everywhere
and all three of us were swimming
livies and watching them with
apprehension Having had a few
legal kings but no big ones we were
hopeful this was going to be our shot
The next thing we know Andrew is
shouting and pointing at what was
pretty much just a hole in the ocean
as far as we could see Big shark
apparently ndash Will and I frankly didnrsquot
pay much notice figuring it was just a
regular bronzie
Wersquod had a few decent Snapper by this
point but no sign of a king when two
turned up at once buzzing everything
but refusing to take poppers stickbaits
baits or livies There are few things
more frustrating for LBG fishermen than
this but when theyrsquore not in the mood
and yoursquove tried everything therersquos not
much else to do
Then one then two of our balloons
came tearing into the ledge and then
across in front of us and it was my turn
to do the pointingshouting thing
behind them was by far the biggest
bronzie Irsquod ever seen top of its tail
sticking what looked like nearly a full
meter out of the water and the bulk
of it looking like a family-sized car as
it cruised past and just inhaled one
of the unlucky baits As it took off
and felt the resistance it went crazy
Evans amp Will
Andrew Evans with a prime Far North Trevally
14 wwwnzfisherconz
right there in front of us and whilst
there was never a chance in a million
of landing it it was something to see
Again and again as it turned out from
memory the same fish had four of our
livebaits throughout the day and Will
(who has done a lot of game fishing)
called it for an easy 200kg+
I couldnrsquot even guesstimate at the size
but Irsquove seen a lot of sharks including
some big makos and threshers
and this was way way up there on
the scale An extraordinary sight
and a reminder that we really were
somewhere just a little bit different
Strangely this huge resident shark
even in feeding mode didnrsquot kill
the fishing off and we had plenty of
Snapper although no monsters and
then finally the ratchet went off on my
livies set and this was definitely not
LANDBASEDfishing
our shark but one seriously grumpy
king I was on the same gear Irsquod got
the 20kg one at E Cape not long
previously and this fish was giving
me a much harder time No question
I had PB in my mind as I tried to get
it in close enough for a gaff shot We
finally got a look at the fish and it was
clearly nothing like the size of the last
one but it was still going hard and we
spent probably another 5-10 minutes
before we made the call to keep it
and put a gaff into it At only around
13kg it was no monster at all but the
fight it put up on an Everol 50 with
37kg was absolutely ridiculous for a
fish its size Obviously they just breed
them tougher out on the west coast
The rest of the day passed with a
few more Snapper a couple of kings
wwwnzfisherconz 15
LANDBASEDfishing
sighted but not hooked and a few
more sharkings for Andrew
No trevs had shown up until later
in the day as we started dumping
all the leftover bait and we had
them coming right up to the ledge
taking baits Andrew got a good 4kg
one I lost one and we saw some
significantly bigger ones cruising the
berley But with such a crazy number
of Kahawai in attendance we just
couldnrsquot get baits to them Still
the sight of huge west coast trevs
within a rod length of where we were
standing was pretty cool and we had
one in the bag for sashimi
None of us wanted to leave but there
was no way on earth we were going to
round the Cape in the dark so despite
the Snapper bite coming back on in
a really serious way we just had to
Layng into the fish of the day
16 wwwnzfisherconz
do the sensible thing I canrsquot imagine
therersquos a fish on earth that would
make me think that Reinga in a 35m
boat would be ok in the dark Like
the first two days wersquod not cracked
any PBs and wersquod not actually caught
any really big fish but the experience
wersquod had (even just getting there)
and the country wersquod fished had been
absolutely special and one I genuinely
wonrsquot forget
Wersquod finished three days in the Far
North with a trip I never thought Irsquod
be able to do in the little stabi and
wersquod had some awesome adventures
and seen some amazing things So
wersquod got no PBs and really hadnrsquot
landed any monsters at all but it
just didnrsquot matter in the slightest
Sometimes you need to remember
that the truly great trips donrsquot always
have to be the ones with the biggest
fish getting out and having real
adventures with great mates will
always keep me coming back
LANDBASEDfishing
The beach kisses the ocean
Rounding the cape
Out of the sun they saw us
wwwnzfisherconz 17
1
2
3
4
5
5 simple rulesto help you stay safe
Life jacketsTake them ndash Wear them
Boats especially ones under 6m in length can sink very quickly Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water
Skipper responsibilityThe skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat Stay within the limits of your vessel and your experience
CommunicationsTake two separate waterproof ways of communicating so we can help you if you get into difficulties
Marine weather New Zealandrsquos weather can be highly unpredictable Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes
Avoid alcohol Safe boating and alcohol do not mix Things can change quickly on the water You need to stay alert and aware
For more information about safe boating education and how to prepare for your boating activity visit wwwadventuresmartorgnz
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The Boating Safety
Before you go boating on our seas lakes and rivers get familiar with New Zealandrsquos Boating Safety Code no matter what kind of boat you use
CODE
wwwadventuresmartorgnz
The Water Safety The Outdoor Safety
CODE CODE
Also available
18 wwwnzfisherconz
boatFISHING
IF YOU WANT TO catch that fish
of a life time you need to get out
of Auckland right Not necessarily
Whangaparaoa resident Tony Hurley
not only caught the fish of his life time
in June he caught the fish that nearly
every Auckland boat owner is after and
he did it within sight of the Sky Tower
At 34lb 4 ounces (1554 kg) and 95 cm
long Tonyrsquos Snapper is of Moby Dick
proportions So how did he do it
ldquoThinking positively is a big part of
itrdquo says Tony In fact Tony goes as
far as saying that he knew something
special was going to happen that
day After anchoring up at his usual
shallow water spot at Tiritiri Island
Tony and his mate settled into a
pretty good fishing session Six fish
between 10 and 18 lb were landed
before Tony hooked into the monster
fish on a half pillie The fish was
netted after a 4-5 minute fight and a
handful of surging runs
Tony describes the fight of these
big Snapper as much like that of a
stingray He should know he has
caught plenty of large Snapper to 24
lb at his Tiri spot
Upon arriving home parking capacity
on Tonyrsquos street became in hot
demand as word of the big fish got
around All up Tony splurged five
bottles of top shelf liquor on the
impromptu guests
The big Snapper is currently being
mounted by a taxidermist and will
be put up on the wall of Top Catch
Whangaparaoa
By Darren Parsons
Monster Snapper Snared in Auckland
wwwnzfisherconz 19
20 wwwnzfisherconz
localFISHING
Fish Your Feet First
I AM CONSTANTLY searching for
new rocky coastlines to explore with
a fly rod to catch Snapper in winter
One of the tricks to catching a fish on
a regular basis is knowing when to
fish and where Part science and part
intuition multiple factors swirl around
right to the last minute before the
final commitment is made to head in a
certain direction Transport company
tides and of course the weather all play
significant roles in the final decision Itrsquos
the transport option that has played
the biggest role in some of my recent
fishing experiences and in a city like
Auckland which offers so many options
being restricted to land is not always a
bad thing I have many options to be
boat fishing and often decline the big
trips away what I really enjoy is the fast
and spontaneous adventure available
by jumping on a ferry to one of the
many Hauraki Gulf islands
Recently a northeasterly storm
whipped up Northlands east coast for
several days On Saturday the wind
eased but the swell was big enough
for the inner city beaches to offer head
high waves Many points and reefs
that are not surf spots for 364 days of
the year came alive with quality surf
I joined the multitude of Auckland
surfers to savor these rare waves so
close to home
Sunday the wind shifted again and the
swell had eased to offer just enough
surge to make the fishing interesting
On the ferry at 9am a short hike
and a scramble down to some rocks
wwwnzfisherconz 21
localFISHING
I was greeted with green murky
water stirred by the recent storm
These conditions can often produce
great fishing as Snapper forage the
shallows for easy meals in the surge
and discoloured water but on other
days it just makes it hard see your fly
or believe the fish are there Arriving
at a spot that I would have previously
dismissed as a fishing location due to
the shallow water rocks and weed
I set about seeding some gutters
with tiny pilchard pieces Nothing
appeared in the first 40 minutes
baitfish and Kahawai who are the usual
first arrivals did not intercept the tiny
pieces as they sunk to the bottom
Knowing there was more to be gained
by retiring from the rock I had chosen
to hide behind than continuing to
work the small gutter I set about
putting together a 9wt fly rod and
re-positioned myself along the coast
where I found another gutter with an
equally good elevated hiding position
These days I choose my fishing spots
for the potential to conceal myself as
much as any other factor Returning
to the first gutter and just as I was
beginning to think ldquoI should have
been here yesterdayrdquo when the swell
would have been really stirring things
up for the Snapper a large Kahawai
blasted past That first Kahawai was
the first arrival of a small pack that I
kept active for the next ten minutes
Often the Snapper will move in to
investigate a fishy commotion and
depending on their mood will either
find the buzzing Kahawai off putting
or competitors that need to be
pushed along
Soon I had a Snapper claiming some
dominance over the Kahawai which
were twice its size Kahawai know
that speed is their only weapon and
as the competition hotted up over
the tiny morsels a few more Snapper
moved in and pushed the Kahawai
out We witnessed this relationship
in spectacular fashion last year on
the Coromandel where the Kahawai
were numerous and lightning quick
however when a Snapper of about
3kg size appeared it set about chasing
them away right up towards the
surface I have no doubt that Kahawai
have deep respect for the predatory
potential of the slower moving
Snapper and the short bursts of speed
they are capable of Itrsquos witnessing
this sort of near natural behaviour
that really appeals to me when using
stealth but it was time to start fishing
two hours into a my four hour trip and
I had not put a fly in the water
What followed was a session of
continued activity from 400-450
mm Snapper that eclipsed normal
experience My usual approach is
to present a fly to a sighted fish and
then leave the area to rest while I
work another spot close by However
the mood of the fish meant that a
momentary pause was all that was
required between catches at least 8
fish were caught and released before
I switched focus to the gutter just 100
meters north Once again the Kahawai
appeared and soon after some feisty
Snapper started to win the race for
whatever made a tell tale splash on
the surface With knowledge of an
upcoming bone fishing trip I dropped
my leader down to 45 kg and tied
on a small size 4 fly Whether it was
the light gentle approach with which
each fish was fought or the mood of
the fish that day I caught another 12
reasonable Snapper before it was time
to pack up to make the ferry home
While there were no fish caught that
warranted trophy status the pleasure
I took in watching my tiny fly being
approached by respectable Snapper
and the excitement of letting them
pull line from my reel to ensure I was
not busted off made for a fantastic
dayrsquos fishing something to chuckle
about as I joined the afternoon crowds
walking up queen street in the middle
of Aucklandrsquos downtown
While there were no fish caught that warranted trophy status the pleasure I took in watching my tiny fly being approached by respectable Snapper and the excitement of letting them pull line from my reel to ensure I was not busted off made for a fantastic days fishing something to chuckle about as I joined the afternoon crowds walking up queen street in the middle of Aucklandrsquos downtown
22 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
VANUATU HAS A well-deserved
reputation for exceptionally good
game fishing in the heavy and light
tackle classes as well as newer
techniques like jigging and surface
fishing with poppers and stickbaits
From the 1000m contour line and
the renowned lsquoMarlin Highwayrsquo which
runs hundreds of miles in a north
south direction close to Vanuatu to
the various FADrsquos just offshore and
often itrsquos only a short trip with the
hammers down to get you into some
hot fishing action
Vanuatu is one of the worldsrsquo top
blue marlin fisheries with a number of
world records to its credit as well as a
good number of lsquogranderrsquo blues that
have been taken in the area Most of
the regular game fishing charter boats
would catch around 100 per year with
many being tagged and released to
conserve the fishery
Best times and species
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year
round however the ideal times are
March through November as this
is the time when the weather
and water conditions are usually
optimal Itrsquos also rather nice
timing in that it gives Kiwis and
Aussies the excuse to escape the
clutches of winter and head for
warmer climes and some fishing
By Grant Blair The Fishing Website
Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
wwwnzfisherconz 23
sportFISHING
While being a renowned blue marlin
fishery with frequent catches in the
100-200kg range the odd XXXL
model does turn up in the gear and
the current record stands at a very
respectable 515kg or 1135 old-
fashioned pounds
Other species that are targeted and
frequently caught in the area include
black marlin sailfish striped marlin
yellow fin tuna mahi-mahi wahoo
Spanish mackerel sailfish dogtooth
tuna coral trout job fish and red bass
Yellow fin and dog tooth tuna
reach some very large proportions
Dogtooth grow to around 80kg and
yellow fin to 100kg while rare are
quite possible
The most important thing about
Vanuatu is the surrounding waters
are rich in a wide range of species
and therersquos plenty to interest anglers
of all abilities and interests be it
trolling for pelagics jigging the
drop-offs or surface fishing with
poppers and stickbaits
Where to go
The main game fishing
operations operating in Vanuatu are
found on Efate - Port Vila and on
Santo - Luganville From Port Vila it
can be only a 10-15 minute trip to be
into sailfish and yellow fin action in
Mele Bay at certain times of the year
however it takes longer to get to the
FADS and out to the marlin highway
Possible destinations with local charter
operators include the Marlin Highway
Blue Hat 366 Nguna Volcano the
Erromango Sea Mounts and Hat
Island From Santo the journey is
considerably longer however there is
good fishing along the way
On some of the smaller islands there
are fishing options in various states of
development and itrsquos even possible
to rent a small dugout and create
your own adventure in and around
the reefs and drops close inshore
catching a variety of species on lighter
tackle Be careful eating reef fish due
to ciguatera A tip we heard from the
locals ndash cut a small section from the
fish and leave it outside overnight If
the ants eat it it should be OK to eat
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year round however the ideal times are March through November as this is the time when the weather and water conditions are usually optimal Itrsquos also rather nice timing in that it gives Kiwis and Aussies the excuse to escape the clutches of winter and head for warmer climes and some fishing
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
wwwnzfisherconz 3
Pg 6
12
20
Pg 36
CONTENTS
editorial
SPORTFISHING6 Champagne amp Fishing ndash What Did I Miss
COMPETITIONFISHING10 The World Offshore Champs 2013 LANDBASEDFISHING12 Bucket List Time in the Far North Part 2 ndash CMvD
BOATFISHING18 Monster Snapper Snared in Auckland
LOCAlFISHING20 Fishyourfeetfirst
SPORTFISHING22 Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
26 Reader Pics 30 Competition
KAYAKFISHING 32 So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
HOWTO
34 What Knot amp Why
GEARREVIEW 35 Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle Review
Visit okumafishingconzfacebookcomborntofishnz
A NEWOKUMA
BABY ISBORN
ALLNEW
GREENMACHINE
Hondarsquos brand new BF60 four-stroke EFI outboard engine combines exclusive Honda technologies in a lightest-weight-in-class package that delivers best-in-class performance
The newly-designed water-cooled three-cylinder engine incorporates electronic fuel injection Hondarsquos revolutionary Boosted Low Speed Torque (BLASTtrade) airfuel ratio and ignition-timing technology and lean burn control to deliver powerful start-up and acceleration together with outstanding fuel economy during cruising (ECOmo) NMEA2000 compatibility allows the BF60 to communicate with onboard marine electronics while ultra-smooth operation and world-leading environmental performance combine to crown the new BF60 lsquoGreen Machinersquo
BF60
wwwhondamarineconz0800 4 STROKE (787 653)
Honda_BF60_BC_FPindd 1 1862013 85844 AM
ALLNEW
GREENMACHINE
Hondarsquos brand new BF60 four-stroke EFI outboard engine combines exclusive Honda technologies in a lightest-weight-in-class package that delivers best-in-class performance
The newly-designed water-cooled three-cylinder engine incorporates electronic fuel injection Hondarsquos revolutionary Boosted Low Speed Torque (BLASTtrade) airfuel ratio and ignition-timing technology and lean burn control to deliver powerful start-up and acceleration together with outstanding fuel economy during cruising (ECOmo) NMEA2000 compatibility allows the BF60 to communicate with onboard marine electronics while ultra-smooth operation and world-leading environmental performance combine to crown the new BF60 lsquoGreen Machinersquo
BF60
wwwhondamarineconz0800 4 STROKE (787 653)
Honda_BF60_BC_FPindd 1 1862013 85844 AM
wwwnzfisherconz 5
In the middle of August Irsquom having
the pleasure of sitting at my desk in
shorts and a tee smelling the flowers
of spring and the salt air on the breeze
ndash and itrsquos August Itrsquos possibly the
beginning of a wonderful spring or just
a teaser to get our minds off the fact
that itrsquos the middle of winter I cannot
help but draw the comparison with the
Ministry of Primary Industry and their
Ministerrsquos most recent public back
down on the Snapper 1 issue
Wersquore presented with the unthinkable
a possible bag limit reduction to three
Snapper per person But wait The
Minister tells media halfway through
the consultation period that itrsquos unlikely
that there will be such significant cuts
(ldquoSnapper back-down on the cardsrdquo
as one headline in the print media
read) Do we feel a triumph on the
cards Well only time will tell but
I cannot help but feel this is a false
dawn ndash the fight must continue if
we want to know our fisheries can
be secured for future generations
As far as spring goes the fishing has
been extremely lsquospring likersquo already
as many northern fishers have already
experienced The beach fishing in
Northland has been great with a few
15lb plus Snapper taken off Ninety
Mile beach this month and as the
landbased fly guys in Auckland have
been finding unbelievable patches of
fish on the inner Islands Seeing what
our Scottish-Kiwi contributor Aaron
has been landing recently the Snapper
fishing in the outer Hauraki has been
out of character for August too
The fish are biting hard most of the
day but theyrsquore in tightly concentrated
schools that are easy to run off when
you find them Also check out Mark
Kitteridge and his enormous kingfish
landed with the Epic Adventures guys
in late July That is a serious fish and
from what Irsquom told the biggest landed
onboard Epic so far Well done Mark
and the Epic team
As always get a line in the water ndash
you wonrsquot catch anything with your
rod parked in the garage
Tight lines
Derrick
From the EDITOR
editorial
ABOUT Short and sharp NZ Fisher is a free e-magazine delivering thought provoking and enlightening articles and industry news and information to forward-thinking fisher people
EDITOR Derrick PaullART DIRECTOR Jodi OlssonCONTENT ENQUIRIES Phone Derrick on 021 629 327or email derrickpNZ FisherconzADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Phone Richard on 09 522 7257 or email richardlespiremediacomADDRESS NZ Fisher C- Espire Media PO Box 137162 Parnell Auckland 1151 NZWEBSITE wwwNZFisherconz
This is a GREEN MAG created and distributed without the use of paper so its environmentally friendly Please think before you
print Thank you
Fish of a lifetime
SPORTDfishing
Champagne amp Fishing ndash What Did I Miss
By Andrew Evans
wwwnzfisherconz 7
THE CHAMPAGNE CRICKET CLUB is
a club like no other founded on the
history of men who enjoyed cricket
champagne and socializing in the
late 60rsquos It is now being carried on
by a mix of ex Westlake and Rosmini
graduates in their late 20rsquos (two
schools with a fierce sporting rivalry)
The CCC enjoy the twilight and indoor
forms of the game only we donrsquot
want to embarrass the Black Caps
you see so a good proportion of the
club enjoy fishing In late June the
challenge was set for a Westlake vs
Rosmini fishing show down
Scrapper came up with the idea
and we were to base ourselves
in Ngunguru at his familyrsquos beach
house There was a loose itinerary
laid down with bottles of rum for the
biggest Snapper Kingfish and Most
Memorable catch With pride being
the biggest prize of all
We found ourselves heading north
from Auckland with a cold southerly
heading up the country The forecast
was to get better over the three
days so day one we were to let
the wind die out with a potential
afternoon Stray line day two would
be Snapper sessions along Tutukaka
coast and day three out to the reefs
surrounding the Poor Knights to chase
kingfish There were two boats to be
used Rosmini was equipped with a
Buccaneer billfisher named Strayliner
and Westlake on my new boat a 61
m fibreglass centre console named
Papillon Jared came up with a third
option the Boat show won Stabi
craft who went tohellipwe named this
Gaybi as in Gold Stabi Mostly out of
jealousy as we didnrsquot win it
Arriving on the first night the
Speights flowed and we didnrsquot really
realize when it turned into rum The
reports were of good Snapper in
close classic winter fishing and bait
and burley on the cards After retiring
far too late the call was made for a
late start
We awoke rusty to a brisk southerly
and a 2-3m swell hitting the coast not
the best conditions so the call was
made to go for a surf and wash away
the cobwebs After this we checked
the conditions again and again but
hangovers and Speights prevailed To
be fair it didnrsquot look amazing though
and we had two full days Donrsquot worry
we do get on the water this is a fishing
mag after all So once we settled
down and put the funnel away the plan
was made for a 530 am start
We awoke to two boats covered in
ice We loaded up and got everything
in order Although Scrapper and I
have done a fair bit of fishing we
both have had the dream fish of over
20lb elude us I have come close off
the far north bricks with one 19lber
and Scrapper more so with multiple
19lbers So close
We spoke on our last trip up north
about the quest for 20lbers often
overshadowing good trips as we
have been so keen to get them
that the quest can overshadow the
moment But this weekend wasnrsquot
really about us we both had crew
that although keen were very much
new to this level of fishing
None of my crew had even stray lined
before so it would be a mixture of
fishing a few baits and helping out
the lads so we could all have a good
time and ultimately win the comp It
was all on
As we left the Tutukaka ramp we
steamed up around the coastline
to find a likely looking area The
place is filthy with fishing potential
and the opportunities for greatness
are endless We both settled within
sight of each other in shallow water
Papillon a little wider in 10 m but
there was foul everywhere and it was
great Snapper territory The burley
was sent in and rigs were prepared
The very first bait thrown in by G
smashed by a respectable pannie it
was looking good A quick VHF call
between boats determined that both
of the Mattrsquos were feeling a little
under the weather so we werenrsquot
going to run out of burley
We had a stream of small fish and a
one up to the 50 cm mark so the bin
was no longer vacant No big runs
had really started however that was
about to change I had cleaned out
the freezer before I left and along with
a Skippy and an old flounder I had an
XOS jack Mack
SPORTfishing
Getting the best out of the little ones Place worthy
8 wwwnzfisherconz
Having set the boys up for now
I decided to take the head and a
good bit off the body of the XOS
Mackie and attached it to two 100
hooks and cast out with the 6500
baitrunner Waiting I felt it settle on
the bottom I was about to reposition
it in the water column when the bait
runner took off with an absolutely
screaming run
The instinct to strike was quelled
from my past experiences of
dropping fish during big runs ldquoLet
him have itrdquo I told myself It was a
big bait but I had the feeling that
this fish had sucked it right down
considering it wasnrsquot stopping
With adrenaline pumping like it
does when you are about to strike
I cranked the handle and struck It
came up tight but the line didnrsquot slow
downhellip it kept charging at full speed
A slight increase in drag only saw me
pulled off balance Finally it slowed
allowing a few pump and winds
before it took off again My initial
thought was kingi But it couldnrsquot be
I got nervous It slowed again and we
got into a dog fight
I am fairly quiet when on a good fish
SPORTfishing
Big Snapper I have seen in the past often look old and ragged but this fish was in its prime big and broad the only blemish what looked like an old spear wound by its dorsal Gee I was glad the spearo missed this fish
not wanting to jinx anything only
telling the boys to get the lines in
and concentrating on the job at hand
Getting line in when I could as the
fish tired I began to make ground and
I could feel the weight of it heavy
After a few minutes of this I was
waiting for colourhellip and I soon saw it
and it was big and red
The boys started hollering and after
a tense moment it was directed into
the net - just fitting The first thing I
noticed was the tail and the wrist of it
Big and powerful the fish was lifted
onto the deck
Shouting and high fiveing ensured I
was elated knowing this was definitely
my first 20lber and it looked well over
This was the biggest Snapper I had
ever seen when I saw the hook was in
the lip and the great condition of the
fish there was no doubt in my mind
it was going back Big Snapper I have
seen in the past often look old and
ragged but this fish was in its prime
big and broad the only blemish what
looked like an old spear wound by
its dorsal Gee I was glad the spear
missed this fish
I rushed the boys with the goal of
release in mind ldquoMatt get water in the
big livie tankrdquo which was soon filled
and the Snapper put in Cameras
were readied and the digital scales
sorted out It was when I lifted her out
I realized the weight I fixed her on
the scales with G and I watching them
settle on and around the 115kg mark
Not only over 20lb but over 25lb
I was ecstatic and proceeded to have
quick photos with the fish before I set
her back in the water after a kiss on
the head of course Holding the fish
for a while till she re-gathered her
strength it was two kicks of the tail and
powerfully she swam off I couldnrsquot
really believe it I had no expectation
of a fish like that on this trip and it was
safe to say the swans (Westlake) will
be hard to beat in the Snapper stakes
I had a Speights to calm the nerves
and take it in Finally I had done it and
could now relax knowing I had a trophy
Snapper to my name
The beauty for the lads was that
now I had clocked Snapper fishing I
happily became the deck hand and
so tied knots taught lessons on bait
presentation letting the fish run and
striking fish The boys did well there
was the odd bust off but we got in a
stream of nice eaters one of my baits
later in the day bought in another 10
lber Another good fish
We were considering heading out in
search of a kingfish but the wind was
around that 15 knot mark and still
swell around so we decided to leave
that till tomorrow and wrapped up the
Snapper session to return to the pad
and compare fish and stories Rosmini
were very congratulatory on my fish
and looked at the photos On looking
in their bin they had a great day also
with three Snapper around the 15 lb
mark to three different anglers and a
good bag of fish for a feed
The comp was hot and PBrsquos fell both days
wwwnzfisherconz 9
SPORTfishing
It had been a classic winterrsquos day for
the crews tentative bites and the
occasional big Snapper every other
hour We settled into a relaxed night
with hot smoked Snapper heads a
good roast and a few beverages The
Mattrsquos both worse for wear after a
long day at sea both guilty of a spit
over the side I couldnrsquot stop grinning
like an idiot and prompting everyone
for one more drink but no one could
finish watching Aus beat the Lions in
game two and it was off to bed for an
early start
We awoke again to a crisp calm
morning ice needing to be scraped
off the boats again Launching with
haste team Rosmini was down a
member due to Grandmarsquos birthday
Westlake would have four jigs in the
water could it make the difference
We steamed the 45 minutes out to the
local kingi joint and both boats circling
and searching for sign of balled up
bait and kingfish It wasnrsquot there ldquoerrr
this looks ok have a drop hererdquo was
going to be etched into my brain as I
said it over and over The fish had to
be there but their mouths were shut
tight We had been jigging for over
two hours now really should have got
some livies I thought
It was about11am when we finally
had a breakthrough None of the
lads had done much jigging but it
was G cranking the spin set who had
the first fish Never having caught a
king before he thought he was on the
bottom and I heard a yell of ldquowhat
do I dordquo I turn and see the rod kick
ldquoPump and windrdquo I yell He fought
the fish to the boat I could tell it
wasnrsquot massive but a king rose about
85cm right in Rossminirsquos face Could
Westlake have a clean sweep
Gareth was stoked and surprised by
the strength of the fish tired I got
him to hold it up for a few snaps
The fish was weighed bled and put
in the bin and I turn to see Rosmini
hooked up (had they called in divine
intervention will those days of bible
study pay off) No it was a smaller
rat and was returned we are looking
good The call was made to give it
another 30 minutes
That was when the old Joey the
hunter on team Rosmini decides to
have a little flutter with an Inchiku
Well it paid off the smaller jig enticing
the smaller kings that were obviously
around He was hooked up and after
a good scrap on Snapper gear a king
around the same size as ours was put
in the boat It was going to be close
After that with sore arms and
shoulders Rosmini decided on heading
in to the mainland so the Mattrsquos could
go for a dive We searched for any
other likely looking kingi territory
around the place went for a quick
Snapper jig both to no avail We met
up with the lads as they finished their
dive Steaming back into Toots the
final day was a wrap and targeting
kings in winter needs a bit more
thought it seems It was to be a quick
turn-around as the admin associated
with any big fishing trip ensued There
was cleaning and packing and dump
trips and more cleaning and before
the filleting a weigh in
The kings as I said were small ours
had pulled the scales to 77kg with
Joeys visibly bigger at 85kg Their
rat trumped ours Rosmini was saved
embarrassment Scrapper awarded
me for my catch with biggest Snapper
and Most Memorable catch going to
Westlake for my 255lb Snapper
I really thought Most Memorable
catch could have gone to Evan for
catching two sea birds but was happy
with the result That Snapper was a
magnificent fish will be very hard to
top and whatrsquos better is that it is still
out there charging around growing
bigger making babies and perhaps
one day being a 30lber to be caught
With that we started the trip back to
Auckland all of us agreeing that this
was to be an annual event Scrapper
is expecting a child in the coming
months so the next one maybe a
family affair Thanks needs to go to
him for organizing a great weekend
well done Also to your sometimes
Editor and self-proclaimed land based
guru Forsyth thanks for the lend of
your wagon
For me it is another fishing goal ticked
off the next one a big Kingfish I have
introduced a couple more friends to
the passion we all share in fishing they
are hooked and may be expecting a
20lb+ Snapper to come aboard every
triphellip little do they know it took me
four years of targeting big Snappers
to get that fish They can find reality
out the lsquohardrsquo way
10 wwwnzfisherconz
competitionFISHING
My good friend Pete the Panel
beater has been telling me
about his international game
fishing trips for years and finally
he let me see the photos
It seemed immediately that Pete
might actually be telling the truth
which in fishing circles is a rare and
beautiful thing Petersquos great fishing
mate Mike Wood has been fishing
the Tongan International for 12 years
and when they won in 2010 fishing
aboard lsquoLevenuellarsquo they decided
to go through and fish the World
Offshore champs in Cabo San Luca on
the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula
Their 2011 WOFC trip was fun but
the fishing hard ndash bordering on
boring they tell me
So when they won the Tongan
International again in 2012 it was with
trepidation that they decided to head
to Costa Rica At $9800USD to enter
the costs are pretty high for anyone
but as good Kiwis do they saved hard
bribed their wives and made a plan to
get some real fishing done this time
Their name this year was lsquoSalty Dogsrsquo
and the Salty Dogs earned their stripes
with some great sailfish and Mahi-mahi
captures during the tournament
The team is made up of four
members Tony Smith David Swan
Mike Wood and Peter Lineham
All are keen fishers but travelling
halfway around the world to fish
for species we donrsquot even see
in New Zealand is tough
By the Cockpit Cowboys
The World Offshore Champs 2013Hard fighting kiwis from Tonga to Costa Rica
wwwnzfisherconz 11
competitionFISHING
The tournament format sees teams
draw their daily boats and skipper
from a ballot this evens the field a
little but therersquos no substitute for
experience as the local US and central
Pacific teams took an early lead Day
one for the Salty Dogs involved a lot
of trolling and only one sailfish (other
teams landed 6 ndash 8)
On day two they drew Spanish Fly
a very successful boat on day one
and their luck changed immediately
All four members of the crew landed
sailfish that day while Pete and Mike
landed two each and saw a bunch
more Team Salty Dogs were the top
ranked team on Day two ndash outclassing
all others and putting themselves in
the mix for the final day
Day three while eventful (they were
surrounded by a huge pod of lsquoSpinner
Dolphinsrsquo at one point) didnrsquot see
enough fish landed by the boys and
they faded to mid pack
To even make the grade to win entry
is a huge achievement wersquore stoked
to see they got some great fish and
had a ball You can see some of their
fishing highlights here
Well done Team Salty Dogs what a
great trip
12 wwwnzfisherconz
LANDBASEDfishing
Bucket List Time in the Far North Part 2 ndash CMvD
AS WE GOT DOWN towards Maria
we could see a couple of boats fishing
off the back of the island and it wasnrsquot
long before we saw one and then the
second hooked up into what looked
like good solid fish Fair to say the
excitement levels were going up
Whenever we go and fish somewhere
new I like to take a bit of time and
have a look around the area you just
never know when yoursquoll get a chance
to come back
The north side of the island goes
straight onto sand and only a few
metres deep Everywhere we looked
in the clear water were Kahawai
massive numbers of them and we
know what likes eating Kahawai The
current running through was pretty
strong and even if we had been
allowed to land on the island (NB
yoursquore not) we couldnrsquot see how wersquod
get an anchor to hold in the sand with
enough pressure to get the bungee
anchor system working
The south-facing side of the island
was still getting the SW swell but it
looked much rockier and deeper and
exactly the kind of place yoursquod want to
fish if you could Coming back round
the island we ran through the channel
separating it from the mainland and the
current was absolutely racing through
creating standing waves at one end
We finally decided on some awesome
looking ledges just inside the Cape
parked the boat up did the big
unload and started getting into it As
always the rule is that no-one fishes till
all the rods are setup and before this
starts the berley goes in the water
With live bait rods popper rods and
Snapper and livey-catching gear by
the time wersquore done the berley is
always pumping and often wersquoll get
5-6kg fish chewing on the bag and
nailed first cast
This time Andrew was first in the water
with a bait and it was only a matter of
minutes maybe not even that long
and he was into a solid fish that set off
Cape Maria van Diemen ndash in a DinghyBy Forsyth Thompson
wwwnzfisherconz 13
LANDBASEDfishing
on a heavy run But within less than
another minute it was over and hersquod
been utterly dealt to by what looked
for all money to be a big Snapper
Quick retie filthy big bait and the
exact same thing was repeated This
one if anything seemed even bigger
and I genuinely thought he might be
into his first 20 and then it ended in
disaster in the same way Shit these
west coast Snapper werenrsquot messing
around Two massive hook-ups
followed by two complete hidings
and Andrew was getting schooled
Naturally as fishing mates Will and I
were supportive and offered plenty
of encouragement Well thatrsquos how I
remember it anyway
By now the Kahawai were everywhere
and all three of us were swimming
livies and watching them with
apprehension Having had a few
legal kings but no big ones we were
hopeful this was going to be our shot
The next thing we know Andrew is
shouting and pointing at what was
pretty much just a hole in the ocean
as far as we could see Big shark
apparently ndash Will and I frankly didnrsquot
pay much notice figuring it was just a
regular bronzie
Wersquod had a few decent Snapper by this
point but no sign of a king when two
turned up at once buzzing everything
but refusing to take poppers stickbaits
baits or livies There are few things
more frustrating for LBG fishermen than
this but when theyrsquore not in the mood
and yoursquove tried everything therersquos not
much else to do
Then one then two of our balloons
came tearing into the ledge and then
across in front of us and it was my turn
to do the pointingshouting thing
behind them was by far the biggest
bronzie Irsquod ever seen top of its tail
sticking what looked like nearly a full
meter out of the water and the bulk
of it looking like a family-sized car as
it cruised past and just inhaled one
of the unlucky baits As it took off
and felt the resistance it went crazy
Evans amp Will
Andrew Evans with a prime Far North Trevally
14 wwwnzfisherconz
right there in front of us and whilst
there was never a chance in a million
of landing it it was something to see
Again and again as it turned out from
memory the same fish had four of our
livebaits throughout the day and Will
(who has done a lot of game fishing)
called it for an easy 200kg+
I couldnrsquot even guesstimate at the size
but Irsquove seen a lot of sharks including
some big makos and threshers
and this was way way up there on
the scale An extraordinary sight
and a reminder that we really were
somewhere just a little bit different
Strangely this huge resident shark
even in feeding mode didnrsquot kill
the fishing off and we had plenty of
Snapper although no monsters and
then finally the ratchet went off on my
livies set and this was definitely not
LANDBASEDfishing
our shark but one seriously grumpy
king I was on the same gear Irsquod got
the 20kg one at E Cape not long
previously and this fish was giving
me a much harder time No question
I had PB in my mind as I tried to get
it in close enough for a gaff shot We
finally got a look at the fish and it was
clearly nothing like the size of the last
one but it was still going hard and we
spent probably another 5-10 minutes
before we made the call to keep it
and put a gaff into it At only around
13kg it was no monster at all but the
fight it put up on an Everol 50 with
37kg was absolutely ridiculous for a
fish its size Obviously they just breed
them tougher out on the west coast
The rest of the day passed with a
few more Snapper a couple of kings
wwwnzfisherconz 15
LANDBASEDfishing
sighted but not hooked and a few
more sharkings for Andrew
No trevs had shown up until later
in the day as we started dumping
all the leftover bait and we had
them coming right up to the ledge
taking baits Andrew got a good 4kg
one I lost one and we saw some
significantly bigger ones cruising the
berley But with such a crazy number
of Kahawai in attendance we just
couldnrsquot get baits to them Still
the sight of huge west coast trevs
within a rod length of where we were
standing was pretty cool and we had
one in the bag for sashimi
None of us wanted to leave but there
was no way on earth we were going to
round the Cape in the dark so despite
the Snapper bite coming back on in
a really serious way we just had to
Layng into the fish of the day
16 wwwnzfisherconz
do the sensible thing I canrsquot imagine
therersquos a fish on earth that would
make me think that Reinga in a 35m
boat would be ok in the dark Like
the first two days wersquod not cracked
any PBs and wersquod not actually caught
any really big fish but the experience
wersquod had (even just getting there)
and the country wersquod fished had been
absolutely special and one I genuinely
wonrsquot forget
Wersquod finished three days in the Far
North with a trip I never thought Irsquod
be able to do in the little stabi and
wersquod had some awesome adventures
and seen some amazing things So
wersquod got no PBs and really hadnrsquot
landed any monsters at all but it
just didnrsquot matter in the slightest
Sometimes you need to remember
that the truly great trips donrsquot always
have to be the ones with the biggest
fish getting out and having real
adventures with great mates will
always keep me coming back
LANDBASEDfishing
The beach kisses the ocean
Rounding the cape
Out of the sun they saw us
wwwnzfisherconz 17
1
2
3
4
5
5 simple rulesto help you stay safe
Life jacketsTake them ndash Wear them
Boats especially ones under 6m in length can sink very quickly Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water
Skipper responsibilityThe skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat Stay within the limits of your vessel and your experience
CommunicationsTake two separate waterproof ways of communicating so we can help you if you get into difficulties
Marine weather New Zealandrsquos weather can be highly unpredictable Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes
Avoid alcohol Safe boating and alcohol do not mix Things can change quickly on the water You need to stay alert and aware
For more information about safe boating education and how to prepare for your boating activity visit wwwadventuresmartorgnz
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The Boating Safety
Before you go boating on our seas lakes and rivers get familiar with New Zealandrsquos Boating Safety Code no matter what kind of boat you use
CODE
wwwadventuresmartorgnz
The Water Safety The Outdoor Safety
CODE CODE
Also available
18 wwwnzfisherconz
boatFISHING
IF YOU WANT TO catch that fish
of a life time you need to get out
of Auckland right Not necessarily
Whangaparaoa resident Tony Hurley
not only caught the fish of his life time
in June he caught the fish that nearly
every Auckland boat owner is after and
he did it within sight of the Sky Tower
At 34lb 4 ounces (1554 kg) and 95 cm
long Tonyrsquos Snapper is of Moby Dick
proportions So how did he do it
ldquoThinking positively is a big part of
itrdquo says Tony In fact Tony goes as
far as saying that he knew something
special was going to happen that
day After anchoring up at his usual
shallow water spot at Tiritiri Island
Tony and his mate settled into a
pretty good fishing session Six fish
between 10 and 18 lb were landed
before Tony hooked into the monster
fish on a half pillie The fish was
netted after a 4-5 minute fight and a
handful of surging runs
Tony describes the fight of these
big Snapper as much like that of a
stingray He should know he has
caught plenty of large Snapper to 24
lb at his Tiri spot
Upon arriving home parking capacity
on Tonyrsquos street became in hot
demand as word of the big fish got
around All up Tony splurged five
bottles of top shelf liquor on the
impromptu guests
The big Snapper is currently being
mounted by a taxidermist and will
be put up on the wall of Top Catch
Whangaparaoa
By Darren Parsons
Monster Snapper Snared in Auckland
wwwnzfisherconz 19
20 wwwnzfisherconz
localFISHING
Fish Your Feet First
I AM CONSTANTLY searching for
new rocky coastlines to explore with
a fly rod to catch Snapper in winter
One of the tricks to catching a fish on
a regular basis is knowing when to
fish and where Part science and part
intuition multiple factors swirl around
right to the last minute before the
final commitment is made to head in a
certain direction Transport company
tides and of course the weather all play
significant roles in the final decision Itrsquos
the transport option that has played
the biggest role in some of my recent
fishing experiences and in a city like
Auckland which offers so many options
being restricted to land is not always a
bad thing I have many options to be
boat fishing and often decline the big
trips away what I really enjoy is the fast
and spontaneous adventure available
by jumping on a ferry to one of the
many Hauraki Gulf islands
Recently a northeasterly storm
whipped up Northlands east coast for
several days On Saturday the wind
eased but the swell was big enough
for the inner city beaches to offer head
high waves Many points and reefs
that are not surf spots for 364 days of
the year came alive with quality surf
I joined the multitude of Auckland
surfers to savor these rare waves so
close to home
Sunday the wind shifted again and the
swell had eased to offer just enough
surge to make the fishing interesting
On the ferry at 9am a short hike
and a scramble down to some rocks
wwwnzfisherconz 21
localFISHING
I was greeted with green murky
water stirred by the recent storm
These conditions can often produce
great fishing as Snapper forage the
shallows for easy meals in the surge
and discoloured water but on other
days it just makes it hard see your fly
or believe the fish are there Arriving
at a spot that I would have previously
dismissed as a fishing location due to
the shallow water rocks and weed
I set about seeding some gutters
with tiny pilchard pieces Nothing
appeared in the first 40 minutes
baitfish and Kahawai who are the usual
first arrivals did not intercept the tiny
pieces as they sunk to the bottom
Knowing there was more to be gained
by retiring from the rock I had chosen
to hide behind than continuing to
work the small gutter I set about
putting together a 9wt fly rod and
re-positioned myself along the coast
where I found another gutter with an
equally good elevated hiding position
These days I choose my fishing spots
for the potential to conceal myself as
much as any other factor Returning
to the first gutter and just as I was
beginning to think ldquoI should have
been here yesterdayrdquo when the swell
would have been really stirring things
up for the Snapper a large Kahawai
blasted past That first Kahawai was
the first arrival of a small pack that I
kept active for the next ten minutes
Often the Snapper will move in to
investigate a fishy commotion and
depending on their mood will either
find the buzzing Kahawai off putting
or competitors that need to be
pushed along
Soon I had a Snapper claiming some
dominance over the Kahawai which
were twice its size Kahawai know
that speed is their only weapon and
as the competition hotted up over
the tiny morsels a few more Snapper
moved in and pushed the Kahawai
out We witnessed this relationship
in spectacular fashion last year on
the Coromandel where the Kahawai
were numerous and lightning quick
however when a Snapper of about
3kg size appeared it set about chasing
them away right up towards the
surface I have no doubt that Kahawai
have deep respect for the predatory
potential of the slower moving
Snapper and the short bursts of speed
they are capable of Itrsquos witnessing
this sort of near natural behaviour
that really appeals to me when using
stealth but it was time to start fishing
two hours into a my four hour trip and
I had not put a fly in the water
What followed was a session of
continued activity from 400-450
mm Snapper that eclipsed normal
experience My usual approach is
to present a fly to a sighted fish and
then leave the area to rest while I
work another spot close by However
the mood of the fish meant that a
momentary pause was all that was
required between catches at least 8
fish were caught and released before
I switched focus to the gutter just 100
meters north Once again the Kahawai
appeared and soon after some feisty
Snapper started to win the race for
whatever made a tell tale splash on
the surface With knowledge of an
upcoming bone fishing trip I dropped
my leader down to 45 kg and tied
on a small size 4 fly Whether it was
the light gentle approach with which
each fish was fought or the mood of
the fish that day I caught another 12
reasonable Snapper before it was time
to pack up to make the ferry home
While there were no fish caught that
warranted trophy status the pleasure
I took in watching my tiny fly being
approached by respectable Snapper
and the excitement of letting them
pull line from my reel to ensure I was
not busted off made for a fantastic
dayrsquos fishing something to chuckle
about as I joined the afternoon crowds
walking up queen street in the middle
of Aucklandrsquos downtown
While there were no fish caught that warranted trophy status the pleasure I took in watching my tiny fly being approached by respectable Snapper and the excitement of letting them pull line from my reel to ensure I was not busted off made for a fantastic days fishing something to chuckle about as I joined the afternoon crowds walking up queen street in the middle of Aucklandrsquos downtown
22 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
VANUATU HAS A well-deserved
reputation for exceptionally good
game fishing in the heavy and light
tackle classes as well as newer
techniques like jigging and surface
fishing with poppers and stickbaits
From the 1000m contour line and
the renowned lsquoMarlin Highwayrsquo which
runs hundreds of miles in a north
south direction close to Vanuatu to
the various FADrsquos just offshore and
often itrsquos only a short trip with the
hammers down to get you into some
hot fishing action
Vanuatu is one of the worldsrsquo top
blue marlin fisheries with a number of
world records to its credit as well as a
good number of lsquogranderrsquo blues that
have been taken in the area Most of
the regular game fishing charter boats
would catch around 100 per year with
many being tagged and released to
conserve the fishery
Best times and species
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year
round however the ideal times are
March through November as this
is the time when the weather
and water conditions are usually
optimal Itrsquos also rather nice
timing in that it gives Kiwis and
Aussies the excuse to escape the
clutches of winter and head for
warmer climes and some fishing
By Grant Blair The Fishing Website
Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
wwwnzfisherconz 23
sportFISHING
While being a renowned blue marlin
fishery with frequent catches in the
100-200kg range the odd XXXL
model does turn up in the gear and
the current record stands at a very
respectable 515kg or 1135 old-
fashioned pounds
Other species that are targeted and
frequently caught in the area include
black marlin sailfish striped marlin
yellow fin tuna mahi-mahi wahoo
Spanish mackerel sailfish dogtooth
tuna coral trout job fish and red bass
Yellow fin and dog tooth tuna
reach some very large proportions
Dogtooth grow to around 80kg and
yellow fin to 100kg while rare are
quite possible
The most important thing about
Vanuatu is the surrounding waters
are rich in a wide range of species
and therersquos plenty to interest anglers
of all abilities and interests be it
trolling for pelagics jigging the
drop-offs or surface fishing with
poppers and stickbaits
Where to go
The main game fishing
operations operating in Vanuatu are
found on Efate - Port Vila and on
Santo - Luganville From Port Vila it
can be only a 10-15 minute trip to be
into sailfish and yellow fin action in
Mele Bay at certain times of the year
however it takes longer to get to the
FADS and out to the marlin highway
Possible destinations with local charter
operators include the Marlin Highway
Blue Hat 366 Nguna Volcano the
Erromango Sea Mounts and Hat
Island From Santo the journey is
considerably longer however there is
good fishing along the way
On some of the smaller islands there
are fishing options in various states of
development and itrsquos even possible
to rent a small dugout and create
your own adventure in and around
the reefs and drops close inshore
catching a variety of species on lighter
tackle Be careful eating reef fish due
to ciguatera A tip we heard from the
locals ndash cut a small section from the
fish and leave it outside overnight If
the ants eat it it should be OK to eat
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year round however the ideal times are March through November as this is the time when the weather and water conditions are usually optimal Itrsquos also rather nice timing in that it gives Kiwis and Aussies the excuse to escape the clutches of winter and head for warmer climes and some fishing
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
ALLNEW
GREENMACHINE
Hondarsquos brand new BF60 four-stroke EFI outboard engine combines exclusive Honda technologies in a lightest-weight-in-class package that delivers best-in-class performance
The newly-designed water-cooled three-cylinder engine incorporates electronic fuel injection Hondarsquos revolutionary Boosted Low Speed Torque (BLASTtrade) airfuel ratio and ignition-timing technology and lean burn control to deliver powerful start-up and acceleration together with outstanding fuel economy during cruising (ECOmo) NMEA2000 compatibility allows the BF60 to communicate with onboard marine electronics while ultra-smooth operation and world-leading environmental performance combine to crown the new BF60 lsquoGreen Machinersquo
BF60
wwwhondamarineconz0800 4 STROKE (787 653)
Honda_BF60_BC_FPindd 1 1862013 85844 AM
ALLNEW
GREENMACHINE
Hondarsquos brand new BF60 four-stroke EFI outboard engine combines exclusive Honda technologies in a lightest-weight-in-class package that delivers best-in-class performance
The newly-designed water-cooled three-cylinder engine incorporates electronic fuel injection Hondarsquos revolutionary Boosted Low Speed Torque (BLASTtrade) airfuel ratio and ignition-timing technology and lean burn control to deliver powerful start-up and acceleration together with outstanding fuel economy during cruising (ECOmo) NMEA2000 compatibility allows the BF60 to communicate with onboard marine electronics while ultra-smooth operation and world-leading environmental performance combine to crown the new BF60 lsquoGreen Machinersquo
BF60
wwwhondamarineconz0800 4 STROKE (787 653)
Honda_BF60_BC_FPindd 1 1862013 85844 AM
wwwnzfisherconz 5
In the middle of August Irsquom having
the pleasure of sitting at my desk in
shorts and a tee smelling the flowers
of spring and the salt air on the breeze
ndash and itrsquos August Itrsquos possibly the
beginning of a wonderful spring or just
a teaser to get our minds off the fact
that itrsquos the middle of winter I cannot
help but draw the comparison with the
Ministry of Primary Industry and their
Ministerrsquos most recent public back
down on the Snapper 1 issue
Wersquore presented with the unthinkable
a possible bag limit reduction to three
Snapper per person But wait The
Minister tells media halfway through
the consultation period that itrsquos unlikely
that there will be such significant cuts
(ldquoSnapper back-down on the cardsrdquo
as one headline in the print media
read) Do we feel a triumph on the
cards Well only time will tell but
I cannot help but feel this is a false
dawn ndash the fight must continue if
we want to know our fisheries can
be secured for future generations
As far as spring goes the fishing has
been extremely lsquospring likersquo already
as many northern fishers have already
experienced The beach fishing in
Northland has been great with a few
15lb plus Snapper taken off Ninety
Mile beach this month and as the
landbased fly guys in Auckland have
been finding unbelievable patches of
fish on the inner Islands Seeing what
our Scottish-Kiwi contributor Aaron
has been landing recently the Snapper
fishing in the outer Hauraki has been
out of character for August too
The fish are biting hard most of the
day but theyrsquore in tightly concentrated
schools that are easy to run off when
you find them Also check out Mark
Kitteridge and his enormous kingfish
landed with the Epic Adventures guys
in late July That is a serious fish and
from what Irsquom told the biggest landed
onboard Epic so far Well done Mark
and the Epic team
As always get a line in the water ndash
you wonrsquot catch anything with your
rod parked in the garage
Tight lines
Derrick
From the EDITOR
editorial
ABOUT Short and sharp NZ Fisher is a free e-magazine delivering thought provoking and enlightening articles and industry news and information to forward-thinking fisher people
EDITOR Derrick PaullART DIRECTOR Jodi OlssonCONTENT ENQUIRIES Phone Derrick on 021 629 327or email derrickpNZ FisherconzADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Phone Richard on 09 522 7257 or email richardlespiremediacomADDRESS NZ Fisher C- Espire Media PO Box 137162 Parnell Auckland 1151 NZWEBSITE wwwNZFisherconz
This is a GREEN MAG created and distributed without the use of paper so its environmentally friendly Please think before you
print Thank you
Fish of a lifetime
SPORTDfishing
Champagne amp Fishing ndash What Did I Miss
By Andrew Evans
wwwnzfisherconz 7
THE CHAMPAGNE CRICKET CLUB is
a club like no other founded on the
history of men who enjoyed cricket
champagne and socializing in the
late 60rsquos It is now being carried on
by a mix of ex Westlake and Rosmini
graduates in their late 20rsquos (two
schools with a fierce sporting rivalry)
The CCC enjoy the twilight and indoor
forms of the game only we donrsquot
want to embarrass the Black Caps
you see so a good proportion of the
club enjoy fishing In late June the
challenge was set for a Westlake vs
Rosmini fishing show down
Scrapper came up with the idea
and we were to base ourselves
in Ngunguru at his familyrsquos beach
house There was a loose itinerary
laid down with bottles of rum for the
biggest Snapper Kingfish and Most
Memorable catch With pride being
the biggest prize of all
We found ourselves heading north
from Auckland with a cold southerly
heading up the country The forecast
was to get better over the three
days so day one we were to let
the wind die out with a potential
afternoon Stray line day two would
be Snapper sessions along Tutukaka
coast and day three out to the reefs
surrounding the Poor Knights to chase
kingfish There were two boats to be
used Rosmini was equipped with a
Buccaneer billfisher named Strayliner
and Westlake on my new boat a 61
m fibreglass centre console named
Papillon Jared came up with a third
option the Boat show won Stabi
craft who went tohellipwe named this
Gaybi as in Gold Stabi Mostly out of
jealousy as we didnrsquot win it
Arriving on the first night the
Speights flowed and we didnrsquot really
realize when it turned into rum The
reports were of good Snapper in
close classic winter fishing and bait
and burley on the cards After retiring
far too late the call was made for a
late start
We awoke rusty to a brisk southerly
and a 2-3m swell hitting the coast not
the best conditions so the call was
made to go for a surf and wash away
the cobwebs After this we checked
the conditions again and again but
hangovers and Speights prevailed To
be fair it didnrsquot look amazing though
and we had two full days Donrsquot worry
we do get on the water this is a fishing
mag after all So once we settled
down and put the funnel away the plan
was made for a 530 am start
We awoke to two boats covered in
ice We loaded up and got everything
in order Although Scrapper and I
have done a fair bit of fishing we
both have had the dream fish of over
20lb elude us I have come close off
the far north bricks with one 19lber
and Scrapper more so with multiple
19lbers So close
We spoke on our last trip up north
about the quest for 20lbers often
overshadowing good trips as we
have been so keen to get them
that the quest can overshadow the
moment But this weekend wasnrsquot
really about us we both had crew
that although keen were very much
new to this level of fishing
None of my crew had even stray lined
before so it would be a mixture of
fishing a few baits and helping out
the lads so we could all have a good
time and ultimately win the comp It
was all on
As we left the Tutukaka ramp we
steamed up around the coastline
to find a likely looking area The
place is filthy with fishing potential
and the opportunities for greatness
are endless We both settled within
sight of each other in shallow water
Papillon a little wider in 10 m but
there was foul everywhere and it was
great Snapper territory The burley
was sent in and rigs were prepared
The very first bait thrown in by G
smashed by a respectable pannie it
was looking good A quick VHF call
between boats determined that both
of the Mattrsquos were feeling a little
under the weather so we werenrsquot
going to run out of burley
We had a stream of small fish and a
one up to the 50 cm mark so the bin
was no longer vacant No big runs
had really started however that was
about to change I had cleaned out
the freezer before I left and along with
a Skippy and an old flounder I had an
XOS jack Mack
SPORTfishing
Getting the best out of the little ones Place worthy
8 wwwnzfisherconz
Having set the boys up for now
I decided to take the head and a
good bit off the body of the XOS
Mackie and attached it to two 100
hooks and cast out with the 6500
baitrunner Waiting I felt it settle on
the bottom I was about to reposition
it in the water column when the bait
runner took off with an absolutely
screaming run
The instinct to strike was quelled
from my past experiences of
dropping fish during big runs ldquoLet
him have itrdquo I told myself It was a
big bait but I had the feeling that
this fish had sucked it right down
considering it wasnrsquot stopping
With adrenaline pumping like it
does when you are about to strike
I cranked the handle and struck It
came up tight but the line didnrsquot slow
downhellip it kept charging at full speed
A slight increase in drag only saw me
pulled off balance Finally it slowed
allowing a few pump and winds
before it took off again My initial
thought was kingi But it couldnrsquot be
I got nervous It slowed again and we
got into a dog fight
I am fairly quiet when on a good fish
SPORTfishing
Big Snapper I have seen in the past often look old and ragged but this fish was in its prime big and broad the only blemish what looked like an old spear wound by its dorsal Gee I was glad the spearo missed this fish
not wanting to jinx anything only
telling the boys to get the lines in
and concentrating on the job at hand
Getting line in when I could as the
fish tired I began to make ground and
I could feel the weight of it heavy
After a few minutes of this I was
waiting for colourhellip and I soon saw it
and it was big and red
The boys started hollering and after
a tense moment it was directed into
the net - just fitting The first thing I
noticed was the tail and the wrist of it
Big and powerful the fish was lifted
onto the deck
Shouting and high fiveing ensured I
was elated knowing this was definitely
my first 20lber and it looked well over
This was the biggest Snapper I had
ever seen when I saw the hook was in
the lip and the great condition of the
fish there was no doubt in my mind
it was going back Big Snapper I have
seen in the past often look old and
ragged but this fish was in its prime
big and broad the only blemish what
looked like an old spear wound by
its dorsal Gee I was glad the spear
missed this fish
I rushed the boys with the goal of
release in mind ldquoMatt get water in the
big livie tankrdquo which was soon filled
and the Snapper put in Cameras
were readied and the digital scales
sorted out It was when I lifted her out
I realized the weight I fixed her on
the scales with G and I watching them
settle on and around the 115kg mark
Not only over 20lb but over 25lb
I was ecstatic and proceeded to have
quick photos with the fish before I set
her back in the water after a kiss on
the head of course Holding the fish
for a while till she re-gathered her
strength it was two kicks of the tail and
powerfully she swam off I couldnrsquot
really believe it I had no expectation
of a fish like that on this trip and it was
safe to say the swans (Westlake) will
be hard to beat in the Snapper stakes
I had a Speights to calm the nerves
and take it in Finally I had done it and
could now relax knowing I had a trophy
Snapper to my name
The beauty for the lads was that
now I had clocked Snapper fishing I
happily became the deck hand and
so tied knots taught lessons on bait
presentation letting the fish run and
striking fish The boys did well there
was the odd bust off but we got in a
stream of nice eaters one of my baits
later in the day bought in another 10
lber Another good fish
We were considering heading out in
search of a kingfish but the wind was
around that 15 knot mark and still
swell around so we decided to leave
that till tomorrow and wrapped up the
Snapper session to return to the pad
and compare fish and stories Rosmini
were very congratulatory on my fish
and looked at the photos On looking
in their bin they had a great day also
with three Snapper around the 15 lb
mark to three different anglers and a
good bag of fish for a feed
The comp was hot and PBrsquos fell both days
wwwnzfisherconz 9
SPORTfishing
It had been a classic winterrsquos day for
the crews tentative bites and the
occasional big Snapper every other
hour We settled into a relaxed night
with hot smoked Snapper heads a
good roast and a few beverages The
Mattrsquos both worse for wear after a
long day at sea both guilty of a spit
over the side I couldnrsquot stop grinning
like an idiot and prompting everyone
for one more drink but no one could
finish watching Aus beat the Lions in
game two and it was off to bed for an
early start
We awoke again to a crisp calm
morning ice needing to be scraped
off the boats again Launching with
haste team Rosmini was down a
member due to Grandmarsquos birthday
Westlake would have four jigs in the
water could it make the difference
We steamed the 45 minutes out to the
local kingi joint and both boats circling
and searching for sign of balled up
bait and kingfish It wasnrsquot there ldquoerrr
this looks ok have a drop hererdquo was
going to be etched into my brain as I
said it over and over The fish had to
be there but their mouths were shut
tight We had been jigging for over
two hours now really should have got
some livies I thought
It was about11am when we finally
had a breakthrough None of the
lads had done much jigging but it
was G cranking the spin set who had
the first fish Never having caught a
king before he thought he was on the
bottom and I heard a yell of ldquowhat
do I dordquo I turn and see the rod kick
ldquoPump and windrdquo I yell He fought
the fish to the boat I could tell it
wasnrsquot massive but a king rose about
85cm right in Rossminirsquos face Could
Westlake have a clean sweep
Gareth was stoked and surprised by
the strength of the fish tired I got
him to hold it up for a few snaps
The fish was weighed bled and put
in the bin and I turn to see Rosmini
hooked up (had they called in divine
intervention will those days of bible
study pay off) No it was a smaller
rat and was returned we are looking
good The call was made to give it
another 30 minutes
That was when the old Joey the
hunter on team Rosmini decides to
have a little flutter with an Inchiku
Well it paid off the smaller jig enticing
the smaller kings that were obviously
around He was hooked up and after
a good scrap on Snapper gear a king
around the same size as ours was put
in the boat It was going to be close
After that with sore arms and
shoulders Rosmini decided on heading
in to the mainland so the Mattrsquos could
go for a dive We searched for any
other likely looking kingi territory
around the place went for a quick
Snapper jig both to no avail We met
up with the lads as they finished their
dive Steaming back into Toots the
final day was a wrap and targeting
kings in winter needs a bit more
thought it seems It was to be a quick
turn-around as the admin associated
with any big fishing trip ensued There
was cleaning and packing and dump
trips and more cleaning and before
the filleting a weigh in
The kings as I said were small ours
had pulled the scales to 77kg with
Joeys visibly bigger at 85kg Their
rat trumped ours Rosmini was saved
embarrassment Scrapper awarded
me for my catch with biggest Snapper
and Most Memorable catch going to
Westlake for my 255lb Snapper
I really thought Most Memorable
catch could have gone to Evan for
catching two sea birds but was happy
with the result That Snapper was a
magnificent fish will be very hard to
top and whatrsquos better is that it is still
out there charging around growing
bigger making babies and perhaps
one day being a 30lber to be caught
With that we started the trip back to
Auckland all of us agreeing that this
was to be an annual event Scrapper
is expecting a child in the coming
months so the next one maybe a
family affair Thanks needs to go to
him for organizing a great weekend
well done Also to your sometimes
Editor and self-proclaimed land based
guru Forsyth thanks for the lend of
your wagon
For me it is another fishing goal ticked
off the next one a big Kingfish I have
introduced a couple more friends to
the passion we all share in fishing they
are hooked and may be expecting a
20lb+ Snapper to come aboard every
triphellip little do they know it took me
four years of targeting big Snappers
to get that fish They can find reality
out the lsquohardrsquo way
10 wwwnzfisherconz
competitionFISHING
My good friend Pete the Panel
beater has been telling me
about his international game
fishing trips for years and finally
he let me see the photos
It seemed immediately that Pete
might actually be telling the truth
which in fishing circles is a rare and
beautiful thing Petersquos great fishing
mate Mike Wood has been fishing
the Tongan International for 12 years
and when they won in 2010 fishing
aboard lsquoLevenuellarsquo they decided
to go through and fish the World
Offshore champs in Cabo San Luca on
the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula
Their 2011 WOFC trip was fun but
the fishing hard ndash bordering on
boring they tell me
So when they won the Tongan
International again in 2012 it was with
trepidation that they decided to head
to Costa Rica At $9800USD to enter
the costs are pretty high for anyone
but as good Kiwis do they saved hard
bribed their wives and made a plan to
get some real fishing done this time
Their name this year was lsquoSalty Dogsrsquo
and the Salty Dogs earned their stripes
with some great sailfish and Mahi-mahi
captures during the tournament
The team is made up of four
members Tony Smith David Swan
Mike Wood and Peter Lineham
All are keen fishers but travelling
halfway around the world to fish
for species we donrsquot even see
in New Zealand is tough
By the Cockpit Cowboys
The World Offshore Champs 2013Hard fighting kiwis from Tonga to Costa Rica
wwwnzfisherconz 11
competitionFISHING
The tournament format sees teams
draw their daily boats and skipper
from a ballot this evens the field a
little but therersquos no substitute for
experience as the local US and central
Pacific teams took an early lead Day
one for the Salty Dogs involved a lot
of trolling and only one sailfish (other
teams landed 6 ndash 8)
On day two they drew Spanish Fly
a very successful boat on day one
and their luck changed immediately
All four members of the crew landed
sailfish that day while Pete and Mike
landed two each and saw a bunch
more Team Salty Dogs were the top
ranked team on Day two ndash outclassing
all others and putting themselves in
the mix for the final day
Day three while eventful (they were
surrounded by a huge pod of lsquoSpinner
Dolphinsrsquo at one point) didnrsquot see
enough fish landed by the boys and
they faded to mid pack
To even make the grade to win entry
is a huge achievement wersquore stoked
to see they got some great fish and
had a ball You can see some of their
fishing highlights here
Well done Team Salty Dogs what a
great trip
12 wwwnzfisherconz
LANDBASEDfishing
Bucket List Time in the Far North Part 2 ndash CMvD
AS WE GOT DOWN towards Maria
we could see a couple of boats fishing
off the back of the island and it wasnrsquot
long before we saw one and then the
second hooked up into what looked
like good solid fish Fair to say the
excitement levels were going up
Whenever we go and fish somewhere
new I like to take a bit of time and
have a look around the area you just
never know when yoursquoll get a chance
to come back
The north side of the island goes
straight onto sand and only a few
metres deep Everywhere we looked
in the clear water were Kahawai
massive numbers of them and we
know what likes eating Kahawai The
current running through was pretty
strong and even if we had been
allowed to land on the island (NB
yoursquore not) we couldnrsquot see how wersquod
get an anchor to hold in the sand with
enough pressure to get the bungee
anchor system working
The south-facing side of the island
was still getting the SW swell but it
looked much rockier and deeper and
exactly the kind of place yoursquod want to
fish if you could Coming back round
the island we ran through the channel
separating it from the mainland and the
current was absolutely racing through
creating standing waves at one end
We finally decided on some awesome
looking ledges just inside the Cape
parked the boat up did the big
unload and started getting into it As
always the rule is that no-one fishes till
all the rods are setup and before this
starts the berley goes in the water
With live bait rods popper rods and
Snapper and livey-catching gear by
the time wersquore done the berley is
always pumping and often wersquoll get
5-6kg fish chewing on the bag and
nailed first cast
This time Andrew was first in the water
with a bait and it was only a matter of
minutes maybe not even that long
and he was into a solid fish that set off
Cape Maria van Diemen ndash in a DinghyBy Forsyth Thompson
wwwnzfisherconz 13
LANDBASEDfishing
on a heavy run But within less than
another minute it was over and hersquod
been utterly dealt to by what looked
for all money to be a big Snapper
Quick retie filthy big bait and the
exact same thing was repeated This
one if anything seemed even bigger
and I genuinely thought he might be
into his first 20 and then it ended in
disaster in the same way Shit these
west coast Snapper werenrsquot messing
around Two massive hook-ups
followed by two complete hidings
and Andrew was getting schooled
Naturally as fishing mates Will and I
were supportive and offered plenty
of encouragement Well thatrsquos how I
remember it anyway
By now the Kahawai were everywhere
and all three of us were swimming
livies and watching them with
apprehension Having had a few
legal kings but no big ones we were
hopeful this was going to be our shot
The next thing we know Andrew is
shouting and pointing at what was
pretty much just a hole in the ocean
as far as we could see Big shark
apparently ndash Will and I frankly didnrsquot
pay much notice figuring it was just a
regular bronzie
Wersquod had a few decent Snapper by this
point but no sign of a king when two
turned up at once buzzing everything
but refusing to take poppers stickbaits
baits or livies There are few things
more frustrating for LBG fishermen than
this but when theyrsquore not in the mood
and yoursquove tried everything therersquos not
much else to do
Then one then two of our balloons
came tearing into the ledge and then
across in front of us and it was my turn
to do the pointingshouting thing
behind them was by far the biggest
bronzie Irsquod ever seen top of its tail
sticking what looked like nearly a full
meter out of the water and the bulk
of it looking like a family-sized car as
it cruised past and just inhaled one
of the unlucky baits As it took off
and felt the resistance it went crazy
Evans amp Will
Andrew Evans with a prime Far North Trevally
14 wwwnzfisherconz
right there in front of us and whilst
there was never a chance in a million
of landing it it was something to see
Again and again as it turned out from
memory the same fish had four of our
livebaits throughout the day and Will
(who has done a lot of game fishing)
called it for an easy 200kg+
I couldnrsquot even guesstimate at the size
but Irsquove seen a lot of sharks including
some big makos and threshers
and this was way way up there on
the scale An extraordinary sight
and a reminder that we really were
somewhere just a little bit different
Strangely this huge resident shark
even in feeding mode didnrsquot kill
the fishing off and we had plenty of
Snapper although no monsters and
then finally the ratchet went off on my
livies set and this was definitely not
LANDBASEDfishing
our shark but one seriously grumpy
king I was on the same gear Irsquod got
the 20kg one at E Cape not long
previously and this fish was giving
me a much harder time No question
I had PB in my mind as I tried to get
it in close enough for a gaff shot We
finally got a look at the fish and it was
clearly nothing like the size of the last
one but it was still going hard and we
spent probably another 5-10 minutes
before we made the call to keep it
and put a gaff into it At only around
13kg it was no monster at all but the
fight it put up on an Everol 50 with
37kg was absolutely ridiculous for a
fish its size Obviously they just breed
them tougher out on the west coast
The rest of the day passed with a
few more Snapper a couple of kings
wwwnzfisherconz 15
LANDBASEDfishing
sighted but not hooked and a few
more sharkings for Andrew
No trevs had shown up until later
in the day as we started dumping
all the leftover bait and we had
them coming right up to the ledge
taking baits Andrew got a good 4kg
one I lost one and we saw some
significantly bigger ones cruising the
berley But with such a crazy number
of Kahawai in attendance we just
couldnrsquot get baits to them Still
the sight of huge west coast trevs
within a rod length of where we were
standing was pretty cool and we had
one in the bag for sashimi
None of us wanted to leave but there
was no way on earth we were going to
round the Cape in the dark so despite
the Snapper bite coming back on in
a really serious way we just had to
Layng into the fish of the day
16 wwwnzfisherconz
do the sensible thing I canrsquot imagine
therersquos a fish on earth that would
make me think that Reinga in a 35m
boat would be ok in the dark Like
the first two days wersquod not cracked
any PBs and wersquod not actually caught
any really big fish but the experience
wersquod had (even just getting there)
and the country wersquod fished had been
absolutely special and one I genuinely
wonrsquot forget
Wersquod finished three days in the Far
North with a trip I never thought Irsquod
be able to do in the little stabi and
wersquod had some awesome adventures
and seen some amazing things So
wersquod got no PBs and really hadnrsquot
landed any monsters at all but it
just didnrsquot matter in the slightest
Sometimes you need to remember
that the truly great trips donrsquot always
have to be the ones with the biggest
fish getting out and having real
adventures with great mates will
always keep me coming back
LANDBASEDfishing
The beach kisses the ocean
Rounding the cape
Out of the sun they saw us
wwwnzfisherconz 17
1
2
3
4
5
5 simple rulesto help you stay safe
Life jacketsTake them ndash Wear them
Boats especially ones under 6m in length can sink very quickly Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water
Skipper responsibilityThe skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat Stay within the limits of your vessel and your experience
CommunicationsTake two separate waterproof ways of communicating so we can help you if you get into difficulties
Marine weather New Zealandrsquos weather can be highly unpredictable Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes
Avoid alcohol Safe boating and alcohol do not mix Things can change quickly on the water You need to stay alert and aware
For more information about safe boating education and how to prepare for your boating activity visit wwwadventuresmartorgnz
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The Boating Safety
Before you go boating on our seas lakes and rivers get familiar with New Zealandrsquos Boating Safety Code no matter what kind of boat you use
CODE
wwwadventuresmartorgnz
The Water Safety The Outdoor Safety
CODE CODE
Also available
18 wwwnzfisherconz
boatFISHING
IF YOU WANT TO catch that fish
of a life time you need to get out
of Auckland right Not necessarily
Whangaparaoa resident Tony Hurley
not only caught the fish of his life time
in June he caught the fish that nearly
every Auckland boat owner is after and
he did it within sight of the Sky Tower
At 34lb 4 ounces (1554 kg) and 95 cm
long Tonyrsquos Snapper is of Moby Dick
proportions So how did he do it
ldquoThinking positively is a big part of
itrdquo says Tony In fact Tony goes as
far as saying that he knew something
special was going to happen that
day After anchoring up at his usual
shallow water spot at Tiritiri Island
Tony and his mate settled into a
pretty good fishing session Six fish
between 10 and 18 lb were landed
before Tony hooked into the monster
fish on a half pillie The fish was
netted after a 4-5 minute fight and a
handful of surging runs
Tony describes the fight of these
big Snapper as much like that of a
stingray He should know he has
caught plenty of large Snapper to 24
lb at his Tiri spot
Upon arriving home parking capacity
on Tonyrsquos street became in hot
demand as word of the big fish got
around All up Tony splurged five
bottles of top shelf liquor on the
impromptu guests
The big Snapper is currently being
mounted by a taxidermist and will
be put up on the wall of Top Catch
Whangaparaoa
By Darren Parsons
Monster Snapper Snared in Auckland
wwwnzfisherconz 19
20 wwwnzfisherconz
localFISHING
Fish Your Feet First
I AM CONSTANTLY searching for
new rocky coastlines to explore with
a fly rod to catch Snapper in winter
One of the tricks to catching a fish on
a regular basis is knowing when to
fish and where Part science and part
intuition multiple factors swirl around
right to the last minute before the
final commitment is made to head in a
certain direction Transport company
tides and of course the weather all play
significant roles in the final decision Itrsquos
the transport option that has played
the biggest role in some of my recent
fishing experiences and in a city like
Auckland which offers so many options
being restricted to land is not always a
bad thing I have many options to be
boat fishing and often decline the big
trips away what I really enjoy is the fast
and spontaneous adventure available
by jumping on a ferry to one of the
many Hauraki Gulf islands
Recently a northeasterly storm
whipped up Northlands east coast for
several days On Saturday the wind
eased but the swell was big enough
for the inner city beaches to offer head
high waves Many points and reefs
that are not surf spots for 364 days of
the year came alive with quality surf
I joined the multitude of Auckland
surfers to savor these rare waves so
close to home
Sunday the wind shifted again and the
swell had eased to offer just enough
surge to make the fishing interesting
On the ferry at 9am a short hike
and a scramble down to some rocks
wwwnzfisherconz 21
localFISHING
I was greeted with green murky
water stirred by the recent storm
These conditions can often produce
great fishing as Snapper forage the
shallows for easy meals in the surge
and discoloured water but on other
days it just makes it hard see your fly
or believe the fish are there Arriving
at a spot that I would have previously
dismissed as a fishing location due to
the shallow water rocks and weed
I set about seeding some gutters
with tiny pilchard pieces Nothing
appeared in the first 40 minutes
baitfish and Kahawai who are the usual
first arrivals did not intercept the tiny
pieces as they sunk to the bottom
Knowing there was more to be gained
by retiring from the rock I had chosen
to hide behind than continuing to
work the small gutter I set about
putting together a 9wt fly rod and
re-positioned myself along the coast
where I found another gutter with an
equally good elevated hiding position
These days I choose my fishing spots
for the potential to conceal myself as
much as any other factor Returning
to the first gutter and just as I was
beginning to think ldquoI should have
been here yesterdayrdquo when the swell
would have been really stirring things
up for the Snapper a large Kahawai
blasted past That first Kahawai was
the first arrival of a small pack that I
kept active for the next ten minutes
Often the Snapper will move in to
investigate a fishy commotion and
depending on their mood will either
find the buzzing Kahawai off putting
or competitors that need to be
pushed along
Soon I had a Snapper claiming some
dominance over the Kahawai which
were twice its size Kahawai know
that speed is their only weapon and
as the competition hotted up over
the tiny morsels a few more Snapper
moved in and pushed the Kahawai
out We witnessed this relationship
in spectacular fashion last year on
the Coromandel where the Kahawai
were numerous and lightning quick
however when a Snapper of about
3kg size appeared it set about chasing
them away right up towards the
surface I have no doubt that Kahawai
have deep respect for the predatory
potential of the slower moving
Snapper and the short bursts of speed
they are capable of Itrsquos witnessing
this sort of near natural behaviour
that really appeals to me when using
stealth but it was time to start fishing
two hours into a my four hour trip and
I had not put a fly in the water
What followed was a session of
continued activity from 400-450
mm Snapper that eclipsed normal
experience My usual approach is
to present a fly to a sighted fish and
then leave the area to rest while I
work another spot close by However
the mood of the fish meant that a
momentary pause was all that was
required between catches at least 8
fish were caught and released before
I switched focus to the gutter just 100
meters north Once again the Kahawai
appeared and soon after some feisty
Snapper started to win the race for
whatever made a tell tale splash on
the surface With knowledge of an
upcoming bone fishing trip I dropped
my leader down to 45 kg and tied
on a small size 4 fly Whether it was
the light gentle approach with which
each fish was fought or the mood of
the fish that day I caught another 12
reasonable Snapper before it was time
to pack up to make the ferry home
While there were no fish caught that
warranted trophy status the pleasure
I took in watching my tiny fly being
approached by respectable Snapper
and the excitement of letting them
pull line from my reel to ensure I was
not busted off made for a fantastic
dayrsquos fishing something to chuckle
about as I joined the afternoon crowds
walking up queen street in the middle
of Aucklandrsquos downtown
While there were no fish caught that warranted trophy status the pleasure I took in watching my tiny fly being approached by respectable Snapper and the excitement of letting them pull line from my reel to ensure I was not busted off made for a fantastic days fishing something to chuckle about as I joined the afternoon crowds walking up queen street in the middle of Aucklandrsquos downtown
22 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
VANUATU HAS A well-deserved
reputation for exceptionally good
game fishing in the heavy and light
tackle classes as well as newer
techniques like jigging and surface
fishing with poppers and stickbaits
From the 1000m contour line and
the renowned lsquoMarlin Highwayrsquo which
runs hundreds of miles in a north
south direction close to Vanuatu to
the various FADrsquos just offshore and
often itrsquos only a short trip with the
hammers down to get you into some
hot fishing action
Vanuatu is one of the worldsrsquo top
blue marlin fisheries with a number of
world records to its credit as well as a
good number of lsquogranderrsquo blues that
have been taken in the area Most of
the regular game fishing charter boats
would catch around 100 per year with
many being tagged and released to
conserve the fishery
Best times and species
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year
round however the ideal times are
March through November as this
is the time when the weather
and water conditions are usually
optimal Itrsquos also rather nice
timing in that it gives Kiwis and
Aussies the excuse to escape the
clutches of winter and head for
warmer climes and some fishing
By Grant Blair The Fishing Website
Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
wwwnzfisherconz 23
sportFISHING
While being a renowned blue marlin
fishery with frequent catches in the
100-200kg range the odd XXXL
model does turn up in the gear and
the current record stands at a very
respectable 515kg or 1135 old-
fashioned pounds
Other species that are targeted and
frequently caught in the area include
black marlin sailfish striped marlin
yellow fin tuna mahi-mahi wahoo
Spanish mackerel sailfish dogtooth
tuna coral trout job fish and red bass
Yellow fin and dog tooth tuna
reach some very large proportions
Dogtooth grow to around 80kg and
yellow fin to 100kg while rare are
quite possible
The most important thing about
Vanuatu is the surrounding waters
are rich in a wide range of species
and therersquos plenty to interest anglers
of all abilities and interests be it
trolling for pelagics jigging the
drop-offs or surface fishing with
poppers and stickbaits
Where to go
The main game fishing
operations operating in Vanuatu are
found on Efate - Port Vila and on
Santo - Luganville From Port Vila it
can be only a 10-15 minute trip to be
into sailfish and yellow fin action in
Mele Bay at certain times of the year
however it takes longer to get to the
FADS and out to the marlin highway
Possible destinations with local charter
operators include the Marlin Highway
Blue Hat 366 Nguna Volcano the
Erromango Sea Mounts and Hat
Island From Santo the journey is
considerably longer however there is
good fishing along the way
On some of the smaller islands there
are fishing options in various states of
development and itrsquos even possible
to rent a small dugout and create
your own adventure in and around
the reefs and drops close inshore
catching a variety of species on lighter
tackle Be careful eating reef fish due
to ciguatera A tip we heard from the
locals ndash cut a small section from the
fish and leave it outside overnight If
the ants eat it it should be OK to eat
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year round however the ideal times are March through November as this is the time when the weather and water conditions are usually optimal Itrsquos also rather nice timing in that it gives Kiwis and Aussies the excuse to escape the clutches of winter and head for warmer climes and some fishing
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
wwwnzfisherconz 5
In the middle of August Irsquom having
the pleasure of sitting at my desk in
shorts and a tee smelling the flowers
of spring and the salt air on the breeze
ndash and itrsquos August Itrsquos possibly the
beginning of a wonderful spring or just
a teaser to get our minds off the fact
that itrsquos the middle of winter I cannot
help but draw the comparison with the
Ministry of Primary Industry and their
Ministerrsquos most recent public back
down on the Snapper 1 issue
Wersquore presented with the unthinkable
a possible bag limit reduction to three
Snapper per person But wait The
Minister tells media halfway through
the consultation period that itrsquos unlikely
that there will be such significant cuts
(ldquoSnapper back-down on the cardsrdquo
as one headline in the print media
read) Do we feel a triumph on the
cards Well only time will tell but
I cannot help but feel this is a false
dawn ndash the fight must continue if
we want to know our fisheries can
be secured for future generations
As far as spring goes the fishing has
been extremely lsquospring likersquo already
as many northern fishers have already
experienced The beach fishing in
Northland has been great with a few
15lb plus Snapper taken off Ninety
Mile beach this month and as the
landbased fly guys in Auckland have
been finding unbelievable patches of
fish on the inner Islands Seeing what
our Scottish-Kiwi contributor Aaron
has been landing recently the Snapper
fishing in the outer Hauraki has been
out of character for August too
The fish are biting hard most of the
day but theyrsquore in tightly concentrated
schools that are easy to run off when
you find them Also check out Mark
Kitteridge and his enormous kingfish
landed with the Epic Adventures guys
in late July That is a serious fish and
from what Irsquom told the biggest landed
onboard Epic so far Well done Mark
and the Epic team
As always get a line in the water ndash
you wonrsquot catch anything with your
rod parked in the garage
Tight lines
Derrick
From the EDITOR
editorial
ABOUT Short and sharp NZ Fisher is a free e-magazine delivering thought provoking and enlightening articles and industry news and information to forward-thinking fisher people
EDITOR Derrick PaullART DIRECTOR Jodi OlssonCONTENT ENQUIRIES Phone Derrick on 021 629 327or email derrickpNZ FisherconzADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Phone Richard on 09 522 7257 or email richardlespiremediacomADDRESS NZ Fisher C- Espire Media PO Box 137162 Parnell Auckland 1151 NZWEBSITE wwwNZFisherconz
This is a GREEN MAG created and distributed without the use of paper so its environmentally friendly Please think before you
print Thank you
Fish of a lifetime
SPORTDfishing
Champagne amp Fishing ndash What Did I Miss
By Andrew Evans
wwwnzfisherconz 7
THE CHAMPAGNE CRICKET CLUB is
a club like no other founded on the
history of men who enjoyed cricket
champagne and socializing in the
late 60rsquos It is now being carried on
by a mix of ex Westlake and Rosmini
graduates in their late 20rsquos (two
schools with a fierce sporting rivalry)
The CCC enjoy the twilight and indoor
forms of the game only we donrsquot
want to embarrass the Black Caps
you see so a good proportion of the
club enjoy fishing In late June the
challenge was set for a Westlake vs
Rosmini fishing show down
Scrapper came up with the idea
and we were to base ourselves
in Ngunguru at his familyrsquos beach
house There was a loose itinerary
laid down with bottles of rum for the
biggest Snapper Kingfish and Most
Memorable catch With pride being
the biggest prize of all
We found ourselves heading north
from Auckland with a cold southerly
heading up the country The forecast
was to get better over the three
days so day one we were to let
the wind die out with a potential
afternoon Stray line day two would
be Snapper sessions along Tutukaka
coast and day three out to the reefs
surrounding the Poor Knights to chase
kingfish There were two boats to be
used Rosmini was equipped with a
Buccaneer billfisher named Strayliner
and Westlake on my new boat a 61
m fibreglass centre console named
Papillon Jared came up with a third
option the Boat show won Stabi
craft who went tohellipwe named this
Gaybi as in Gold Stabi Mostly out of
jealousy as we didnrsquot win it
Arriving on the first night the
Speights flowed and we didnrsquot really
realize when it turned into rum The
reports were of good Snapper in
close classic winter fishing and bait
and burley on the cards After retiring
far too late the call was made for a
late start
We awoke rusty to a brisk southerly
and a 2-3m swell hitting the coast not
the best conditions so the call was
made to go for a surf and wash away
the cobwebs After this we checked
the conditions again and again but
hangovers and Speights prevailed To
be fair it didnrsquot look amazing though
and we had two full days Donrsquot worry
we do get on the water this is a fishing
mag after all So once we settled
down and put the funnel away the plan
was made for a 530 am start
We awoke to two boats covered in
ice We loaded up and got everything
in order Although Scrapper and I
have done a fair bit of fishing we
both have had the dream fish of over
20lb elude us I have come close off
the far north bricks with one 19lber
and Scrapper more so with multiple
19lbers So close
We spoke on our last trip up north
about the quest for 20lbers often
overshadowing good trips as we
have been so keen to get them
that the quest can overshadow the
moment But this weekend wasnrsquot
really about us we both had crew
that although keen were very much
new to this level of fishing
None of my crew had even stray lined
before so it would be a mixture of
fishing a few baits and helping out
the lads so we could all have a good
time and ultimately win the comp It
was all on
As we left the Tutukaka ramp we
steamed up around the coastline
to find a likely looking area The
place is filthy with fishing potential
and the opportunities for greatness
are endless We both settled within
sight of each other in shallow water
Papillon a little wider in 10 m but
there was foul everywhere and it was
great Snapper territory The burley
was sent in and rigs were prepared
The very first bait thrown in by G
smashed by a respectable pannie it
was looking good A quick VHF call
between boats determined that both
of the Mattrsquos were feeling a little
under the weather so we werenrsquot
going to run out of burley
We had a stream of small fish and a
one up to the 50 cm mark so the bin
was no longer vacant No big runs
had really started however that was
about to change I had cleaned out
the freezer before I left and along with
a Skippy and an old flounder I had an
XOS jack Mack
SPORTfishing
Getting the best out of the little ones Place worthy
8 wwwnzfisherconz
Having set the boys up for now
I decided to take the head and a
good bit off the body of the XOS
Mackie and attached it to two 100
hooks and cast out with the 6500
baitrunner Waiting I felt it settle on
the bottom I was about to reposition
it in the water column when the bait
runner took off with an absolutely
screaming run
The instinct to strike was quelled
from my past experiences of
dropping fish during big runs ldquoLet
him have itrdquo I told myself It was a
big bait but I had the feeling that
this fish had sucked it right down
considering it wasnrsquot stopping
With adrenaline pumping like it
does when you are about to strike
I cranked the handle and struck It
came up tight but the line didnrsquot slow
downhellip it kept charging at full speed
A slight increase in drag only saw me
pulled off balance Finally it slowed
allowing a few pump and winds
before it took off again My initial
thought was kingi But it couldnrsquot be
I got nervous It slowed again and we
got into a dog fight
I am fairly quiet when on a good fish
SPORTfishing
Big Snapper I have seen in the past often look old and ragged but this fish was in its prime big and broad the only blemish what looked like an old spear wound by its dorsal Gee I was glad the spearo missed this fish
not wanting to jinx anything only
telling the boys to get the lines in
and concentrating on the job at hand
Getting line in when I could as the
fish tired I began to make ground and
I could feel the weight of it heavy
After a few minutes of this I was
waiting for colourhellip and I soon saw it
and it was big and red
The boys started hollering and after
a tense moment it was directed into
the net - just fitting The first thing I
noticed was the tail and the wrist of it
Big and powerful the fish was lifted
onto the deck
Shouting and high fiveing ensured I
was elated knowing this was definitely
my first 20lber and it looked well over
This was the biggest Snapper I had
ever seen when I saw the hook was in
the lip and the great condition of the
fish there was no doubt in my mind
it was going back Big Snapper I have
seen in the past often look old and
ragged but this fish was in its prime
big and broad the only blemish what
looked like an old spear wound by
its dorsal Gee I was glad the spear
missed this fish
I rushed the boys with the goal of
release in mind ldquoMatt get water in the
big livie tankrdquo which was soon filled
and the Snapper put in Cameras
were readied and the digital scales
sorted out It was when I lifted her out
I realized the weight I fixed her on
the scales with G and I watching them
settle on and around the 115kg mark
Not only over 20lb but over 25lb
I was ecstatic and proceeded to have
quick photos with the fish before I set
her back in the water after a kiss on
the head of course Holding the fish
for a while till she re-gathered her
strength it was two kicks of the tail and
powerfully she swam off I couldnrsquot
really believe it I had no expectation
of a fish like that on this trip and it was
safe to say the swans (Westlake) will
be hard to beat in the Snapper stakes
I had a Speights to calm the nerves
and take it in Finally I had done it and
could now relax knowing I had a trophy
Snapper to my name
The beauty for the lads was that
now I had clocked Snapper fishing I
happily became the deck hand and
so tied knots taught lessons on bait
presentation letting the fish run and
striking fish The boys did well there
was the odd bust off but we got in a
stream of nice eaters one of my baits
later in the day bought in another 10
lber Another good fish
We were considering heading out in
search of a kingfish but the wind was
around that 15 knot mark and still
swell around so we decided to leave
that till tomorrow and wrapped up the
Snapper session to return to the pad
and compare fish and stories Rosmini
were very congratulatory on my fish
and looked at the photos On looking
in their bin they had a great day also
with three Snapper around the 15 lb
mark to three different anglers and a
good bag of fish for a feed
The comp was hot and PBrsquos fell both days
wwwnzfisherconz 9
SPORTfishing
It had been a classic winterrsquos day for
the crews tentative bites and the
occasional big Snapper every other
hour We settled into a relaxed night
with hot smoked Snapper heads a
good roast and a few beverages The
Mattrsquos both worse for wear after a
long day at sea both guilty of a spit
over the side I couldnrsquot stop grinning
like an idiot and prompting everyone
for one more drink but no one could
finish watching Aus beat the Lions in
game two and it was off to bed for an
early start
We awoke again to a crisp calm
morning ice needing to be scraped
off the boats again Launching with
haste team Rosmini was down a
member due to Grandmarsquos birthday
Westlake would have four jigs in the
water could it make the difference
We steamed the 45 minutes out to the
local kingi joint and both boats circling
and searching for sign of balled up
bait and kingfish It wasnrsquot there ldquoerrr
this looks ok have a drop hererdquo was
going to be etched into my brain as I
said it over and over The fish had to
be there but their mouths were shut
tight We had been jigging for over
two hours now really should have got
some livies I thought
It was about11am when we finally
had a breakthrough None of the
lads had done much jigging but it
was G cranking the spin set who had
the first fish Never having caught a
king before he thought he was on the
bottom and I heard a yell of ldquowhat
do I dordquo I turn and see the rod kick
ldquoPump and windrdquo I yell He fought
the fish to the boat I could tell it
wasnrsquot massive but a king rose about
85cm right in Rossminirsquos face Could
Westlake have a clean sweep
Gareth was stoked and surprised by
the strength of the fish tired I got
him to hold it up for a few snaps
The fish was weighed bled and put
in the bin and I turn to see Rosmini
hooked up (had they called in divine
intervention will those days of bible
study pay off) No it was a smaller
rat and was returned we are looking
good The call was made to give it
another 30 minutes
That was when the old Joey the
hunter on team Rosmini decides to
have a little flutter with an Inchiku
Well it paid off the smaller jig enticing
the smaller kings that were obviously
around He was hooked up and after
a good scrap on Snapper gear a king
around the same size as ours was put
in the boat It was going to be close
After that with sore arms and
shoulders Rosmini decided on heading
in to the mainland so the Mattrsquos could
go for a dive We searched for any
other likely looking kingi territory
around the place went for a quick
Snapper jig both to no avail We met
up with the lads as they finished their
dive Steaming back into Toots the
final day was a wrap and targeting
kings in winter needs a bit more
thought it seems It was to be a quick
turn-around as the admin associated
with any big fishing trip ensued There
was cleaning and packing and dump
trips and more cleaning and before
the filleting a weigh in
The kings as I said were small ours
had pulled the scales to 77kg with
Joeys visibly bigger at 85kg Their
rat trumped ours Rosmini was saved
embarrassment Scrapper awarded
me for my catch with biggest Snapper
and Most Memorable catch going to
Westlake for my 255lb Snapper
I really thought Most Memorable
catch could have gone to Evan for
catching two sea birds but was happy
with the result That Snapper was a
magnificent fish will be very hard to
top and whatrsquos better is that it is still
out there charging around growing
bigger making babies and perhaps
one day being a 30lber to be caught
With that we started the trip back to
Auckland all of us agreeing that this
was to be an annual event Scrapper
is expecting a child in the coming
months so the next one maybe a
family affair Thanks needs to go to
him for organizing a great weekend
well done Also to your sometimes
Editor and self-proclaimed land based
guru Forsyth thanks for the lend of
your wagon
For me it is another fishing goal ticked
off the next one a big Kingfish I have
introduced a couple more friends to
the passion we all share in fishing they
are hooked and may be expecting a
20lb+ Snapper to come aboard every
triphellip little do they know it took me
four years of targeting big Snappers
to get that fish They can find reality
out the lsquohardrsquo way
10 wwwnzfisherconz
competitionFISHING
My good friend Pete the Panel
beater has been telling me
about his international game
fishing trips for years and finally
he let me see the photos
It seemed immediately that Pete
might actually be telling the truth
which in fishing circles is a rare and
beautiful thing Petersquos great fishing
mate Mike Wood has been fishing
the Tongan International for 12 years
and when they won in 2010 fishing
aboard lsquoLevenuellarsquo they decided
to go through and fish the World
Offshore champs in Cabo San Luca on
the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula
Their 2011 WOFC trip was fun but
the fishing hard ndash bordering on
boring they tell me
So when they won the Tongan
International again in 2012 it was with
trepidation that they decided to head
to Costa Rica At $9800USD to enter
the costs are pretty high for anyone
but as good Kiwis do they saved hard
bribed their wives and made a plan to
get some real fishing done this time
Their name this year was lsquoSalty Dogsrsquo
and the Salty Dogs earned their stripes
with some great sailfish and Mahi-mahi
captures during the tournament
The team is made up of four
members Tony Smith David Swan
Mike Wood and Peter Lineham
All are keen fishers but travelling
halfway around the world to fish
for species we donrsquot even see
in New Zealand is tough
By the Cockpit Cowboys
The World Offshore Champs 2013Hard fighting kiwis from Tonga to Costa Rica
wwwnzfisherconz 11
competitionFISHING
The tournament format sees teams
draw their daily boats and skipper
from a ballot this evens the field a
little but therersquos no substitute for
experience as the local US and central
Pacific teams took an early lead Day
one for the Salty Dogs involved a lot
of trolling and only one sailfish (other
teams landed 6 ndash 8)
On day two they drew Spanish Fly
a very successful boat on day one
and their luck changed immediately
All four members of the crew landed
sailfish that day while Pete and Mike
landed two each and saw a bunch
more Team Salty Dogs were the top
ranked team on Day two ndash outclassing
all others and putting themselves in
the mix for the final day
Day three while eventful (they were
surrounded by a huge pod of lsquoSpinner
Dolphinsrsquo at one point) didnrsquot see
enough fish landed by the boys and
they faded to mid pack
To even make the grade to win entry
is a huge achievement wersquore stoked
to see they got some great fish and
had a ball You can see some of their
fishing highlights here
Well done Team Salty Dogs what a
great trip
12 wwwnzfisherconz
LANDBASEDfishing
Bucket List Time in the Far North Part 2 ndash CMvD
AS WE GOT DOWN towards Maria
we could see a couple of boats fishing
off the back of the island and it wasnrsquot
long before we saw one and then the
second hooked up into what looked
like good solid fish Fair to say the
excitement levels were going up
Whenever we go and fish somewhere
new I like to take a bit of time and
have a look around the area you just
never know when yoursquoll get a chance
to come back
The north side of the island goes
straight onto sand and only a few
metres deep Everywhere we looked
in the clear water were Kahawai
massive numbers of them and we
know what likes eating Kahawai The
current running through was pretty
strong and even if we had been
allowed to land on the island (NB
yoursquore not) we couldnrsquot see how wersquod
get an anchor to hold in the sand with
enough pressure to get the bungee
anchor system working
The south-facing side of the island
was still getting the SW swell but it
looked much rockier and deeper and
exactly the kind of place yoursquod want to
fish if you could Coming back round
the island we ran through the channel
separating it from the mainland and the
current was absolutely racing through
creating standing waves at one end
We finally decided on some awesome
looking ledges just inside the Cape
parked the boat up did the big
unload and started getting into it As
always the rule is that no-one fishes till
all the rods are setup and before this
starts the berley goes in the water
With live bait rods popper rods and
Snapper and livey-catching gear by
the time wersquore done the berley is
always pumping and often wersquoll get
5-6kg fish chewing on the bag and
nailed first cast
This time Andrew was first in the water
with a bait and it was only a matter of
minutes maybe not even that long
and he was into a solid fish that set off
Cape Maria van Diemen ndash in a DinghyBy Forsyth Thompson
wwwnzfisherconz 13
LANDBASEDfishing
on a heavy run But within less than
another minute it was over and hersquod
been utterly dealt to by what looked
for all money to be a big Snapper
Quick retie filthy big bait and the
exact same thing was repeated This
one if anything seemed even bigger
and I genuinely thought he might be
into his first 20 and then it ended in
disaster in the same way Shit these
west coast Snapper werenrsquot messing
around Two massive hook-ups
followed by two complete hidings
and Andrew was getting schooled
Naturally as fishing mates Will and I
were supportive and offered plenty
of encouragement Well thatrsquos how I
remember it anyway
By now the Kahawai were everywhere
and all three of us were swimming
livies and watching them with
apprehension Having had a few
legal kings but no big ones we were
hopeful this was going to be our shot
The next thing we know Andrew is
shouting and pointing at what was
pretty much just a hole in the ocean
as far as we could see Big shark
apparently ndash Will and I frankly didnrsquot
pay much notice figuring it was just a
regular bronzie
Wersquod had a few decent Snapper by this
point but no sign of a king when two
turned up at once buzzing everything
but refusing to take poppers stickbaits
baits or livies There are few things
more frustrating for LBG fishermen than
this but when theyrsquore not in the mood
and yoursquove tried everything therersquos not
much else to do
Then one then two of our balloons
came tearing into the ledge and then
across in front of us and it was my turn
to do the pointingshouting thing
behind them was by far the biggest
bronzie Irsquod ever seen top of its tail
sticking what looked like nearly a full
meter out of the water and the bulk
of it looking like a family-sized car as
it cruised past and just inhaled one
of the unlucky baits As it took off
and felt the resistance it went crazy
Evans amp Will
Andrew Evans with a prime Far North Trevally
14 wwwnzfisherconz
right there in front of us and whilst
there was never a chance in a million
of landing it it was something to see
Again and again as it turned out from
memory the same fish had four of our
livebaits throughout the day and Will
(who has done a lot of game fishing)
called it for an easy 200kg+
I couldnrsquot even guesstimate at the size
but Irsquove seen a lot of sharks including
some big makos and threshers
and this was way way up there on
the scale An extraordinary sight
and a reminder that we really were
somewhere just a little bit different
Strangely this huge resident shark
even in feeding mode didnrsquot kill
the fishing off and we had plenty of
Snapper although no monsters and
then finally the ratchet went off on my
livies set and this was definitely not
LANDBASEDfishing
our shark but one seriously grumpy
king I was on the same gear Irsquod got
the 20kg one at E Cape not long
previously and this fish was giving
me a much harder time No question
I had PB in my mind as I tried to get
it in close enough for a gaff shot We
finally got a look at the fish and it was
clearly nothing like the size of the last
one but it was still going hard and we
spent probably another 5-10 minutes
before we made the call to keep it
and put a gaff into it At only around
13kg it was no monster at all but the
fight it put up on an Everol 50 with
37kg was absolutely ridiculous for a
fish its size Obviously they just breed
them tougher out on the west coast
The rest of the day passed with a
few more Snapper a couple of kings
wwwnzfisherconz 15
LANDBASEDfishing
sighted but not hooked and a few
more sharkings for Andrew
No trevs had shown up until later
in the day as we started dumping
all the leftover bait and we had
them coming right up to the ledge
taking baits Andrew got a good 4kg
one I lost one and we saw some
significantly bigger ones cruising the
berley But with such a crazy number
of Kahawai in attendance we just
couldnrsquot get baits to them Still
the sight of huge west coast trevs
within a rod length of where we were
standing was pretty cool and we had
one in the bag for sashimi
None of us wanted to leave but there
was no way on earth we were going to
round the Cape in the dark so despite
the Snapper bite coming back on in
a really serious way we just had to
Layng into the fish of the day
16 wwwnzfisherconz
do the sensible thing I canrsquot imagine
therersquos a fish on earth that would
make me think that Reinga in a 35m
boat would be ok in the dark Like
the first two days wersquod not cracked
any PBs and wersquod not actually caught
any really big fish but the experience
wersquod had (even just getting there)
and the country wersquod fished had been
absolutely special and one I genuinely
wonrsquot forget
Wersquod finished three days in the Far
North with a trip I never thought Irsquod
be able to do in the little stabi and
wersquod had some awesome adventures
and seen some amazing things So
wersquod got no PBs and really hadnrsquot
landed any monsters at all but it
just didnrsquot matter in the slightest
Sometimes you need to remember
that the truly great trips donrsquot always
have to be the ones with the biggest
fish getting out and having real
adventures with great mates will
always keep me coming back
LANDBASEDfishing
The beach kisses the ocean
Rounding the cape
Out of the sun they saw us
wwwnzfisherconz 17
1
2
3
4
5
5 simple rulesto help you stay safe
Life jacketsTake them ndash Wear them
Boats especially ones under 6m in length can sink very quickly Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water
Skipper responsibilityThe skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat Stay within the limits of your vessel and your experience
CommunicationsTake two separate waterproof ways of communicating so we can help you if you get into difficulties
Marine weather New Zealandrsquos weather can be highly unpredictable Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes
Avoid alcohol Safe boating and alcohol do not mix Things can change quickly on the water You need to stay alert and aware
For more information about safe boating education and how to prepare for your boating activity visit wwwadventuresmartorgnz
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The Boating Safety
Before you go boating on our seas lakes and rivers get familiar with New Zealandrsquos Boating Safety Code no matter what kind of boat you use
CODE
wwwadventuresmartorgnz
The Water Safety The Outdoor Safety
CODE CODE
Also available
18 wwwnzfisherconz
boatFISHING
IF YOU WANT TO catch that fish
of a life time you need to get out
of Auckland right Not necessarily
Whangaparaoa resident Tony Hurley
not only caught the fish of his life time
in June he caught the fish that nearly
every Auckland boat owner is after and
he did it within sight of the Sky Tower
At 34lb 4 ounces (1554 kg) and 95 cm
long Tonyrsquos Snapper is of Moby Dick
proportions So how did he do it
ldquoThinking positively is a big part of
itrdquo says Tony In fact Tony goes as
far as saying that he knew something
special was going to happen that
day After anchoring up at his usual
shallow water spot at Tiritiri Island
Tony and his mate settled into a
pretty good fishing session Six fish
between 10 and 18 lb were landed
before Tony hooked into the monster
fish on a half pillie The fish was
netted after a 4-5 minute fight and a
handful of surging runs
Tony describes the fight of these
big Snapper as much like that of a
stingray He should know he has
caught plenty of large Snapper to 24
lb at his Tiri spot
Upon arriving home parking capacity
on Tonyrsquos street became in hot
demand as word of the big fish got
around All up Tony splurged five
bottles of top shelf liquor on the
impromptu guests
The big Snapper is currently being
mounted by a taxidermist and will
be put up on the wall of Top Catch
Whangaparaoa
By Darren Parsons
Monster Snapper Snared in Auckland
wwwnzfisherconz 19
20 wwwnzfisherconz
localFISHING
Fish Your Feet First
I AM CONSTANTLY searching for
new rocky coastlines to explore with
a fly rod to catch Snapper in winter
One of the tricks to catching a fish on
a regular basis is knowing when to
fish and where Part science and part
intuition multiple factors swirl around
right to the last minute before the
final commitment is made to head in a
certain direction Transport company
tides and of course the weather all play
significant roles in the final decision Itrsquos
the transport option that has played
the biggest role in some of my recent
fishing experiences and in a city like
Auckland which offers so many options
being restricted to land is not always a
bad thing I have many options to be
boat fishing and often decline the big
trips away what I really enjoy is the fast
and spontaneous adventure available
by jumping on a ferry to one of the
many Hauraki Gulf islands
Recently a northeasterly storm
whipped up Northlands east coast for
several days On Saturday the wind
eased but the swell was big enough
for the inner city beaches to offer head
high waves Many points and reefs
that are not surf spots for 364 days of
the year came alive with quality surf
I joined the multitude of Auckland
surfers to savor these rare waves so
close to home
Sunday the wind shifted again and the
swell had eased to offer just enough
surge to make the fishing interesting
On the ferry at 9am a short hike
and a scramble down to some rocks
wwwnzfisherconz 21
localFISHING
I was greeted with green murky
water stirred by the recent storm
These conditions can often produce
great fishing as Snapper forage the
shallows for easy meals in the surge
and discoloured water but on other
days it just makes it hard see your fly
or believe the fish are there Arriving
at a spot that I would have previously
dismissed as a fishing location due to
the shallow water rocks and weed
I set about seeding some gutters
with tiny pilchard pieces Nothing
appeared in the first 40 minutes
baitfish and Kahawai who are the usual
first arrivals did not intercept the tiny
pieces as they sunk to the bottom
Knowing there was more to be gained
by retiring from the rock I had chosen
to hide behind than continuing to
work the small gutter I set about
putting together a 9wt fly rod and
re-positioned myself along the coast
where I found another gutter with an
equally good elevated hiding position
These days I choose my fishing spots
for the potential to conceal myself as
much as any other factor Returning
to the first gutter and just as I was
beginning to think ldquoI should have
been here yesterdayrdquo when the swell
would have been really stirring things
up for the Snapper a large Kahawai
blasted past That first Kahawai was
the first arrival of a small pack that I
kept active for the next ten minutes
Often the Snapper will move in to
investigate a fishy commotion and
depending on their mood will either
find the buzzing Kahawai off putting
or competitors that need to be
pushed along
Soon I had a Snapper claiming some
dominance over the Kahawai which
were twice its size Kahawai know
that speed is their only weapon and
as the competition hotted up over
the tiny morsels a few more Snapper
moved in and pushed the Kahawai
out We witnessed this relationship
in spectacular fashion last year on
the Coromandel where the Kahawai
were numerous and lightning quick
however when a Snapper of about
3kg size appeared it set about chasing
them away right up towards the
surface I have no doubt that Kahawai
have deep respect for the predatory
potential of the slower moving
Snapper and the short bursts of speed
they are capable of Itrsquos witnessing
this sort of near natural behaviour
that really appeals to me when using
stealth but it was time to start fishing
two hours into a my four hour trip and
I had not put a fly in the water
What followed was a session of
continued activity from 400-450
mm Snapper that eclipsed normal
experience My usual approach is
to present a fly to a sighted fish and
then leave the area to rest while I
work another spot close by However
the mood of the fish meant that a
momentary pause was all that was
required between catches at least 8
fish were caught and released before
I switched focus to the gutter just 100
meters north Once again the Kahawai
appeared and soon after some feisty
Snapper started to win the race for
whatever made a tell tale splash on
the surface With knowledge of an
upcoming bone fishing trip I dropped
my leader down to 45 kg and tied
on a small size 4 fly Whether it was
the light gentle approach with which
each fish was fought or the mood of
the fish that day I caught another 12
reasonable Snapper before it was time
to pack up to make the ferry home
While there were no fish caught that
warranted trophy status the pleasure
I took in watching my tiny fly being
approached by respectable Snapper
and the excitement of letting them
pull line from my reel to ensure I was
not busted off made for a fantastic
dayrsquos fishing something to chuckle
about as I joined the afternoon crowds
walking up queen street in the middle
of Aucklandrsquos downtown
While there were no fish caught that warranted trophy status the pleasure I took in watching my tiny fly being approached by respectable Snapper and the excitement of letting them pull line from my reel to ensure I was not busted off made for a fantastic days fishing something to chuckle about as I joined the afternoon crowds walking up queen street in the middle of Aucklandrsquos downtown
22 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
VANUATU HAS A well-deserved
reputation for exceptionally good
game fishing in the heavy and light
tackle classes as well as newer
techniques like jigging and surface
fishing with poppers and stickbaits
From the 1000m contour line and
the renowned lsquoMarlin Highwayrsquo which
runs hundreds of miles in a north
south direction close to Vanuatu to
the various FADrsquos just offshore and
often itrsquos only a short trip with the
hammers down to get you into some
hot fishing action
Vanuatu is one of the worldsrsquo top
blue marlin fisheries with a number of
world records to its credit as well as a
good number of lsquogranderrsquo blues that
have been taken in the area Most of
the regular game fishing charter boats
would catch around 100 per year with
many being tagged and released to
conserve the fishery
Best times and species
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year
round however the ideal times are
March through November as this
is the time when the weather
and water conditions are usually
optimal Itrsquos also rather nice
timing in that it gives Kiwis and
Aussies the excuse to escape the
clutches of winter and head for
warmer climes and some fishing
By Grant Blair The Fishing Website
Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
wwwnzfisherconz 23
sportFISHING
While being a renowned blue marlin
fishery with frequent catches in the
100-200kg range the odd XXXL
model does turn up in the gear and
the current record stands at a very
respectable 515kg or 1135 old-
fashioned pounds
Other species that are targeted and
frequently caught in the area include
black marlin sailfish striped marlin
yellow fin tuna mahi-mahi wahoo
Spanish mackerel sailfish dogtooth
tuna coral trout job fish and red bass
Yellow fin and dog tooth tuna
reach some very large proportions
Dogtooth grow to around 80kg and
yellow fin to 100kg while rare are
quite possible
The most important thing about
Vanuatu is the surrounding waters
are rich in a wide range of species
and therersquos plenty to interest anglers
of all abilities and interests be it
trolling for pelagics jigging the
drop-offs or surface fishing with
poppers and stickbaits
Where to go
The main game fishing
operations operating in Vanuatu are
found on Efate - Port Vila and on
Santo - Luganville From Port Vila it
can be only a 10-15 minute trip to be
into sailfish and yellow fin action in
Mele Bay at certain times of the year
however it takes longer to get to the
FADS and out to the marlin highway
Possible destinations with local charter
operators include the Marlin Highway
Blue Hat 366 Nguna Volcano the
Erromango Sea Mounts and Hat
Island From Santo the journey is
considerably longer however there is
good fishing along the way
On some of the smaller islands there
are fishing options in various states of
development and itrsquos even possible
to rent a small dugout and create
your own adventure in and around
the reefs and drops close inshore
catching a variety of species on lighter
tackle Be careful eating reef fish due
to ciguatera A tip we heard from the
locals ndash cut a small section from the
fish and leave it outside overnight If
the ants eat it it should be OK to eat
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year round however the ideal times are March through November as this is the time when the weather and water conditions are usually optimal Itrsquos also rather nice timing in that it gives Kiwis and Aussies the excuse to escape the clutches of winter and head for warmer climes and some fishing
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
Fish of a lifetime
SPORTDfishing
Champagne amp Fishing ndash What Did I Miss
By Andrew Evans
wwwnzfisherconz 7
THE CHAMPAGNE CRICKET CLUB is
a club like no other founded on the
history of men who enjoyed cricket
champagne and socializing in the
late 60rsquos It is now being carried on
by a mix of ex Westlake and Rosmini
graduates in their late 20rsquos (two
schools with a fierce sporting rivalry)
The CCC enjoy the twilight and indoor
forms of the game only we donrsquot
want to embarrass the Black Caps
you see so a good proportion of the
club enjoy fishing In late June the
challenge was set for a Westlake vs
Rosmini fishing show down
Scrapper came up with the idea
and we were to base ourselves
in Ngunguru at his familyrsquos beach
house There was a loose itinerary
laid down with bottles of rum for the
biggest Snapper Kingfish and Most
Memorable catch With pride being
the biggest prize of all
We found ourselves heading north
from Auckland with a cold southerly
heading up the country The forecast
was to get better over the three
days so day one we were to let
the wind die out with a potential
afternoon Stray line day two would
be Snapper sessions along Tutukaka
coast and day three out to the reefs
surrounding the Poor Knights to chase
kingfish There were two boats to be
used Rosmini was equipped with a
Buccaneer billfisher named Strayliner
and Westlake on my new boat a 61
m fibreglass centre console named
Papillon Jared came up with a third
option the Boat show won Stabi
craft who went tohellipwe named this
Gaybi as in Gold Stabi Mostly out of
jealousy as we didnrsquot win it
Arriving on the first night the
Speights flowed and we didnrsquot really
realize when it turned into rum The
reports were of good Snapper in
close classic winter fishing and bait
and burley on the cards After retiring
far too late the call was made for a
late start
We awoke rusty to a brisk southerly
and a 2-3m swell hitting the coast not
the best conditions so the call was
made to go for a surf and wash away
the cobwebs After this we checked
the conditions again and again but
hangovers and Speights prevailed To
be fair it didnrsquot look amazing though
and we had two full days Donrsquot worry
we do get on the water this is a fishing
mag after all So once we settled
down and put the funnel away the plan
was made for a 530 am start
We awoke to two boats covered in
ice We loaded up and got everything
in order Although Scrapper and I
have done a fair bit of fishing we
both have had the dream fish of over
20lb elude us I have come close off
the far north bricks with one 19lber
and Scrapper more so with multiple
19lbers So close
We spoke on our last trip up north
about the quest for 20lbers often
overshadowing good trips as we
have been so keen to get them
that the quest can overshadow the
moment But this weekend wasnrsquot
really about us we both had crew
that although keen were very much
new to this level of fishing
None of my crew had even stray lined
before so it would be a mixture of
fishing a few baits and helping out
the lads so we could all have a good
time and ultimately win the comp It
was all on
As we left the Tutukaka ramp we
steamed up around the coastline
to find a likely looking area The
place is filthy with fishing potential
and the opportunities for greatness
are endless We both settled within
sight of each other in shallow water
Papillon a little wider in 10 m but
there was foul everywhere and it was
great Snapper territory The burley
was sent in and rigs were prepared
The very first bait thrown in by G
smashed by a respectable pannie it
was looking good A quick VHF call
between boats determined that both
of the Mattrsquos were feeling a little
under the weather so we werenrsquot
going to run out of burley
We had a stream of small fish and a
one up to the 50 cm mark so the bin
was no longer vacant No big runs
had really started however that was
about to change I had cleaned out
the freezer before I left and along with
a Skippy and an old flounder I had an
XOS jack Mack
SPORTfishing
Getting the best out of the little ones Place worthy
8 wwwnzfisherconz
Having set the boys up for now
I decided to take the head and a
good bit off the body of the XOS
Mackie and attached it to two 100
hooks and cast out with the 6500
baitrunner Waiting I felt it settle on
the bottom I was about to reposition
it in the water column when the bait
runner took off with an absolutely
screaming run
The instinct to strike was quelled
from my past experiences of
dropping fish during big runs ldquoLet
him have itrdquo I told myself It was a
big bait but I had the feeling that
this fish had sucked it right down
considering it wasnrsquot stopping
With adrenaline pumping like it
does when you are about to strike
I cranked the handle and struck It
came up tight but the line didnrsquot slow
downhellip it kept charging at full speed
A slight increase in drag only saw me
pulled off balance Finally it slowed
allowing a few pump and winds
before it took off again My initial
thought was kingi But it couldnrsquot be
I got nervous It slowed again and we
got into a dog fight
I am fairly quiet when on a good fish
SPORTfishing
Big Snapper I have seen in the past often look old and ragged but this fish was in its prime big and broad the only blemish what looked like an old spear wound by its dorsal Gee I was glad the spearo missed this fish
not wanting to jinx anything only
telling the boys to get the lines in
and concentrating on the job at hand
Getting line in when I could as the
fish tired I began to make ground and
I could feel the weight of it heavy
After a few minutes of this I was
waiting for colourhellip and I soon saw it
and it was big and red
The boys started hollering and after
a tense moment it was directed into
the net - just fitting The first thing I
noticed was the tail and the wrist of it
Big and powerful the fish was lifted
onto the deck
Shouting and high fiveing ensured I
was elated knowing this was definitely
my first 20lber and it looked well over
This was the biggest Snapper I had
ever seen when I saw the hook was in
the lip and the great condition of the
fish there was no doubt in my mind
it was going back Big Snapper I have
seen in the past often look old and
ragged but this fish was in its prime
big and broad the only blemish what
looked like an old spear wound by
its dorsal Gee I was glad the spear
missed this fish
I rushed the boys with the goal of
release in mind ldquoMatt get water in the
big livie tankrdquo which was soon filled
and the Snapper put in Cameras
were readied and the digital scales
sorted out It was when I lifted her out
I realized the weight I fixed her on
the scales with G and I watching them
settle on and around the 115kg mark
Not only over 20lb but over 25lb
I was ecstatic and proceeded to have
quick photos with the fish before I set
her back in the water after a kiss on
the head of course Holding the fish
for a while till she re-gathered her
strength it was two kicks of the tail and
powerfully she swam off I couldnrsquot
really believe it I had no expectation
of a fish like that on this trip and it was
safe to say the swans (Westlake) will
be hard to beat in the Snapper stakes
I had a Speights to calm the nerves
and take it in Finally I had done it and
could now relax knowing I had a trophy
Snapper to my name
The beauty for the lads was that
now I had clocked Snapper fishing I
happily became the deck hand and
so tied knots taught lessons on bait
presentation letting the fish run and
striking fish The boys did well there
was the odd bust off but we got in a
stream of nice eaters one of my baits
later in the day bought in another 10
lber Another good fish
We were considering heading out in
search of a kingfish but the wind was
around that 15 knot mark and still
swell around so we decided to leave
that till tomorrow and wrapped up the
Snapper session to return to the pad
and compare fish and stories Rosmini
were very congratulatory on my fish
and looked at the photos On looking
in their bin they had a great day also
with three Snapper around the 15 lb
mark to three different anglers and a
good bag of fish for a feed
The comp was hot and PBrsquos fell both days
wwwnzfisherconz 9
SPORTfishing
It had been a classic winterrsquos day for
the crews tentative bites and the
occasional big Snapper every other
hour We settled into a relaxed night
with hot smoked Snapper heads a
good roast and a few beverages The
Mattrsquos both worse for wear after a
long day at sea both guilty of a spit
over the side I couldnrsquot stop grinning
like an idiot and prompting everyone
for one more drink but no one could
finish watching Aus beat the Lions in
game two and it was off to bed for an
early start
We awoke again to a crisp calm
morning ice needing to be scraped
off the boats again Launching with
haste team Rosmini was down a
member due to Grandmarsquos birthday
Westlake would have four jigs in the
water could it make the difference
We steamed the 45 minutes out to the
local kingi joint and both boats circling
and searching for sign of balled up
bait and kingfish It wasnrsquot there ldquoerrr
this looks ok have a drop hererdquo was
going to be etched into my brain as I
said it over and over The fish had to
be there but their mouths were shut
tight We had been jigging for over
two hours now really should have got
some livies I thought
It was about11am when we finally
had a breakthrough None of the
lads had done much jigging but it
was G cranking the spin set who had
the first fish Never having caught a
king before he thought he was on the
bottom and I heard a yell of ldquowhat
do I dordquo I turn and see the rod kick
ldquoPump and windrdquo I yell He fought
the fish to the boat I could tell it
wasnrsquot massive but a king rose about
85cm right in Rossminirsquos face Could
Westlake have a clean sweep
Gareth was stoked and surprised by
the strength of the fish tired I got
him to hold it up for a few snaps
The fish was weighed bled and put
in the bin and I turn to see Rosmini
hooked up (had they called in divine
intervention will those days of bible
study pay off) No it was a smaller
rat and was returned we are looking
good The call was made to give it
another 30 minutes
That was when the old Joey the
hunter on team Rosmini decides to
have a little flutter with an Inchiku
Well it paid off the smaller jig enticing
the smaller kings that were obviously
around He was hooked up and after
a good scrap on Snapper gear a king
around the same size as ours was put
in the boat It was going to be close
After that with sore arms and
shoulders Rosmini decided on heading
in to the mainland so the Mattrsquos could
go for a dive We searched for any
other likely looking kingi territory
around the place went for a quick
Snapper jig both to no avail We met
up with the lads as they finished their
dive Steaming back into Toots the
final day was a wrap and targeting
kings in winter needs a bit more
thought it seems It was to be a quick
turn-around as the admin associated
with any big fishing trip ensued There
was cleaning and packing and dump
trips and more cleaning and before
the filleting a weigh in
The kings as I said were small ours
had pulled the scales to 77kg with
Joeys visibly bigger at 85kg Their
rat trumped ours Rosmini was saved
embarrassment Scrapper awarded
me for my catch with biggest Snapper
and Most Memorable catch going to
Westlake for my 255lb Snapper
I really thought Most Memorable
catch could have gone to Evan for
catching two sea birds but was happy
with the result That Snapper was a
magnificent fish will be very hard to
top and whatrsquos better is that it is still
out there charging around growing
bigger making babies and perhaps
one day being a 30lber to be caught
With that we started the trip back to
Auckland all of us agreeing that this
was to be an annual event Scrapper
is expecting a child in the coming
months so the next one maybe a
family affair Thanks needs to go to
him for organizing a great weekend
well done Also to your sometimes
Editor and self-proclaimed land based
guru Forsyth thanks for the lend of
your wagon
For me it is another fishing goal ticked
off the next one a big Kingfish I have
introduced a couple more friends to
the passion we all share in fishing they
are hooked and may be expecting a
20lb+ Snapper to come aboard every
triphellip little do they know it took me
four years of targeting big Snappers
to get that fish They can find reality
out the lsquohardrsquo way
10 wwwnzfisherconz
competitionFISHING
My good friend Pete the Panel
beater has been telling me
about his international game
fishing trips for years and finally
he let me see the photos
It seemed immediately that Pete
might actually be telling the truth
which in fishing circles is a rare and
beautiful thing Petersquos great fishing
mate Mike Wood has been fishing
the Tongan International for 12 years
and when they won in 2010 fishing
aboard lsquoLevenuellarsquo they decided
to go through and fish the World
Offshore champs in Cabo San Luca on
the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula
Their 2011 WOFC trip was fun but
the fishing hard ndash bordering on
boring they tell me
So when they won the Tongan
International again in 2012 it was with
trepidation that they decided to head
to Costa Rica At $9800USD to enter
the costs are pretty high for anyone
but as good Kiwis do they saved hard
bribed their wives and made a plan to
get some real fishing done this time
Their name this year was lsquoSalty Dogsrsquo
and the Salty Dogs earned their stripes
with some great sailfish and Mahi-mahi
captures during the tournament
The team is made up of four
members Tony Smith David Swan
Mike Wood and Peter Lineham
All are keen fishers but travelling
halfway around the world to fish
for species we donrsquot even see
in New Zealand is tough
By the Cockpit Cowboys
The World Offshore Champs 2013Hard fighting kiwis from Tonga to Costa Rica
wwwnzfisherconz 11
competitionFISHING
The tournament format sees teams
draw their daily boats and skipper
from a ballot this evens the field a
little but therersquos no substitute for
experience as the local US and central
Pacific teams took an early lead Day
one for the Salty Dogs involved a lot
of trolling and only one sailfish (other
teams landed 6 ndash 8)
On day two they drew Spanish Fly
a very successful boat on day one
and their luck changed immediately
All four members of the crew landed
sailfish that day while Pete and Mike
landed two each and saw a bunch
more Team Salty Dogs were the top
ranked team on Day two ndash outclassing
all others and putting themselves in
the mix for the final day
Day three while eventful (they were
surrounded by a huge pod of lsquoSpinner
Dolphinsrsquo at one point) didnrsquot see
enough fish landed by the boys and
they faded to mid pack
To even make the grade to win entry
is a huge achievement wersquore stoked
to see they got some great fish and
had a ball You can see some of their
fishing highlights here
Well done Team Salty Dogs what a
great trip
12 wwwnzfisherconz
LANDBASEDfishing
Bucket List Time in the Far North Part 2 ndash CMvD
AS WE GOT DOWN towards Maria
we could see a couple of boats fishing
off the back of the island and it wasnrsquot
long before we saw one and then the
second hooked up into what looked
like good solid fish Fair to say the
excitement levels were going up
Whenever we go and fish somewhere
new I like to take a bit of time and
have a look around the area you just
never know when yoursquoll get a chance
to come back
The north side of the island goes
straight onto sand and only a few
metres deep Everywhere we looked
in the clear water were Kahawai
massive numbers of them and we
know what likes eating Kahawai The
current running through was pretty
strong and even if we had been
allowed to land on the island (NB
yoursquore not) we couldnrsquot see how wersquod
get an anchor to hold in the sand with
enough pressure to get the bungee
anchor system working
The south-facing side of the island
was still getting the SW swell but it
looked much rockier and deeper and
exactly the kind of place yoursquod want to
fish if you could Coming back round
the island we ran through the channel
separating it from the mainland and the
current was absolutely racing through
creating standing waves at one end
We finally decided on some awesome
looking ledges just inside the Cape
parked the boat up did the big
unload and started getting into it As
always the rule is that no-one fishes till
all the rods are setup and before this
starts the berley goes in the water
With live bait rods popper rods and
Snapper and livey-catching gear by
the time wersquore done the berley is
always pumping and often wersquoll get
5-6kg fish chewing on the bag and
nailed first cast
This time Andrew was first in the water
with a bait and it was only a matter of
minutes maybe not even that long
and he was into a solid fish that set off
Cape Maria van Diemen ndash in a DinghyBy Forsyth Thompson
wwwnzfisherconz 13
LANDBASEDfishing
on a heavy run But within less than
another minute it was over and hersquod
been utterly dealt to by what looked
for all money to be a big Snapper
Quick retie filthy big bait and the
exact same thing was repeated This
one if anything seemed even bigger
and I genuinely thought he might be
into his first 20 and then it ended in
disaster in the same way Shit these
west coast Snapper werenrsquot messing
around Two massive hook-ups
followed by two complete hidings
and Andrew was getting schooled
Naturally as fishing mates Will and I
were supportive and offered plenty
of encouragement Well thatrsquos how I
remember it anyway
By now the Kahawai were everywhere
and all three of us were swimming
livies and watching them with
apprehension Having had a few
legal kings but no big ones we were
hopeful this was going to be our shot
The next thing we know Andrew is
shouting and pointing at what was
pretty much just a hole in the ocean
as far as we could see Big shark
apparently ndash Will and I frankly didnrsquot
pay much notice figuring it was just a
regular bronzie
Wersquod had a few decent Snapper by this
point but no sign of a king when two
turned up at once buzzing everything
but refusing to take poppers stickbaits
baits or livies There are few things
more frustrating for LBG fishermen than
this but when theyrsquore not in the mood
and yoursquove tried everything therersquos not
much else to do
Then one then two of our balloons
came tearing into the ledge and then
across in front of us and it was my turn
to do the pointingshouting thing
behind them was by far the biggest
bronzie Irsquod ever seen top of its tail
sticking what looked like nearly a full
meter out of the water and the bulk
of it looking like a family-sized car as
it cruised past and just inhaled one
of the unlucky baits As it took off
and felt the resistance it went crazy
Evans amp Will
Andrew Evans with a prime Far North Trevally
14 wwwnzfisherconz
right there in front of us and whilst
there was never a chance in a million
of landing it it was something to see
Again and again as it turned out from
memory the same fish had four of our
livebaits throughout the day and Will
(who has done a lot of game fishing)
called it for an easy 200kg+
I couldnrsquot even guesstimate at the size
but Irsquove seen a lot of sharks including
some big makos and threshers
and this was way way up there on
the scale An extraordinary sight
and a reminder that we really were
somewhere just a little bit different
Strangely this huge resident shark
even in feeding mode didnrsquot kill
the fishing off and we had plenty of
Snapper although no monsters and
then finally the ratchet went off on my
livies set and this was definitely not
LANDBASEDfishing
our shark but one seriously grumpy
king I was on the same gear Irsquod got
the 20kg one at E Cape not long
previously and this fish was giving
me a much harder time No question
I had PB in my mind as I tried to get
it in close enough for a gaff shot We
finally got a look at the fish and it was
clearly nothing like the size of the last
one but it was still going hard and we
spent probably another 5-10 minutes
before we made the call to keep it
and put a gaff into it At only around
13kg it was no monster at all but the
fight it put up on an Everol 50 with
37kg was absolutely ridiculous for a
fish its size Obviously they just breed
them tougher out on the west coast
The rest of the day passed with a
few more Snapper a couple of kings
wwwnzfisherconz 15
LANDBASEDfishing
sighted but not hooked and a few
more sharkings for Andrew
No trevs had shown up until later
in the day as we started dumping
all the leftover bait and we had
them coming right up to the ledge
taking baits Andrew got a good 4kg
one I lost one and we saw some
significantly bigger ones cruising the
berley But with such a crazy number
of Kahawai in attendance we just
couldnrsquot get baits to them Still
the sight of huge west coast trevs
within a rod length of where we were
standing was pretty cool and we had
one in the bag for sashimi
None of us wanted to leave but there
was no way on earth we were going to
round the Cape in the dark so despite
the Snapper bite coming back on in
a really serious way we just had to
Layng into the fish of the day
16 wwwnzfisherconz
do the sensible thing I canrsquot imagine
therersquos a fish on earth that would
make me think that Reinga in a 35m
boat would be ok in the dark Like
the first two days wersquod not cracked
any PBs and wersquod not actually caught
any really big fish but the experience
wersquod had (even just getting there)
and the country wersquod fished had been
absolutely special and one I genuinely
wonrsquot forget
Wersquod finished three days in the Far
North with a trip I never thought Irsquod
be able to do in the little stabi and
wersquod had some awesome adventures
and seen some amazing things So
wersquod got no PBs and really hadnrsquot
landed any monsters at all but it
just didnrsquot matter in the slightest
Sometimes you need to remember
that the truly great trips donrsquot always
have to be the ones with the biggest
fish getting out and having real
adventures with great mates will
always keep me coming back
LANDBASEDfishing
The beach kisses the ocean
Rounding the cape
Out of the sun they saw us
wwwnzfisherconz 17
1
2
3
4
5
5 simple rulesto help you stay safe
Life jacketsTake them ndash Wear them
Boats especially ones under 6m in length can sink very quickly Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water
Skipper responsibilityThe skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat Stay within the limits of your vessel and your experience
CommunicationsTake two separate waterproof ways of communicating so we can help you if you get into difficulties
Marine weather New Zealandrsquos weather can be highly unpredictable Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes
Avoid alcohol Safe boating and alcohol do not mix Things can change quickly on the water You need to stay alert and aware
For more information about safe boating education and how to prepare for your boating activity visit wwwadventuresmartorgnz
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The Boating Safety
Before you go boating on our seas lakes and rivers get familiar with New Zealandrsquos Boating Safety Code no matter what kind of boat you use
CODE
wwwadventuresmartorgnz
The Water Safety The Outdoor Safety
CODE CODE
Also available
18 wwwnzfisherconz
boatFISHING
IF YOU WANT TO catch that fish
of a life time you need to get out
of Auckland right Not necessarily
Whangaparaoa resident Tony Hurley
not only caught the fish of his life time
in June he caught the fish that nearly
every Auckland boat owner is after and
he did it within sight of the Sky Tower
At 34lb 4 ounces (1554 kg) and 95 cm
long Tonyrsquos Snapper is of Moby Dick
proportions So how did he do it
ldquoThinking positively is a big part of
itrdquo says Tony In fact Tony goes as
far as saying that he knew something
special was going to happen that
day After anchoring up at his usual
shallow water spot at Tiritiri Island
Tony and his mate settled into a
pretty good fishing session Six fish
between 10 and 18 lb were landed
before Tony hooked into the monster
fish on a half pillie The fish was
netted after a 4-5 minute fight and a
handful of surging runs
Tony describes the fight of these
big Snapper as much like that of a
stingray He should know he has
caught plenty of large Snapper to 24
lb at his Tiri spot
Upon arriving home parking capacity
on Tonyrsquos street became in hot
demand as word of the big fish got
around All up Tony splurged five
bottles of top shelf liquor on the
impromptu guests
The big Snapper is currently being
mounted by a taxidermist and will
be put up on the wall of Top Catch
Whangaparaoa
By Darren Parsons
Monster Snapper Snared in Auckland
wwwnzfisherconz 19
20 wwwnzfisherconz
localFISHING
Fish Your Feet First
I AM CONSTANTLY searching for
new rocky coastlines to explore with
a fly rod to catch Snapper in winter
One of the tricks to catching a fish on
a regular basis is knowing when to
fish and where Part science and part
intuition multiple factors swirl around
right to the last minute before the
final commitment is made to head in a
certain direction Transport company
tides and of course the weather all play
significant roles in the final decision Itrsquos
the transport option that has played
the biggest role in some of my recent
fishing experiences and in a city like
Auckland which offers so many options
being restricted to land is not always a
bad thing I have many options to be
boat fishing and often decline the big
trips away what I really enjoy is the fast
and spontaneous adventure available
by jumping on a ferry to one of the
many Hauraki Gulf islands
Recently a northeasterly storm
whipped up Northlands east coast for
several days On Saturday the wind
eased but the swell was big enough
for the inner city beaches to offer head
high waves Many points and reefs
that are not surf spots for 364 days of
the year came alive with quality surf
I joined the multitude of Auckland
surfers to savor these rare waves so
close to home
Sunday the wind shifted again and the
swell had eased to offer just enough
surge to make the fishing interesting
On the ferry at 9am a short hike
and a scramble down to some rocks
wwwnzfisherconz 21
localFISHING
I was greeted with green murky
water stirred by the recent storm
These conditions can often produce
great fishing as Snapper forage the
shallows for easy meals in the surge
and discoloured water but on other
days it just makes it hard see your fly
or believe the fish are there Arriving
at a spot that I would have previously
dismissed as a fishing location due to
the shallow water rocks and weed
I set about seeding some gutters
with tiny pilchard pieces Nothing
appeared in the first 40 minutes
baitfish and Kahawai who are the usual
first arrivals did not intercept the tiny
pieces as they sunk to the bottom
Knowing there was more to be gained
by retiring from the rock I had chosen
to hide behind than continuing to
work the small gutter I set about
putting together a 9wt fly rod and
re-positioned myself along the coast
where I found another gutter with an
equally good elevated hiding position
These days I choose my fishing spots
for the potential to conceal myself as
much as any other factor Returning
to the first gutter and just as I was
beginning to think ldquoI should have
been here yesterdayrdquo when the swell
would have been really stirring things
up for the Snapper a large Kahawai
blasted past That first Kahawai was
the first arrival of a small pack that I
kept active for the next ten minutes
Often the Snapper will move in to
investigate a fishy commotion and
depending on their mood will either
find the buzzing Kahawai off putting
or competitors that need to be
pushed along
Soon I had a Snapper claiming some
dominance over the Kahawai which
were twice its size Kahawai know
that speed is their only weapon and
as the competition hotted up over
the tiny morsels a few more Snapper
moved in and pushed the Kahawai
out We witnessed this relationship
in spectacular fashion last year on
the Coromandel where the Kahawai
were numerous and lightning quick
however when a Snapper of about
3kg size appeared it set about chasing
them away right up towards the
surface I have no doubt that Kahawai
have deep respect for the predatory
potential of the slower moving
Snapper and the short bursts of speed
they are capable of Itrsquos witnessing
this sort of near natural behaviour
that really appeals to me when using
stealth but it was time to start fishing
two hours into a my four hour trip and
I had not put a fly in the water
What followed was a session of
continued activity from 400-450
mm Snapper that eclipsed normal
experience My usual approach is
to present a fly to a sighted fish and
then leave the area to rest while I
work another spot close by However
the mood of the fish meant that a
momentary pause was all that was
required between catches at least 8
fish were caught and released before
I switched focus to the gutter just 100
meters north Once again the Kahawai
appeared and soon after some feisty
Snapper started to win the race for
whatever made a tell tale splash on
the surface With knowledge of an
upcoming bone fishing trip I dropped
my leader down to 45 kg and tied
on a small size 4 fly Whether it was
the light gentle approach with which
each fish was fought or the mood of
the fish that day I caught another 12
reasonable Snapper before it was time
to pack up to make the ferry home
While there were no fish caught that
warranted trophy status the pleasure
I took in watching my tiny fly being
approached by respectable Snapper
and the excitement of letting them
pull line from my reel to ensure I was
not busted off made for a fantastic
dayrsquos fishing something to chuckle
about as I joined the afternoon crowds
walking up queen street in the middle
of Aucklandrsquos downtown
While there were no fish caught that warranted trophy status the pleasure I took in watching my tiny fly being approached by respectable Snapper and the excitement of letting them pull line from my reel to ensure I was not busted off made for a fantastic days fishing something to chuckle about as I joined the afternoon crowds walking up queen street in the middle of Aucklandrsquos downtown
22 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
VANUATU HAS A well-deserved
reputation for exceptionally good
game fishing in the heavy and light
tackle classes as well as newer
techniques like jigging and surface
fishing with poppers and stickbaits
From the 1000m contour line and
the renowned lsquoMarlin Highwayrsquo which
runs hundreds of miles in a north
south direction close to Vanuatu to
the various FADrsquos just offshore and
often itrsquos only a short trip with the
hammers down to get you into some
hot fishing action
Vanuatu is one of the worldsrsquo top
blue marlin fisheries with a number of
world records to its credit as well as a
good number of lsquogranderrsquo blues that
have been taken in the area Most of
the regular game fishing charter boats
would catch around 100 per year with
many being tagged and released to
conserve the fishery
Best times and species
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year
round however the ideal times are
March through November as this
is the time when the weather
and water conditions are usually
optimal Itrsquos also rather nice
timing in that it gives Kiwis and
Aussies the excuse to escape the
clutches of winter and head for
warmer climes and some fishing
By Grant Blair The Fishing Website
Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
wwwnzfisherconz 23
sportFISHING
While being a renowned blue marlin
fishery with frequent catches in the
100-200kg range the odd XXXL
model does turn up in the gear and
the current record stands at a very
respectable 515kg or 1135 old-
fashioned pounds
Other species that are targeted and
frequently caught in the area include
black marlin sailfish striped marlin
yellow fin tuna mahi-mahi wahoo
Spanish mackerel sailfish dogtooth
tuna coral trout job fish and red bass
Yellow fin and dog tooth tuna
reach some very large proportions
Dogtooth grow to around 80kg and
yellow fin to 100kg while rare are
quite possible
The most important thing about
Vanuatu is the surrounding waters
are rich in a wide range of species
and therersquos plenty to interest anglers
of all abilities and interests be it
trolling for pelagics jigging the
drop-offs or surface fishing with
poppers and stickbaits
Where to go
The main game fishing
operations operating in Vanuatu are
found on Efate - Port Vila and on
Santo - Luganville From Port Vila it
can be only a 10-15 minute trip to be
into sailfish and yellow fin action in
Mele Bay at certain times of the year
however it takes longer to get to the
FADS and out to the marlin highway
Possible destinations with local charter
operators include the Marlin Highway
Blue Hat 366 Nguna Volcano the
Erromango Sea Mounts and Hat
Island From Santo the journey is
considerably longer however there is
good fishing along the way
On some of the smaller islands there
are fishing options in various states of
development and itrsquos even possible
to rent a small dugout and create
your own adventure in and around
the reefs and drops close inshore
catching a variety of species on lighter
tackle Be careful eating reef fish due
to ciguatera A tip we heard from the
locals ndash cut a small section from the
fish and leave it outside overnight If
the ants eat it it should be OK to eat
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year round however the ideal times are March through November as this is the time when the weather and water conditions are usually optimal Itrsquos also rather nice timing in that it gives Kiwis and Aussies the excuse to escape the clutches of winter and head for warmer climes and some fishing
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
wwwnzfisherconz 7
THE CHAMPAGNE CRICKET CLUB is
a club like no other founded on the
history of men who enjoyed cricket
champagne and socializing in the
late 60rsquos It is now being carried on
by a mix of ex Westlake and Rosmini
graduates in their late 20rsquos (two
schools with a fierce sporting rivalry)
The CCC enjoy the twilight and indoor
forms of the game only we donrsquot
want to embarrass the Black Caps
you see so a good proportion of the
club enjoy fishing In late June the
challenge was set for a Westlake vs
Rosmini fishing show down
Scrapper came up with the idea
and we were to base ourselves
in Ngunguru at his familyrsquos beach
house There was a loose itinerary
laid down with bottles of rum for the
biggest Snapper Kingfish and Most
Memorable catch With pride being
the biggest prize of all
We found ourselves heading north
from Auckland with a cold southerly
heading up the country The forecast
was to get better over the three
days so day one we were to let
the wind die out with a potential
afternoon Stray line day two would
be Snapper sessions along Tutukaka
coast and day three out to the reefs
surrounding the Poor Knights to chase
kingfish There were two boats to be
used Rosmini was equipped with a
Buccaneer billfisher named Strayliner
and Westlake on my new boat a 61
m fibreglass centre console named
Papillon Jared came up with a third
option the Boat show won Stabi
craft who went tohellipwe named this
Gaybi as in Gold Stabi Mostly out of
jealousy as we didnrsquot win it
Arriving on the first night the
Speights flowed and we didnrsquot really
realize when it turned into rum The
reports were of good Snapper in
close classic winter fishing and bait
and burley on the cards After retiring
far too late the call was made for a
late start
We awoke rusty to a brisk southerly
and a 2-3m swell hitting the coast not
the best conditions so the call was
made to go for a surf and wash away
the cobwebs After this we checked
the conditions again and again but
hangovers and Speights prevailed To
be fair it didnrsquot look amazing though
and we had two full days Donrsquot worry
we do get on the water this is a fishing
mag after all So once we settled
down and put the funnel away the plan
was made for a 530 am start
We awoke to two boats covered in
ice We loaded up and got everything
in order Although Scrapper and I
have done a fair bit of fishing we
both have had the dream fish of over
20lb elude us I have come close off
the far north bricks with one 19lber
and Scrapper more so with multiple
19lbers So close
We spoke on our last trip up north
about the quest for 20lbers often
overshadowing good trips as we
have been so keen to get them
that the quest can overshadow the
moment But this weekend wasnrsquot
really about us we both had crew
that although keen were very much
new to this level of fishing
None of my crew had even stray lined
before so it would be a mixture of
fishing a few baits and helping out
the lads so we could all have a good
time and ultimately win the comp It
was all on
As we left the Tutukaka ramp we
steamed up around the coastline
to find a likely looking area The
place is filthy with fishing potential
and the opportunities for greatness
are endless We both settled within
sight of each other in shallow water
Papillon a little wider in 10 m but
there was foul everywhere and it was
great Snapper territory The burley
was sent in and rigs were prepared
The very first bait thrown in by G
smashed by a respectable pannie it
was looking good A quick VHF call
between boats determined that both
of the Mattrsquos were feeling a little
under the weather so we werenrsquot
going to run out of burley
We had a stream of small fish and a
one up to the 50 cm mark so the bin
was no longer vacant No big runs
had really started however that was
about to change I had cleaned out
the freezer before I left and along with
a Skippy and an old flounder I had an
XOS jack Mack
SPORTfishing
Getting the best out of the little ones Place worthy
8 wwwnzfisherconz
Having set the boys up for now
I decided to take the head and a
good bit off the body of the XOS
Mackie and attached it to two 100
hooks and cast out with the 6500
baitrunner Waiting I felt it settle on
the bottom I was about to reposition
it in the water column when the bait
runner took off with an absolutely
screaming run
The instinct to strike was quelled
from my past experiences of
dropping fish during big runs ldquoLet
him have itrdquo I told myself It was a
big bait but I had the feeling that
this fish had sucked it right down
considering it wasnrsquot stopping
With adrenaline pumping like it
does when you are about to strike
I cranked the handle and struck It
came up tight but the line didnrsquot slow
downhellip it kept charging at full speed
A slight increase in drag only saw me
pulled off balance Finally it slowed
allowing a few pump and winds
before it took off again My initial
thought was kingi But it couldnrsquot be
I got nervous It slowed again and we
got into a dog fight
I am fairly quiet when on a good fish
SPORTfishing
Big Snapper I have seen in the past often look old and ragged but this fish was in its prime big and broad the only blemish what looked like an old spear wound by its dorsal Gee I was glad the spearo missed this fish
not wanting to jinx anything only
telling the boys to get the lines in
and concentrating on the job at hand
Getting line in when I could as the
fish tired I began to make ground and
I could feel the weight of it heavy
After a few minutes of this I was
waiting for colourhellip and I soon saw it
and it was big and red
The boys started hollering and after
a tense moment it was directed into
the net - just fitting The first thing I
noticed was the tail and the wrist of it
Big and powerful the fish was lifted
onto the deck
Shouting and high fiveing ensured I
was elated knowing this was definitely
my first 20lber and it looked well over
This was the biggest Snapper I had
ever seen when I saw the hook was in
the lip and the great condition of the
fish there was no doubt in my mind
it was going back Big Snapper I have
seen in the past often look old and
ragged but this fish was in its prime
big and broad the only blemish what
looked like an old spear wound by
its dorsal Gee I was glad the spear
missed this fish
I rushed the boys with the goal of
release in mind ldquoMatt get water in the
big livie tankrdquo which was soon filled
and the Snapper put in Cameras
were readied and the digital scales
sorted out It was when I lifted her out
I realized the weight I fixed her on
the scales with G and I watching them
settle on and around the 115kg mark
Not only over 20lb but over 25lb
I was ecstatic and proceeded to have
quick photos with the fish before I set
her back in the water after a kiss on
the head of course Holding the fish
for a while till she re-gathered her
strength it was two kicks of the tail and
powerfully she swam off I couldnrsquot
really believe it I had no expectation
of a fish like that on this trip and it was
safe to say the swans (Westlake) will
be hard to beat in the Snapper stakes
I had a Speights to calm the nerves
and take it in Finally I had done it and
could now relax knowing I had a trophy
Snapper to my name
The beauty for the lads was that
now I had clocked Snapper fishing I
happily became the deck hand and
so tied knots taught lessons on bait
presentation letting the fish run and
striking fish The boys did well there
was the odd bust off but we got in a
stream of nice eaters one of my baits
later in the day bought in another 10
lber Another good fish
We were considering heading out in
search of a kingfish but the wind was
around that 15 knot mark and still
swell around so we decided to leave
that till tomorrow and wrapped up the
Snapper session to return to the pad
and compare fish and stories Rosmini
were very congratulatory on my fish
and looked at the photos On looking
in their bin they had a great day also
with three Snapper around the 15 lb
mark to three different anglers and a
good bag of fish for a feed
The comp was hot and PBrsquos fell both days
wwwnzfisherconz 9
SPORTfishing
It had been a classic winterrsquos day for
the crews tentative bites and the
occasional big Snapper every other
hour We settled into a relaxed night
with hot smoked Snapper heads a
good roast and a few beverages The
Mattrsquos both worse for wear after a
long day at sea both guilty of a spit
over the side I couldnrsquot stop grinning
like an idiot and prompting everyone
for one more drink but no one could
finish watching Aus beat the Lions in
game two and it was off to bed for an
early start
We awoke again to a crisp calm
morning ice needing to be scraped
off the boats again Launching with
haste team Rosmini was down a
member due to Grandmarsquos birthday
Westlake would have four jigs in the
water could it make the difference
We steamed the 45 minutes out to the
local kingi joint and both boats circling
and searching for sign of balled up
bait and kingfish It wasnrsquot there ldquoerrr
this looks ok have a drop hererdquo was
going to be etched into my brain as I
said it over and over The fish had to
be there but their mouths were shut
tight We had been jigging for over
two hours now really should have got
some livies I thought
It was about11am when we finally
had a breakthrough None of the
lads had done much jigging but it
was G cranking the spin set who had
the first fish Never having caught a
king before he thought he was on the
bottom and I heard a yell of ldquowhat
do I dordquo I turn and see the rod kick
ldquoPump and windrdquo I yell He fought
the fish to the boat I could tell it
wasnrsquot massive but a king rose about
85cm right in Rossminirsquos face Could
Westlake have a clean sweep
Gareth was stoked and surprised by
the strength of the fish tired I got
him to hold it up for a few snaps
The fish was weighed bled and put
in the bin and I turn to see Rosmini
hooked up (had they called in divine
intervention will those days of bible
study pay off) No it was a smaller
rat and was returned we are looking
good The call was made to give it
another 30 minutes
That was when the old Joey the
hunter on team Rosmini decides to
have a little flutter with an Inchiku
Well it paid off the smaller jig enticing
the smaller kings that were obviously
around He was hooked up and after
a good scrap on Snapper gear a king
around the same size as ours was put
in the boat It was going to be close
After that with sore arms and
shoulders Rosmini decided on heading
in to the mainland so the Mattrsquos could
go for a dive We searched for any
other likely looking kingi territory
around the place went for a quick
Snapper jig both to no avail We met
up with the lads as they finished their
dive Steaming back into Toots the
final day was a wrap and targeting
kings in winter needs a bit more
thought it seems It was to be a quick
turn-around as the admin associated
with any big fishing trip ensued There
was cleaning and packing and dump
trips and more cleaning and before
the filleting a weigh in
The kings as I said were small ours
had pulled the scales to 77kg with
Joeys visibly bigger at 85kg Their
rat trumped ours Rosmini was saved
embarrassment Scrapper awarded
me for my catch with biggest Snapper
and Most Memorable catch going to
Westlake for my 255lb Snapper
I really thought Most Memorable
catch could have gone to Evan for
catching two sea birds but was happy
with the result That Snapper was a
magnificent fish will be very hard to
top and whatrsquos better is that it is still
out there charging around growing
bigger making babies and perhaps
one day being a 30lber to be caught
With that we started the trip back to
Auckland all of us agreeing that this
was to be an annual event Scrapper
is expecting a child in the coming
months so the next one maybe a
family affair Thanks needs to go to
him for organizing a great weekend
well done Also to your sometimes
Editor and self-proclaimed land based
guru Forsyth thanks for the lend of
your wagon
For me it is another fishing goal ticked
off the next one a big Kingfish I have
introduced a couple more friends to
the passion we all share in fishing they
are hooked and may be expecting a
20lb+ Snapper to come aboard every
triphellip little do they know it took me
four years of targeting big Snappers
to get that fish They can find reality
out the lsquohardrsquo way
10 wwwnzfisherconz
competitionFISHING
My good friend Pete the Panel
beater has been telling me
about his international game
fishing trips for years and finally
he let me see the photos
It seemed immediately that Pete
might actually be telling the truth
which in fishing circles is a rare and
beautiful thing Petersquos great fishing
mate Mike Wood has been fishing
the Tongan International for 12 years
and when they won in 2010 fishing
aboard lsquoLevenuellarsquo they decided
to go through and fish the World
Offshore champs in Cabo San Luca on
the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula
Their 2011 WOFC trip was fun but
the fishing hard ndash bordering on
boring they tell me
So when they won the Tongan
International again in 2012 it was with
trepidation that they decided to head
to Costa Rica At $9800USD to enter
the costs are pretty high for anyone
but as good Kiwis do they saved hard
bribed their wives and made a plan to
get some real fishing done this time
Their name this year was lsquoSalty Dogsrsquo
and the Salty Dogs earned their stripes
with some great sailfish and Mahi-mahi
captures during the tournament
The team is made up of four
members Tony Smith David Swan
Mike Wood and Peter Lineham
All are keen fishers but travelling
halfway around the world to fish
for species we donrsquot even see
in New Zealand is tough
By the Cockpit Cowboys
The World Offshore Champs 2013Hard fighting kiwis from Tonga to Costa Rica
wwwnzfisherconz 11
competitionFISHING
The tournament format sees teams
draw their daily boats and skipper
from a ballot this evens the field a
little but therersquos no substitute for
experience as the local US and central
Pacific teams took an early lead Day
one for the Salty Dogs involved a lot
of trolling and only one sailfish (other
teams landed 6 ndash 8)
On day two they drew Spanish Fly
a very successful boat on day one
and their luck changed immediately
All four members of the crew landed
sailfish that day while Pete and Mike
landed two each and saw a bunch
more Team Salty Dogs were the top
ranked team on Day two ndash outclassing
all others and putting themselves in
the mix for the final day
Day three while eventful (they were
surrounded by a huge pod of lsquoSpinner
Dolphinsrsquo at one point) didnrsquot see
enough fish landed by the boys and
they faded to mid pack
To even make the grade to win entry
is a huge achievement wersquore stoked
to see they got some great fish and
had a ball You can see some of their
fishing highlights here
Well done Team Salty Dogs what a
great trip
12 wwwnzfisherconz
LANDBASEDfishing
Bucket List Time in the Far North Part 2 ndash CMvD
AS WE GOT DOWN towards Maria
we could see a couple of boats fishing
off the back of the island and it wasnrsquot
long before we saw one and then the
second hooked up into what looked
like good solid fish Fair to say the
excitement levels were going up
Whenever we go and fish somewhere
new I like to take a bit of time and
have a look around the area you just
never know when yoursquoll get a chance
to come back
The north side of the island goes
straight onto sand and only a few
metres deep Everywhere we looked
in the clear water were Kahawai
massive numbers of them and we
know what likes eating Kahawai The
current running through was pretty
strong and even if we had been
allowed to land on the island (NB
yoursquore not) we couldnrsquot see how wersquod
get an anchor to hold in the sand with
enough pressure to get the bungee
anchor system working
The south-facing side of the island
was still getting the SW swell but it
looked much rockier and deeper and
exactly the kind of place yoursquod want to
fish if you could Coming back round
the island we ran through the channel
separating it from the mainland and the
current was absolutely racing through
creating standing waves at one end
We finally decided on some awesome
looking ledges just inside the Cape
parked the boat up did the big
unload and started getting into it As
always the rule is that no-one fishes till
all the rods are setup and before this
starts the berley goes in the water
With live bait rods popper rods and
Snapper and livey-catching gear by
the time wersquore done the berley is
always pumping and often wersquoll get
5-6kg fish chewing on the bag and
nailed first cast
This time Andrew was first in the water
with a bait and it was only a matter of
minutes maybe not even that long
and he was into a solid fish that set off
Cape Maria van Diemen ndash in a DinghyBy Forsyth Thompson
wwwnzfisherconz 13
LANDBASEDfishing
on a heavy run But within less than
another minute it was over and hersquod
been utterly dealt to by what looked
for all money to be a big Snapper
Quick retie filthy big bait and the
exact same thing was repeated This
one if anything seemed even bigger
and I genuinely thought he might be
into his first 20 and then it ended in
disaster in the same way Shit these
west coast Snapper werenrsquot messing
around Two massive hook-ups
followed by two complete hidings
and Andrew was getting schooled
Naturally as fishing mates Will and I
were supportive and offered plenty
of encouragement Well thatrsquos how I
remember it anyway
By now the Kahawai were everywhere
and all three of us were swimming
livies and watching them with
apprehension Having had a few
legal kings but no big ones we were
hopeful this was going to be our shot
The next thing we know Andrew is
shouting and pointing at what was
pretty much just a hole in the ocean
as far as we could see Big shark
apparently ndash Will and I frankly didnrsquot
pay much notice figuring it was just a
regular bronzie
Wersquod had a few decent Snapper by this
point but no sign of a king when two
turned up at once buzzing everything
but refusing to take poppers stickbaits
baits or livies There are few things
more frustrating for LBG fishermen than
this but when theyrsquore not in the mood
and yoursquove tried everything therersquos not
much else to do
Then one then two of our balloons
came tearing into the ledge and then
across in front of us and it was my turn
to do the pointingshouting thing
behind them was by far the biggest
bronzie Irsquod ever seen top of its tail
sticking what looked like nearly a full
meter out of the water and the bulk
of it looking like a family-sized car as
it cruised past and just inhaled one
of the unlucky baits As it took off
and felt the resistance it went crazy
Evans amp Will
Andrew Evans with a prime Far North Trevally
14 wwwnzfisherconz
right there in front of us and whilst
there was never a chance in a million
of landing it it was something to see
Again and again as it turned out from
memory the same fish had four of our
livebaits throughout the day and Will
(who has done a lot of game fishing)
called it for an easy 200kg+
I couldnrsquot even guesstimate at the size
but Irsquove seen a lot of sharks including
some big makos and threshers
and this was way way up there on
the scale An extraordinary sight
and a reminder that we really were
somewhere just a little bit different
Strangely this huge resident shark
even in feeding mode didnrsquot kill
the fishing off and we had plenty of
Snapper although no monsters and
then finally the ratchet went off on my
livies set and this was definitely not
LANDBASEDfishing
our shark but one seriously grumpy
king I was on the same gear Irsquod got
the 20kg one at E Cape not long
previously and this fish was giving
me a much harder time No question
I had PB in my mind as I tried to get
it in close enough for a gaff shot We
finally got a look at the fish and it was
clearly nothing like the size of the last
one but it was still going hard and we
spent probably another 5-10 minutes
before we made the call to keep it
and put a gaff into it At only around
13kg it was no monster at all but the
fight it put up on an Everol 50 with
37kg was absolutely ridiculous for a
fish its size Obviously they just breed
them tougher out on the west coast
The rest of the day passed with a
few more Snapper a couple of kings
wwwnzfisherconz 15
LANDBASEDfishing
sighted but not hooked and a few
more sharkings for Andrew
No trevs had shown up until later
in the day as we started dumping
all the leftover bait and we had
them coming right up to the ledge
taking baits Andrew got a good 4kg
one I lost one and we saw some
significantly bigger ones cruising the
berley But with such a crazy number
of Kahawai in attendance we just
couldnrsquot get baits to them Still
the sight of huge west coast trevs
within a rod length of where we were
standing was pretty cool and we had
one in the bag for sashimi
None of us wanted to leave but there
was no way on earth we were going to
round the Cape in the dark so despite
the Snapper bite coming back on in
a really serious way we just had to
Layng into the fish of the day
16 wwwnzfisherconz
do the sensible thing I canrsquot imagine
therersquos a fish on earth that would
make me think that Reinga in a 35m
boat would be ok in the dark Like
the first two days wersquod not cracked
any PBs and wersquod not actually caught
any really big fish but the experience
wersquod had (even just getting there)
and the country wersquod fished had been
absolutely special and one I genuinely
wonrsquot forget
Wersquod finished three days in the Far
North with a trip I never thought Irsquod
be able to do in the little stabi and
wersquod had some awesome adventures
and seen some amazing things So
wersquod got no PBs and really hadnrsquot
landed any monsters at all but it
just didnrsquot matter in the slightest
Sometimes you need to remember
that the truly great trips donrsquot always
have to be the ones with the biggest
fish getting out and having real
adventures with great mates will
always keep me coming back
LANDBASEDfishing
The beach kisses the ocean
Rounding the cape
Out of the sun they saw us
wwwnzfisherconz 17
1
2
3
4
5
5 simple rulesto help you stay safe
Life jacketsTake them ndash Wear them
Boats especially ones under 6m in length can sink very quickly Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water
Skipper responsibilityThe skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat Stay within the limits of your vessel and your experience
CommunicationsTake two separate waterproof ways of communicating so we can help you if you get into difficulties
Marine weather New Zealandrsquos weather can be highly unpredictable Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes
Avoid alcohol Safe boating and alcohol do not mix Things can change quickly on the water You need to stay alert and aware
For more information about safe boating education and how to prepare for your boating activity visit wwwadventuresmartorgnz
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The Boating Safety
Before you go boating on our seas lakes and rivers get familiar with New Zealandrsquos Boating Safety Code no matter what kind of boat you use
CODE
wwwadventuresmartorgnz
The Water Safety The Outdoor Safety
CODE CODE
Also available
18 wwwnzfisherconz
boatFISHING
IF YOU WANT TO catch that fish
of a life time you need to get out
of Auckland right Not necessarily
Whangaparaoa resident Tony Hurley
not only caught the fish of his life time
in June he caught the fish that nearly
every Auckland boat owner is after and
he did it within sight of the Sky Tower
At 34lb 4 ounces (1554 kg) and 95 cm
long Tonyrsquos Snapper is of Moby Dick
proportions So how did he do it
ldquoThinking positively is a big part of
itrdquo says Tony In fact Tony goes as
far as saying that he knew something
special was going to happen that
day After anchoring up at his usual
shallow water spot at Tiritiri Island
Tony and his mate settled into a
pretty good fishing session Six fish
between 10 and 18 lb were landed
before Tony hooked into the monster
fish on a half pillie The fish was
netted after a 4-5 minute fight and a
handful of surging runs
Tony describes the fight of these
big Snapper as much like that of a
stingray He should know he has
caught plenty of large Snapper to 24
lb at his Tiri spot
Upon arriving home parking capacity
on Tonyrsquos street became in hot
demand as word of the big fish got
around All up Tony splurged five
bottles of top shelf liquor on the
impromptu guests
The big Snapper is currently being
mounted by a taxidermist and will
be put up on the wall of Top Catch
Whangaparaoa
By Darren Parsons
Monster Snapper Snared in Auckland
wwwnzfisherconz 19
20 wwwnzfisherconz
localFISHING
Fish Your Feet First
I AM CONSTANTLY searching for
new rocky coastlines to explore with
a fly rod to catch Snapper in winter
One of the tricks to catching a fish on
a regular basis is knowing when to
fish and where Part science and part
intuition multiple factors swirl around
right to the last minute before the
final commitment is made to head in a
certain direction Transport company
tides and of course the weather all play
significant roles in the final decision Itrsquos
the transport option that has played
the biggest role in some of my recent
fishing experiences and in a city like
Auckland which offers so many options
being restricted to land is not always a
bad thing I have many options to be
boat fishing and often decline the big
trips away what I really enjoy is the fast
and spontaneous adventure available
by jumping on a ferry to one of the
many Hauraki Gulf islands
Recently a northeasterly storm
whipped up Northlands east coast for
several days On Saturday the wind
eased but the swell was big enough
for the inner city beaches to offer head
high waves Many points and reefs
that are not surf spots for 364 days of
the year came alive with quality surf
I joined the multitude of Auckland
surfers to savor these rare waves so
close to home
Sunday the wind shifted again and the
swell had eased to offer just enough
surge to make the fishing interesting
On the ferry at 9am a short hike
and a scramble down to some rocks
wwwnzfisherconz 21
localFISHING
I was greeted with green murky
water stirred by the recent storm
These conditions can often produce
great fishing as Snapper forage the
shallows for easy meals in the surge
and discoloured water but on other
days it just makes it hard see your fly
or believe the fish are there Arriving
at a spot that I would have previously
dismissed as a fishing location due to
the shallow water rocks and weed
I set about seeding some gutters
with tiny pilchard pieces Nothing
appeared in the first 40 minutes
baitfish and Kahawai who are the usual
first arrivals did not intercept the tiny
pieces as they sunk to the bottom
Knowing there was more to be gained
by retiring from the rock I had chosen
to hide behind than continuing to
work the small gutter I set about
putting together a 9wt fly rod and
re-positioned myself along the coast
where I found another gutter with an
equally good elevated hiding position
These days I choose my fishing spots
for the potential to conceal myself as
much as any other factor Returning
to the first gutter and just as I was
beginning to think ldquoI should have
been here yesterdayrdquo when the swell
would have been really stirring things
up for the Snapper a large Kahawai
blasted past That first Kahawai was
the first arrival of a small pack that I
kept active for the next ten minutes
Often the Snapper will move in to
investigate a fishy commotion and
depending on their mood will either
find the buzzing Kahawai off putting
or competitors that need to be
pushed along
Soon I had a Snapper claiming some
dominance over the Kahawai which
were twice its size Kahawai know
that speed is their only weapon and
as the competition hotted up over
the tiny morsels a few more Snapper
moved in and pushed the Kahawai
out We witnessed this relationship
in spectacular fashion last year on
the Coromandel where the Kahawai
were numerous and lightning quick
however when a Snapper of about
3kg size appeared it set about chasing
them away right up towards the
surface I have no doubt that Kahawai
have deep respect for the predatory
potential of the slower moving
Snapper and the short bursts of speed
they are capable of Itrsquos witnessing
this sort of near natural behaviour
that really appeals to me when using
stealth but it was time to start fishing
two hours into a my four hour trip and
I had not put a fly in the water
What followed was a session of
continued activity from 400-450
mm Snapper that eclipsed normal
experience My usual approach is
to present a fly to a sighted fish and
then leave the area to rest while I
work another spot close by However
the mood of the fish meant that a
momentary pause was all that was
required between catches at least 8
fish were caught and released before
I switched focus to the gutter just 100
meters north Once again the Kahawai
appeared and soon after some feisty
Snapper started to win the race for
whatever made a tell tale splash on
the surface With knowledge of an
upcoming bone fishing trip I dropped
my leader down to 45 kg and tied
on a small size 4 fly Whether it was
the light gentle approach with which
each fish was fought or the mood of
the fish that day I caught another 12
reasonable Snapper before it was time
to pack up to make the ferry home
While there were no fish caught that
warranted trophy status the pleasure
I took in watching my tiny fly being
approached by respectable Snapper
and the excitement of letting them
pull line from my reel to ensure I was
not busted off made for a fantastic
dayrsquos fishing something to chuckle
about as I joined the afternoon crowds
walking up queen street in the middle
of Aucklandrsquos downtown
While there were no fish caught that warranted trophy status the pleasure I took in watching my tiny fly being approached by respectable Snapper and the excitement of letting them pull line from my reel to ensure I was not busted off made for a fantastic days fishing something to chuckle about as I joined the afternoon crowds walking up queen street in the middle of Aucklandrsquos downtown
22 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
VANUATU HAS A well-deserved
reputation for exceptionally good
game fishing in the heavy and light
tackle classes as well as newer
techniques like jigging and surface
fishing with poppers and stickbaits
From the 1000m contour line and
the renowned lsquoMarlin Highwayrsquo which
runs hundreds of miles in a north
south direction close to Vanuatu to
the various FADrsquos just offshore and
often itrsquos only a short trip with the
hammers down to get you into some
hot fishing action
Vanuatu is one of the worldsrsquo top
blue marlin fisheries with a number of
world records to its credit as well as a
good number of lsquogranderrsquo blues that
have been taken in the area Most of
the regular game fishing charter boats
would catch around 100 per year with
many being tagged and released to
conserve the fishery
Best times and species
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year
round however the ideal times are
March through November as this
is the time when the weather
and water conditions are usually
optimal Itrsquos also rather nice
timing in that it gives Kiwis and
Aussies the excuse to escape the
clutches of winter and head for
warmer climes and some fishing
By Grant Blair The Fishing Website
Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
wwwnzfisherconz 23
sportFISHING
While being a renowned blue marlin
fishery with frequent catches in the
100-200kg range the odd XXXL
model does turn up in the gear and
the current record stands at a very
respectable 515kg or 1135 old-
fashioned pounds
Other species that are targeted and
frequently caught in the area include
black marlin sailfish striped marlin
yellow fin tuna mahi-mahi wahoo
Spanish mackerel sailfish dogtooth
tuna coral trout job fish and red bass
Yellow fin and dog tooth tuna
reach some very large proportions
Dogtooth grow to around 80kg and
yellow fin to 100kg while rare are
quite possible
The most important thing about
Vanuatu is the surrounding waters
are rich in a wide range of species
and therersquos plenty to interest anglers
of all abilities and interests be it
trolling for pelagics jigging the
drop-offs or surface fishing with
poppers and stickbaits
Where to go
The main game fishing
operations operating in Vanuatu are
found on Efate - Port Vila and on
Santo - Luganville From Port Vila it
can be only a 10-15 minute trip to be
into sailfish and yellow fin action in
Mele Bay at certain times of the year
however it takes longer to get to the
FADS and out to the marlin highway
Possible destinations with local charter
operators include the Marlin Highway
Blue Hat 366 Nguna Volcano the
Erromango Sea Mounts and Hat
Island From Santo the journey is
considerably longer however there is
good fishing along the way
On some of the smaller islands there
are fishing options in various states of
development and itrsquos even possible
to rent a small dugout and create
your own adventure in and around
the reefs and drops close inshore
catching a variety of species on lighter
tackle Be careful eating reef fish due
to ciguatera A tip we heard from the
locals ndash cut a small section from the
fish and leave it outside overnight If
the ants eat it it should be OK to eat
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year round however the ideal times are March through November as this is the time when the weather and water conditions are usually optimal Itrsquos also rather nice timing in that it gives Kiwis and Aussies the excuse to escape the clutches of winter and head for warmer climes and some fishing
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
8 wwwnzfisherconz
Having set the boys up for now
I decided to take the head and a
good bit off the body of the XOS
Mackie and attached it to two 100
hooks and cast out with the 6500
baitrunner Waiting I felt it settle on
the bottom I was about to reposition
it in the water column when the bait
runner took off with an absolutely
screaming run
The instinct to strike was quelled
from my past experiences of
dropping fish during big runs ldquoLet
him have itrdquo I told myself It was a
big bait but I had the feeling that
this fish had sucked it right down
considering it wasnrsquot stopping
With adrenaline pumping like it
does when you are about to strike
I cranked the handle and struck It
came up tight but the line didnrsquot slow
downhellip it kept charging at full speed
A slight increase in drag only saw me
pulled off balance Finally it slowed
allowing a few pump and winds
before it took off again My initial
thought was kingi But it couldnrsquot be
I got nervous It slowed again and we
got into a dog fight
I am fairly quiet when on a good fish
SPORTfishing
Big Snapper I have seen in the past often look old and ragged but this fish was in its prime big and broad the only blemish what looked like an old spear wound by its dorsal Gee I was glad the spearo missed this fish
not wanting to jinx anything only
telling the boys to get the lines in
and concentrating on the job at hand
Getting line in when I could as the
fish tired I began to make ground and
I could feel the weight of it heavy
After a few minutes of this I was
waiting for colourhellip and I soon saw it
and it was big and red
The boys started hollering and after
a tense moment it was directed into
the net - just fitting The first thing I
noticed was the tail and the wrist of it
Big and powerful the fish was lifted
onto the deck
Shouting and high fiveing ensured I
was elated knowing this was definitely
my first 20lber and it looked well over
This was the biggest Snapper I had
ever seen when I saw the hook was in
the lip and the great condition of the
fish there was no doubt in my mind
it was going back Big Snapper I have
seen in the past often look old and
ragged but this fish was in its prime
big and broad the only blemish what
looked like an old spear wound by
its dorsal Gee I was glad the spear
missed this fish
I rushed the boys with the goal of
release in mind ldquoMatt get water in the
big livie tankrdquo which was soon filled
and the Snapper put in Cameras
were readied and the digital scales
sorted out It was when I lifted her out
I realized the weight I fixed her on
the scales with G and I watching them
settle on and around the 115kg mark
Not only over 20lb but over 25lb
I was ecstatic and proceeded to have
quick photos with the fish before I set
her back in the water after a kiss on
the head of course Holding the fish
for a while till she re-gathered her
strength it was two kicks of the tail and
powerfully she swam off I couldnrsquot
really believe it I had no expectation
of a fish like that on this trip and it was
safe to say the swans (Westlake) will
be hard to beat in the Snapper stakes
I had a Speights to calm the nerves
and take it in Finally I had done it and
could now relax knowing I had a trophy
Snapper to my name
The beauty for the lads was that
now I had clocked Snapper fishing I
happily became the deck hand and
so tied knots taught lessons on bait
presentation letting the fish run and
striking fish The boys did well there
was the odd bust off but we got in a
stream of nice eaters one of my baits
later in the day bought in another 10
lber Another good fish
We were considering heading out in
search of a kingfish but the wind was
around that 15 knot mark and still
swell around so we decided to leave
that till tomorrow and wrapped up the
Snapper session to return to the pad
and compare fish and stories Rosmini
were very congratulatory on my fish
and looked at the photos On looking
in their bin they had a great day also
with three Snapper around the 15 lb
mark to three different anglers and a
good bag of fish for a feed
The comp was hot and PBrsquos fell both days
wwwnzfisherconz 9
SPORTfishing
It had been a classic winterrsquos day for
the crews tentative bites and the
occasional big Snapper every other
hour We settled into a relaxed night
with hot smoked Snapper heads a
good roast and a few beverages The
Mattrsquos both worse for wear after a
long day at sea both guilty of a spit
over the side I couldnrsquot stop grinning
like an idiot and prompting everyone
for one more drink but no one could
finish watching Aus beat the Lions in
game two and it was off to bed for an
early start
We awoke again to a crisp calm
morning ice needing to be scraped
off the boats again Launching with
haste team Rosmini was down a
member due to Grandmarsquos birthday
Westlake would have four jigs in the
water could it make the difference
We steamed the 45 minutes out to the
local kingi joint and both boats circling
and searching for sign of balled up
bait and kingfish It wasnrsquot there ldquoerrr
this looks ok have a drop hererdquo was
going to be etched into my brain as I
said it over and over The fish had to
be there but their mouths were shut
tight We had been jigging for over
two hours now really should have got
some livies I thought
It was about11am when we finally
had a breakthrough None of the
lads had done much jigging but it
was G cranking the spin set who had
the first fish Never having caught a
king before he thought he was on the
bottom and I heard a yell of ldquowhat
do I dordquo I turn and see the rod kick
ldquoPump and windrdquo I yell He fought
the fish to the boat I could tell it
wasnrsquot massive but a king rose about
85cm right in Rossminirsquos face Could
Westlake have a clean sweep
Gareth was stoked and surprised by
the strength of the fish tired I got
him to hold it up for a few snaps
The fish was weighed bled and put
in the bin and I turn to see Rosmini
hooked up (had they called in divine
intervention will those days of bible
study pay off) No it was a smaller
rat and was returned we are looking
good The call was made to give it
another 30 minutes
That was when the old Joey the
hunter on team Rosmini decides to
have a little flutter with an Inchiku
Well it paid off the smaller jig enticing
the smaller kings that were obviously
around He was hooked up and after
a good scrap on Snapper gear a king
around the same size as ours was put
in the boat It was going to be close
After that with sore arms and
shoulders Rosmini decided on heading
in to the mainland so the Mattrsquos could
go for a dive We searched for any
other likely looking kingi territory
around the place went for a quick
Snapper jig both to no avail We met
up with the lads as they finished their
dive Steaming back into Toots the
final day was a wrap and targeting
kings in winter needs a bit more
thought it seems It was to be a quick
turn-around as the admin associated
with any big fishing trip ensued There
was cleaning and packing and dump
trips and more cleaning and before
the filleting a weigh in
The kings as I said were small ours
had pulled the scales to 77kg with
Joeys visibly bigger at 85kg Their
rat trumped ours Rosmini was saved
embarrassment Scrapper awarded
me for my catch with biggest Snapper
and Most Memorable catch going to
Westlake for my 255lb Snapper
I really thought Most Memorable
catch could have gone to Evan for
catching two sea birds but was happy
with the result That Snapper was a
magnificent fish will be very hard to
top and whatrsquos better is that it is still
out there charging around growing
bigger making babies and perhaps
one day being a 30lber to be caught
With that we started the trip back to
Auckland all of us agreeing that this
was to be an annual event Scrapper
is expecting a child in the coming
months so the next one maybe a
family affair Thanks needs to go to
him for organizing a great weekend
well done Also to your sometimes
Editor and self-proclaimed land based
guru Forsyth thanks for the lend of
your wagon
For me it is another fishing goal ticked
off the next one a big Kingfish I have
introduced a couple more friends to
the passion we all share in fishing they
are hooked and may be expecting a
20lb+ Snapper to come aboard every
triphellip little do they know it took me
four years of targeting big Snappers
to get that fish They can find reality
out the lsquohardrsquo way
10 wwwnzfisherconz
competitionFISHING
My good friend Pete the Panel
beater has been telling me
about his international game
fishing trips for years and finally
he let me see the photos
It seemed immediately that Pete
might actually be telling the truth
which in fishing circles is a rare and
beautiful thing Petersquos great fishing
mate Mike Wood has been fishing
the Tongan International for 12 years
and when they won in 2010 fishing
aboard lsquoLevenuellarsquo they decided
to go through and fish the World
Offshore champs in Cabo San Luca on
the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula
Their 2011 WOFC trip was fun but
the fishing hard ndash bordering on
boring they tell me
So when they won the Tongan
International again in 2012 it was with
trepidation that they decided to head
to Costa Rica At $9800USD to enter
the costs are pretty high for anyone
but as good Kiwis do they saved hard
bribed their wives and made a plan to
get some real fishing done this time
Their name this year was lsquoSalty Dogsrsquo
and the Salty Dogs earned their stripes
with some great sailfish and Mahi-mahi
captures during the tournament
The team is made up of four
members Tony Smith David Swan
Mike Wood and Peter Lineham
All are keen fishers but travelling
halfway around the world to fish
for species we donrsquot even see
in New Zealand is tough
By the Cockpit Cowboys
The World Offshore Champs 2013Hard fighting kiwis from Tonga to Costa Rica
wwwnzfisherconz 11
competitionFISHING
The tournament format sees teams
draw their daily boats and skipper
from a ballot this evens the field a
little but therersquos no substitute for
experience as the local US and central
Pacific teams took an early lead Day
one for the Salty Dogs involved a lot
of trolling and only one sailfish (other
teams landed 6 ndash 8)
On day two they drew Spanish Fly
a very successful boat on day one
and their luck changed immediately
All four members of the crew landed
sailfish that day while Pete and Mike
landed two each and saw a bunch
more Team Salty Dogs were the top
ranked team on Day two ndash outclassing
all others and putting themselves in
the mix for the final day
Day three while eventful (they were
surrounded by a huge pod of lsquoSpinner
Dolphinsrsquo at one point) didnrsquot see
enough fish landed by the boys and
they faded to mid pack
To even make the grade to win entry
is a huge achievement wersquore stoked
to see they got some great fish and
had a ball You can see some of their
fishing highlights here
Well done Team Salty Dogs what a
great trip
12 wwwnzfisherconz
LANDBASEDfishing
Bucket List Time in the Far North Part 2 ndash CMvD
AS WE GOT DOWN towards Maria
we could see a couple of boats fishing
off the back of the island and it wasnrsquot
long before we saw one and then the
second hooked up into what looked
like good solid fish Fair to say the
excitement levels were going up
Whenever we go and fish somewhere
new I like to take a bit of time and
have a look around the area you just
never know when yoursquoll get a chance
to come back
The north side of the island goes
straight onto sand and only a few
metres deep Everywhere we looked
in the clear water were Kahawai
massive numbers of them and we
know what likes eating Kahawai The
current running through was pretty
strong and even if we had been
allowed to land on the island (NB
yoursquore not) we couldnrsquot see how wersquod
get an anchor to hold in the sand with
enough pressure to get the bungee
anchor system working
The south-facing side of the island
was still getting the SW swell but it
looked much rockier and deeper and
exactly the kind of place yoursquod want to
fish if you could Coming back round
the island we ran through the channel
separating it from the mainland and the
current was absolutely racing through
creating standing waves at one end
We finally decided on some awesome
looking ledges just inside the Cape
parked the boat up did the big
unload and started getting into it As
always the rule is that no-one fishes till
all the rods are setup and before this
starts the berley goes in the water
With live bait rods popper rods and
Snapper and livey-catching gear by
the time wersquore done the berley is
always pumping and often wersquoll get
5-6kg fish chewing on the bag and
nailed first cast
This time Andrew was first in the water
with a bait and it was only a matter of
minutes maybe not even that long
and he was into a solid fish that set off
Cape Maria van Diemen ndash in a DinghyBy Forsyth Thompson
wwwnzfisherconz 13
LANDBASEDfishing
on a heavy run But within less than
another minute it was over and hersquod
been utterly dealt to by what looked
for all money to be a big Snapper
Quick retie filthy big bait and the
exact same thing was repeated This
one if anything seemed even bigger
and I genuinely thought he might be
into his first 20 and then it ended in
disaster in the same way Shit these
west coast Snapper werenrsquot messing
around Two massive hook-ups
followed by two complete hidings
and Andrew was getting schooled
Naturally as fishing mates Will and I
were supportive and offered plenty
of encouragement Well thatrsquos how I
remember it anyway
By now the Kahawai were everywhere
and all three of us were swimming
livies and watching them with
apprehension Having had a few
legal kings but no big ones we were
hopeful this was going to be our shot
The next thing we know Andrew is
shouting and pointing at what was
pretty much just a hole in the ocean
as far as we could see Big shark
apparently ndash Will and I frankly didnrsquot
pay much notice figuring it was just a
regular bronzie
Wersquod had a few decent Snapper by this
point but no sign of a king when two
turned up at once buzzing everything
but refusing to take poppers stickbaits
baits or livies There are few things
more frustrating for LBG fishermen than
this but when theyrsquore not in the mood
and yoursquove tried everything therersquos not
much else to do
Then one then two of our balloons
came tearing into the ledge and then
across in front of us and it was my turn
to do the pointingshouting thing
behind them was by far the biggest
bronzie Irsquod ever seen top of its tail
sticking what looked like nearly a full
meter out of the water and the bulk
of it looking like a family-sized car as
it cruised past and just inhaled one
of the unlucky baits As it took off
and felt the resistance it went crazy
Evans amp Will
Andrew Evans with a prime Far North Trevally
14 wwwnzfisherconz
right there in front of us and whilst
there was never a chance in a million
of landing it it was something to see
Again and again as it turned out from
memory the same fish had four of our
livebaits throughout the day and Will
(who has done a lot of game fishing)
called it for an easy 200kg+
I couldnrsquot even guesstimate at the size
but Irsquove seen a lot of sharks including
some big makos and threshers
and this was way way up there on
the scale An extraordinary sight
and a reminder that we really were
somewhere just a little bit different
Strangely this huge resident shark
even in feeding mode didnrsquot kill
the fishing off and we had plenty of
Snapper although no monsters and
then finally the ratchet went off on my
livies set and this was definitely not
LANDBASEDfishing
our shark but one seriously grumpy
king I was on the same gear Irsquod got
the 20kg one at E Cape not long
previously and this fish was giving
me a much harder time No question
I had PB in my mind as I tried to get
it in close enough for a gaff shot We
finally got a look at the fish and it was
clearly nothing like the size of the last
one but it was still going hard and we
spent probably another 5-10 minutes
before we made the call to keep it
and put a gaff into it At only around
13kg it was no monster at all but the
fight it put up on an Everol 50 with
37kg was absolutely ridiculous for a
fish its size Obviously they just breed
them tougher out on the west coast
The rest of the day passed with a
few more Snapper a couple of kings
wwwnzfisherconz 15
LANDBASEDfishing
sighted but not hooked and a few
more sharkings for Andrew
No trevs had shown up until later
in the day as we started dumping
all the leftover bait and we had
them coming right up to the ledge
taking baits Andrew got a good 4kg
one I lost one and we saw some
significantly bigger ones cruising the
berley But with such a crazy number
of Kahawai in attendance we just
couldnrsquot get baits to them Still
the sight of huge west coast trevs
within a rod length of where we were
standing was pretty cool and we had
one in the bag for sashimi
None of us wanted to leave but there
was no way on earth we were going to
round the Cape in the dark so despite
the Snapper bite coming back on in
a really serious way we just had to
Layng into the fish of the day
16 wwwnzfisherconz
do the sensible thing I canrsquot imagine
therersquos a fish on earth that would
make me think that Reinga in a 35m
boat would be ok in the dark Like
the first two days wersquod not cracked
any PBs and wersquod not actually caught
any really big fish but the experience
wersquod had (even just getting there)
and the country wersquod fished had been
absolutely special and one I genuinely
wonrsquot forget
Wersquod finished three days in the Far
North with a trip I never thought Irsquod
be able to do in the little stabi and
wersquod had some awesome adventures
and seen some amazing things So
wersquod got no PBs and really hadnrsquot
landed any monsters at all but it
just didnrsquot matter in the slightest
Sometimes you need to remember
that the truly great trips donrsquot always
have to be the ones with the biggest
fish getting out and having real
adventures with great mates will
always keep me coming back
LANDBASEDfishing
The beach kisses the ocean
Rounding the cape
Out of the sun they saw us
wwwnzfisherconz 17
1
2
3
4
5
5 simple rulesto help you stay safe
Life jacketsTake them ndash Wear them
Boats especially ones under 6m in length can sink very quickly Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water
Skipper responsibilityThe skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat Stay within the limits of your vessel and your experience
CommunicationsTake two separate waterproof ways of communicating so we can help you if you get into difficulties
Marine weather New Zealandrsquos weather can be highly unpredictable Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes
Avoid alcohol Safe boating and alcohol do not mix Things can change quickly on the water You need to stay alert and aware
For more information about safe boating education and how to prepare for your boating activity visit wwwadventuresmartorgnz
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The Boating Safety
Before you go boating on our seas lakes and rivers get familiar with New Zealandrsquos Boating Safety Code no matter what kind of boat you use
CODE
wwwadventuresmartorgnz
The Water Safety The Outdoor Safety
CODE CODE
Also available
18 wwwnzfisherconz
boatFISHING
IF YOU WANT TO catch that fish
of a life time you need to get out
of Auckland right Not necessarily
Whangaparaoa resident Tony Hurley
not only caught the fish of his life time
in June he caught the fish that nearly
every Auckland boat owner is after and
he did it within sight of the Sky Tower
At 34lb 4 ounces (1554 kg) and 95 cm
long Tonyrsquos Snapper is of Moby Dick
proportions So how did he do it
ldquoThinking positively is a big part of
itrdquo says Tony In fact Tony goes as
far as saying that he knew something
special was going to happen that
day After anchoring up at his usual
shallow water spot at Tiritiri Island
Tony and his mate settled into a
pretty good fishing session Six fish
between 10 and 18 lb were landed
before Tony hooked into the monster
fish on a half pillie The fish was
netted after a 4-5 minute fight and a
handful of surging runs
Tony describes the fight of these
big Snapper as much like that of a
stingray He should know he has
caught plenty of large Snapper to 24
lb at his Tiri spot
Upon arriving home parking capacity
on Tonyrsquos street became in hot
demand as word of the big fish got
around All up Tony splurged five
bottles of top shelf liquor on the
impromptu guests
The big Snapper is currently being
mounted by a taxidermist and will
be put up on the wall of Top Catch
Whangaparaoa
By Darren Parsons
Monster Snapper Snared in Auckland
wwwnzfisherconz 19
20 wwwnzfisherconz
localFISHING
Fish Your Feet First
I AM CONSTANTLY searching for
new rocky coastlines to explore with
a fly rod to catch Snapper in winter
One of the tricks to catching a fish on
a regular basis is knowing when to
fish and where Part science and part
intuition multiple factors swirl around
right to the last minute before the
final commitment is made to head in a
certain direction Transport company
tides and of course the weather all play
significant roles in the final decision Itrsquos
the transport option that has played
the biggest role in some of my recent
fishing experiences and in a city like
Auckland which offers so many options
being restricted to land is not always a
bad thing I have many options to be
boat fishing and often decline the big
trips away what I really enjoy is the fast
and spontaneous adventure available
by jumping on a ferry to one of the
many Hauraki Gulf islands
Recently a northeasterly storm
whipped up Northlands east coast for
several days On Saturday the wind
eased but the swell was big enough
for the inner city beaches to offer head
high waves Many points and reefs
that are not surf spots for 364 days of
the year came alive with quality surf
I joined the multitude of Auckland
surfers to savor these rare waves so
close to home
Sunday the wind shifted again and the
swell had eased to offer just enough
surge to make the fishing interesting
On the ferry at 9am a short hike
and a scramble down to some rocks
wwwnzfisherconz 21
localFISHING
I was greeted with green murky
water stirred by the recent storm
These conditions can often produce
great fishing as Snapper forage the
shallows for easy meals in the surge
and discoloured water but on other
days it just makes it hard see your fly
or believe the fish are there Arriving
at a spot that I would have previously
dismissed as a fishing location due to
the shallow water rocks and weed
I set about seeding some gutters
with tiny pilchard pieces Nothing
appeared in the first 40 minutes
baitfish and Kahawai who are the usual
first arrivals did not intercept the tiny
pieces as they sunk to the bottom
Knowing there was more to be gained
by retiring from the rock I had chosen
to hide behind than continuing to
work the small gutter I set about
putting together a 9wt fly rod and
re-positioned myself along the coast
where I found another gutter with an
equally good elevated hiding position
These days I choose my fishing spots
for the potential to conceal myself as
much as any other factor Returning
to the first gutter and just as I was
beginning to think ldquoI should have
been here yesterdayrdquo when the swell
would have been really stirring things
up for the Snapper a large Kahawai
blasted past That first Kahawai was
the first arrival of a small pack that I
kept active for the next ten minutes
Often the Snapper will move in to
investigate a fishy commotion and
depending on their mood will either
find the buzzing Kahawai off putting
or competitors that need to be
pushed along
Soon I had a Snapper claiming some
dominance over the Kahawai which
were twice its size Kahawai know
that speed is their only weapon and
as the competition hotted up over
the tiny morsels a few more Snapper
moved in and pushed the Kahawai
out We witnessed this relationship
in spectacular fashion last year on
the Coromandel where the Kahawai
were numerous and lightning quick
however when a Snapper of about
3kg size appeared it set about chasing
them away right up towards the
surface I have no doubt that Kahawai
have deep respect for the predatory
potential of the slower moving
Snapper and the short bursts of speed
they are capable of Itrsquos witnessing
this sort of near natural behaviour
that really appeals to me when using
stealth but it was time to start fishing
two hours into a my four hour trip and
I had not put a fly in the water
What followed was a session of
continued activity from 400-450
mm Snapper that eclipsed normal
experience My usual approach is
to present a fly to a sighted fish and
then leave the area to rest while I
work another spot close by However
the mood of the fish meant that a
momentary pause was all that was
required between catches at least 8
fish were caught and released before
I switched focus to the gutter just 100
meters north Once again the Kahawai
appeared and soon after some feisty
Snapper started to win the race for
whatever made a tell tale splash on
the surface With knowledge of an
upcoming bone fishing trip I dropped
my leader down to 45 kg and tied
on a small size 4 fly Whether it was
the light gentle approach with which
each fish was fought or the mood of
the fish that day I caught another 12
reasonable Snapper before it was time
to pack up to make the ferry home
While there were no fish caught that
warranted trophy status the pleasure
I took in watching my tiny fly being
approached by respectable Snapper
and the excitement of letting them
pull line from my reel to ensure I was
not busted off made for a fantastic
dayrsquos fishing something to chuckle
about as I joined the afternoon crowds
walking up queen street in the middle
of Aucklandrsquos downtown
While there were no fish caught that warranted trophy status the pleasure I took in watching my tiny fly being approached by respectable Snapper and the excitement of letting them pull line from my reel to ensure I was not busted off made for a fantastic days fishing something to chuckle about as I joined the afternoon crowds walking up queen street in the middle of Aucklandrsquos downtown
22 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
VANUATU HAS A well-deserved
reputation for exceptionally good
game fishing in the heavy and light
tackle classes as well as newer
techniques like jigging and surface
fishing with poppers and stickbaits
From the 1000m contour line and
the renowned lsquoMarlin Highwayrsquo which
runs hundreds of miles in a north
south direction close to Vanuatu to
the various FADrsquos just offshore and
often itrsquos only a short trip with the
hammers down to get you into some
hot fishing action
Vanuatu is one of the worldsrsquo top
blue marlin fisheries with a number of
world records to its credit as well as a
good number of lsquogranderrsquo blues that
have been taken in the area Most of
the regular game fishing charter boats
would catch around 100 per year with
many being tagged and released to
conserve the fishery
Best times and species
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year
round however the ideal times are
March through November as this
is the time when the weather
and water conditions are usually
optimal Itrsquos also rather nice
timing in that it gives Kiwis and
Aussies the excuse to escape the
clutches of winter and head for
warmer climes and some fishing
By Grant Blair The Fishing Website
Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
wwwnzfisherconz 23
sportFISHING
While being a renowned blue marlin
fishery with frequent catches in the
100-200kg range the odd XXXL
model does turn up in the gear and
the current record stands at a very
respectable 515kg or 1135 old-
fashioned pounds
Other species that are targeted and
frequently caught in the area include
black marlin sailfish striped marlin
yellow fin tuna mahi-mahi wahoo
Spanish mackerel sailfish dogtooth
tuna coral trout job fish and red bass
Yellow fin and dog tooth tuna
reach some very large proportions
Dogtooth grow to around 80kg and
yellow fin to 100kg while rare are
quite possible
The most important thing about
Vanuatu is the surrounding waters
are rich in a wide range of species
and therersquos plenty to interest anglers
of all abilities and interests be it
trolling for pelagics jigging the
drop-offs or surface fishing with
poppers and stickbaits
Where to go
The main game fishing
operations operating in Vanuatu are
found on Efate - Port Vila and on
Santo - Luganville From Port Vila it
can be only a 10-15 minute trip to be
into sailfish and yellow fin action in
Mele Bay at certain times of the year
however it takes longer to get to the
FADS and out to the marlin highway
Possible destinations with local charter
operators include the Marlin Highway
Blue Hat 366 Nguna Volcano the
Erromango Sea Mounts and Hat
Island From Santo the journey is
considerably longer however there is
good fishing along the way
On some of the smaller islands there
are fishing options in various states of
development and itrsquos even possible
to rent a small dugout and create
your own adventure in and around
the reefs and drops close inshore
catching a variety of species on lighter
tackle Be careful eating reef fish due
to ciguatera A tip we heard from the
locals ndash cut a small section from the
fish and leave it outside overnight If
the ants eat it it should be OK to eat
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year round however the ideal times are March through November as this is the time when the weather and water conditions are usually optimal Itrsquos also rather nice timing in that it gives Kiwis and Aussies the excuse to escape the clutches of winter and head for warmer climes and some fishing
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
wwwnzfisherconz 9
SPORTfishing
It had been a classic winterrsquos day for
the crews tentative bites and the
occasional big Snapper every other
hour We settled into a relaxed night
with hot smoked Snapper heads a
good roast and a few beverages The
Mattrsquos both worse for wear after a
long day at sea both guilty of a spit
over the side I couldnrsquot stop grinning
like an idiot and prompting everyone
for one more drink but no one could
finish watching Aus beat the Lions in
game two and it was off to bed for an
early start
We awoke again to a crisp calm
morning ice needing to be scraped
off the boats again Launching with
haste team Rosmini was down a
member due to Grandmarsquos birthday
Westlake would have four jigs in the
water could it make the difference
We steamed the 45 minutes out to the
local kingi joint and both boats circling
and searching for sign of balled up
bait and kingfish It wasnrsquot there ldquoerrr
this looks ok have a drop hererdquo was
going to be etched into my brain as I
said it over and over The fish had to
be there but their mouths were shut
tight We had been jigging for over
two hours now really should have got
some livies I thought
It was about11am when we finally
had a breakthrough None of the
lads had done much jigging but it
was G cranking the spin set who had
the first fish Never having caught a
king before he thought he was on the
bottom and I heard a yell of ldquowhat
do I dordquo I turn and see the rod kick
ldquoPump and windrdquo I yell He fought
the fish to the boat I could tell it
wasnrsquot massive but a king rose about
85cm right in Rossminirsquos face Could
Westlake have a clean sweep
Gareth was stoked and surprised by
the strength of the fish tired I got
him to hold it up for a few snaps
The fish was weighed bled and put
in the bin and I turn to see Rosmini
hooked up (had they called in divine
intervention will those days of bible
study pay off) No it was a smaller
rat and was returned we are looking
good The call was made to give it
another 30 minutes
That was when the old Joey the
hunter on team Rosmini decides to
have a little flutter with an Inchiku
Well it paid off the smaller jig enticing
the smaller kings that were obviously
around He was hooked up and after
a good scrap on Snapper gear a king
around the same size as ours was put
in the boat It was going to be close
After that with sore arms and
shoulders Rosmini decided on heading
in to the mainland so the Mattrsquos could
go for a dive We searched for any
other likely looking kingi territory
around the place went for a quick
Snapper jig both to no avail We met
up with the lads as they finished their
dive Steaming back into Toots the
final day was a wrap and targeting
kings in winter needs a bit more
thought it seems It was to be a quick
turn-around as the admin associated
with any big fishing trip ensued There
was cleaning and packing and dump
trips and more cleaning and before
the filleting a weigh in
The kings as I said were small ours
had pulled the scales to 77kg with
Joeys visibly bigger at 85kg Their
rat trumped ours Rosmini was saved
embarrassment Scrapper awarded
me for my catch with biggest Snapper
and Most Memorable catch going to
Westlake for my 255lb Snapper
I really thought Most Memorable
catch could have gone to Evan for
catching two sea birds but was happy
with the result That Snapper was a
magnificent fish will be very hard to
top and whatrsquos better is that it is still
out there charging around growing
bigger making babies and perhaps
one day being a 30lber to be caught
With that we started the trip back to
Auckland all of us agreeing that this
was to be an annual event Scrapper
is expecting a child in the coming
months so the next one maybe a
family affair Thanks needs to go to
him for organizing a great weekend
well done Also to your sometimes
Editor and self-proclaimed land based
guru Forsyth thanks for the lend of
your wagon
For me it is another fishing goal ticked
off the next one a big Kingfish I have
introduced a couple more friends to
the passion we all share in fishing they
are hooked and may be expecting a
20lb+ Snapper to come aboard every
triphellip little do they know it took me
four years of targeting big Snappers
to get that fish They can find reality
out the lsquohardrsquo way
10 wwwnzfisherconz
competitionFISHING
My good friend Pete the Panel
beater has been telling me
about his international game
fishing trips for years and finally
he let me see the photos
It seemed immediately that Pete
might actually be telling the truth
which in fishing circles is a rare and
beautiful thing Petersquos great fishing
mate Mike Wood has been fishing
the Tongan International for 12 years
and when they won in 2010 fishing
aboard lsquoLevenuellarsquo they decided
to go through and fish the World
Offshore champs in Cabo San Luca on
the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula
Their 2011 WOFC trip was fun but
the fishing hard ndash bordering on
boring they tell me
So when they won the Tongan
International again in 2012 it was with
trepidation that they decided to head
to Costa Rica At $9800USD to enter
the costs are pretty high for anyone
but as good Kiwis do they saved hard
bribed their wives and made a plan to
get some real fishing done this time
Their name this year was lsquoSalty Dogsrsquo
and the Salty Dogs earned their stripes
with some great sailfish and Mahi-mahi
captures during the tournament
The team is made up of four
members Tony Smith David Swan
Mike Wood and Peter Lineham
All are keen fishers but travelling
halfway around the world to fish
for species we donrsquot even see
in New Zealand is tough
By the Cockpit Cowboys
The World Offshore Champs 2013Hard fighting kiwis from Tonga to Costa Rica
wwwnzfisherconz 11
competitionFISHING
The tournament format sees teams
draw their daily boats and skipper
from a ballot this evens the field a
little but therersquos no substitute for
experience as the local US and central
Pacific teams took an early lead Day
one for the Salty Dogs involved a lot
of trolling and only one sailfish (other
teams landed 6 ndash 8)
On day two they drew Spanish Fly
a very successful boat on day one
and their luck changed immediately
All four members of the crew landed
sailfish that day while Pete and Mike
landed two each and saw a bunch
more Team Salty Dogs were the top
ranked team on Day two ndash outclassing
all others and putting themselves in
the mix for the final day
Day three while eventful (they were
surrounded by a huge pod of lsquoSpinner
Dolphinsrsquo at one point) didnrsquot see
enough fish landed by the boys and
they faded to mid pack
To even make the grade to win entry
is a huge achievement wersquore stoked
to see they got some great fish and
had a ball You can see some of their
fishing highlights here
Well done Team Salty Dogs what a
great trip
12 wwwnzfisherconz
LANDBASEDfishing
Bucket List Time in the Far North Part 2 ndash CMvD
AS WE GOT DOWN towards Maria
we could see a couple of boats fishing
off the back of the island and it wasnrsquot
long before we saw one and then the
second hooked up into what looked
like good solid fish Fair to say the
excitement levels were going up
Whenever we go and fish somewhere
new I like to take a bit of time and
have a look around the area you just
never know when yoursquoll get a chance
to come back
The north side of the island goes
straight onto sand and only a few
metres deep Everywhere we looked
in the clear water were Kahawai
massive numbers of them and we
know what likes eating Kahawai The
current running through was pretty
strong and even if we had been
allowed to land on the island (NB
yoursquore not) we couldnrsquot see how wersquod
get an anchor to hold in the sand with
enough pressure to get the bungee
anchor system working
The south-facing side of the island
was still getting the SW swell but it
looked much rockier and deeper and
exactly the kind of place yoursquod want to
fish if you could Coming back round
the island we ran through the channel
separating it from the mainland and the
current was absolutely racing through
creating standing waves at one end
We finally decided on some awesome
looking ledges just inside the Cape
parked the boat up did the big
unload and started getting into it As
always the rule is that no-one fishes till
all the rods are setup and before this
starts the berley goes in the water
With live bait rods popper rods and
Snapper and livey-catching gear by
the time wersquore done the berley is
always pumping and often wersquoll get
5-6kg fish chewing on the bag and
nailed first cast
This time Andrew was first in the water
with a bait and it was only a matter of
minutes maybe not even that long
and he was into a solid fish that set off
Cape Maria van Diemen ndash in a DinghyBy Forsyth Thompson
wwwnzfisherconz 13
LANDBASEDfishing
on a heavy run But within less than
another minute it was over and hersquod
been utterly dealt to by what looked
for all money to be a big Snapper
Quick retie filthy big bait and the
exact same thing was repeated This
one if anything seemed even bigger
and I genuinely thought he might be
into his first 20 and then it ended in
disaster in the same way Shit these
west coast Snapper werenrsquot messing
around Two massive hook-ups
followed by two complete hidings
and Andrew was getting schooled
Naturally as fishing mates Will and I
were supportive and offered plenty
of encouragement Well thatrsquos how I
remember it anyway
By now the Kahawai were everywhere
and all three of us were swimming
livies and watching them with
apprehension Having had a few
legal kings but no big ones we were
hopeful this was going to be our shot
The next thing we know Andrew is
shouting and pointing at what was
pretty much just a hole in the ocean
as far as we could see Big shark
apparently ndash Will and I frankly didnrsquot
pay much notice figuring it was just a
regular bronzie
Wersquod had a few decent Snapper by this
point but no sign of a king when two
turned up at once buzzing everything
but refusing to take poppers stickbaits
baits or livies There are few things
more frustrating for LBG fishermen than
this but when theyrsquore not in the mood
and yoursquove tried everything therersquos not
much else to do
Then one then two of our balloons
came tearing into the ledge and then
across in front of us and it was my turn
to do the pointingshouting thing
behind them was by far the biggest
bronzie Irsquod ever seen top of its tail
sticking what looked like nearly a full
meter out of the water and the bulk
of it looking like a family-sized car as
it cruised past and just inhaled one
of the unlucky baits As it took off
and felt the resistance it went crazy
Evans amp Will
Andrew Evans with a prime Far North Trevally
14 wwwnzfisherconz
right there in front of us and whilst
there was never a chance in a million
of landing it it was something to see
Again and again as it turned out from
memory the same fish had four of our
livebaits throughout the day and Will
(who has done a lot of game fishing)
called it for an easy 200kg+
I couldnrsquot even guesstimate at the size
but Irsquove seen a lot of sharks including
some big makos and threshers
and this was way way up there on
the scale An extraordinary sight
and a reminder that we really were
somewhere just a little bit different
Strangely this huge resident shark
even in feeding mode didnrsquot kill
the fishing off and we had plenty of
Snapper although no monsters and
then finally the ratchet went off on my
livies set and this was definitely not
LANDBASEDfishing
our shark but one seriously grumpy
king I was on the same gear Irsquod got
the 20kg one at E Cape not long
previously and this fish was giving
me a much harder time No question
I had PB in my mind as I tried to get
it in close enough for a gaff shot We
finally got a look at the fish and it was
clearly nothing like the size of the last
one but it was still going hard and we
spent probably another 5-10 minutes
before we made the call to keep it
and put a gaff into it At only around
13kg it was no monster at all but the
fight it put up on an Everol 50 with
37kg was absolutely ridiculous for a
fish its size Obviously they just breed
them tougher out on the west coast
The rest of the day passed with a
few more Snapper a couple of kings
wwwnzfisherconz 15
LANDBASEDfishing
sighted but not hooked and a few
more sharkings for Andrew
No trevs had shown up until later
in the day as we started dumping
all the leftover bait and we had
them coming right up to the ledge
taking baits Andrew got a good 4kg
one I lost one and we saw some
significantly bigger ones cruising the
berley But with such a crazy number
of Kahawai in attendance we just
couldnrsquot get baits to them Still
the sight of huge west coast trevs
within a rod length of where we were
standing was pretty cool and we had
one in the bag for sashimi
None of us wanted to leave but there
was no way on earth we were going to
round the Cape in the dark so despite
the Snapper bite coming back on in
a really serious way we just had to
Layng into the fish of the day
16 wwwnzfisherconz
do the sensible thing I canrsquot imagine
therersquos a fish on earth that would
make me think that Reinga in a 35m
boat would be ok in the dark Like
the first two days wersquod not cracked
any PBs and wersquod not actually caught
any really big fish but the experience
wersquod had (even just getting there)
and the country wersquod fished had been
absolutely special and one I genuinely
wonrsquot forget
Wersquod finished three days in the Far
North with a trip I never thought Irsquod
be able to do in the little stabi and
wersquod had some awesome adventures
and seen some amazing things So
wersquod got no PBs and really hadnrsquot
landed any monsters at all but it
just didnrsquot matter in the slightest
Sometimes you need to remember
that the truly great trips donrsquot always
have to be the ones with the biggest
fish getting out and having real
adventures with great mates will
always keep me coming back
LANDBASEDfishing
The beach kisses the ocean
Rounding the cape
Out of the sun they saw us
wwwnzfisherconz 17
1
2
3
4
5
5 simple rulesto help you stay safe
Life jacketsTake them ndash Wear them
Boats especially ones under 6m in length can sink very quickly Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water
Skipper responsibilityThe skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat Stay within the limits of your vessel and your experience
CommunicationsTake two separate waterproof ways of communicating so we can help you if you get into difficulties
Marine weather New Zealandrsquos weather can be highly unpredictable Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes
Avoid alcohol Safe boating and alcohol do not mix Things can change quickly on the water You need to stay alert and aware
For more information about safe boating education and how to prepare for your boating activity visit wwwadventuresmartorgnz
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The Boating Safety
Before you go boating on our seas lakes and rivers get familiar with New Zealandrsquos Boating Safety Code no matter what kind of boat you use
CODE
wwwadventuresmartorgnz
The Water Safety The Outdoor Safety
CODE CODE
Also available
18 wwwnzfisherconz
boatFISHING
IF YOU WANT TO catch that fish
of a life time you need to get out
of Auckland right Not necessarily
Whangaparaoa resident Tony Hurley
not only caught the fish of his life time
in June he caught the fish that nearly
every Auckland boat owner is after and
he did it within sight of the Sky Tower
At 34lb 4 ounces (1554 kg) and 95 cm
long Tonyrsquos Snapper is of Moby Dick
proportions So how did he do it
ldquoThinking positively is a big part of
itrdquo says Tony In fact Tony goes as
far as saying that he knew something
special was going to happen that
day After anchoring up at his usual
shallow water spot at Tiritiri Island
Tony and his mate settled into a
pretty good fishing session Six fish
between 10 and 18 lb were landed
before Tony hooked into the monster
fish on a half pillie The fish was
netted after a 4-5 minute fight and a
handful of surging runs
Tony describes the fight of these
big Snapper as much like that of a
stingray He should know he has
caught plenty of large Snapper to 24
lb at his Tiri spot
Upon arriving home parking capacity
on Tonyrsquos street became in hot
demand as word of the big fish got
around All up Tony splurged five
bottles of top shelf liquor on the
impromptu guests
The big Snapper is currently being
mounted by a taxidermist and will
be put up on the wall of Top Catch
Whangaparaoa
By Darren Parsons
Monster Snapper Snared in Auckland
wwwnzfisherconz 19
20 wwwnzfisherconz
localFISHING
Fish Your Feet First
I AM CONSTANTLY searching for
new rocky coastlines to explore with
a fly rod to catch Snapper in winter
One of the tricks to catching a fish on
a regular basis is knowing when to
fish and where Part science and part
intuition multiple factors swirl around
right to the last minute before the
final commitment is made to head in a
certain direction Transport company
tides and of course the weather all play
significant roles in the final decision Itrsquos
the transport option that has played
the biggest role in some of my recent
fishing experiences and in a city like
Auckland which offers so many options
being restricted to land is not always a
bad thing I have many options to be
boat fishing and often decline the big
trips away what I really enjoy is the fast
and spontaneous adventure available
by jumping on a ferry to one of the
many Hauraki Gulf islands
Recently a northeasterly storm
whipped up Northlands east coast for
several days On Saturday the wind
eased but the swell was big enough
for the inner city beaches to offer head
high waves Many points and reefs
that are not surf spots for 364 days of
the year came alive with quality surf
I joined the multitude of Auckland
surfers to savor these rare waves so
close to home
Sunday the wind shifted again and the
swell had eased to offer just enough
surge to make the fishing interesting
On the ferry at 9am a short hike
and a scramble down to some rocks
wwwnzfisherconz 21
localFISHING
I was greeted with green murky
water stirred by the recent storm
These conditions can often produce
great fishing as Snapper forage the
shallows for easy meals in the surge
and discoloured water but on other
days it just makes it hard see your fly
or believe the fish are there Arriving
at a spot that I would have previously
dismissed as a fishing location due to
the shallow water rocks and weed
I set about seeding some gutters
with tiny pilchard pieces Nothing
appeared in the first 40 minutes
baitfish and Kahawai who are the usual
first arrivals did not intercept the tiny
pieces as they sunk to the bottom
Knowing there was more to be gained
by retiring from the rock I had chosen
to hide behind than continuing to
work the small gutter I set about
putting together a 9wt fly rod and
re-positioned myself along the coast
where I found another gutter with an
equally good elevated hiding position
These days I choose my fishing spots
for the potential to conceal myself as
much as any other factor Returning
to the first gutter and just as I was
beginning to think ldquoI should have
been here yesterdayrdquo when the swell
would have been really stirring things
up for the Snapper a large Kahawai
blasted past That first Kahawai was
the first arrival of a small pack that I
kept active for the next ten minutes
Often the Snapper will move in to
investigate a fishy commotion and
depending on their mood will either
find the buzzing Kahawai off putting
or competitors that need to be
pushed along
Soon I had a Snapper claiming some
dominance over the Kahawai which
were twice its size Kahawai know
that speed is their only weapon and
as the competition hotted up over
the tiny morsels a few more Snapper
moved in and pushed the Kahawai
out We witnessed this relationship
in spectacular fashion last year on
the Coromandel where the Kahawai
were numerous and lightning quick
however when a Snapper of about
3kg size appeared it set about chasing
them away right up towards the
surface I have no doubt that Kahawai
have deep respect for the predatory
potential of the slower moving
Snapper and the short bursts of speed
they are capable of Itrsquos witnessing
this sort of near natural behaviour
that really appeals to me when using
stealth but it was time to start fishing
two hours into a my four hour trip and
I had not put a fly in the water
What followed was a session of
continued activity from 400-450
mm Snapper that eclipsed normal
experience My usual approach is
to present a fly to a sighted fish and
then leave the area to rest while I
work another spot close by However
the mood of the fish meant that a
momentary pause was all that was
required between catches at least 8
fish were caught and released before
I switched focus to the gutter just 100
meters north Once again the Kahawai
appeared and soon after some feisty
Snapper started to win the race for
whatever made a tell tale splash on
the surface With knowledge of an
upcoming bone fishing trip I dropped
my leader down to 45 kg and tied
on a small size 4 fly Whether it was
the light gentle approach with which
each fish was fought or the mood of
the fish that day I caught another 12
reasonable Snapper before it was time
to pack up to make the ferry home
While there were no fish caught that
warranted trophy status the pleasure
I took in watching my tiny fly being
approached by respectable Snapper
and the excitement of letting them
pull line from my reel to ensure I was
not busted off made for a fantastic
dayrsquos fishing something to chuckle
about as I joined the afternoon crowds
walking up queen street in the middle
of Aucklandrsquos downtown
While there were no fish caught that warranted trophy status the pleasure I took in watching my tiny fly being approached by respectable Snapper and the excitement of letting them pull line from my reel to ensure I was not busted off made for a fantastic days fishing something to chuckle about as I joined the afternoon crowds walking up queen street in the middle of Aucklandrsquos downtown
22 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
VANUATU HAS A well-deserved
reputation for exceptionally good
game fishing in the heavy and light
tackle classes as well as newer
techniques like jigging and surface
fishing with poppers and stickbaits
From the 1000m contour line and
the renowned lsquoMarlin Highwayrsquo which
runs hundreds of miles in a north
south direction close to Vanuatu to
the various FADrsquos just offshore and
often itrsquos only a short trip with the
hammers down to get you into some
hot fishing action
Vanuatu is one of the worldsrsquo top
blue marlin fisheries with a number of
world records to its credit as well as a
good number of lsquogranderrsquo blues that
have been taken in the area Most of
the regular game fishing charter boats
would catch around 100 per year with
many being tagged and released to
conserve the fishery
Best times and species
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year
round however the ideal times are
March through November as this
is the time when the weather
and water conditions are usually
optimal Itrsquos also rather nice
timing in that it gives Kiwis and
Aussies the excuse to escape the
clutches of winter and head for
warmer climes and some fishing
By Grant Blair The Fishing Website
Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
wwwnzfisherconz 23
sportFISHING
While being a renowned blue marlin
fishery with frequent catches in the
100-200kg range the odd XXXL
model does turn up in the gear and
the current record stands at a very
respectable 515kg or 1135 old-
fashioned pounds
Other species that are targeted and
frequently caught in the area include
black marlin sailfish striped marlin
yellow fin tuna mahi-mahi wahoo
Spanish mackerel sailfish dogtooth
tuna coral trout job fish and red bass
Yellow fin and dog tooth tuna
reach some very large proportions
Dogtooth grow to around 80kg and
yellow fin to 100kg while rare are
quite possible
The most important thing about
Vanuatu is the surrounding waters
are rich in a wide range of species
and therersquos plenty to interest anglers
of all abilities and interests be it
trolling for pelagics jigging the
drop-offs or surface fishing with
poppers and stickbaits
Where to go
The main game fishing
operations operating in Vanuatu are
found on Efate - Port Vila and on
Santo - Luganville From Port Vila it
can be only a 10-15 minute trip to be
into sailfish and yellow fin action in
Mele Bay at certain times of the year
however it takes longer to get to the
FADS and out to the marlin highway
Possible destinations with local charter
operators include the Marlin Highway
Blue Hat 366 Nguna Volcano the
Erromango Sea Mounts and Hat
Island From Santo the journey is
considerably longer however there is
good fishing along the way
On some of the smaller islands there
are fishing options in various states of
development and itrsquos even possible
to rent a small dugout and create
your own adventure in and around
the reefs and drops close inshore
catching a variety of species on lighter
tackle Be careful eating reef fish due
to ciguatera A tip we heard from the
locals ndash cut a small section from the
fish and leave it outside overnight If
the ants eat it it should be OK to eat
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year round however the ideal times are March through November as this is the time when the weather and water conditions are usually optimal Itrsquos also rather nice timing in that it gives Kiwis and Aussies the excuse to escape the clutches of winter and head for warmer climes and some fishing
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
10 wwwnzfisherconz
competitionFISHING
My good friend Pete the Panel
beater has been telling me
about his international game
fishing trips for years and finally
he let me see the photos
It seemed immediately that Pete
might actually be telling the truth
which in fishing circles is a rare and
beautiful thing Petersquos great fishing
mate Mike Wood has been fishing
the Tongan International for 12 years
and when they won in 2010 fishing
aboard lsquoLevenuellarsquo they decided
to go through and fish the World
Offshore champs in Cabo San Luca on
the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula
Their 2011 WOFC trip was fun but
the fishing hard ndash bordering on
boring they tell me
So when they won the Tongan
International again in 2012 it was with
trepidation that they decided to head
to Costa Rica At $9800USD to enter
the costs are pretty high for anyone
but as good Kiwis do they saved hard
bribed their wives and made a plan to
get some real fishing done this time
Their name this year was lsquoSalty Dogsrsquo
and the Salty Dogs earned their stripes
with some great sailfish and Mahi-mahi
captures during the tournament
The team is made up of four
members Tony Smith David Swan
Mike Wood and Peter Lineham
All are keen fishers but travelling
halfway around the world to fish
for species we donrsquot even see
in New Zealand is tough
By the Cockpit Cowboys
The World Offshore Champs 2013Hard fighting kiwis from Tonga to Costa Rica
wwwnzfisherconz 11
competitionFISHING
The tournament format sees teams
draw their daily boats and skipper
from a ballot this evens the field a
little but therersquos no substitute for
experience as the local US and central
Pacific teams took an early lead Day
one for the Salty Dogs involved a lot
of trolling and only one sailfish (other
teams landed 6 ndash 8)
On day two they drew Spanish Fly
a very successful boat on day one
and their luck changed immediately
All four members of the crew landed
sailfish that day while Pete and Mike
landed two each and saw a bunch
more Team Salty Dogs were the top
ranked team on Day two ndash outclassing
all others and putting themselves in
the mix for the final day
Day three while eventful (they were
surrounded by a huge pod of lsquoSpinner
Dolphinsrsquo at one point) didnrsquot see
enough fish landed by the boys and
they faded to mid pack
To even make the grade to win entry
is a huge achievement wersquore stoked
to see they got some great fish and
had a ball You can see some of their
fishing highlights here
Well done Team Salty Dogs what a
great trip
12 wwwnzfisherconz
LANDBASEDfishing
Bucket List Time in the Far North Part 2 ndash CMvD
AS WE GOT DOWN towards Maria
we could see a couple of boats fishing
off the back of the island and it wasnrsquot
long before we saw one and then the
second hooked up into what looked
like good solid fish Fair to say the
excitement levels were going up
Whenever we go and fish somewhere
new I like to take a bit of time and
have a look around the area you just
never know when yoursquoll get a chance
to come back
The north side of the island goes
straight onto sand and only a few
metres deep Everywhere we looked
in the clear water were Kahawai
massive numbers of them and we
know what likes eating Kahawai The
current running through was pretty
strong and even if we had been
allowed to land on the island (NB
yoursquore not) we couldnrsquot see how wersquod
get an anchor to hold in the sand with
enough pressure to get the bungee
anchor system working
The south-facing side of the island
was still getting the SW swell but it
looked much rockier and deeper and
exactly the kind of place yoursquod want to
fish if you could Coming back round
the island we ran through the channel
separating it from the mainland and the
current was absolutely racing through
creating standing waves at one end
We finally decided on some awesome
looking ledges just inside the Cape
parked the boat up did the big
unload and started getting into it As
always the rule is that no-one fishes till
all the rods are setup and before this
starts the berley goes in the water
With live bait rods popper rods and
Snapper and livey-catching gear by
the time wersquore done the berley is
always pumping and often wersquoll get
5-6kg fish chewing on the bag and
nailed first cast
This time Andrew was first in the water
with a bait and it was only a matter of
minutes maybe not even that long
and he was into a solid fish that set off
Cape Maria van Diemen ndash in a DinghyBy Forsyth Thompson
wwwnzfisherconz 13
LANDBASEDfishing
on a heavy run But within less than
another minute it was over and hersquod
been utterly dealt to by what looked
for all money to be a big Snapper
Quick retie filthy big bait and the
exact same thing was repeated This
one if anything seemed even bigger
and I genuinely thought he might be
into his first 20 and then it ended in
disaster in the same way Shit these
west coast Snapper werenrsquot messing
around Two massive hook-ups
followed by two complete hidings
and Andrew was getting schooled
Naturally as fishing mates Will and I
were supportive and offered plenty
of encouragement Well thatrsquos how I
remember it anyway
By now the Kahawai were everywhere
and all three of us were swimming
livies and watching them with
apprehension Having had a few
legal kings but no big ones we were
hopeful this was going to be our shot
The next thing we know Andrew is
shouting and pointing at what was
pretty much just a hole in the ocean
as far as we could see Big shark
apparently ndash Will and I frankly didnrsquot
pay much notice figuring it was just a
regular bronzie
Wersquod had a few decent Snapper by this
point but no sign of a king when two
turned up at once buzzing everything
but refusing to take poppers stickbaits
baits or livies There are few things
more frustrating for LBG fishermen than
this but when theyrsquore not in the mood
and yoursquove tried everything therersquos not
much else to do
Then one then two of our balloons
came tearing into the ledge and then
across in front of us and it was my turn
to do the pointingshouting thing
behind them was by far the biggest
bronzie Irsquod ever seen top of its tail
sticking what looked like nearly a full
meter out of the water and the bulk
of it looking like a family-sized car as
it cruised past and just inhaled one
of the unlucky baits As it took off
and felt the resistance it went crazy
Evans amp Will
Andrew Evans with a prime Far North Trevally
14 wwwnzfisherconz
right there in front of us and whilst
there was never a chance in a million
of landing it it was something to see
Again and again as it turned out from
memory the same fish had four of our
livebaits throughout the day and Will
(who has done a lot of game fishing)
called it for an easy 200kg+
I couldnrsquot even guesstimate at the size
but Irsquove seen a lot of sharks including
some big makos and threshers
and this was way way up there on
the scale An extraordinary sight
and a reminder that we really were
somewhere just a little bit different
Strangely this huge resident shark
even in feeding mode didnrsquot kill
the fishing off and we had plenty of
Snapper although no monsters and
then finally the ratchet went off on my
livies set and this was definitely not
LANDBASEDfishing
our shark but one seriously grumpy
king I was on the same gear Irsquod got
the 20kg one at E Cape not long
previously and this fish was giving
me a much harder time No question
I had PB in my mind as I tried to get
it in close enough for a gaff shot We
finally got a look at the fish and it was
clearly nothing like the size of the last
one but it was still going hard and we
spent probably another 5-10 minutes
before we made the call to keep it
and put a gaff into it At only around
13kg it was no monster at all but the
fight it put up on an Everol 50 with
37kg was absolutely ridiculous for a
fish its size Obviously they just breed
them tougher out on the west coast
The rest of the day passed with a
few more Snapper a couple of kings
wwwnzfisherconz 15
LANDBASEDfishing
sighted but not hooked and a few
more sharkings for Andrew
No trevs had shown up until later
in the day as we started dumping
all the leftover bait and we had
them coming right up to the ledge
taking baits Andrew got a good 4kg
one I lost one and we saw some
significantly bigger ones cruising the
berley But with such a crazy number
of Kahawai in attendance we just
couldnrsquot get baits to them Still
the sight of huge west coast trevs
within a rod length of where we were
standing was pretty cool and we had
one in the bag for sashimi
None of us wanted to leave but there
was no way on earth we were going to
round the Cape in the dark so despite
the Snapper bite coming back on in
a really serious way we just had to
Layng into the fish of the day
16 wwwnzfisherconz
do the sensible thing I canrsquot imagine
therersquos a fish on earth that would
make me think that Reinga in a 35m
boat would be ok in the dark Like
the first two days wersquod not cracked
any PBs and wersquod not actually caught
any really big fish but the experience
wersquod had (even just getting there)
and the country wersquod fished had been
absolutely special and one I genuinely
wonrsquot forget
Wersquod finished three days in the Far
North with a trip I never thought Irsquod
be able to do in the little stabi and
wersquod had some awesome adventures
and seen some amazing things So
wersquod got no PBs and really hadnrsquot
landed any monsters at all but it
just didnrsquot matter in the slightest
Sometimes you need to remember
that the truly great trips donrsquot always
have to be the ones with the biggest
fish getting out and having real
adventures with great mates will
always keep me coming back
LANDBASEDfishing
The beach kisses the ocean
Rounding the cape
Out of the sun they saw us
wwwnzfisherconz 17
1
2
3
4
5
5 simple rulesto help you stay safe
Life jacketsTake them ndash Wear them
Boats especially ones under 6m in length can sink very quickly Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water
Skipper responsibilityThe skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat Stay within the limits of your vessel and your experience
CommunicationsTake two separate waterproof ways of communicating so we can help you if you get into difficulties
Marine weather New Zealandrsquos weather can be highly unpredictable Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes
Avoid alcohol Safe boating and alcohol do not mix Things can change quickly on the water You need to stay alert and aware
For more information about safe boating education and how to prepare for your boating activity visit wwwadventuresmartorgnz
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The Boating Safety
Before you go boating on our seas lakes and rivers get familiar with New Zealandrsquos Boating Safety Code no matter what kind of boat you use
CODE
wwwadventuresmartorgnz
The Water Safety The Outdoor Safety
CODE CODE
Also available
18 wwwnzfisherconz
boatFISHING
IF YOU WANT TO catch that fish
of a life time you need to get out
of Auckland right Not necessarily
Whangaparaoa resident Tony Hurley
not only caught the fish of his life time
in June he caught the fish that nearly
every Auckland boat owner is after and
he did it within sight of the Sky Tower
At 34lb 4 ounces (1554 kg) and 95 cm
long Tonyrsquos Snapper is of Moby Dick
proportions So how did he do it
ldquoThinking positively is a big part of
itrdquo says Tony In fact Tony goes as
far as saying that he knew something
special was going to happen that
day After anchoring up at his usual
shallow water spot at Tiritiri Island
Tony and his mate settled into a
pretty good fishing session Six fish
between 10 and 18 lb were landed
before Tony hooked into the monster
fish on a half pillie The fish was
netted after a 4-5 minute fight and a
handful of surging runs
Tony describes the fight of these
big Snapper as much like that of a
stingray He should know he has
caught plenty of large Snapper to 24
lb at his Tiri spot
Upon arriving home parking capacity
on Tonyrsquos street became in hot
demand as word of the big fish got
around All up Tony splurged five
bottles of top shelf liquor on the
impromptu guests
The big Snapper is currently being
mounted by a taxidermist and will
be put up on the wall of Top Catch
Whangaparaoa
By Darren Parsons
Monster Snapper Snared in Auckland
wwwnzfisherconz 19
20 wwwnzfisherconz
localFISHING
Fish Your Feet First
I AM CONSTANTLY searching for
new rocky coastlines to explore with
a fly rod to catch Snapper in winter
One of the tricks to catching a fish on
a regular basis is knowing when to
fish and where Part science and part
intuition multiple factors swirl around
right to the last minute before the
final commitment is made to head in a
certain direction Transport company
tides and of course the weather all play
significant roles in the final decision Itrsquos
the transport option that has played
the biggest role in some of my recent
fishing experiences and in a city like
Auckland which offers so many options
being restricted to land is not always a
bad thing I have many options to be
boat fishing and often decline the big
trips away what I really enjoy is the fast
and spontaneous adventure available
by jumping on a ferry to one of the
many Hauraki Gulf islands
Recently a northeasterly storm
whipped up Northlands east coast for
several days On Saturday the wind
eased but the swell was big enough
for the inner city beaches to offer head
high waves Many points and reefs
that are not surf spots for 364 days of
the year came alive with quality surf
I joined the multitude of Auckland
surfers to savor these rare waves so
close to home
Sunday the wind shifted again and the
swell had eased to offer just enough
surge to make the fishing interesting
On the ferry at 9am a short hike
and a scramble down to some rocks
wwwnzfisherconz 21
localFISHING
I was greeted with green murky
water stirred by the recent storm
These conditions can often produce
great fishing as Snapper forage the
shallows for easy meals in the surge
and discoloured water but on other
days it just makes it hard see your fly
or believe the fish are there Arriving
at a spot that I would have previously
dismissed as a fishing location due to
the shallow water rocks and weed
I set about seeding some gutters
with tiny pilchard pieces Nothing
appeared in the first 40 minutes
baitfish and Kahawai who are the usual
first arrivals did not intercept the tiny
pieces as they sunk to the bottom
Knowing there was more to be gained
by retiring from the rock I had chosen
to hide behind than continuing to
work the small gutter I set about
putting together a 9wt fly rod and
re-positioned myself along the coast
where I found another gutter with an
equally good elevated hiding position
These days I choose my fishing spots
for the potential to conceal myself as
much as any other factor Returning
to the first gutter and just as I was
beginning to think ldquoI should have
been here yesterdayrdquo when the swell
would have been really stirring things
up for the Snapper a large Kahawai
blasted past That first Kahawai was
the first arrival of a small pack that I
kept active for the next ten minutes
Often the Snapper will move in to
investigate a fishy commotion and
depending on their mood will either
find the buzzing Kahawai off putting
or competitors that need to be
pushed along
Soon I had a Snapper claiming some
dominance over the Kahawai which
were twice its size Kahawai know
that speed is their only weapon and
as the competition hotted up over
the tiny morsels a few more Snapper
moved in and pushed the Kahawai
out We witnessed this relationship
in spectacular fashion last year on
the Coromandel where the Kahawai
were numerous and lightning quick
however when a Snapper of about
3kg size appeared it set about chasing
them away right up towards the
surface I have no doubt that Kahawai
have deep respect for the predatory
potential of the slower moving
Snapper and the short bursts of speed
they are capable of Itrsquos witnessing
this sort of near natural behaviour
that really appeals to me when using
stealth but it was time to start fishing
two hours into a my four hour trip and
I had not put a fly in the water
What followed was a session of
continued activity from 400-450
mm Snapper that eclipsed normal
experience My usual approach is
to present a fly to a sighted fish and
then leave the area to rest while I
work another spot close by However
the mood of the fish meant that a
momentary pause was all that was
required between catches at least 8
fish were caught and released before
I switched focus to the gutter just 100
meters north Once again the Kahawai
appeared and soon after some feisty
Snapper started to win the race for
whatever made a tell tale splash on
the surface With knowledge of an
upcoming bone fishing trip I dropped
my leader down to 45 kg and tied
on a small size 4 fly Whether it was
the light gentle approach with which
each fish was fought or the mood of
the fish that day I caught another 12
reasonable Snapper before it was time
to pack up to make the ferry home
While there were no fish caught that
warranted trophy status the pleasure
I took in watching my tiny fly being
approached by respectable Snapper
and the excitement of letting them
pull line from my reel to ensure I was
not busted off made for a fantastic
dayrsquos fishing something to chuckle
about as I joined the afternoon crowds
walking up queen street in the middle
of Aucklandrsquos downtown
While there were no fish caught that warranted trophy status the pleasure I took in watching my tiny fly being approached by respectable Snapper and the excitement of letting them pull line from my reel to ensure I was not busted off made for a fantastic days fishing something to chuckle about as I joined the afternoon crowds walking up queen street in the middle of Aucklandrsquos downtown
22 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
VANUATU HAS A well-deserved
reputation for exceptionally good
game fishing in the heavy and light
tackle classes as well as newer
techniques like jigging and surface
fishing with poppers and stickbaits
From the 1000m contour line and
the renowned lsquoMarlin Highwayrsquo which
runs hundreds of miles in a north
south direction close to Vanuatu to
the various FADrsquos just offshore and
often itrsquos only a short trip with the
hammers down to get you into some
hot fishing action
Vanuatu is one of the worldsrsquo top
blue marlin fisheries with a number of
world records to its credit as well as a
good number of lsquogranderrsquo blues that
have been taken in the area Most of
the regular game fishing charter boats
would catch around 100 per year with
many being tagged and released to
conserve the fishery
Best times and species
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year
round however the ideal times are
March through November as this
is the time when the weather
and water conditions are usually
optimal Itrsquos also rather nice
timing in that it gives Kiwis and
Aussies the excuse to escape the
clutches of winter and head for
warmer climes and some fishing
By Grant Blair The Fishing Website
Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
wwwnzfisherconz 23
sportFISHING
While being a renowned blue marlin
fishery with frequent catches in the
100-200kg range the odd XXXL
model does turn up in the gear and
the current record stands at a very
respectable 515kg or 1135 old-
fashioned pounds
Other species that are targeted and
frequently caught in the area include
black marlin sailfish striped marlin
yellow fin tuna mahi-mahi wahoo
Spanish mackerel sailfish dogtooth
tuna coral trout job fish and red bass
Yellow fin and dog tooth tuna
reach some very large proportions
Dogtooth grow to around 80kg and
yellow fin to 100kg while rare are
quite possible
The most important thing about
Vanuatu is the surrounding waters
are rich in a wide range of species
and therersquos plenty to interest anglers
of all abilities and interests be it
trolling for pelagics jigging the
drop-offs or surface fishing with
poppers and stickbaits
Where to go
The main game fishing
operations operating in Vanuatu are
found on Efate - Port Vila and on
Santo - Luganville From Port Vila it
can be only a 10-15 minute trip to be
into sailfish and yellow fin action in
Mele Bay at certain times of the year
however it takes longer to get to the
FADS and out to the marlin highway
Possible destinations with local charter
operators include the Marlin Highway
Blue Hat 366 Nguna Volcano the
Erromango Sea Mounts and Hat
Island From Santo the journey is
considerably longer however there is
good fishing along the way
On some of the smaller islands there
are fishing options in various states of
development and itrsquos even possible
to rent a small dugout and create
your own adventure in and around
the reefs and drops close inshore
catching a variety of species on lighter
tackle Be careful eating reef fish due
to ciguatera A tip we heard from the
locals ndash cut a small section from the
fish and leave it outside overnight If
the ants eat it it should be OK to eat
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year round however the ideal times are March through November as this is the time when the weather and water conditions are usually optimal Itrsquos also rather nice timing in that it gives Kiwis and Aussies the excuse to escape the clutches of winter and head for warmer climes and some fishing
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
wwwnzfisherconz 11
competitionFISHING
The tournament format sees teams
draw their daily boats and skipper
from a ballot this evens the field a
little but therersquos no substitute for
experience as the local US and central
Pacific teams took an early lead Day
one for the Salty Dogs involved a lot
of trolling and only one sailfish (other
teams landed 6 ndash 8)
On day two they drew Spanish Fly
a very successful boat on day one
and their luck changed immediately
All four members of the crew landed
sailfish that day while Pete and Mike
landed two each and saw a bunch
more Team Salty Dogs were the top
ranked team on Day two ndash outclassing
all others and putting themselves in
the mix for the final day
Day three while eventful (they were
surrounded by a huge pod of lsquoSpinner
Dolphinsrsquo at one point) didnrsquot see
enough fish landed by the boys and
they faded to mid pack
To even make the grade to win entry
is a huge achievement wersquore stoked
to see they got some great fish and
had a ball You can see some of their
fishing highlights here
Well done Team Salty Dogs what a
great trip
12 wwwnzfisherconz
LANDBASEDfishing
Bucket List Time in the Far North Part 2 ndash CMvD
AS WE GOT DOWN towards Maria
we could see a couple of boats fishing
off the back of the island and it wasnrsquot
long before we saw one and then the
second hooked up into what looked
like good solid fish Fair to say the
excitement levels were going up
Whenever we go and fish somewhere
new I like to take a bit of time and
have a look around the area you just
never know when yoursquoll get a chance
to come back
The north side of the island goes
straight onto sand and only a few
metres deep Everywhere we looked
in the clear water were Kahawai
massive numbers of them and we
know what likes eating Kahawai The
current running through was pretty
strong and even if we had been
allowed to land on the island (NB
yoursquore not) we couldnrsquot see how wersquod
get an anchor to hold in the sand with
enough pressure to get the bungee
anchor system working
The south-facing side of the island
was still getting the SW swell but it
looked much rockier and deeper and
exactly the kind of place yoursquod want to
fish if you could Coming back round
the island we ran through the channel
separating it from the mainland and the
current was absolutely racing through
creating standing waves at one end
We finally decided on some awesome
looking ledges just inside the Cape
parked the boat up did the big
unload and started getting into it As
always the rule is that no-one fishes till
all the rods are setup and before this
starts the berley goes in the water
With live bait rods popper rods and
Snapper and livey-catching gear by
the time wersquore done the berley is
always pumping and often wersquoll get
5-6kg fish chewing on the bag and
nailed first cast
This time Andrew was first in the water
with a bait and it was only a matter of
minutes maybe not even that long
and he was into a solid fish that set off
Cape Maria van Diemen ndash in a DinghyBy Forsyth Thompson
wwwnzfisherconz 13
LANDBASEDfishing
on a heavy run But within less than
another minute it was over and hersquod
been utterly dealt to by what looked
for all money to be a big Snapper
Quick retie filthy big bait and the
exact same thing was repeated This
one if anything seemed even bigger
and I genuinely thought he might be
into his first 20 and then it ended in
disaster in the same way Shit these
west coast Snapper werenrsquot messing
around Two massive hook-ups
followed by two complete hidings
and Andrew was getting schooled
Naturally as fishing mates Will and I
were supportive and offered plenty
of encouragement Well thatrsquos how I
remember it anyway
By now the Kahawai were everywhere
and all three of us were swimming
livies and watching them with
apprehension Having had a few
legal kings but no big ones we were
hopeful this was going to be our shot
The next thing we know Andrew is
shouting and pointing at what was
pretty much just a hole in the ocean
as far as we could see Big shark
apparently ndash Will and I frankly didnrsquot
pay much notice figuring it was just a
regular bronzie
Wersquod had a few decent Snapper by this
point but no sign of a king when two
turned up at once buzzing everything
but refusing to take poppers stickbaits
baits or livies There are few things
more frustrating for LBG fishermen than
this but when theyrsquore not in the mood
and yoursquove tried everything therersquos not
much else to do
Then one then two of our balloons
came tearing into the ledge and then
across in front of us and it was my turn
to do the pointingshouting thing
behind them was by far the biggest
bronzie Irsquod ever seen top of its tail
sticking what looked like nearly a full
meter out of the water and the bulk
of it looking like a family-sized car as
it cruised past and just inhaled one
of the unlucky baits As it took off
and felt the resistance it went crazy
Evans amp Will
Andrew Evans with a prime Far North Trevally
14 wwwnzfisherconz
right there in front of us and whilst
there was never a chance in a million
of landing it it was something to see
Again and again as it turned out from
memory the same fish had four of our
livebaits throughout the day and Will
(who has done a lot of game fishing)
called it for an easy 200kg+
I couldnrsquot even guesstimate at the size
but Irsquove seen a lot of sharks including
some big makos and threshers
and this was way way up there on
the scale An extraordinary sight
and a reminder that we really were
somewhere just a little bit different
Strangely this huge resident shark
even in feeding mode didnrsquot kill
the fishing off and we had plenty of
Snapper although no monsters and
then finally the ratchet went off on my
livies set and this was definitely not
LANDBASEDfishing
our shark but one seriously grumpy
king I was on the same gear Irsquod got
the 20kg one at E Cape not long
previously and this fish was giving
me a much harder time No question
I had PB in my mind as I tried to get
it in close enough for a gaff shot We
finally got a look at the fish and it was
clearly nothing like the size of the last
one but it was still going hard and we
spent probably another 5-10 minutes
before we made the call to keep it
and put a gaff into it At only around
13kg it was no monster at all but the
fight it put up on an Everol 50 with
37kg was absolutely ridiculous for a
fish its size Obviously they just breed
them tougher out on the west coast
The rest of the day passed with a
few more Snapper a couple of kings
wwwnzfisherconz 15
LANDBASEDfishing
sighted but not hooked and a few
more sharkings for Andrew
No trevs had shown up until later
in the day as we started dumping
all the leftover bait and we had
them coming right up to the ledge
taking baits Andrew got a good 4kg
one I lost one and we saw some
significantly bigger ones cruising the
berley But with such a crazy number
of Kahawai in attendance we just
couldnrsquot get baits to them Still
the sight of huge west coast trevs
within a rod length of where we were
standing was pretty cool and we had
one in the bag for sashimi
None of us wanted to leave but there
was no way on earth we were going to
round the Cape in the dark so despite
the Snapper bite coming back on in
a really serious way we just had to
Layng into the fish of the day
16 wwwnzfisherconz
do the sensible thing I canrsquot imagine
therersquos a fish on earth that would
make me think that Reinga in a 35m
boat would be ok in the dark Like
the first two days wersquod not cracked
any PBs and wersquod not actually caught
any really big fish but the experience
wersquod had (even just getting there)
and the country wersquod fished had been
absolutely special and one I genuinely
wonrsquot forget
Wersquod finished three days in the Far
North with a trip I never thought Irsquod
be able to do in the little stabi and
wersquod had some awesome adventures
and seen some amazing things So
wersquod got no PBs and really hadnrsquot
landed any monsters at all but it
just didnrsquot matter in the slightest
Sometimes you need to remember
that the truly great trips donrsquot always
have to be the ones with the biggest
fish getting out and having real
adventures with great mates will
always keep me coming back
LANDBASEDfishing
The beach kisses the ocean
Rounding the cape
Out of the sun they saw us
wwwnzfisherconz 17
1
2
3
4
5
5 simple rulesto help you stay safe
Life jacketsTake them ndash Wear them
Boats especially ones under 6m in length can sink very quickly Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water
Skipper responsibilityThe skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat Stay within the limits of your vessel and your experience
CommunicationsTake two separate waterproof ways of communicating so we can help you if you get into difficulties
Marine weather New Zealandrsquos weather can be highly unpredictable Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes
Avoid alcohol Safe boating and alcohol do not mix Things can change quickly on the water You need to stay alert and aware
For more information about safe boating education and how to prepare for your boating activity visit wwwadventuresmartorgnz
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The Boating Safety
Before you go boating on our seas lakes and rivers get familiar with New Zealandrsquos Boating Safety Code no matter what kind of boat you use
CODE
wwwadventuresmartorgnz
The Water Safety The Outdoor Safety
CODE CODE
Also available
18 wwwnzfisherconz
boatFISHING
IF YOU WANT TO catch that fish
of a life time you need to get out
of Auckland right Not necessarily
Whangaparaoa resident Tony Hurley
not only caught the fish of his life time
in June he caught the fish that nearly
every Auckland boat owner is after and
he did it within sight of the Sky Tower
At 34lb 4 ounces (1554 kg) and 95 cm
long Tonyrsquos Snapper is of Moby Dick
proportions So how did he do it
ldquoThinking positively is a big part of
itrdquo says Tony In fact Tony goes as
far as saying that he knew something
special was going to happen that
day After anchoring up at his usual
shallow water spot at Tiritiri Island
Tony and his mate settled into a
pretty good fishing session Six fish
between 10 and 18 lb were landed
before Tony hooked into the monster
fish on a half pillie The fish was
netted after a 4-5 minute fight and a
handful of surging runs
Tony describes the fight of these
big Snapper as much like that of a
stingray He should know he has
caught plenty of large Snapper to 24
lb at his Tiri spot
Upon arriving home parking capacity
on Tonyrsquos street became in hot
demand as word of the big fish got
around All up Tony splurged five
bottles of top shelf liquor on the
impromptu guests
The big Snapper is currently being
mounted by a taxidermist and will
be put up on the wall of Top Catch
Whangaparaoa
By Darren Parsons
Monster Snapper Snared in Auckland
wwwnzfisherconz 19
20 wwwnzfisherconz
localFISHING
Fish Your Feet First
I AM CONSTANTLY searching for
new rocky coastlines to explore with
a fly rod to catch Snapper in winter
One of the tricks to catching a fish on
a regular basis is knowing when to
fish and where Part science and part
intuition multiple factors swirl around
right to the last minute before the
final commitment is made to head in a
certain direction Transport company
tides and of course the weather all play
significant roles in the final decision Itrsquos
the transport option that has played
the biggest role in some of my recent
fishing experiences and in a city like
Auckland which offers so many options
being restricted to land is not always a
bad thing I have many options to be
boat fishing and often decline the big
trips away what I really enjoy is the fast
and spontaneous adventure available
by jumping on a ferry to one of the
many Hauraki Gulf islands
Recently a northeasterly storm
whipped up Northlands east coast for
several days On Saturday the wind
eased but the swell was big enough
for the inner city beaches to offer head
high waves Many points and reefs
that are not surf spots for 364 days of
the year came alive with quality surf
I joined the multitude of Auckland
surfers to savor these rare waves so
close to home
Sunday the wind shifted again and the
swell had eased to offer just enough
surge to make the fishing interesting
On the ferry at 9am a short hike
and a scramble down to some rocks
wwwnzfisherconz 21
localFISHING
I was greeted with green murky
water stirred by the recent storm
These conditions can often produce
great fishing as Snapper forage the
shallows for easy meals in the surge
and discoloured water but on other
days it just makes it hard see your fly
or believe the fish are there Arriving
at a spot that I would have previously
dismissed as a fishing location due to
the shallow water rocks and weed
I set about seeding some gutters
with tiny pilchard pieces Nothing
appeared in the first 40 minutes
baitfish and Kahawai who are the usual
first arrivals did not intercept the tiny
pieces as they sunk to the bottom
Knowing there was more to be gained
by retiring from the rock I had chosen
to hide behind than continuing to
work the small gutter I set about
putting together a 9wt fly rod and
re-positioned myself along the coast
where I found another gutter with an
equally good elevated hiding position
These days I choose my fishing spots
for the potential to conceal myself as
much as any other factor Returning
to the first gutter and just as I was
beginning to think ldquoI should have
been here yesterdayrdquo when the swell
would have been really stirring things
up for the Snapper a large Kahawai
blasted past That first Kahawai was
the first arrival of a small pack that I
kept active for the next ten minutes
Often the Snapper will move in to
investigate a fishy commotion and
depending on their mood will either
find the buzzing Kahawai off putting
or competitors that need to be
pushed along
Soon I had a Snapper claiming some
dominance over the Kahawai which
were twice its size Kahawai know
that speed is their only weapon and
as the competition hotted up over
the tiny morsels a few more Snapper
moved in and pushed the Kahawai
out We witnessed this relationship
in spectacular fashion last year on
the Coromandel where the Kahawai
were numerous and lightning quick
however when a Snapper of about
3kg size appeared it set about chasing
them away right up towards the
surface I have no doubt that Kahawai
have deep respect for the predatory
potential of the slower moving
Snapper and the short bursts of speed
they are capable of Itrsquos witnessing
this sort of near natural behaviour
that really appeals to me when using
stealth but it was time to start fishing
two hours into a my four hour trip and
I had not put a fly in the water
What followed was a session of
continued activity from 400-450
mm Snapper that eclipsed normal
experience My usual approach is
to present a fly to a sighted fish and
then leave the area to rest while I
work another spot close by However
the mood of the fish meant that a
momentary pause was all that was
required between catches at least 8
fish were caught and released before
I switched focus to the gutter just 100
meters north Once again the Kahawai
appeared and soon after some feisty
Snapper started to win the race for
whatever made a tell tale splash on
the surface With knowledge of an
upcoming bone fishing trip I dropped
my leader down to 45 kg and tied
on a small size 4 fly Whether it was
the light gentle approach with which
each fish was fought or the mood of
the fish that day I caught another 12
reasonable Snapper before it was time
to pack up to make the ferry home
While there were no fish caught that
warranted trophy status the pleasure
I took in watching my tiny fly being
approached by respectable Snapper
and the excitement of letting them
pull line from my reel to ensure I was
not busted off made for a fantastic
dayrsquos fishing something to chuckle
about as I joined the afternoon crowds
walking up queen street in the middle
of Aucklandrsquos downtown
While there were no fish caught that warranted trophy status the pleasure I took in watching my tiny fly being approached by respectable Snapper and the excitement of letting them pull line from my reel to ensure I was not busted off made for a fantastic days fishing something to chuckle about as I joined the afternoon crowds walking up queen street in the middle of Aucklandrsquos downtown
22 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
VANUATU HAS A well-deserved
reputation for exceptionally good
game fishing in the heavy and light
tackle classes as well as newer
techniques like jigging and surface
fishing with poppers and stickbaits
From the 1000m contour line and
the renowned lsquoMarlin Highwayrsquo which
runs hundreds of miles in a north
south direction close to Vanuatu to
the various FADrsquos just offshore and
often itrsquos only a short trip with the
hammers down to get you into some
hot fishing action
Vanuatu is one of the worldsrsquo top
blue marlin fisheries with a number of
world records to its credit as well as a
good number of lsquogranderrsquo blues that
have been taken in the area Most of
the regular game fishing charter boats
would catch around 100 per year with
many being tagged and released to
conserve the fishery
Best times and species
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year
round however the ideal times are
March through November as this
is the time when the weather
and water conditions are usually
optimal Itrsquos also rather nice
timing in that it gives Kiwis and
Aussies the excuse to escape the
clutches of winter and head for
warmer climes and some fishing
By Grant Blair The Fishing Website
Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
wwwnzfisherconz 23
sportFISHING
While being a renowned blue marlin
fishery with frequent catches in the
100-200kg range the odd XXXL
model does turn up in the gear and
the current record stands at a very
respectable 515kg or 1135 old-
fashioned pounds
Other species that are targeted and
frequently caught in the area include
black marlin sailfish striped marlin
yellow fin tuna mahi-mahi wahoo
Spanish mackerel sailfish dogtooth
tuna coral trout job fish and red bass
Yellow fin and dog tooth tuna
reach some very large proportions
Dogtooth grow to around 80kg and
yellow fin to 100kg while rare are
quite possible
The most important thing about
Vanuatu is the surrounding waters
are rich in a wide range of species
and therersquos plenty to interest anglers
of all abilities and interests be it
trolling for pelagics jigging the
drop-offs or surface fishing with
poppers and stickbaits
Where to go
The main game fishing
operations operating in Vanuatu are
found on Efate - Port Vila and on
Santo - Luganville From Port Vila it
can be only a 10-15 minute trip to be
into sailfish and yellow fin action in
Mele Bay at certain times of the year
however it takes longer to get to the
FADS and out to the marlin highway
Possible destinations with local charter
operators include the Marlin Highway
Blue Hat 366 Nguna Volcano the
Erromango Sea Mounts and Hat
Island From Santo the journey is
considerably longer however there is
good fishing along the way
On some of the smaller islands there
are fishing options in various states of
development and itrsquos even possible
to rent a small dugout and create
your own adventure in and around
the reefs and drops close inshore
catching a variety of species on lighter
tackle Be careful eating reef fish due
to ciguatera A tip we heard from the
locals ndash cut a small section from the
fish and leave it outside overnight If
the ants eat it it should be OK to eat
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year round however the ideal times are March through November as this is the time when the weather and water conditions are usually optimal Itrsquos also rather nice timing in that it gives Kiwis and Aussies the excuse to escape the clutches of winter and head for warmer climes and some fishing
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
12 wwwnzfisherconz
LANDBASEDfishing
Bucket List Time in the Far North Part 2 ndash CMvD
AS WE GOT DOWN towards Maria
we could see a couple of boats fishing
off the back of the island and it wasnrsquot
long before we saw one and then the
second hooked up into what looked
like good solid fish Fair to say the
excitement levels were going up
Whenever we go and fish somewhere
new I like to take a bit of time and
have a look around the area you just
never know when yoursquoll get a chance
to come back
The north side of the island goes
straight onto sand and only a few
metres deep Everywhere we looked
in the clear water were Kahawai
massive numbers of them and we
know what likes eating Kahawai The
current running through was pretty
strong and even if we had been
allowed to land on the island (NB
yoursquore not) we couldnrsquot see how wersquod
get an anchor to hold in the sand with
enough pressure to get the bungee
anchor system working
The south-facing side of the island
was still getting the SW swell but it
looked much rockier and deeper and
exactly the kind of place yoursquod want to
fish if you could Coming back round
the island we ran through the channel
separating it from the mainland and the
current was absolutely racing through
creating standing waves at one end
We finally decided on some awesome
looking ledges just inside the Cape
parked the boat up did the big
unload and started getting into it As
always the rule is that no-one fishes till
all the rods are setup and before this
starts the berley goes in the water
With live bait rods popper rods and
Snapper and livey-catching gear by
the time wersquore done the berley is
always pumping and often wersquoll get
5-6kg fish chewing on the bag and
nailed first cast
This time Andrew was first in the water
with a bait and it was only a matter of
minutes maybe not even that long
and he was into a solid fish that set off
Cape Maria van Diemen ndash in a DinghyBy Forsyth Thompson
wwwnzfisherconz 13
LANDBASEDfishing
on a heavy run But within less than
another minute it was over and hersquod
been utterly dealt to by what looked
for all money to be a big Snapper
Quick retie filthy big bait and the
exact same thing was repeated This
one if anything seemed even bigger
and I genuinely thought he might be
into his first 20 and then it ended in
disaster in the same way Shit these
west coast Snapper werenrsquot messing
around Two massive hook-ups
followed by two complete hidings
and Andrew was getting schooled
Naturally as fishing mates Will and I
were supportive and offered plenty
of encouragement Well thatrsquos how I
remember it anyway
By now the Kahawai were everywhere
and all three of us were swimming
livies and watching them with
apprehension Having had a few
legal kings but no big ones we were
hopeful this was going to be our shot
The next thing we know Andrew is
shouting and pointing at what was
pretty much just a hole in the ocean
as far as we could see Big shark
apparently ndash Will and I frankly didnrsquot
pay much notice figuring it was just a
regular bronzie
Wersquod had a few decent Snapper by this
point but no sign of a king when two
turned up at once buzzing everything
but refusing to take poppers stickbaits
baits or livies There are few things
more frustrating for LBG fishermen than
this but when theyrsquore not in the mood
and yoursquove tried everything therersquos not
much else to do
Then one then two of our balloons
came tearing into the ledge and then
across in front of us and it was my turn
to do the pointingshouting thing
behind them was by far the biggest
bronzie Irsquod ever seen top of its tail
sticking what looked like nearly a full
meter out of the water and the bulk
of it looking like a family-sized car as
it cruised past and just inhaled one
of the unlucky baits As it took off
and felt the resistance it went crazy
Evans amp Will
Andrew Evans with a prime Far North Trevally
14 wwwnzfisherconz
right there in front of us and whilst
there was never a chance in a million
of landing it it was something to see
Again and again as it turned out from
memory the same fish had four of our
livebaits throughout the day and Will
(who has done a lot of game fishing)
called it for an easy 200kg+
I couldnrsquot even guesstimate at the size
but Irsquove seen a lot of sharks including
some big makos and threshers
and this was way way up there on
the scale An extraordinary sight
and a reminder that we really were
somewhere just a little bit different
Strangely this huge resident shark
even in feeding mode didnrsquot kill
the fishing off and we had plenty of
Snapper although no monsters and
then finally the ratchet went off on my
livies set and this was definitely not
LANDBASEDfishing
our shark but one seriously grumpy
king I was on the same gear Irsquod got
the 20kg one at E Cape not long
previously and this fish was giving
me a much harder time No question
I had PB in my mind as I tried to get
it in close enough for a gaff shot We
finally got a look at the fish and it was
clearly nothing like the size of the last
one but it was still going hard and we
spent probably another 5-10 minutes
before we made the call to keep it
and put a gaff into it At only around
13kg it was no monster at all but the
fight it put up on an Everol 50 with
37kg was absolutely ridiculous for a
fish its size Obviously they just breed
them tougher out on the west coast
The rest of the day passed with a
few more Snapper a couple of kings
wwwnzfisherconz 15
LANDBASEDfishing
sighted but not hooked and a few
more sharkings for Andrew
No trevs had shown up until later
in the day as we started dumping
all the leftover bait and we had
them coming right up to the ledge
taking baits Andrew got a good 4kg
one I lost one and we saw some
significantly bigger ones cruising the
berley But with such a crazy number
of Kahawai in attendance we just
couldnrsquot get baits to them Still
the sight of huge west coast trevs
within a rod length of where we were
standing was pretty cool and we had
one in the bag for sashimi
None of us wanted to leave but there
was no way on earth we were going to
round the Cape in the dark so despite
the Snapper bite coming back on in
a really serious way we just had to
Layng into the fish of the day
16 wwwnzfisherconz
do the sensible thing I canrsquot imagine
therersquos a fish on earth that would
make me think that Reinga in a 35m
boat would be ok in the dark Like
the first two days wersquod not cracked
any PBs and wersquod not actually caught
any really big fish but the experience
wersquod had (even just getting there)
and the country wersquod fished had been
absolutely special and one I genuinely
wonrsquot forget
Wersquod finished three days in the Far
North with a trip I never thought Irsquod
be able to do in the little stabi and
wersquod had some awesome adventures
and seen some amazing things So
wersquod got no PBs and really hadnrsquot
landed any monsters at all but it
just didnrsquot matter in the slightest
Sometimes you need to remember
that the truly great trips donrsquot always
have to be the ones with the biggest
fish getting out and having real
adventures with great mates will
always keep me coming back
LANDBASEDfishing
The beach kisses the ocean
Rounding the cape
Out of the sun they saw us
wwwnzfisherconz 17
1
2
3
4
5
5 simple rulesto help you stay safe
Life jacketsTake them ndash Wear them
Boats especially ones under 6m in length can sink very quickly Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water
Skipper responsibilityThe skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat Stay within the limits of your vessel and your experience
CommunicationsTake two separate waterproof ways of communicating so we can help you if you get into difficulties
Marine weather New Zealandrsquos weather can be highly unpredictable Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes
Avoid alcohol Safe boating and alcohol do not mix Things can change quickly on the water You need to stay alert and aware
For more information about safe boating education and how to prepare for your boating activity visit wwwadventuresmartorgnz
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The Boating Safety
Before you go boating on our seas lakes and rivers get familiar with New Zealandrsquos Boating Safety Code no matter what kind of boat you use
CODE
wwwadventuresmartorgnz
The Water Safety The Outdoor Safety
CODE CODE
Also available
18 wwwnzfisherconz
boatFISHING
IF YOU WANT TO catch that fish
of a life time you need to get out
of Auckland right Not necessarily
Whangaparaoa resident Tony Hurley
not only caught the fish of his life time
in June he caught the fish that nearly
every Auckland boat owner is after and
he did it within sight of the Sky Tower
At 34lb 4 ounces (1554 kg) and 95 cm
long Tonyrsquos Snapper is of Moby Dick
proportions So how did he do it
ldquoThinking positively is a big part of
itrdquo says Tony In fact Tony goes as
far as saying that he knew something
special was going to happen that
day After anchoring up at his usual
shallow water spot at Tiritiri Island
Tony and his mate settled into a
pretty good fishing session Six fish
between 10 and 18 lb were landed
before Tony hooked into the monster
fish on a half pillie The fish was
netted after a 4-5 minute fight and a
handful of surging runs
Tony describes the fight of these
big Snapper as much like that of a
stingray He should know he has
caught plenty of large Snapper to 24
lb at his Tiri spot
Upon arriving home parking capacity
on Tonyrsquos street became in hot
demand as word of the big fish got
around All up Tony splurged five
bottles of top shelf liquor on the
impromptu guests
The big Snapper is currently being
mounted by a taxidermist and will
be put up on the wall of Top Catch
Whangaparaoa
By Darren Parsons
Monster Snapper Snared in Auckland
wwwnzfisherconz 19
20 wwwnzfisherconz
localFISHING
Fish Your Feet First
I AM CONSTANTLY searching for
new rocky coastlines to explore with
a fly rod to catch Snapper in winter
One of the tricks to catching a fish on
a regular basis is knowing when to
fish and where Part science and part
intuition multiple factors swirl around
right to the last minute before the
final commitment is made to head in a
certain direction Transport company
tides and of course the weather all play
significant roles in the final decision Itrsquos
the transport option that has played
the biggest role in some of my recent
fishing experiences and in a city like
Auckland which offers so many options
being restricted to land is not always a
bad thing I have many options to be
boat fishing and often decline the big
trips away what I really enjoy is the fast
and spontaneous adventure available
by jumping on a ferry to one of the
many Hauraki Gulf islands
Recently a northeasterly storm
whipped up Northlands east coast for
several days On Saturday the wind
eased but the swell was big enough
for the inner city beaches to offer head
high waves Many points and reefs
that are not surf spots for 364 days of
the year came alive with quality surf
I joined the multitude of Auckland
surfers to savor these rare waves so
close to home
Sunday the wind shifted again and the
swell had eased to offer just enough
surge to make the fishing interesting
On the ferry at 9am a short hike
and a scramble down to some rocks
wwwnzfisherconz 21
localFISHING
I was greeted with green murky
water stirred by the recent storm
These conditions can often produce
great fishing as Snapper forage the
shallows for easy meals in the surge
and discoloured water but on other
days it just makes it hard see your fly
or believe the fish are there Arriving
at a spot that I would have previously
dismissed as a fishing location due to
the shallow water rocks and weed
I set about seeding some gutters
with tiny pilchard pieces Nothing
appeared in the first 40 minutes
baitfish and Kahawai who are the usual
first arrivals did not intercept the tiny
pieces as they sunk to the bottom
Knowing there was more to be gained
by retiring from the rock I had chosen
to hide behind than continuing to
work the small gutter I set about
putting together a 9wt fly rod and
re-positioned myself along the coast
where I found another gutter with an
equally good elevated hiding position
These days I choose my fishing spots
for the potential to conceal myself as
much as any other factor Returning
to the first gutter and just as I was
beginning to think ldquoI should have
been here yesterdayrdquo when the swell
would have been really stirring things
up for the Snapper a large Kahawai
blasted past That first Kahawai was
the first arrival of a small pack that I
kept active for the next ten minutes
Often the Snapper will move in to
investigate a fishy commotion and
depending on their mood will either
find the buzzing Kahawai off putting
or competitors that need to be
pushed along
Soon I had a Snapper claiming some
dominance over the Kahawai which
were twice its size Kahawai know
that speed is their only weapon and
as the competition hotted up over
the tiny morsels a few more Snapper
moved in and pushed the Kahawai
out We witnessed this relationship
in spectacular fashion last year on
the Coromandel where the Kahawai
were numerous and lightning quick
however when a Snapper of about
3kg size appeared it set about chasing
them away right up towards the
surface I have no doubt that Kahawai
have deep respect for the predatory
potential of the slower moving
Snapper and the short bursts of speed
they are capable of Itrsquos witnessing
this sort of near natural behaviour
that really appeals to me when using
stealth but it was time to start fishing
two hours into a my four hour trip and
I had not put a fly in the water
What followed was a session of
continued activity from 400-450
mm Snapper that eclipsed normal
experience My usual approach is
to present a fly to a sighted fish and
then leave the area to rest while I
work another spot close by However
the mood of the fish meant that a
momentary pause was all that was
required between catches at least 8
fish were caught and released before
I switched focus to the gutter just 100
meters north Once again the Kahawai
appeared and soon after some feisty
Snapper started to win the race for
whatever made a tell tale splash on
the surface With knowledge of an
upcoming bone fishing trip I dropped
my leader down to 45 kg and tied
on a small size 4 fly Whether it was
the light gentle approach with which
each fish was fought or the mood of
the fish that day I caught another 12
reasonable Snapper before it was time
to pack up to make the ferry home
While there were no fish caught that
warranted trophy status the pleasure
I took in watching my tiny fly being
approached by respectable Snapper
and the excitement of letting them
pull line from my reel to ensure I was
not busted off made for a fantastic
dayrsquos fishing something to chuckle
about as I joined the afternoon crowds
walking up queen street in the middle
of Aucklandrsquos downtown
While there were no fish caught that warranted trophy status the pleasure I took in watching my tiny fly being approached by respectable Snapper and the excitement of letting them pull line from my reel to ensure I was not busted off made for a fantastic days fishing something to chuckle about as I joined the afternoon crowds walking up queen street in the middle of Aucklandrsquos downtown
22 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
VANUATU HAS A well-deserved
reputation for exceptionally good
game fishing in the heavy and light
tackle classes as well as newer
techniques like jigging and surface
fishing with poppers and stickbaits
From the 1000m contour line and
the renowned lsquoMarlin Highwayrsquo which
runs hundreds of miles in a north
south direction close to Vanuatu to
the various FADrsquos just offshore and
often itrsquos only a short trip with the
hammers down to get you into some
hot fishing action
Vanuatu is one of the worldsrsquo top
blue marlin fisheries with a number of
world records to its credit as well as a
good number of lsquogranderrsquo blues that
have been taken in the area Most of
the regular game fishing charter boats
would catch around 100 per year with
many being tagged and released to
conserve the fishery
Best times and species
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year
round however the ideal times are
March through November as this
is the time when the weather
and water conditions are usually
optimal Itrsquos also rather nice
timing in that it gives Kiwis and
Aussies the excuse to escape the
clutches of winter and head for
warmer climes and some fishing
By Grant Blair The Fishing Website
Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
wwwnzfisherconz 23
sportFISHING
While being a renowned blue marlin
fishery with frequent catches in the
100-200kg range the odd XXXL
model does turn up in the gear and
the current record stands at a very
respectable 515kg or 1135 old-
fashioned pounds
Other species that are targeted and
frequently caught in the area include
black marlin sailfish striped marlin
yellow fin tuna mahi-mahi wahoo
Spanish mackerel sailfish dogtooth
tuna coral trout job fish and red bass
Yellow fin and dog tooth tuna
reach some very large proportions
Dogtooth grow to around 80kg and
yellow fin to 100kg while rare are
quite possible
The most important thing about
Vanuatu is the surrounding waters
are rich in a wide range of species
and therersquos plenty to interest anglers
of all abilities and interests be it
trolling for pelagics jigging the
drop-offs or surface fishing with
poppers and stickbaits
Where to go
The main game fishing
operations operating in Vanuatu are
found on Efate - Port Vila and on
Santo - Luganville From Port Vila it
can be only a 10-15 minute trip to be
into sailfish and yellow fin action in
Mele Bay at certain times of the year
however it takes longer to get to the
FADS and out to the marlin highway
Possible destinations with local charter
operators include the Marlin Highway
Blue Hat 366 Nguna Volcano the
Erromango Sea Mounts and Hat
Island From Santo the journey is
considerably longer however there is
good fishing along the way
On some of the smaller islands there
are fishing options in various states of
development and itrsquos even possible
to rent a small dugout and create
your own adventure in and around
the reefs and drops close inshore
catching a variety of species on lighter
tackle Be careful eating reef fish due
to ciguatera A tip we heard from the
locals ndash cut a small section from the
fish and leave it outside overnight If
the ants eat it it should be OK to eat
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year round however the ideal times are March through November as this is the time when the weather and water conditions are usually optimal Itrsquos also rather nice timing in that it gives Kiwis and Aussies the excuse to escape the clutches of winter and head for warmer climes and some fishing
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
wwwnzfisherconz 13
LANDBASEDfishing
on a heavy run But within less than
another minute it was over and hersquod
been utterly dealt to by what looked
for all money to be a big Snapper
Quick retie filthy big bait and the
exact same thing was repeated This
one if anything seemed even bigger
and I genuinely thought he might be
into his first 20 and then it ended in
disaster in the same way Shit these
west coast Snapper werenrsquot messing
around Two massive hook-ups
followed by two complete hidings
and Andrew was getting schooled
Naturally as fishing mates Will and I
were supportive and offered plenty
of encouragement Well thatrsquos how I
remember it anyway
By now the Kahawai were everywhere
and all three of us were swimming
livies and watching them with
apprehension Having had a few
legal kings but no big ones we were
hopeful this was going to be our shot
The next thing we know Andrew is
shouting and pointing at what was
pretty much just a hole in the ocean
as far as we could see Big shark
apparently ndash Will and I frankly didnrsquot
pay much notice figuring it was just a
regular bronzie
Wersquod had a few decent Snapper by this
point but no sign of a king when two
turned up at once buzzing everything
but refusing to take poppers stickbaits
baits or livies There are few things
more frustrating for LBG fishermen than
this but when theyrsquore not in the mood
and yoursquove tried everything therersquos not
much else to do
Then one then two of our balloons
came tearing into the ledge and then
across in front of us and it was my turn
to do the pointingshouting thing
behind them was by far the biggest
bronzie Irsquod ever seen top of its tail
sticking what looked like nearly a full
meter out of the water and the bulk
of it looking like a family-sized car as
it cruised past and just inhaled one
of the unlucky baits As it took off
and felt the resistance it went crazy
Evans amp Will
Andrew Evans with a prime Far North Trevally
14 wwwnzfisherconz
right there in front of us and whilst
there was never a chance in a million
of landing it it was something to see
Again and again as it turned out from
memory the same fish had four of our
livebaits throughout the day and Will
(who has done a lot of game fishing)
called it for an easy 200kg+
I couldnrsquot even guesstimate at the size
but Irsquove seen a lot of sharks including
some big makos and threshers
and this was way way up there on
the scale An extraordinary sight
and a reminder that we really were
somewhere just a little bit different
Strangely this huge resident shark
even in feeding mode didnrsquot kill
the fishing off and we had plenty of
Snapper although no monsters and
then finally the ratchet went off on my
livies set and this was definitely not
LANDBASEDfishing
our shark but one seriously grumpy
king I was on the same gear Irsquod got
the 20kg one at E Cape not long
previously and this fish was giving
me a much harder time No question
I had PB in my mind as I tried to get
it in close enough for a gaff shot We
finally got a look at the fish and it was
clearly nothing like the size of the last
one but it was still going hard and we
spent probably another 5-10 minutes
before we made the call to keep it
and put a gaff into it At only around
13kg it was no monster at all but the
fight it put up on an Everol 50 with
37kg was absolutely ridiculous for a
fish its size Obviously they just breed
them tougher out on the west coast
The rest of the day passed with a
few more Snapper a couple of kings
wwwnzfisherconz 15
LANDBASEDfishing
sighted but not hooked and a few
more sharkings for Andrew
No trevs had shown up until later
in the day as we started dumping
all the leftover bait and we had
them coming right up to the ledge
taking baits Andrew got a good 4kg
one I lost one and we saw some
significantly bigger ones cruising the
berley But with such a crazy number
of Kahawai in attendance we just
couldnrsquot get baits to them Still
the sight of huge west coast trevs
within a rod length of where we were
standing was pretty cool and we had
one in the bag for sashimi
None of us wanted to leave but there
was no way on earth we were going to
round the Cape in the dark so despite
the Snapper bite coming back on in
a really serious way we just had to
Layng into the fish of the day
16 wwwnzfisherconz
do the sensible thing I canrsquot imagine
therersquos a fish on earth that would
make me think that Reinga in a 35m
boat would be ok in the dark Like
the first two days wersquod not cracked
any PBs and wersquod not actually caught
any really big fish but the experience
wersquod had (even just getting there)
and the country wersquod fished had been
absolutely special and one I genuinely
wonrsquot forget
Wersquod finished three days in the Far
North with a trip I never thought Irsquod
be able to do in the little stabi and
wersquod had some awesome adventures
and seen some amazing things So
wersquod got no PBs and really hadnrsquot
landed any monsters at all but it
just didnrsquot matter in the slightest
Sometimes you need to remember
that the truly great trips donrsquot always
have to be the ones with the biggest
fish getting out and having real
adventures with great mates will
always keep me coming back
LANDBASEDfishing
The beach kisses the ocean
Rounding the cape
Out of the sun they saw us
wwwnzfisherconz 17
1
2
3
4
5
5 simple rulesto help you stay safe
Life jacketsTake them ndash Wear them
Boats especially ones under 6m in length can sink very quickly Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water
Skipper responsibilityThe skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat Stay within the limits of your vessel and your experience
CommunicationsTake two separate waterproof ways of communicating so we can help you if you get into difficulties
Marine weather New Zealandrsquos weather can be highly unpredictable Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes
Avoid alcohol Safe boating and alcohol do not mix Things can change quickly on the water You need to stay alert and aware
For more information about safe boating education and how to prepare for your boating activity visit wwwadventuresmartorgnz
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The Boating Safety
Before you go boating on our seas lakes and rivers get familiar with New Zealandrsquos Boating Safety Code no matter what kind of boat you use
CODE
wwwadventuresmartorgnz
The Water Safety The Outdoor Safety
CODE CODE
Also available
18 wwwnzfisherconz
boatFISHING
IF YOU WANT TO catch that fish
of a life time you need to get out
of Auckland right Not necessarily
Whangaparaoa resident Tony Hurley
not only caught the fish of his life time
in June he caught the fish that nearly
every Auckland boat owner is after and
he did it within sight of the Sky Tower
At 34lb 4 ounces (1554 kg) and 95 cm
long Tonyrsquos Snapper is of Moby Dick
proportions So how did he do it
ldquoThinking positively is a big part of
itrdquo says Tony In fact Tony goes as
far as saying that he knew something
special was going to happen that
day After anchoring up at his usual
shallow water spot at Tiritiri Island
Tony and his mate settled into a
pretty good fishing session Six fish
between 10 and 18 lb were landed
before Tony hooked into the monster
fish on a half pillie The fish was
netted after a 4-5 minute fight and a
handful of surging runs
Tony describes the fight of these
big Snapper as much like that of a
stingray He should know he has
caught plenty of large Snapper to 24
lb at his Tiri spot
Upon arriving home parking capacity
on Tonyrsquos street became in hot
demand as word of the big fish got
around All up Tony splurged five
bottles of top shelf liquor on the
impromptu guests
The big Snapper is currently being
mounted by a taxidermist and will
be put up on the wall of Top Catch
Whangaparaoa
By Darren Parsons
Monster Snapper Snared in Auckland
wwwnzfisherconz 19
20 wwwnzfisherconz
localFISHING
Fish Your Feet First
I AM CONSTANTLY searching for
new rocky coastlines to explore with
a fly rod to catch Snapper in winter
One of the tricks to catching a fish on
a regular basis is knowing when to
fish and where Part science and part
intuition multiple factors swirl around
right to the last minute before the
final commitment is made to head in a
certain direction Transport company
tides and of course the weather all play
significant roles in the final decision Itrsquos
the transport option that has played
the biggest role in some of my recent
fishing experiences and in a city like
Auckland which offers so many options
being restricted to land is not always a
bad thing I have many options to be
boat fishing and often decline the big
trips away what I really enjoy is the fast
and spontaneous adventure available
by jumping on a ferry to one of the
many Hauraki Gulf islands
Recently a northeasterly storm
whipped up Northlands east coast for
several days On Saturday the wind
eased but the swell was big enough
for the inner city beaches to offer head
high waves Many points and reefs
that are not surf spots for 364 days of
the year came alive with quality surf
I joined the multitude of Auckland
surfers to savor these rare waves so
close to home
Sunday the wind shifted again and the
swell had eased to offer just enough
surge to make the fishing interesting
On the ferry at 9am a short hike
and a scramble down to some rocks
wwwnzfisherconz 21
localFISHING
I was greeted with green murky
water stirred by the recent storm
These conditions can often produce
great fishing as Snapper forage the
shallows for easy meals in the surge
and discoloured water but on other
days it just makes it hard see your fly
or believe the fish are there Arriving
at a spot that I would have previously
dismissed as a fishing location due to
the shallow water rocks and weed
I set about seeding some gutters
with tiny pilchard pieces Nothing
appeared in the first 40 minutes
baitfish and Kahawai who are the usual
first arrivals did not intercept the tiny
pieces as they sunk to the bottom
Knowing there was more to be gained
by retiring from the rock I had chosen
to hide behind than continuing to
work the small gutter I set about
putting together a 9wt fly rod and
re-positioned myself along the coast
where I found another gutter with an
equally good elevated hiding position
These days I choose my fishing spots
for the potential to conceal myself as
much as any other factor Returning
to the first gutter and just as I was
beginning to think ldquoI should have
been here yesterdayrdquo when the swell
would have been really stirring things
up for the Snapper a large Kahawai
blasted past That first Kahawai was
the first arrival of a small pack that I
kept active for the next ten minutes
Often the Snapper will move in to
investigate a fishy commotion and
depending on their mood will either
find the buzzing Kahawai off putting
or competitors that need to be
pushed along
Soon I had a Snapper claiming some
dominance over the Kahawai which
were twice its size Kahawai know
that speed is their only weapon and
as the competition hotted up over
the tiny morsels a few more Snapper
moved in and pushed the Kahawai
out We witnessed this relationship
in spectacular fashion last year on
the Coromandel where the Kahawai
were numerous and lightning quick
however when a Snapper of about
3kg size appeared it set about chasing
them away right up towards the
surface I have no doubt that Kahawai
have deep respect for the predatory
potential of the slower moving
Snapper and the short bursts of speed
they are capable of Itrsquos witnessing
this sort of near natural behaviour
that really appeals to me when using
stealth but it was time to start fishing
two hours into a my four hour trip and
I had not put a fly in the water
What followed was a session of
continued activity from 400-450
mm Snapper that eclipsed normal
experience My usual approach is
to present a fly to a sighted fish and
then leave the area to rest while I
work another spot close by However
the mood of the fish meant that a
momentary pause was all that was
required between catches at least 8
fish were caught and released before
I switched focus to the gutter just 100
meters north Once again the Kahawai
appeared and soon after some feisty
Snapper started to win the race for
whatever made a tell tale splash on
the surface With knowledge of an
upcoming bone fishing trip I dropped
my leader down to 45 kg and tied
on a small size 4 fly Whether it was
the light gentle approach with which
each fish was fought or the mood of
the fish that day I caught another 12
reasonable Snapper before it was time
to pack up to make the ferry home
While there were no fish caught that
warranted trophy status the pleasure
I took in watching my tiny fly being
approached by respectable Snapper
and the excitement of letting them
pull line from my reel to ensure I was
not busted off made for a fantastic
dayrsquos fishing something to chuckle
about as I joined the afternoon crowds
walking up queen street in the middle
of Aucklandrsquos downtown
While there were no fish caught that warranted trophy status the pleasure I took in watching my tiny fly being approached by respectable Snapper and the excitement of letting them pull line from my reel to ensure I was not busted off made for a fantastic days fishing something to chuckle about as I joined the afternoon crowds walking up queen street in the middle of Aucklandrsquos downtown
22 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
VANUATU HAS A well-deserved
reputation for exceptionally good
game fishing in the heavy and light
tackle classes as well as newer
techniques like jigging and surface
fishing with poppers and stickbaits
From the 1000m contour line and
the renowned lsquoMarlin Highwayrsquo which
runs hundreds of miles in a north
south direction close to Vanuatu to
the various FADrsquos just offshore and
often itrsquos only a short trip with the
hammers down to get you into some
hot fishing action
Vanuatu is one of the worldsrsquo top
blue marlin fisheries with a number of
world records to its credit as well as a
good number of lsquogranderrsquo blues that
have been taken in the area Most of
the regular game fishing charter boats
would catch around 100 per year with
many being tagged and released to
conserve the fishery
Best times and species
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year
round however the ideal times are
March through November as this
is the time when the weather
and water conditions are usually
optimal Itrsquos also rather nice
timing in that it gives Kiwis and
Aussies the excuse to escape the
clutches of winter and head for
warmer climes and some fishing
By Grant Blair The Fishing Website
Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
wwwnzfisherconz 23
sportFISHING
While being a renowned blue marlin
fishery with frequent catches in the
100-200kg range the odd XXXL
model does turn up in the gear and
the current record stands at a very
respectable 515kg or 1135 old-
fashioned pounds
Other species that are targeted and
frequently caught in the area include
black marlin sailfish striped marlin
yellow fin tuna mahi-mahi wahoo
Spanish mackerel sailfish dogtooth
tuna coral trout job fish and red bass
Yellow fin and dog tooth tuna
reach some very large proportions
Dogtooth grow to around 80kg and
yellow fin to 100kg while rare are
quite possible
The most important thing about
Vanuatu is the surrounding waters
are rich in a wide range of species
and therersquos plenty to interest anglers
of all abilities and interests be it
trolling for pelagics jigging the
drop-offs or surface fishing with
poppers and stickbaits
Where to go
The main game fishing
operations operating in Vanuatu are
found on Efate - Port Vila and on
Santo - Luganville From Port Vila it
can be only a 10-15 minute trip to be
into sailfish and yellow fin action in
Mele Bay at certain times of the year
however it takes longer to get to the
FADS and out to the marlin highway
Possible destinations with local charter
operators include the Marlin Highway
Blue Hat 366 Nguna Volcano the
Erromango Sea Mounts and Hat
Island From Santo the journey is
considerably longer however there is
good fishing along the way
On some of the smaller islands there
are fishing options in various states of
development and itrsquos even possible
to rent a small dugout and create
your own adventure in and around
the reefs and drops close inshore
catching a variety of species on lighter
tackle Be careful eating reef fish due
to ciguatera A tip we heard from the
locals ndash cut a small section from the
fish and leave it outside overnight If
the ants eat it it should be OK to eat
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year round however the ideal times are March through November as this is the time when the weather and water conditions are usually optimal Itrsquos also rather nice timing in that it gives Kiwis and Aussies the excuse to escape the clutches of winter and head for warmer climes and some fishing
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
14 wwwnzfisherconz
right there in front of us and whilst
there was never a chance in a million
of landing it it was something to see
Again and again as it turned out from
memory the same fish had four of our
livebaits throughout the day and Will
(who has done a lot of game fishing)
called it for an easy 200kg+
I couldnrsquot even guesstimate at the size
but Irsquove seen a lot of sharks including
some big makos and threshers
and this was way way up there on
the scale An extraordinary sight
and a reminder that we really were
somewhere just a little bit different
Strangely this huge resident shark
even in feeding mode didnrsquot kill
the fishing off and we had plenty of
Snapper although no monsters and
then finally the ratchet went off on my
livies set and this was definitely not
LANDBASEDfishing
our shark but one seriously grumpy
king I was on the same gear Irsquod got
the 20kg one at E Cape not long
previously and this fish was giving
me a much harder time No question
I had PB in my mind as I tried to get
it in close enough for a gaff shot We
finally got a look at the fish and it was
clearly nothing like the size of the last
one but it was still going hard and we
spent probably another 5-10 minutes
before we made the call to keep it
and put a gaff into it At only around
13kg it was no monster at all but the
fight it put up on an Everol 50 with
37kg was absolutely ridiculous for a
fish its size Obviously they just breed
them tougher out on the west coast
The rest of the day passed with a
few more Snapper a couple of kings
wwwnzfisherconz 15
LANDBASEDfishing
sighted but not hooked and a few
more sharkings for Andrew
No trevs had shown up until later
in the day as we started dumping
all the leftover bait and we had
them coming right up to the ledge
taking baits Andrew got a good 4kg
one I lost one and we saw some
significantly bigger ones cruising the
berley But with such a crazy number
of Kahawai in attendance we just
couldnrsquot get baits to them Still
the sight of huge west coast trevs
within a rod length of where we were
standing was pretty cool and we had
one in the bag for sashimi
None of us wanted to leave but there
was no way on earth we were going to
round the Cape in the dark so despite
the Snapper bite coming back on in
a really serious way we just had to
Layng into the fish of the day
16 wwwnzfisherconz
do the sensible thing I canrsquot imagine
therersquos a fish on earth that would
make me think that Reinga in a 35m
boat would be ok in the dark Like
the first two days wersquod not cracked
any PBs and wersquod not actually caught
any really big fish but the experience
wersquod had (even just getting there)
and the country wersquod fished had been
absolutely special and one I genuinely
wonrsquot forget
Wersquod finished three days in the Far
North with a trip I never thought Irsquod
be able to do in the little stabi and
wersquod had some awesome adventures
and seen some amazing things So
wersquod got no PBs and really hadnrsquot
landed any monsters at all but it
just didnrsquot matter in the slightest
Sometimes you need to remember
that the truly great trips donrsquot always
have to be the ones with the biggest
fish getting out and having real
adventures with great mates will
always keep me coming back
LANDBASEDfishing
The beach kisses the ocean
Rounding the cape
Out of the sun they saw us
wwwnzfisherconz 17
1
2
3
4
5
5 simple rulesto help you stay safe
Life jacketsTake them ndash Wear them
Boats especially ones under 6m in length can sink very quickly Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water
Skipper responsibilityThe skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat Stay within the limits of your vessel and your experience
CommunicationsTake two separate waterproof ways of communicating so we can help you if you get into difficulties
Marine weather New Zealandrsquos weather can be highly unpredictable Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes
Avoid alcohol Safe boating and alcohol do not mix Things can change quickly on the water You need to stay alert and aware
For more information about safe boating education and how to prepare for your boating activity visit wwwadventuresmartorgnz
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The Boating Safety
Before you go boating on our seas lakes and rivers get familiar with New Zealandrsquos Boating Safety Code no matter what kind of boat you use
CODE
wwwadventuresmartorgnz
The Water Safety The Outdoor Safety
CODE CODE
Also available
18 wwwnzfisherconz
boatFISHING
IF YOU WANT TO catch that fish
of a life time you need to get out
of Auckland right Not necessarily
Whangaparaoa resident Tony Hurley
not only caught the fish of his life time
in June he caught the fish that nearly
every Auckland boat owner is after and
he did it within sight of the Sky Tower
At 34lb 4 ounces (1554 kg) and 95 cm
long Tonyrsquos Snapper is of Moby Dick
proportions So how did he do it
ldquoThinking positively is a big part of
itrdquo says Tony In fact Tony goes as
far as saying that he knew something
special was going to happen that
day After anchoring up at his usual
shallow water spot at Tiritiri Island
Tony and his mate settled into a
pretty good fishing session Six fish
between 10 and 18 lb were landed
before Tony hooked into the monster
fish on a half pillie The fish was
netted after a 4-5 minute fight and a
handful of surging runs
Tony describes the fight of these
big Snapper as much like that of a
stingray He should know he has
caught plenty of large Snapper to 24
lb at his Tiri spot
Upon arriving home parking capacity
on Tonyrsquos street became in hot
demand as word of the big fish got
around All up Tony splurged five
bottles of top shelf liquor on the
impromptu guests
The big Snapper is currently being
mounted by a taxidermist and will
be put up on the wall of Top Catch
Whangaparaoa
By Darren Parsons
Monster Snapper Snared in Auckland
wwwnzfisherconz 19
20 wwwnzfisherconz
localFISHING
Fish Your Feet First
I AM CONSTANTLY searching for
new rocky coastlines to explore with
a fly rod to catch Snapper in winter
One of the tricks to catching a fish on
a regular basis is knowing when to
fish and where Part science and part
intuition multiple factors swirl around
right to the last minute before the
final commitment is made to head in a
certain direction Transport company
tides and of course the weather all play
significant roles in the final decision Itrsquos
the transport option that has played
the biggest role in some of my recent
fishing experiences and in a city like
Auckland which offers so many options
being restricted to land is not always a
bad thing I have many options to be
boat fishing and often decline the big
trips away what I really enjoy is the fast
and spontaneous adventure available
by jumping on a ferry to one of the
many Hauraki Gulf islands
Recently a northeasterly storm
whipped up Northlands east coast for
several days On Saturday the wind
eased but the swell was big enough
for the inner city beaches to offer head
high waves Many points and reefs
that are not surf spots for 364 days of
the year came alive with quality surf
I joined the multitude of Auckland
surfers to savor these rare waves so
close to home
Sunday the wind shifted again and the
swell had eased to offer just enough
surge to make the fishing interesting
On the ferry at 9am a short hike
and a scramble down to some rocks
wwwnzfisherconz 21
localFISHING
I was greeted with green murky
water stirred by the recent storm
These conditions can often produce
great fishing as Snapper forage the
shallows for easy meals in the surge
and discoloured water but on other
days it just makes it hard see your fly
or believe the fish are there Arriving
at a spot that I would have previously
dismissed as a fishing location due to
the shallow water rocks and weed
I set about seeding some gutters
with tiny pilchard pieces Nothing
appeared in the first 40 minutes
baitfish and Kahawai who are the usual
first arrivals did not intercept the tiny
pieces as they sunk to the bottom
Knowing there was more to be gained
by retiring from the rock I had chosen
to hide behind than continuing to
work the small gutter I set about
putting together a 9wt fly rod and
re-positioned myself along the coast
where I found another gutter with an
equally good elevated hiding position
These days I choose my fishing spots
for the potential to conceal myself as
much as any other factor Returning
to the first gutter and just as I was
beginning to think ldquoI should have
been here yesterdayrdquo when the swell
would have been really stirring things
up for the Snapper a large Kahawai
blasted past That first Kahawai was
the first arrival of a small pack that I
kept active for the next ten minutes
Often the Snapper will move in to
investigate a fishy commotion and
depending on their mood will either
find the buzzing Kahawai off putting
or competitors that need to be
pushed along
Soon I had a Snapper claiming some
dominance over the Kahawai which
were twice its size Kahawai know
that speed is their only weapon and
as the competition hotted up over
the tiny morsels a few more Snapper
moved in and pushed the Kahawai
out We witnessed this relationship
in spectacular fashion last year on
the Coromandel where the Kahawai
were numerous and lightning quick
however when a Snapper of about
3kg size appeared it set about chasing
them away right up towards the
surface I have no doubt that Kahawai
have deep respect for the predatory
potential of the slower moving
Snapper and the short bursts of speed
they are capable of Itrsquos witnessing
this sort of near natural behaviour
that really appeals to me when using
stealth but it was time to start fishing
two hours into a my four hour trip and
I had not put a fly in the water
What followed was a session of
continued activity from 400-450
mm Snapper that eclipsed normal
experience My usual approach is
to present a fly to a sighted fish and
then leave the area to rest while I
work another spot close by However
the mood of the fish meant that a
momentary pause was all that was
required between catches at least 8
fish were caught and released before
I switched focus to the gutter just 100
meters north Once again the Kahawai
appeared and soon after some feisty
Snapper started to win the race for
whatever made a tell tale splash on
the surface With knowledge of an
upcoming bone fishing trip I dropped
my leader down to 45 kg and tied
on a small size 4 fly Whether it was
the light gentle approach with which
each fish was fought or the mood of
the fish that day I caught another 12
reasonable Snapper before it was time
to pack up to make the ferry home
While there were no fish caught that
warranted trophy status the pleasure
I took in watching my tiny fly being
approached by respectable Snapper
and the excitement of letting them
pull line from my reel to ensure I was
not busted off made for a fantastic
dayrsquos fishing something to chuckle
about as I joined the afternoon crowds
walking up queen street in the middle
of Aucklandrsquos downtown
While there were no fish caught that warranted trophy status the pleasure I took in watching my tiny fly being approached by respectable Snapper and the excitement of letting them pull line from my reel to ensure I was not busted off made for a fantastic days fishing something to chuckle about as I joined the afternoon crowds walking up queen street in the middle of Aucklandrsquos downtown
22 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
VANUATU HAS A well-deserved
reputation for exceptionally good
game fishing in the heavy and light
tackle classes as well as newer
techniques like jigging and surface
fishing with poppers and stickbaits
From the 1000m contour line and
the renowned lsquoMarlin Highwayrsquo which
runs hundreds of miles in a north
south direction close to Vanuatu to
the various FADrsquos just offshore and
often itrsquos only a short trip with the
hammers down to get you into some
hot fishing action
Vanuatu is one of the worldsrsquo top
blue marlin fisheries with a number of
world records to its credit as well as a
good number of lsquogranderrsquo blues that
have been taken in the area Most of
the regular game fishing charter boats
would catch around 100 per year with
many being tagged and released to
conserve the fishery
Best times and species
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year
round however the ideal times are
March through November as this
is the time when the weather
and water conditions are usually
optimal Itrsquos also rather nice
timing in that it gives Kiwis and
Aussies the excuse to escape the
clutches of winter and head for
warmer climes and some fishing
By Grant Blair The Fishing Website
Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
wwwnzfisherconz 23
sportFISHING
While being a renowned blue marlin
fishery with frequent catches in the
100-200kg range the odd XXXL
model does turn up in the gear and
the current record stands at a very
respectable 515kg or 1135 old-
fashioned pounds
Other species that are targeted and
frequently caught in the area include
black marlin sailfish striped marlin
yellow fin tuna mahi-mahi wahoo
Spanish mackerel sailfish dogtooth
tuna coral trout job fish and red bass
Yellow fin and dog tooth tuna
reach some very large proportions
Dogtooth grow to around 80kg and
yellow fin to 100kg while rare are
quite possible
The most important thing about
Vanuatu is the surrounding waters
are rich in a wide range of species
and therersquos plenty to interest anglers
of all abilities and interests be it
trolling for pelagics jigging the
drop-offs or surface fishing with
poppers and stickbaits
Where to go
The main game fishing
operations operating in Vanuatu are
found on Efate - Port Vila and on
Santo - Luganville From Port Vila it
can be only a 10-15 minute trip to be
into sailfish and yellow fin action in
Mele Bay at certain times of the year
however it takes longer to get to the
FADS and out to the marlin highway
Possible destinations with local charter
operators include the Marlin Highway
Blue Hat 366 Nguna Volcano the
Erromango Sea Mounts and Hat
Island From Santo the journey is
considerably longer however there is
good fishing along the way
On some of the smaller islands there
are fishing options in various states of
development and itrsquos even possible
to rent a small dugout and create
your own adventure in and around
the reefs and drops close inshore
catching a variety of species on lighter
tackle Be careful eating reef fish due
to ciguatera A tip we heard from the
locals ndash cut a small section from the
fish and leave it outside overnight If
the ants eat it it should be OK to eat
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year round however the ideal times are March through November as this is the time when the weather and water conditions are usually optimal Itrsquos also rather nice timing in that it gives Kiwis and Aussies the excuse to escape the clutches of winter and head for warmer climes and some fishing
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
wwwnzfisherconz 15
LANDBASEDfishing
sighted but not hooked and a few
more sharkings for Andrew
No trevs had shown up until later
in the day as we started dumping
all the leftover bait and we had
them coming right up to the ledge
taking baits Andrew got a good 4kg
one I lost one and we saw some
significantly bigger ones cruising the
berley But with such a crazy number
of Kahawai in attendance we just
couldnrsquot get baits to them Still
the sight of huge west coast trevs
within a rod length of where we were
standing was pretty cool and we had
one in the bag for sashimi
None of us wanted to leave but there
was no way on earth we were going to
round the Cape in the dark so despite
the Snapper bite coming back on in
a really serious way we just had to
Layng into the fish of the day
16 wwwnzfisherconz
do the sensible thing I canrsquot imagine
therersquos a fish on earth that would
make me think that Reinga in a 35m
boat would be ok in the dark Like
the first two days wersquod not cracked
any PBs and wersquod not actually caught
any really big fish but the experience
wersquod had (even just getting there)
and the country wersquod fished had been
absolutely special and one I genuinely
wonrsquot forget
Wersquod finished three days in the Far
North with a trip I never thought Irsquod
be able to do in the little stabi and
wersquod had some awesome adventures
and seen some amazing things So
wersquod got no PBs and really hadnrsquot
landed any monsters at all but it
just didnrsquot matter in the slightest
Sometimes you need to remember
that the truly great trips donrsquot always
have to be the ones with the biggest
fish getting out and having real
adventures with great mates will
always keep me coming back
LANDBASEDfishing
The beach kisses the ocean
Rounding the cape
Out of the sun they saw us
wwwnzfisherconz 17
1
2
3
4
5
5 simple rulesto help you stay safe
Life jacketsTake them ndash Wear them
Boats especially ones under 6m in length can sink very quickly Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water
Skipper responsibilityThe skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat Stay within the limits of your vessel and your experience
CommunicationsTake two separate waterproof ways of communicating so we can help you if you get into difficulties
Marine weather New Zealandrsquos weather can be highly unpredictable Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes
Avoid alcohol Safe boating and alcohol do not mix Things can change quickly on the water You need to stay alert and aware
For more information about safe boating education and how to prepare for your boating activity visit wwwadventuresmartorgnz
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The Boating Safety
Before you go boating on our seas lakes and rivers get familiar with New Zealandrsquos Boating Safety Code no matter what kind of boat you use
CODE
wwwadventuresmartorgnz
The Water Safety The Outdoor Safety
CODE CODE
Also available
18 wwwnzfisherconz
boatFISHING
IF YOU WANT TO catch that fish
of a life time you need to get out
of Auckland right Not necessarily
Whangaparaoa resident Tony Hurley
not only caught the fish of his life time
in June he caught the fish that nearly
every Auckland boat owner is after and
he did it within sight of the Sky Tower
At 34lb 4 ounces (1554 kg) and 95 cm
long Tonyrsquos Snapper is of Moby Dick
proportions So how did he do it
ldquoThinking positively is a big part of
itrdquo says Tony In fact Tony goes as
far as saying that he knew something
special was going to happen that
day After anchoring up at his usual
shallow water spot at Tiritiri Island
Tony and his mate settled into a
pretty good fishing session Six fish
between 10 and 18 lb were landed
before Tony hooked into the monster
fish on a half pillie The fish was
netted after a 4-5 minute fight and a
handful of surging runs
Tony describes the fight of these
big Snapper as much like that of a
stingray He should know he has
caught plenty of large Snapper to 24
lb at his Tiri spot
Upon arriving home parking capacity
on Tonyrsquos street became in hot
demand as word of the big fish got
around All up Tony splurged five
bottles of top shelf liquor on the
impromptu guests
The big Snapper is currently being
mounted by a taxidermist and will
be put up on the wall of Top Catch
Whangaparaoa
By Darren Parsons
Monster Snapper Snared in Auckland
wwwnzfisherconz 19
20 wwwnzfisherconz
localFISHING
Fish Your Feet First
I AM CONSTANTLY searching for
new rocky coastlines to explore with
a fly rod to catch Snapper in winter
One of the tricks to catching a fish on
a regular basis is knowing when to
fish and where Part science and part
intuition multiple factors swirl around
right to the last minute before the
final commitment is made to head in a
certain direction Transport company
tides and of course the weather all play
significant roles in the final decision Itrsquos
the transport option that has played
the biggest role in some of my recent
fishing experiences and in a city like
Auckland which offers so many options
being restricted to land is not always a
bad thing I have many options to be
boat fishing and often decline the big
trips away what I really enjoy is the fast
and spontaneous adventure available
by jumping on a ferry to one of the
many Hauraki Gulf islands
Recently a northeasterly storm
whipped up Northlands east coast for
several days On Saturday the wind
eased but the swell was big enough
for the inner city beaches to offer head
high waves Many points and reefs
that are not surf spots for 364 days of
the year came alive with quality surf
I joined the multitude of Auckland
surfers to savor these rare waves so
close to home
Sunday the wind shifted again and the
swell had eased to offer just enough
surge to make the fishing interesting
On the ferry at 9am a short hike
and a scramble down to some rocks
wwwnzfisherconz 21
localFISHING
I was greeted with green murky
water stirred by the recent storm
These conditions can often produce
great fishing as Snapper forage the
shallows for easy meals in the surge
and discoloured water but on other
days it just makes it hard see your fly
or believe the fish are there Arriving
at a spot that I would have previously
dismissed as a fishing location due to
the shallow water rocks and weed
I set about seeding some gutters
with tiny pilchard pieces Nothing
appeared in the first 40 minutes
baitfish and Kahawai who are the usual
first arrivals did not intercept the tiny
pieces as they sunk to the bottom
Knowing there was more to be gained
by retiring from the rock I had chosen
to hide behind than continuing to
work the small gutter I set about
putting together a 9wt fly rod and
re-positioned myself along the coast
where I found another gutter with an
equally good elevated hiding position
These days I choose my fishing spots
for the potential to conceal myself as
much as any other factor Returning
to the first gutter and just as I was
beginning to think ldquoI should have
been here yesterdayrdquo when the swell
would have been really stirring things
up for the Snapper a large Kahawai
blasted past That first Kahawai was
the first arrival of a small pack that I
kept active for the next ten minutes
Often the Snapper will move in to
investigate a fishy commotion and
depending on their mood will either
find the buzzing Kahawai off putting
or competitors that need to be
pushed along
Soon I had a Snapper claiming some
dominance over the Kahawai which
were twice its size Kahawai know
that speed is their only weapon and
as the competition hotted up over
the tiny morsels a few more Snapper
moved in and pushed the Kahawai
out We witnessed this relationship
in spectacular fashion last year on
the Coromandel where the Kahawai
were numerous and lightning quick
however when a Snapper of about
3kg size appeared it set about chasing
them away right up towards the
surface I have no doubt that Kahawai
have deep respect for the predatory
potential of the slower moving
Snapper and the short bursts of speed
they are capable of Itrsquos witnessing
this sort of near natural behaviour
that really appeals to me when using
stealth but it was time to start fishing
two hours into a my four hour trip and
I had not put a fly in the water
What followed was a session of
continued activity from 400-450
mm Snapper that eclipsed normal
experience My usual approach is
to present a fly to a sighted fish and
then leave the area to rest while I
work another spot close by However
the mood of the fish meant that a
momentary pause was all that was
required between catches at least 8
fish were caught and released before
I switched focus to the gutter just 100
meters north Once again the Kahawai
appeared and soon after some feisty
Snapper started to win the race for
whatever made a tell tale splash on
the surface With knowledge of an
upcoming bone fishing trip I dropped
my leader down to 45 kg and tied
on a small size 4 fly Whether it was
the light gentle approach with which
each fish was fought or the mood of
the fish that day I caught another 12
reasonable Snapper before it was time
to pack up to make the ferry home
While there were no fish caught that
warranted trophy status the pleasure
I took in watching my tiny fly being
approached by respectable Snapper
and the excitement of letting them
pull line from my reel to ensure I was
not busted off made for a fantastic
dayrsquos fishing something to chuckle
about as I joined the afternoon crowds
walking up queen street in the middle
of Aucklandrsquos downtown
While there were no fish caught that warranted trophy status the pleasure I took in watching my tiny fly being approached by respectable Snapper and the excitement of letting them pull line from my reel to ensure I was not busted off made for a fantastic days fishing something to chuckle about as I joined the afternoon crowds walking up queen street in the middle of Aucklandrsquos downtown
22 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
VANUATU HAS A well-deserved
reputation for exceptionally good
game fishing in the heavy and light
tackle classes as well as newer
techniques like jigging and surface
fishing with poppers and stickbaits
From the 1000m contour line and
the renowned lsquoMarlin Highwayrsquo which
runs hundreds of miles in a north
south direction close to Vanuatu to
the various FADrsquos just offshore and
often itrsquos only a short trip with the
hammers down to get you into some
hot fishing action
Vanuatu is one of the worldsrsquo top
blue marlin fisheries with a number of
world records to its credit as well as a
good number of lsquogranderrsquo blues that
have been taken in the area Most of
the regular game fishing charter boats
would catch around 100 per year with
many being tagged and released to
conserve the fishery
Best times and species
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year
round however the ideal times are
March through November as this
is the time when the weather
and water conditions are usually
optimal Itrsquos also rather nice
timing in that it gives Kiwis and
Aussies the excuse to escape the
clutches of winter and head for
warmer climes and some fishing
By Grant Blair The Fishing Website
Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
wwwnzfisherconz 23
sportFISHING
While being a renowned blue marlin
fishery with frequent catches in the
100-200kg range the odd XXXL
model does turn up in the gear and
the current record stands at a very
respectable 515kg or 1135 old-
fashioned pounds
Other species that are targeted and
frequently caught in the area include
black marlin sailfish striped marlin
yellow fin tuna mahi-mahi wahoo
Spanish mackerel sailfish dogtooth
tuna coral trout job fish and red bass
Yellow fin and dog tooth tuna
reach some very large proportions
Dogtooth grow to around 80kg and
yellow fin to 100kg while rare are
quite possible
The most important thing about
Vanuatu is the surrounding waters
are rich in a wide range of species
and therersquos plenty to interest anglers
of all abilities and interests be it
trolling for pelagics jigging the
drop-offs or surface fishing with
poppers and stickbaits
Where to go
The main game fishing
operations operating in Vanuatu are
found on Efate - Port Vila and on
Santo - Luganville From Port Vila it
can be only a 10-15 minute trip to be
into sailfish and yellow fin action in
Mele Bay at certain times of the year
however it takes longer to get to the
FADS and out to the marlin highway
Possible destinations with local charter
operators include the Marlin Highway
Blue Hat 366 Nguna Volcano the
Erromango Sea Mounts and Hat
Island From Santo the journey is
considerably longer however there is
good fishing along the way
On some of the smaller islands there
are fishing options in various states of
development and itrsquos even possible
to rent a small dugout and create
your own adventure in and around
the reefs and drops close inshore
catching a variety of species on lighter
tackle Be careful eating reef fish due
to ciguatera A tip we heard from the
locals ndash cut a small section from the
fish and leave it outside overnight If
the ants eat it it should be OK to eat
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year round however the ideal times are March through November as this is the time when the weather and water conditions are usually optimal Itrsquos also rather nice timing in that it gives Kiwis and Aussies the excuse to escape the clutches of winter and head for warmer climes and some fishing
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
16 wwwnzfisherconz
do the sensible thing I canrsquot imagine
therersquos a fish on earth that would
make me think that Reinga in a 35m
boat would be ok in the dark Like
the first two days wersquod not cracked
any PBs and wersquod not actually caught
any really big fish but the experience
wersquod had (even just getting there)
and the country wersquod fished had been
absolutely special and one I genuinely
wonrsquot forget
Wersquod finished three days in the Far
North with a trip I never thought Irsquod
be able to do in the little stabi and
wersquod had some awesome adventures
and seen some amazing things So
wersquod got no PBs and really hadnrsquot
landed any monsters at all but it
just didnrsquot matter in the slightest
Sometimes you need to remember
that the truly great trips donrsquot always
have to be the ones with the biggest
fish getting out and having real
adventures with great mates will
always keep me coming back
LANDBASEDfishing
The beach kisses the ocean
Rounding the cape
Out of the sun they saw us
wwwnzfisherconz 17
1
2
3
4
5
5 simple rulesto help you stay safe
Life jacketsTake them ndash Wear them
Boats especially ones under 6m in length can sink very quickly Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water
Skipper responsibilityThe skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat Stay within the limits of your vessel and your experience
CommunicationsTake two separate waterproof ways of communicating so we can help you if you get into difficulties
Marine weather New Zealandrsquos weather can be highly unpredictable Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes
Avoid alcohol Safe boating and alcohol do not mix Things can change quickly on the water You need to stay alert and aware
For more information about safe boating education and how to prepare for your boating activity visit wwwadventuresmartorgnz
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The Boating Safety
Before you go boating on our seas lakes and rivers get familiar with New Zealandrsquos Boating Safety Code no matter what kind of boat you use
CODE
wwwadventuresmartorgnz
The Water Safety The Outdoor Safety
CODE CODE
Also available
18 wwwnzfisherconz
boatFISHING
IF YOU WANT TO catch that fish
of a life time you need to get out
of Auckland right Not necessarily
Whangaparaoa resident Tony Hurley
not only caught the fish of his life time
in June he caught the fish that nearly
every Auckland boat owner is after and
he did it within sight of the Sky Tower
At 34lb 4 ounces (1554 kg) and 95 cm
long Tonyrsquos Snapper is of Moby Dick
proportions So how did he do it
ldquoThinking positively is a big part of
itrdquo says Tony In fact Tony goes as
far as saying that he knew something
special was going to happen that
day After anchoring up at his usual
shallow water spot at Tiritiri Island
Tony and his mate settled into a
pretty good fishing session Six fish
between 10 and 18 lb were landed
before Tony hooked into the monster
fish on a half pillie The fish was
netted after a 4-5 minute fight and a
handful of surging runs
Tony describes the fight of these
big Snapper as much like that of a
stingray He should know he has
caught plenty of large Snapper to 24
lb at his Tiri spot
Upon arriving home parking capacity
on Tonyrsquos street became in hot
demand as word of the big fish got
around All up Tony splurged five
bottles of top shelf liquor on the
impromptu guests
The big Snapper is currently being
mounted by a taxidermist and will
be put up on the wall of Top Catch
Whangaparaoa
By Darren Parsons
Monster Snapper Snared in Auckland
wwwnzfisherconz 19
20 wwwnzfisherconz
localFISHING
Fish Your Feet First
I AM CONSTANTLY searching for
new rocky coastlines to explore with
a fly rod to catch Snapper in winter
One of the tricks to catching a fish on
a regular basis is knowing when to
fish and where Part science and part
intuition multiple factors swirl around
right to the last minute before the
final commitment is made to head in a
certain direction Transport company
tides and of course the weather all play
significant roles in the final decision Itrsquos
the transport option that has played
the biggest role in some of my recent
fishing experiences and in a city like
Auckland which offers so many options
being restricted to land is not always a
bad thing I have many options to be
boat fishing and often decline the big
trips away what I really enjoy is the fast
and spontaneous adventure available
by jumping on a ferry to one of the
many Hauraki Gulf islands
Recently a northeasterly storm
whipped up Northlands east coast for
several days On Saturday the wind
eased but the swell was big enough
for the inner city beaches to offer head
high waves Many points and reefs
that are not surf spots for 364 days of
the year came alive with quality surf
I joined the multitude of Auckland
surfers to savor these rare waves so
close to home
Sunday the wind shifted again and the
swell had eased to offer just enough
surge to make the fishing interesting
On the ferry at 9am a short hike
and a scramble down to some rocks
wwwnzfisherconz 21
localFISHING
I was greeted with green murky
water stirred by the recent storm
These conditions can often produce
great fishing as Snapper forage the
shallows for easy meals in the surge
and discoloured water but on other
days it just makes it hard see your fly
or believe the fish are there Arriving
at a spot that I would have previously
dismissed as a fishing location due to
the shallow water rocks and weed
I set about seeding some gutters
with tiny pilchard pieces Nothing
appeared in the first 40 minutes
baitfish and Kahawai who are the usual
first arrivals did not intercept the tiny
pieces as they sunk to the bottom
Knowing there was more to be gained
by retiring from the rock I had chosen
to hide behind than continuing to
work the small gutter I set about
putting together a 9wt fly rod and
re-positioned myself along the coast
where I found another gutter with an
equally good elevated hiding position
These days I choose my fishing spots
for the potential to conceal myself as
much as any other factor Returning
to the first gutter and just as I was
beginning to think ldquoI should have
been here yesterdayrdquo when the swell
would have been really stirring things
up for the Snapper a large Kahawai
blasted past That first Kahawai was
the first arrival of a small pack that I
kept active for the next ten minutes
Often the Snapper will move in to
investigate a fishy commotion and
depending on their mood will either
find the buzzing Kahawai off putting
or competitors that need to be
pushed along
Soon I had a Snapper claiming some
dominance over the Kahawai which
were twice its size Kahawai know
that speed is their only weapon and
as the competition hotted up over
the tiny morsels a few more Snapper
moved in and pushed the Kahawai
out We witnessed this relationship
in spectacular fashion last year on
the Coromandel where the Kahawai
were numerous and lightning quick
however when a Snapper of about
3kg size appeared it set about chasing
them away right up towards the
surface I have no doubt that Kahawai
have deep respect for the predatory
potential of the slower moving
Snapper and the short bursts of speed
they are capable of Itrsquos witnessing
this sort of near natural behaviour
that really appeals to me when using
stealth but it was time to start fishing
two hours into a my four hour trip and
I had not put a fly in the water
What followed was a session of
continued activity from 400-450
mm Snapper that eclipsed normal
experience My usual approach is
to present a fly to a sighted fish and
then leave the area to rest while I
work another spot close by However
the mood of the fish meant that a
momentary pause was all that was
required between catches at least 8
fish were caught and released before
I switched focus to the gutter just 100
meters north Once again the Kahawai
appeared and soon after some feisty
Snapper started to win the race for
whatever made a tell tale splash on
the surface With knowledge of an
upcoming bone fishing trip I dropped
my leader down to 45 kg and tied
on a small size 4 fly Whether it was
the light gentle approach with which
each fish was fought or the mood of
the fish that day I caught another 12
reasonable Snapper before it was time
to pack up to make the ferry home
While there were no fish caught that
warranted trophy status the pleasure
I took in watching my tiny fly being
approached by respectable Snapper
and the excitement of letting them
pull line from my reel to ensure I was
not busted off made for a fantastic
dayrsquos fishing something to chuckle
about as I joined the afternoon crowds
walking up queen street in the middle
of Aucklandrsquos downtown
While there were no fish caught that warranted trophy status the pleasure I took in watching my tiny fly being approached by respectable Snapper and the excitement of letting them pull line from my reel to ensure I was not busted off made for a fantastic days fishing something to chuckle about as I joined the afternoon crowds walking up queen street in the middle of Aucklandrsquos downtown
22 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
VANUATU HAS A well-deserved
reputation for exceptionally good
game fishing in the heavy and light
tackle classes as well as newer
techniques like jigging and surface
fishing with poppers and stickbaits
From the 1000m contour line and
the renowned lsquoMarlin Highwayrsquo which
runs hundreds of miles in a north
south direction close to Vanuatu to
the various FADrsquos just offshore and
often itrsquos only a short trip with the
hammers down to get you into some
hot fishing action
Vanuatu is one of the worldsrsquo top
blue marlin fisheries with a number of
world records to its credit as well as a
good number of lsquogranderrsquo blues that
have been taken in the area Most of
the regular game fishing charter boats
would catch around 100 per year with
many being tagged and released to
conserve the fishery
Best times and species
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year
round however the ideal times are
March through November as this
is the time when the weather
and water conditions are usually
optimal Itrsquos also rather nice
timing in that it gives Kiwis and
Aussies the excuse to escape the
clutches of winter and head for
warmer climes and some fishing
By Grant Blair The Fishing Website
Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
wwwnzfisherconz 23
sportFISHING
While being a renowned blue marlin
fishery with frequent catches in the
100-200kg range the odd XXXL
model does turn up in the gear and
the current record stands at a very
respectable 515kg or 1135 old-
fashioned pounds
Other species that are targeted and
frequently caught in the area include
black marlin sailfish striped marlin
yellow fin tuna mahi-mahi wahoo
Spanish mackerel sailfish dogtooth
tuna coral trout job fish and red bass
Yellow fin and dog tooth tuna
reach some very large proportions
Dogtooth grow to around 80kg and
yellow fin to 100kg while rare are
quite possible
The most important thing about
Vanuatu is the surrounding waters
are rich in a wide range of species
and therersquos plenty to interest anglers
of all abilities and interests be it
trolling for pelagics jigging the
drop-offs or surface fishing with
poppers and stickbaits
Where to go
The main game fishing
operations operating in Vanuatu are
found on Efate - Port Vila and on
Santo - Luganville From Port Vila it
can be only a 10-15 minute trip to be
into sailfish and yellow fin action in
Mele Bay at certain times of the year
however it takes longer to get to the
FADS and out to the marlin highway
Possible destinations with local charter
operators include the Marlin Highway
Blue Hat 366 Nguna Volcano the
Erromango Sea Mounts and Hat
Island From Santo the journey is
considerably longer however there is
good fishing along the way
On some of the smaller islands there
are fishing options in various states of
development and itrsquos even possible
to rent a small dugout and create
your own adventure in and around
the reefs and drops close inshore
catching a variety of species on lighter
tackle Be careful eating reef fish due
to ciguatera A tip we heard from the
locals ndash cut a small section from the
fish and leave it outside overnight If
the ants eat it it should be OK to eat
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year round however the ideal times are March through November as this is the time when the weather and water conditions are usually optimal Itrsquos also rather nice timing in that it gives Kiwis and Aussies the excuse to escape the clutches of winter and head for warmer climes and some fishing
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
wwwnzfisherconz 17
1
2
3
4
5
5 simple rulesto help you stay safe
Life jacketsTake them ndash Wear them
Boats especially ones under 6m in length can sink very quickly Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water
Skipper responsibilityThe skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat Stay within the limits of your vessel and your experience
CommunicationsTake two separate waterproof ways of communicating so we can help you if you get into difficulties
Marine weather New Zealandrsquos weather can be highly unpredictable Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes
Avoid alcohol Safe boating and alcohol do not mix Things can change quickly on the water You need to stay alert and aware
For more information about safe boating education and how to prepare for your boating activity visit wwwadventuresmartorgnz
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The Boating Safety
Before you go boating on our seas lakes and rivers get familiar with New Zealandrsquos Boating Safety Code no matter what kind of boat you use
CODE
wwwadventuresmartorgnz
The Water Safety The Outdoor Safety
CODE CODE
Also available
18 wwwnzfisherconz
boatFISHING
IF YOU WANT TO catch that fish
of a life time you need to get out
of Auckland right Not necessarily
Whangaparaoa resident Tony Hurley
not only caught the fish of his life time
in June he caught the fish that nearly
every Auckland boat owner is after and
he did it within sight of the Sky Tower
At 34lb 4 ounces (1554 kg) and 95 cm
long Tonyrsquos Snapper is of Moby Dick
proportions So how did he do it
ldquoThinking positively is a big part of
itrdquo says Tony In fact Tony goes as
far as saying that he knew something
special was going to happen that
day After anchoring up at his usual
shallow water spot at Tiritiri Island
Tony and his mate settled into a
pretty good fishing session Six fish
between 10 and 18 lb were landed
before Tony hooked into the monster
fish on a half pillie The fish was
netted after a 4-5 minute fight and a
handful of surging runs
Tony describes the fight of these
big Snapper as much like that of a
stingray He should know he has
caught plenty of large Snapper to 24
lb at his Tiri spot
Upon arriving home parking capacity
on Tonyrsquos street became in hot
demand as word of the big fish got
around All up Tony splurged five
bottles of top shelf liquor on the
impromptu guests
The big Snapper is currently being
mounted by a taxidermist and will
be put up on the wall of Top Catch
Whangaparaoa
By Darren Parsons
Monster Snapper Snared in Auckland
wwwnzfisherconz 19
20 wwwnzfisherconz
localFISHING
Fish Your Feet First
I AM CONSTANTLY searching for
new rocky coastlines to explore with
a fly rod to catch Snapper in winter
One of the tricks to catching a fish on
a regular basis is knowing when to
fish and where Part science and part
intuition multiple factors swirl around
right to the last minute before the
final commitment is made to head in a
certain direction Transport company
tides and of course the weather all play
significant roles in the final decision Itrsquos
the transport option that has played
the biggest role in some of my recent
fishing experiences and in a city like
Auckland which offers so many options
being restricted to land is not always a
bad thing I have many options to be
boat fishing and often decline the big
trips away what I really enjoy is the fast
and spontaneous adventure available
by jumping on a ferry to one of the
many Hauraki Gulf islands
Recently a northeasterly storm
whipped up Northlands east coast for
several days On Saturday the wind
eased but the swell was big enough
for the inner city beaches to offer head
high waves Many points and reefs
that are not surf spots for 364 days of
the year came alive with quality surf
I joined the multitude of Auckland
surfers to savor these rare waves so
close to home
Sunday the wind shifted again and the
swell had eased to offer just enough
surge to make the fishing interesting
On the ferry at 9am a short hike
and a scramble down to some rocks
wwwnzfisherconz 21
localFISHING
I was greeted with green murky
water stirred by the recent storm
These conditions can often produce
great fishing as Snapper forage the
shallows for easy meals in the surge
and discoloured water but on other
days it just makes it hard see your fly
or believe the fish are there Arriving
at a spot that I would have previously
dismissed as a fishing location due to
the shallow water rocks and weed
I set about seeding some gutters
with tiny pilchard pieces Nothing
appeared in the first 40 minutes
baitfish and Kahawai who are the usual
first arrivals did not intercept the tiny
pieces as they sunk to the bottom
Knowing there was more to be gained
by retiring from the rock I had chosen
to hide behind than continuing to
work the small gutter I set about
putting together a 9wt fly rod and
re-positioned myself along the coast
where I found another gutter with an
equally good elevated hiding position
These days I choose my fishing spots
for the potential to conceal myself as
much as any other factor Returning
to the first gutter and just as I was
beginning to think ldquoI should have
been here yesterdayrdquo when the swell
would have been really stirring things
up for the Snapper a large Kahawai
blasted past That first Kahawai was
the first arrival of a small pack that I
kept active for the next ten minutes
Often the Snapper will move in to
investigate a fishy commotion and
depending on their mood will either
find the buzzing Kahawai off putting
or competitors that need to be
pushed along
Soon I had a Snapper claiming some
dominance over the Kahawai which
were twice its size Kahawai know
that speed is their only weapon and
as the competition hotted up over
the tiny morsels a few more Snapper
moved in and pushed the Kahawai
out We witnessed this relationship
in spectacular fashion last year on
the Coromandel where the Kahawai
were numerous and lightning quick
however when a Snapper of about
3kg size appeared it set about chasing
them away right up towards the
surface I have no doubt that Kahawai
have deep respect for the predatory
potential of the slower moving
Snapper and the short bursts of speed
they are capable of Itrsquos witnessing
this sort of near natural behaviour
that really appeals to me when using
stealth but it was time to start fishing
two hours into a my four hour trip and
I had not put a fly in the water
What followed was a session of
continued activity from 400-450
mm Snapper that eclipsed normal
experience My usual approach is
to present a fly to a sighted fish and
then leave the area to rest while I
work another spot close by However
the mood of the fish meant that a
momentary pause was all that was
required between catches at least 8
fish were caught and released before
I switched focus to the gutter just 100
meters north Once again the Kahawai
appeared and soon after some feisty
Snapper started to win the race for
whatever made a tell tale splash on
the surface With knowledge of an
upcoming bone fishing trip I dropped
my leader down to 45 kg and tied
on a small size 4 fly Whether it was
the light gentle approach with which
each fish was fought or the mood of
the fish that day I caught another 12
reasonable Snapper before it was time
to pack up to make the ferry home
While there were no fish caught that
warranted trophy status the pleasure
I took in watching my tiny fly being
approached by respectable Snapper
and the excitement of letting them
pull line from my reel to ensure I was
not busted off made for a fantastic
dayrsquos fishing something to chuckle
about as I joined the afternoon crowds
walking up queen street in the middle
of Aucklandrsquos downtown
While there were no fish caught that warranted trophy status the pleasure I took in watching my tiny fly being approached by respectable Snapper and the excitement of letting them pull line from my reel to ensure I was not busted off made for a fantastic days fishing something to chuckle about as I joined the afternoon crowds walking up queen street in the middle of Aucklandrsquos downtown
22 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
VANUATU HAS A well-deserved
reputation for exceptionally good
game fishing in the heavy and light
tackle classes as well as newer
techniques like jigging and surface
fishing with poppers and stickbaits
From the 1000m contour line and
the renowned lsquoMarlin Highwayrsquo which
runs hundreds of miles in a north
south direction close to Vanuatu to
the various FADrsquos just offshore and
often itrsquos only a short trip with the
hammers down to get you into some
hot fishing action
Vanuatu is one of the worldsrsquo top
blue marlin fisheries with a number of
world records to its credit as well as a
good number of lsquogranderrsquo blues that
have been taken in the area Most of
the regular game fishing charter boats
would catch around 100 per year with
many being tagged and released to
conserve the fishery
Best times and species
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year
round however the ideal times are
March through November as this
is the time when the weather
and water conditions are usually
optimal Itrsquos also rather nice
timing in that it gives Kiwis and
Aussies the excuse to escape the
clutches of winter and head for
warmer climes and some fishing
By Grant Blair The Fishing Website
Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
wwwnzfisherconz 23
sportFISHING
While being a renowned blue marlin
fishery with frequent catches in the
100-200kg range the odd XXXL
model does turn up in the gear and
the current record stands at a very
respectable 515kg or 1135 old-
fashioned pounds
Other species that are targeted and
frequently caught in the area include
black marlin sailfish striped marlin
yellow fin tuna mahi-mahi wahoo
Spanish mackerel sailfish dogtooth
tuna coral trout job fish and red bass
Yellow fin and dog tooth tuna
reach some very large proportions
Dogtooth grow to around 80kg and
yellow fin to 100kg while rare are
quite possible
The most important thing about
Vanuatu is the surrounding waters
are rich in a wide range of species
and therersquos plenty to interest anglers
of all abilities and interests be it
trolling for pelagics jigging the
drop-offs or surface fishing with
poppers and stickbaits
Where to go
The main game fishing
operations operating in Vanuatu are
found on Efate - Port Vila and on
Santo - Luganville From Port Vila it
can be only a 10-15 minute trip to be
into sailfish and yellow fin action in
Mele Bay at certain times of the year
however it takes longer to get to the
FADS and out to the marlin highway
Possible destinations with local charter
operators include the Marlin Highway
Blue Hat 366 Nguna Volcano the
Erromango Sea Mounts and Hat
Island From Santo the journey is
considerably longer however there is
good fishing along the way
On some of the smaller islands there
are fishing options in various states of
development and itrsquos even possible
to rent a small dugout and create
your own adventure in and around
the reefs and drops close inshore
catching a variety of species on lighter
tackle Be careful eating reef fish due
to ciguatera A tip we heard from the
locals ndash cut a small section from the
fish and leave it outside overnight If
the ants eat it it should be OK to eat
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year round however the ideal times are March through November as this is the time when the weather and water conditions are usually optimal Itrsquos also rather nice timing in that it gives Kiwis and Aussies the excuse to escape the clutches of winter and head for warmer climes and some fishing
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
18 wwwnzfisherconz
boatFISHING
IF YOU WANT TO catch that fish
of a life time you need to get out
of Auckland right Not necessarily
Whangaparaoa resident Tony Hurley
not only caught the fish of his life time
in June he caught the fish that nearly
every Auckland boat owner is after and
he did it within sight of the Sky Tower
At 34lb 4 ounces (1554 kg) and 95 cm
long Tonyrsquos Snapper is of Moby Dick
proportions So how did he do it
ldquoThinking positively is a big part of
itrdquo says Tony In fact Tony goes as
far as saying that he knew something
special was going to happen that
day After anchoring up at his usual
shallow water spot at Tiritiri Island
Tony and his mate settled into a
pretty good fishing session Six fish
between 10 and 18 lb were landed
before Tony hooked into the monster
fish on a half pillie The fish was
netted after a 4-5 minute fight and a
handful of surging runs
Tony describes the fight of these
big Snapper as much like that of a
stingray He should know he has
caught plenty of large Snapper to 24
lb at his Tiri spot
Upon arriving home parking capacity
on Tonyrsquos street became in hot
demand as word of the big fish got
around All up Tony splurged five
bottles of top shelf liquor on the
impromptu guests
The big Snapper is currently being
mounted by a taxidermist and will
be put up on the wall of Top Catch
Whangaparaoa
By Darren Parsons
Monster Snapper Snared in Auckland
wwwnzfisherconz 19
20 wwwnzfisherconz
localFISHING
Fish Your Feet First
I AM CONSTANTLY searching for
new rocky coastlines to explore with
a fly rod to catch Snapper in winter
One of the tricks to catching a fish on
a regular basis is knowing when to
fish and where Part science and part
intuition multiple factors swirl around
right to the last minute before the
final commitment is made to head in a
certain direction Transport company
tides and of course the weather all play
significant roles in the final decision Itrsquos
the transport option that has played
the biggest role in some of my recent
fishing experiences and in a city like
Auckland which offers so many options
being restricted to land is not always a
bad thing I have many options to be
boat fishing and often decline the big
trips away what I really enjoy is the fast
and spontaneous adventure available
by jumping on a ferry to one of the
many Hauraki Gulf islands
Recently a northeasterly storm
whipped up Northlands east coast for
several days On Saturday the wind
eased but the swell was big enough
for the inner city beaches to offer head
high waves Many points and reefs
that are not surf spots for 364 days of
the year came alive with quality surf
I joined the multitude of Auckland
surfers to savor these rare waves so
close to home
Sunday the wind shifted again and the
swell had eased to offer just enough
surge to make the fishing interesting
On the ferry at 9am a short hike
and a scramble down to some rocks
wwwnzfisherconz 21
localFISHING
I was greeted with green murky
water stirred by the recent storm
These conditions can often produce
great fishing as Snapper forage the
shallows for easy meals in the surge
and discoloured water but on other
days it just makes it hard see your fly
or believe the fish are there Arriving
at a spot that I would have previously
dismissed as a fishing location due to
the shallow water rocks and weed
I set about seeding some gutters
with tiny pilchard pieces Nothing
appeared in the first 40 minutes
baitfish and Kahawai who are the usual
first arrivals did not intercept the tiny
pieces as they sunk to the bottom
Knowing there was more to be gained
by retiring from the rock I had chosen
to hide behind than continuing to
work the small gutter I set about
putting together a 9wt fly rod and
re-positioned myself along the coast
where I found another gutter with an
equally good elevated hiding position
These days I choose my fishing spots
for the potential to conceal myself as
much as any other factor Returning
to the first gutter and just as I was
beginning to think ldquoI should have
been here yesterdayrdquo when the swell
would have been really stirring things
up for the Snapper a large Kahawai
blasted past That first Kahawai was
the first arrival of a small pack that I
kept active for the next ten minutes
Often the Snapper will move in to
investigate a fishy commotion and
depending on their mood will either
find the buzzing Kahawai off putting
or competitors that need to be
pushed along
Soon I had a Snapper claiming some
dominance over the Kahawai which
were twice its size Kahawai know
that speed is their only weapon and
as the competition hotted up over
the tiny morsels a few more Snapper
moved in and pushed the Kahawai
out We witnessed this relationship
in spectacular fashion last year on
the Coromandel where the Kahawai
were numerous and lightning quick
however when a Snapper of about
3kg size appeared it set about chasing
them away right up towards the
surface I have no doubt that Kahawai
have deep respect for the predatory
potential of the slower moving
Snapper and the short bursts of speed
they are capable of Itrsquos witnessing
this sort of near natural behaviour
that really appeals to me when using
stealth but it was time to start fishing
two hours into a my four hour trip and
I had not put a fly in the water
What followed was a session of
continued activity from 400-450
mm Snapper that eclipsed normal
experience My usual approach is
to present a fly to a sighted fish and
then leave the area to rest while I
work another spot close by However
the mood of the fish meant that a
momentary pause was all that was
required between catches at least 8
fish were caught and released before
I switched focus to the gutter just 100
meters north Once again the Kahawai
appeared and soon after some feisty
Snapper started to win the race for
whatever made a tell tale splash on
the surface With knowledge of an
upcoming bone fishing trip I dropped
my leader down to 45 kg and tied
on a small size 4 fly Whether it was
the light gentle approach with which
each fish was fought or the mood of
the fish that day I caught another 12
reasonable Snapper before it was time
to pack up to make the ferry home
While there were no fish caught that
warranted trophy status the pleasure
I took in watching my tiny fly being
approached by respectable Snapper
and the excitement of letting them
pull line from my reel to ensure I was
not busted off made for a fantastic
dayrsquos fishing something to chuckle
about as I joined the afternoon crowds
walking up queen street in the middle
of Aucklandrsquos downtown
While there were no fish caught that warranted trophy status the pleasure I took in watching my tiny fly being approached by respectable Snapper and the excitement of letting them pull line from my reel to ensure I was not busted off made for a fantastic days fishing something to chuckle about as I joined the afternoon crowds walking up queen street in the middle of Aucklandrsquos downtown
22 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
VANUATU HAS A well-deserved
reputation for exceptionally good
game fishing in the heavy and light
tackle classes as well as newer
techniques like jigging and surface
fishing with poppers and stickbaits
From the 1000m contour line and
the renowned lsquoMarlin Highwayrsquo which
runs hundreds of miles in a north
south direction close to Vanuatu to
the various FADrsquos just offshore and
often itrsquos only a short trip with the
hammers down to get you into some
hot fishing action
Vanuatu is one of the worldsrsquo top
blue marlin fisheries with a number of
world records to its credit as well as a
good number of lsquogranderrsquo blues that
have been taken in the area Most of
the regular game fishing charter boats
would catch around 100 per year with
many being tagged and released to
conserve the fishery
Best times and species
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year
round however the ideal times are
March through November as this
is the time when the weather
and water conditions are usually
optimal Itrsquos also rather nice
timing in that it gives Kiwis and
Aussies the excuse to escape the
clutches of winter and head for
warmer climes and some fishing
By Grant Blair The Fishing Website
Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
wwwnzfisherconz 23
sportFISHING
While being a renowned blue marlin
fishery with frequent catches in the
100-200kg range the odd XXXL
model does turn up in the gear and
the current record stands at a very
respectable 515kg or 1135 old-
fashioned pounds
Other species that are targeted and
frequently caught in the area include
black marlin sailfish striped marlin
yellow fin tuna mahi-mahi wahoo
Spanish mackerel sailfish dogtooth
tuna coral trout job fish and red bass
Yellow fin and dog tooth tuna
reach some very large proportions
Dogtooth grow to around 80kg and
yellow fin to 100kg while rare are
quite possible
The most important thing about
Vanuatu is the surrounding waters
are rich in a wide range of species
and therersquos plenty to interest anglers
of all abilities and interests be it
trolling for pelagics jigging the
drop-offs or surface fishing with
poppers and stickbaits
Where to go
The main game fishing
operations operating in Vanuatu are
found on Efate - Port Vila and on
Santo - Luganville From Port Vila it
can be only a 10-15 minute trip to be
into sailfish and yellow fin action in
Mele Bay at certain times of the year
however it takes longer to get to the
FADS and out to the marlin highway
Possible destinations with local charter
operators include the Marlin Highway
Blue Hat 366 Nguna Volcano the
Erromango Sea Mounts and Hat
Island From Santo the journey is
considerably longer however there is
good fishing along the way
On some of the smaller islands there
are fishing options in various states of
development and itrsquos even possible
to rent a small dugout and create
your own adventure in and around
the reefs and drops close inshore
catching a variety of species on lighter
tackle Be careful eating reef fish due
to ciguatera A tip we heard from the
locals ndash cut a small section from the
fish and leave it outside overnight If
the ants eat it it should be OK to eat
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year round however the ideal times are March through November as this is the time when the weather and water conditions are usually optimal Itrsquos also rather nice timing in that it gives Kiwis and Aussies the excuse to escape the clutches of winter and head for warmer climes and some fishing
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
wwwnzfisherconz 19
20 wwwnzfisherconz
localFISHING
Fish Your Feet First
I AM CONSTANTLY searching for
new rocky coastlines to explore with
a fly rod to catch Snapper in winter
One of the tricks to catching a fish on
a regular basis is knowing when to
fish and where Part science and part
intuition multiple factors swirl around
right to the last minute before the
final commitment is made to head in a
certain direction Transport company
tides and of course the weather all play
significant roles in the final decision Itrsquos
the transport option that has played
the biggest role in some of my recent
fishing experiences and in a city like
Auckland which offers so many options
being restricted to land is not always a
bad thing I have many options to be
boat fishing and often decline the big
trips away what I really enjoy is the fast
and spontaneous adventure available
by jumping on a ferry to one of the
many Hauraki Gulf islands
Recently a northeasterly storm
whipped up Northlands east coast for
several days On Saturday the wind
eased but the swell was big enough
for the inner city beaches to offer head
high waves Many points and reefs
that are not surf spots for 364 days of
the year came alive with quality surf
I joined the multitude of Auckland
surfers to savor these rare waves so
close to home
Sunday the wind shifted again and the
swell had eased to offer just enough
surge to make the fishing interesting
On the ferry at 9am a short hike
and a scramble down to some rocks
wwwnzfisherconz 21
localFISHING
I was greeted with green murky
water stirred by the recent storm
These conditions can often produce
great fishing as Snapper forage the
shallows for easy meals in the surge
and discoloured water but on other
days it just makes it hard see your fly
or believe the fish are there Arriving
at a spot that I would have previously
dismissed as a fishing location due to
the shallow water rocks and weed
I set about seeding some gutters
with tiny pilchard pieces Nothing
appeared in the first 40 minutes
baitfish and Kahawai who are the usual
first arrivals did not intercept the tiny
pieces as they sunk to the bottom
Knowing there was more to be gained
by retiring from the rock I had chosen
to hide behind than continuing to
work the small gutter I set about
putting together a 9wt fly rod and
re-positioned myself along the coast
where I found another gutter with an
equally good elevated hiding position
These days I choose my fishing spots
for the potential to conceal myself as
much as any other factor Returning
to the first gutter and just as I was
beginning to think ldquoI should have
been here yesterdayrdquo when the swell
would have been really stirring things
up for the Snapper a large Kahawai
blasted past That first Kahawai was
the first arrival of a small pack that I
kept active for the next ten minutes
Often the Snapper will move in to
investigate a fishy commotion and
depending on their mood will either
find the buzzing Kahawai off putting
or competitors that need to be
pushed along
Soon I had a Snapper claiming some
dominance over the Kahawai which
were twice its size Kahawai know
that speed is their only weapon and
as the competition hotted up over
the tiny morsels a few more Snapper
moved in and pushed the Kahawai
out We witnessed this relationship
in spectacular fashion last year on
the Coromandel where the Kahawai
were numerous and lightning quick
however when a Snapper of about
3kg size appeared it set about chasing
them away right up towards the
surface I have no doubt that Kahawai
have deep respect for the predatory
potential of the slower moving
Snapper and the short bursts of speed
they are capable of Itrsquos witnessing
this sort of near natural behaviour
that really appeals to me when using
stealth but it was time to start fishing
two hours into a my four hour trip and
I had not put a fly in the water
What followed was a session of
continued activity from 400-450
mm Snapper that eclipsed normal
experience My usual approach is
to present a fly to a sighted fish and
then leave the area to rest while I
work another spot close by However
the mood of the fish meant that a
momentary pause was all that was
required between catches at least 8
fish were caught and released before
I switched focus to the gutter just 100
meters north Once again the Kahawai
appeared and soon after some feisty
Snapper started to win the race for
whatever made a tell tale splash on
the surface With knowledge of an
upcoming bone fishing trip I dropped
my leader down to 45 kg and tied
on a small size 4 fly Whether it was
the light gentle approach with which
each fish was fought or the mood of
the fish that day I caught another 12
reasonable Snapper before it was time
to pack up to make the ferry home
While there were no fish caught that
warranted trophy status the pleasure
I took in watching my tiny fly being
approached by respectable Snapper
and the excitement of letting them
pull line from my reel to ensure I was
not busted off made for a fantastic
dayrsquos fishing something to chuckle
about as I joined the afternoon crowds
walking up queen street in the middle
of Aucklandrsquos downtown
While there were no fish caught that warranted trophy status the pleasure I took in watching my tiny fly being approached by respectable Snapper and the excitement of letting them pull line from my reel to ensure I was not busted off made for a fantastic days fishing something to chuckle about as I joined the afternoon crowds walking up queen street in the middle of Aucklandrsquos downtown
22 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
VANUATU HAS A well-deserved
reputation for exceptionally good
game fishing in the heavy and light
tackle classes as well as newer
techniques like jigging and surface
fishing with poppers and stickbaits
From the 1000m contour line and
the renowned lsquoMarlin Highwayrsquo which
runs hundreds of miles in a north
south direction close to Vanuatu to
the various FADrsquos just offshore and
often itrsquos only a short trip with the
hammers down to get you into some
hot fishing action
Vanuatu is one of the worldsrsquo top
blue marlin fisheries with a number of
world records to its credit as well as a
good number of lsquogranderrsquo blues that
have been taken in the area Most of
the regular game fishing charter boats
would catch around 100 per year with
many being tagged and released to
conserve the fishery
Best times and species
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year
round however the ideal times are
March through November as this
is the time when the weather
and water conditions are usually
optimal Itrsquos also rather nice
timing in that it gives Kiwis and
Aussies the excuse to escape the
clutches of winter and head for
warmer climes and some fishing
By Grant Blair The Fishing Website
Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
wwwnzfisherconz 23
sportFISHING
While being a renowned blue marlin
fishery with frequent catches in the
100-200kg range the odd XXXL
model does turn up in the gear and
the current record stands at a very
respectable 515kg or 1135 old-
fashioned pounds
Other species that are targeted and
frequently caught in the area include
black marlin sailfish striped marlin
yellow fin tuna mahi-mahi wahoo
Spanish mackerel sailfish dogtooth
tuna coral trout job fish and red bass
Yellow fin and dog tooth tuna
reach some very large proportions
Dogtooth grow to around 80kg and
yellow fin to 100kg while rare are
quite possible
The most important thing about
Vanuatu is the surrounding waters
are rich in a wide range of species
and therersquos plenty to interest anglers
of all abilities and interests be it
trolling for pelagics jigging the
drop-offs or surface fishing with
poppers and stickbaits
Where to go
The main game fishing
operations operating in Vanuatu are
found on Efate - Port Vila and on
Santo - Luganville From Port Vila it
can be only a 10-15 minute trip to be
into sailfish and yellow fin action in
Mele Bay at certain times of the year
however it takes longer to get to the
FADS and out to the marlin highway
Possible destinations with local charter
operators include the Marlin Highway
Blue Hat 366 Nguna Volcano the
Erromango Sea Mounts and Hat
Island From Santo the journey is
considerably longer however there is
good fishing along the way
On some of the smaller islands there
are fishing options in various states of
development and itrsquos even possible
to rent a small dugout and create
your own adventure in and around
the reefs and drops close inshore
catching a variety of species on lighter
tackle Be careful eating reef fish due
to ciguatera A tip we heard from the
locals ndash cut a small section from the
fish and leave it outside overnight If
the ants eat it it should be OK to eat
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year round however the ideal times are March through November as this is the time when the weather and water conditions are usually optimal Itrsquos also rather nice timing in that it gives Kiwis and Aussies the excuse to escape the clutches of winter and head for warmer climes and some fishing
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
20 wwwnzfisherconz
localFISHING
Fish Your Feet First
I AM CONSTANTLY searching for
new rocky coastlines to explore with
a fly rod to catch Snapper in winter
One of the tricks to catching a fish on
a regular basis is knowing when to
fish and where Part science and part
intuition multiple factors swirl around
right to the last minute before the
final commitment is made to head in a
certain direction Transport company
tides and of course the weather all play
significant roles in the final decision Itrsquos
the transport option that has played
the biggest role in some of my recent
fishing experiences and in a city like
Auckland which offers so many options
being restricted to land is not always a
bad thing I have many options to be
boat fishing and often decline the big
trips away what I really enjoy is the fast
and spontaneous adventure available
by jumping on a ferry to one of the
many Hauraki Gulf islands
Recently a northeasterly storm
whipped up Northlands east coast for
several days On Saturday the wind
eased but the swell was big enough
for the inner city beaches to offer head
high waves Many points and reefs
that are not surf spots for 364 days of
the year came alive with quality surf
I joined the multitude of Auckland
surfers to savor these rare waves so
close to home
Sunday the wind shifted again and the
swell had eased to offer just enough
surge to make the fishing interesting
On the ferry at 9am a short hike
and a scramble down to some rocks
wwwnzfisherconz 21
localFISHING
I was greeted with green murky
water stirred by the recent storm
These conditions can often produce
great fishing as Snapper forage the
shallows for easy meals in the surge
and discoloured water but on other
days it just makes it hard see your fly
or believe the fish are there Arriving
at a spot that I would have previously
dismissed as a fishing location due to
the shallow water rocks and weed
I set about seeding some gutters
with tiny pilchard pieces Nothing
appeared in the first 40 minutes
baitfish and Kahawai who are the usual
first arrivals did not intercept the tiny
pieces as they sunk to the bottom
Knowing there was more to be gained
by retiring from the rock I had chosen
to hide behind than continuing to
work the small gutter I set about
putting together a 9wt fly rod and
re-positioned myself along the coast
where I found another gutter with an
equally good elevated hiding position
These days I choose my fishing spots
for the potential to conceal myself as
much as any other factor Returning
to the first gutter and just as I was
beginning to think ldquoI should have
been here yesterdayrdquo when the swell
would have been really stirring things
up for the Snapper a large Kahawai
blasted past That first Kahawai was
the first arrival of a small pack that I
kept active for the next ten minutes
Often the Snapper will move in to
investigate a fishy commotion and
depending on their mood will either
find the buzzing Kahawai off putting
or competitors that need to be
pushed along
Soon I had a Snapper claiming some
dominance over the Kahawai which
were twice its size Kahawai know
that speed is their only weapon and
as the competition hotted up over
the tiny morsels a few more Snapper
moved in and pushed the Kahawai
out We witnessed this relationship
in spectacular fashion last year on
the Coromandel where the Kahawai
were numerous and lightning quick
however when a Snapper of about
3kg size appeared it set about chasing
them away right up towards the
surface I have no doubt that Kahawai
have deep respect for the predatory
potential of the slower moving
Snapper and the short bursts of speed
they are capable of Itrsquos witnessing
this sort of near natural behaviour
that really appeals to me when using
stealth but it was time to start fishing
two hours into a my four hour trip and
I had not put a fly in the water
What followed was a session of
continued activity from 400-450
mm Snapper that eclipsed normal
experience My usual approach is
to present a fly to a sighted fish and
then leave the area to rest while I
work another spot close by However
the mood of the fish meant that a
momentary pause was all that was
required between catches at least 8
fish were caught and released before
I switched focus to the gutter just 100
meters north Once again the Kahawai
appeared and soon after some feisty
Snapper started to win the race for
whatever made a tell tale splash on
the surface With knowledge of an
upcoming bone fishing trip I dropped
my leader down to 45 kg and tied
on a small size 4 fly Whether it was
the light gentle approach with which
each fish was fought or the mood of
the fish that day I caught another 12
reasonable Snapper before it was time
to pack up to make the ferry home
While there were no fish caught that
warranted trophy status the pleasure
I took in watching my tiny fly being
approached by respectable Snapper
and the excitement of letting them
pull line from my reel to ensure I was
not busted off made for a fantastic
dayrsquos fishing something to chuckle
about as I joined the afternoon crowds
walking up queen street in the middle
of Aucklandrsquos downtown
While there were no fish caught that warranted trophy status the pleasure I took in watching my tiny fly being approached by respectable Snapper and the excitement of letting them pull line from my reel to ensure I was not busted off made for a fantastic days fishing something to chuckle about as I joined the afternoon crowds walking up queen street in the middle of Aucklandrsquos downtown
22 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
VANUATU HAS A well-deserved
reputation for exceptionally good
game fishing in the heavy and light
tackle classes as well as newer
techniques like jigging and surface
fishing with poppers and stickbaits
From the 1000m contour line and
the renowned lsquoMarlin Highwayrsquo which
runs hundreds of miles in a north
south direction close to Vanuatu to
the various FADrsquos just offshore and
often itrsquos only a short trip with the
hammers down to get you into some
hot fishing action
Vanuatu is one of the worldsrsquo top
blue marlin fisheries with a number of
world records to its credit as well as a
good number of lsquogranderrsquo blues that
have been taken in the area Most of
the regular game fishing charter boats
would catch around 100 per year with
many being tagged and released to
conserve the fishery
Best times and species
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year
round however the ideal times are
March through November as this
is the time when the weather
and water conditions are usually
optimal Itrsquos also rather nice
timing in that it gives Kiwis and
Aussies the excuse to escape the
clutches of winter and head for
warmer climes and some fishing
By Grant Blair The Fishing Website
Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
wwwnzfisherconz 23
sportFISHING
While being a renowned blue marlin
fishery with frequent catches in the
100-200kg range the odd XXXL
model does turn up in the gear and
the current record stands at a very
respectable 515kg or 1135 old-
fashioned pounds
Other species that are targeted and
frequently caught in the area include
black marlin sailfish striped marlin
yellow fin tuna mahi-mahi wahoo
Spanish mackerel sailfish dogtooth
tuna coral trout job fish and red bass
Yellow fin and dog tooth tuna
reach some very large proportions
Dogtooth grow to around 80kg and
yellow fin to 100kg while rare are
quite possible
The most important thing about
Vanuatu is the surrounding waters
are rich in a wide range of species
and therersquos plenty to interest anglers
of all abilities and interests be it
trolling for pelagics jigging the
drop-offs or surface fishing with
poppers and stickbaits
Where to go
The main game fishing
operations operating in Vanuatu are
found on Efate - Port Vila and on
Santo - Luganville From Port Vila it
can be only a 10-15 minute trip to be
into sailfish and yellow fin action in
Mele Bay at certain times of the year
however it takes longer to get to the
FADS and out to the marlin highway
Possible destinations with local charter
operators include the Marlin Highway
Blue Hat 366 Nguna Volcano the
Erromango Sea Mounts and Hat
Island From Santo the journey is
considerably longer however there is
good fishing along the way
On some of the smaller islands there
are fishing options in various states of
development and itrsquos even possible
to rent a small dugout and create
your own adventure in and around
the reefs and drops close inshore
catching a variety of species on lighter
tackle Be careful eating reef fish due
to ciguatera A tip we heard from the
locals ndash cut a small section from the
fish and leave it outside overnight If
the ants eat it it should be OK to eat
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year round however the ideal times are March through November as this is the time when the weather and water conditions are usually optimal Itrsquos also rather nice timing in that it gives Kiwis and Aussies the excuse to escape the clutches of winter and head for warmer climes and some fishing
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
wwwnzfisherconz 21
localFISHING
I was greeted with green murky
water stirred by the recent storm
These conditions can often produce
great fishing as Snapper forage the
shallows for easy meals in the surge
and discoloured water but on other
days it just makes it hard see your fly
or believe the fish are there Arriving
at a spot that I would have previously
dismissed as a fishing location due to
the shallow water rocks and weed
I set about seeding some gutters
with tiny pilchard pieces Nothing
appeared in the first 40 minutes
baitfish and Kahawai who are the usual
first arrivals did not intercept the tiny
pieces as they sunk to the bottom
Knowing there was more to be gained
by retiring from the rock I had chosen
to hide behind than continuing to
work the small gutter I set about
putting together a 9wt fly rod and
re-positioned myself along the coast
where I found another gutter with an
equally good elevated hiding position
These days I choose my fishing spots
for the potential to conceal myself as
much as any other factor Returning
to the first gutter and just as I was
beginning to think ldquoI should have
been here yesterdayrdquo when the swell
would have been really stirring things
up for the Snapper a large Kahawai
blasted past That first Kahawai was
the first arrival of a small pack that I
kept active for the next ten minutes
Often the Snapper will move in to
investigate a fishy commotion and
depending on their mood will either
find the buzzing Kahawai off putting
or competitors that need to be
pushed along
Soon I had a Snapper claiming some
dominance over the Kahawai which
were twice its size Kahawai know
that speed is their only weapon and
as the competition hotted up over
the tiny morsels a few more Snapper
moved in and pushed the Kahawai
out We witnessed this relationship
in spectacular fashion last year on
the Coromandel where the Kahawai
were numerous and lightning quick
however when a Snapper of about
3kg size appeared it set about chasing
them away right up towards the
surface I have no doubt that Kahawai
have deep respect for the predatory
potential of the slower moving
Snapper and the short bursts of speed
they are capable of Itrsquos witnessing
this sort of near natural behaviour
that really appeals to me when using
stealth but it was time to start fishing
two hours into a my four hour trip and
I had not put a fly in the water
What followed was a session of
continued activity from 400-450
mm Snapper that eclipsed normal
experience My usual approach is
to present a fly to a sighted fish and
then leave the area to rest while I
work another spot close by However
the mood of the fish meant that a
momentary pause was all that was
required between catches at least 8
fish were caught and released before
I switched focus to the gutter just 100
meters north Once again the Kahawai
appeared and soon after some feisty
Snapper started to win the race for
whatever made a tell tale splash on
the surface With knowledge of an
upcoming bone fishing trip I dropped
my leader down to 45 kg and tied
on a small size 4 fly Whether it was
the light gentle approach with which
each fish was fought or the mood of
the fish that day I caught another 12
reasonable Snapper before it was time
to pack up to make the ferry home
While there were no fish caught that
warranted trophy status the pleasure
I took in watching my tiny fly being
approached by respectable Snapper
and the excitement of letting them
pull line from my reel to ensure I was
not busted off made for a fantastic
dayrsquos fishing something to chuckle
about as I joined the afternoon crowds
walking up queen street in the middle
of Aucklandrsquos downtown
While there were no fish caught that warranted trophy status the pleasure I took in watching my tiny fly being approached by respectable Snapper and the excitement of letting them pull line from my reel to ensure I was not busted off made for a fantastic days fishing something to chuckle about as I joined the afternoon crowds walking up queen street in the middle of Aucklandrsquos downtown
22 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
VANUATU HAS A well-deserved
reputation for exceptionally good
game fishing in the heavy and light
tackle classes as well as newer
techniques like jigging and surface
fishing with poppers and stickbaits
From the 1000m contour line and
the renowned lsquoMarlin Highwayrsquo which
runs hundreds of miles in a north
south direction close to Vanuatu to
the various FADrsquos just offshore and
often itrsquos only a short trip with the
hammers down to get you into some
hot fishing action
Vanuatu is one of the worldsrsquo top
blue marlin fisheries with a number of
world records to its credit as well as a
good number of lsquogranderrsquo blues that
have been taken in the area Most of
the regular game fishing charter boats
would catch around 100 per year with
many being tagged and released to
conserve the fishery
Best times and species
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year
round however the ideal times are
March through November as this
is the time when the weather
and water conditions are usually
optimal Itrsquos also rather nice
timing in that it gives Kiwis and
Aussies the excuse to escape the
clutches of winter and head for
warmer climes and some fishing
By Grant Blair The Fishing Website
Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
wwwnzfisherconz 23
sportFISHING
While being a renowned blue marlin
fishery with frequent catches in the
100-200kg range the odd XXXL
model does turn up in the gear and
the current record stands at a very
respectable 515kg or 1135 old-
fashioned pounds
Other species that are targeted and
frequently caught in the area include
black marlin sailfish striped marlin
yellow fin tuna mahi-mahi wahoo
Spanish mackerel sailfish dogtooth
tuna coral trout job fish and red bass
Yellow fin and dog tooth tuna
reach some very large proportions
Dogtooth grow to around 80kg and
yellow fin to 100kg while rare are
quite possible
The most important thing about
Vanuatu is the surrounding waters
are rich in a wide range of species
and therersquos plenty to interest anglers
of all abilities and interests be it
trolling for pelagics jigging the
drop-offs or surface fishing with
poppers and stickbaits
Where to go
The main game fishing
operations operating in Vanuatu are
found on Efate - Port Vila and on
Santo - Luganville From Port Vila it
can be only a 10-15 minute trip to be
into sailfish and yellow fin action in
Mele Bay at certain times of the year
however it takes longer to get to the
FADS and out to the marlin highway
Possible destinations with local charter
operators include the Marlin Highway
Blue Hat 366 Nguna Volcano the
Erromango Sea Mounts and Hat
Island From Santo the journey is
considerably longer however there is
good fishing along the way
On some of the smaller islands there
are fishing options in various states of
development and itrsquos even possible
to rent a small dugout and create
your own adventure in and around
the reefs and drops close inshore
catching a variety of species on lighter
tackle Be careful eating reef fish due
to ciguatera A tip we heard from the
locals ndash cut a small section from the
fish and leave it outside overnight If
the ants eat it it should be OK to eat
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year round however the ideal times are March through November as this is the time when the weather and water conditions are usually optimal Itrsquos also rather nice timing in that it gives Kiwis and Aussies the excuse to escape the clutches of winter and head for warmer climes and some fishing
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
22 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
VANUATU HAS A well-deserved
reputation for exceptionally good
game fishing in the heavy and light
tackle classes as well as newer
techniques like jigging and surface
fishing with poppers and stickbaits
From the 1000m contour line and
the renowned lsquoMarlin Highwayrsquo which
runs hundreds of miles in a north
south direction close to Vanuatu to
the various FADrsquos just offshore and
often itrsquos only a short trip with the
hammers down to get you into some
hot fishing action
Vanuatu is one of the worldsrsquo top
blue marlin fisheries with a number of
world records to its credit as well as a
good number of lsquogranderrsquo blues that
have been taken in the area Most of
the regular game fishing charter boats
would catch around 100 per year with
many being tagged and released to
conserve the fishery
Best times and species
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year
round however the ideal times are
March through November as this
is the time when the weather
and water conditions are usually
optimal Itrsquos also rather nice
timing in that it gives Kiwis and
Aussies the excuse to escape the
clutches of winter and head for
warmer climes and some fishing
By Grant Blair The Fishing Website
Fishing amp Diving in Vanuatu
wwwnzfisherconz 23
sportFISHING
While being a renowned blue marlin
fishery with frequent catches in the
100-200kg range the odd XXXL
model does turn up in the gear and
the current record stands at a very
respectable 515kg or 1135 old-
fashioned pounds
Other species that are targeted and
frequently caught in the area include
black marlin sailfish striped marlin
yellow fin tuna mahi-mahi wahoo
Spanish mackerel sailfish dogtooth
tuna coral trout job fish and red bass
Yellow fin and dog tooth tuna
reach some very large proportions
Dogtooth grow to around 80kg and
yellow fin to 100kg while rare are
quite possible
The most important thing about
Vanuatu is the surrounding waters
are rich in a wide range of species
and therersquos plenty to interest anglers
of all abilities and interests be it
trolling for pelagics jigging the
drop-offs or surface fishing with
poppers and stickbaits
Where to go
The main game fishing
operations operating in Vanuatu are
found on Efate - Port Vila and on
Santo - Luganville From Port Vila it
can be only a 10-15 minute trip to be
into sailfish and yellow fin action in
Mele Bay at certain times of the year
however it takes longer to get to the
FADS and out to the marlin highway
Possible destinations with local charter
operators include the Marlin Highway
Blue Hat 366 Nguna Volcano the
Erromango Sea Mounts and Hat
Island From Santo the journey is
considerably longer however there is
good fishing along the way
On some of the smaller islands there
are fishing options in various states of
development and itrsquos even possible
to rent a small dugout and create
your own adventure in and around
the reefs and drops close inshore
catching a variety of species on lighter
tackle Be careful eating reef fish due
to ciguatera A tip we heard from the
locals ndash cut a small section from the
fish and leave it outside overnight If
the ants eat it it should be OK to eat
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year round however the ideal times are March through November as this is the time when the weather and water conditions are usually optimal Itrsquos also rather nice timing in that it gives Kiwis and Aussies the excuse to escape the clutches of winter and head for warmer climes and some fishing
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
wwwnzfisherconz 23
sportFISHING
While being a renowned blue marlin
fishery with frequent catches in the
100-200kg range the odd XXXL
model does turn up in the gear and
the current record stands at a very
respectable 515kg or 1135 old-
fashioned pounds
Other species that are targeted and
frequently caught in the area include
black marlin sailfish striped marlin
yellow fin tuna mahi-mahi wahoo
Spanish mackerel sailfish dogtooth
tuna coral trout job fish and red bass
Yellow fin and dog tooth tuna
reach some very large proportions
Dogtooth grow to around 80kg and
yellow fin to 100kg while rare are
quite possible
The most important thing about
Vanuatu is the surrounding waters
are rich in a wide range of species
and therersquos plenty to interest anglers
of all abilities and interests be it
trolling for pelagics jigging the
drop-offs or surface fishing with
poppers and stickbaits
Where to go
The main game fishing
operations operating in Vanuatu are
found on Efate - Port Vila and on
Santo - Luganville From Port Vila it
can be only a 10-15 minute trip to be
into sailfish and yellow fin action in
Mele Bay at certain times of the year
however it takes longer to get to the
FADS and out to the marlin highway
Possible destinations with local charter
operators include the Marlin Highway
Blue Hat 366 Nguna Volcano the
Erromango Sea Mounts and Hat
Island From Santo the journey is
considerably longer however there is
good fishing along the way
On some of the smaller islands there
are fishing options in various states of
development and itrsquos even possible
to rent a small dugout and create
your own adventure in and around
the reefs and drops close inshore
catching a variety of species on lighter
tackle Be careful eating reef fish due
to ciguatera A tip we heard from the
locals ndash cut a small section from the
fish and leave it outside overnight If
the ants eat it it should be OK to eat
Put simply Vanuatu fishes all year round however the ideal times are March through November as this is the time when the weather and water conditions are usually optimal Itrsquos also rather nice timing in that it gives Kiwis and Aussies the excuse to escape the clutches of winter and head for warmer climes and some fishing
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
24 wwwnzfisherconz
sportFISHING
What gear to take
Most of the charter operators have
excellent equipment so check whatrsquos
on offer before you go and maybe you
can save lugging armfuls of kit with
you If you do want to take your own
gear take the highest quality hooks
and split rings you can get and ensure
your poppers or stickbaits are well
made with through-wire construction
Popping and surface fishing
Giant trevally and dog-tooth tuna
of legendary proportions will take
no prisoners and the coral outcrops
and bombs will shred your line in a
heartbeat Solid rods are essential
as it a high quality spinning reel that
can pull 10+kg of drag smoothly such
as a Daiwa expedition or Stella A
minimum of 50lb braid is essential for
offshore popping on the reef edges
and deep drop offs but 80lb is better
to stop those bigger fish A smaller
set with 30 lb braid for fishing in
the lagoons and inshore reefs for a
multitude of smaller species is also a
good idea
Trolling
Species yoursquore likely to encounter in
closer include wahoo barracuda
dogtooth sailfish smaller yellow
fin and the occasional Black Marlin
Further out in the deeper water
blue and striped marlin are more
common as are mahi-mahi (especially
around the FADs) and large yellow
fin Dead bait fishing is common
with rigged ballyhoo skipping or
swimmers being employed
Scad rainbow runners and small tuna
(called mac tuna or kawa-kawa) are
also used The kawa-kawa are a live
bait favourite as they keep well in
tuna-tubes and are a favourite fare
of the large pelagics Trolling lures
bibbed minnows and diving lures
like mackerel maulers etc are also
commonly used techniques depending
on the situation (such as presence of
bait schools where livebaits are more
commonly deployed) or the species
being targeted
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
wwwnzfisherconz 25
sportFISHING
Charters
The game fishing charter fleet in
Vanuatu is now a well developed
industry that has a range of top class
vessels manned by experienced
captains and crew running state of the
art quality fishing equipment
Vanuatu offers a wide range of options
and even if the sea conditions are
a little unfavourable there is almost
always somewhere you can tuck into
the lee of and island and fish
Day trips are common or you can
charter a boat for several days for
live-aboard options Some operators
have a lsquostay-awayrsquo option where you
can fish during the day on a luxury
boat and stay in lodges and guest
houses on remote outer islands in the
evening experiencing some of the
fine local hospitality and food
The diving is world class
Fabulous vibrant coral
reefs abundant fish-life and a
couple of dives that are on most
diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar
point Clear warm water for
most of the year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
Tournaments
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club runs
six competitions a year Some of the
larger ones such as the Marlin Classic
attract lots of international anglers
as well as the locals The tournaments
are held in February through to
November Read Pete Phillips report
about the 2011 Marlin Classic here
There are competitions for everyone
from a great day out in February with
the ladies fishing comp the yellow fin
shootout through to the big money
Marlin Classic or the lsquoTuskerrsquo Game
Fishing Classic held in November
Diving
The diving is world class Fabulous
vibrant coral reefs abundant fish-
life and a couple of dives that are
on most diversrsquo bucket-lists The SS
Coolidge and Million Dollar point
Clear warm water for most of the
year makes Vanuatu a virtual mecca
for divers
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
26 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Reader Pics
lsquoBlack Hooksrsquo National Kayak Fishing Team member David Brown amp a nice Stanmore Bay Snapper from his Kayak
A stunning Stargazer (Monkfish) caught and released by John Buckley in Doubtless Bay
A bag of nice Snapper for our Scottish-Kiwi Azza McDonald
Aaron McDonald was amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the backrsquo amp caught a number with whole juvenile Snapper in their bellies - including this 20cm model
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
wwwnzfisherconz 27
READERpics
John lsquoStraight-uprsquo Buckly amp his PB on softbait a 1055kg Snapper talken last year in Doubtless Bay
Aaron McDonald often just the skipper with a snap he snared this season
Aarons mate Duncan amp his best Snapper of the day earlier this winter
Ian Biddick with a 15kg+ King landed aboard Reel Life with Capt Phil while testing the new Honda BF250 fitted to Reel Life
Rhys Hambridge-Johnson showing the awesome colours of this John Dory taken this winter
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
28 wwwnzfisherconz
READERpics
Sea-Ox amp his best Snapper for a few years
Russell Tidmarsh amp a beautifully coloured winter Snapper ready for the bin
Kerry Boyle holding a nice late summer kingfish caught with
Aaron McDonald
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
wwwnzfisherconz 29
READERpicsSteve Futter showing hersquos not just a one-hit wonder
Steve Futter with a hefty winter red
Tony with one of first ever Snapper landed out on Highlander with Aaron McDonald
Team lsquoy Notrsquo - The Marmonts of the North Shore Surfcasting Club at Doubtless Bay in June
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
30 wwwnzfisherconz
Win a Trip on Board Diversity with Tackle-It and NZFisher
JUST POST A PIC of you with a fish to
our Facebook page and yoursquore in the
draw to win day trip aboard Diversity
care of Damo and the team at Tackle-It
Every image you enter has a chance
to win the big prize The more and
sooner you enter the better your
chances so get fishing and posting
those images to Facebook
WINNER Aaron McDonald for
image Aaron McDonald was
amongst the Kahawai lsquoout the
backrsquo amp caught a number with
whole juvenile Snapper in their
bellies - including this 20cm model
COMPETITION
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
wwwnzfisherconz 31
BRILLIANT WEATHER some hungry
kings and Snapper and a Mako to
keep things interesting ndash check out
Nathan and Thomasrsquo day on the
water with Capt Phil on Reel Life
Adventures right here
But for the more energetic fisher
check out the Jig Assassin Team at
the Ranfurly Banks If you fish only
two places in your life let them be
the Three Kings and the Ranfurly
Banks ndash unbelievable fishing
Watch it large and loud
VIDEO
Fishing Video of the Month
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
32 wwwnzfisherconz
kayakFISHING
So You Want to Fish from a Kayak
IrsquoM OFTEN ASKED if you can catch
fish from any old kayak Yes you
canhellip well sort of I mean yoursquod be
relying on luck Luck that you found
the fish and luck that you made it
back to shore safely
If yoursquore like me and want to
catch fish and be safe then some
considerations are required pictured
is my Viking Profish 400 but most of
the good kayaks out there are able
to be set up similarly This is how I
set up my kayak for a dayrsquos fishing
My setup up is not perfect but it is
effective and safe
I highly recommend talking to
your local kayak fishing retailer to
find out what is right for you Itrsquos
important to balance safety with
practicality ndash so donrsquot overburden
yourself with gear it might get you
into more trouble than save you
By Shane Kelly
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
wwwnzfisherconz 33
kayakFISHING
The kayak A mine is a Viking
Profish 400 lite purpose built for
kayak fishing itrsquos perfect
for my size weight and my style
of fishing
The paddle B mine is a carbon
fibre lsquoPropelz lighteningrsquo light and
strong you can paddle all day and
itrsquos tough as old boots
PFDlife JacketC do NOT leave
home without it to do so is pure
stupidity
Paddle Jacket D to stay dry is to
stay warm
Dry pantsE these ones have built
in socks because I hate having
cold feet I wear these all year
round keeping my dry in the
winter and my legs out of the sun
in the summer
BootsF like I said I hate cold feet
and these puppies are brilliant
(NRS)
A running rigG is used in
conjunction with an anchor (Drift
ChuteDrogue) and can be set
off the front or rear of the kayak
simply by pulling the cord
The AnchorH because I fish in
Wellingtonsrsquo notorious currents
I use a heavier than usual setup
I highly recommend rigging up
a quick release system with a
float in case of snags current
undertow and the ability to go
with a big fish
The FlagI be safe and be seen
you canrsquot miss me flying my
canes flag
Dry bagJ ideal for things you
might not need on the water but
do need to have with you flares
keys etc (I keep a spare old
mobile in mine too)
Fish StorageK no point spending
all day fishing only to have your
catch spoiled by the sun
Fishing Rods L my
recommendation here is to leave
those big long heavy boat rods at
home Lightweight rods and reels
are awesome to use on a kayak
big rods and reels will only get in
the way
LeashesM if you donrsquot want to lose
it put a leash on it rods paddle
dry bag etc I even leash myself
to the kayak when fishing big
currents
N
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
34 wwwnzfisherconz
What Knot amp WhyBy Derrick Paull
HOWto
BORN TO FISH the Okuma NZ
Facebook page recently posted a
great you tube clip on how to tie the
Albright knot I reposted on NZFisher
page and got some interesting
responses about the use of the knot
and better options (ie the FG knot)
It got me to thinking what is the
best knot for a situation and when
do you make the decision to go with
one over another
With the increased use of braid lsquooldrsquo
knots a like the Albright are less well
suited for connecting braid to mono
and there have been a number of
knots created to get good attachment
without having the braid cut the mono
Knots suited to this type of application
are actually plats rather than knots
This means theyrsquore laid around the
mono line and pressure is exerted as
the lines are pulled tight but therersquos
no actual lsquotyingrsquo of a knot
Therersquos a lot said about how good the
PR amp FG knots are (where do they get
these Acronym names from) I find
both difficult to tie quickly or in high
pressure situations where therersquos a lot
going on or the boat is rocking a lot
This alternative demonstrated by
Markus of FCO is a really easy and
useful version of the PR knot that
makes it more appealing to tie not
only because itrsquos a good knot but
because it can be tied quickly without
too much fiddling around
I do recommend tying a few
times at home before trying
on the water though
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
wwwnzfisherconz 35
Jiggyrsquos Jigheads Tackle ReviewBy an Independent reviewer
gearREVIEWS
From NZ Fisher
The majority of the products we
use for fishing are not designed for
fishing for New Zealand species in
New Zealand conditions As a result
we often have to get used to making
compromises with the gear we use
Jiggyrsquos jigheads are an outcome
of this exact situation Tired of
modifying gear that wasnrsquot suited
for purpose the manufacturers at
Jiggyrsquos have incorporated a number
of features specifically designed to
make soft baits more effective in
New Zealand conditions
Features include large realistic eyes
and glistening colouration in four
choices The hooks used in the
jigheads are also top quality and
highly rust resistant The feature that
first got my attention however was
the shorter shank on the hook This
means that more of the soft bait is
free to wiggle behind the hook giving
the bait a more natural and attractive
action This feature in combination
with the sturdy hook that even a large
snapper would struggle to straighten
is what makes Jiggyrsquos jigheads so well
suited to the soft baiting that we do
here in New Zealand So how did they
stack up to a field test
I have been using Jiggyrsquos jigheads for
a few months now and can definitely
attest to the quality of the hooks
They have held their points well and
have stood up to the pressures that
a few large snapper have exerted on
them On the downside the coloured
paint and eyes do chip off after a
while The jig head is still perfectly
functional without the paint however
and I understand that the paint on
the next generation of the jigheads is
even more durable The most pleasing
feature of the jigheads has been the
versatility they provide with using
different sized soft baits The shorter
shanked hook means you can easily
interchange between 4rdquo 5rdquo and even
6rdquo baits a real bonus
Overall two thumbs up for Jiggyrsquos
jigheads
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
36 wwwnzfisherconz
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
HOOKEDUP
HOOKED UP Every issue all NZ Fisher subscribers
go in the draw to get hooked up with some fantastic prizes courtesy of generous NZ Fisher supporters To find out if yoursquove won simply check this section in each issue to see if your name has been drawn and then email us before the deadline to claim your prize Sweet as
To be eligible to win stuff in the Hooked Up section you need to be a confirmed email subscriber to NZ Fisher e-Magazine and be a resident of New Zealand at the time of the draw A big thanks to our Hooked Up sponsors Please support them
Barry Williams is the winnerYoursquove won this monthrsquos awesome Hooked Up prize pack including
Your choice of mens or womens ReelWear T courtesy of bull Reel Adventures
A $50 voucher to spend online or instore from bull GoFishconz
A super tough 3-tray tackle box from bull Flambeau (contents not included)
Plus two 500ml bottles of bull Tackle-It Odour Eliminator from PureAir to keep those fishy smells at bay
To claim your prize you simply need to email jenniferlespiremediacom before 5pm Friday 20th September 2013 Easy
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution
wwwnzfisherconz 37
COULD IT BE YOU
Congratulations to our Hooked Up prize winner for Issue 27
Have you subscribed to NZ Fisher Itrsquos freeSimply visit wwwnzfisherconzto get a copy of NZ Fisher
delivered straight to your inbox every month
regionalREVIEWSNEXTmonth
In next months issue- How to rig livebaits with re-curve hooks for Kingfish- Sounder vs Fish finder whatrsquos the difference- Spring time fishing the annual revolution