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Transcript of NZ Fisher - Issue 47
www.nzfisher.co.nz 1
ISSUE 47 May 2015
www.nzfisher.co.nz
Rockin’ On
Hapuku from a Kayak!
Surprise on BenIsland
www.nzfisher.co.nz 3
6.. Editorial
8.. Rockin’ On
16.. What’s up with Blue Cod?
18.. Legasea Legends Recognised
20.. Hapuku from a Kayak!
22.. Benisland.co.nz
26.. Reader Pics
28.. Competition
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 Paull
GROUP EDITOR / Colin Kennedy
ART DIRECTOR / Jodi Olsson
CONTENT ENQUIRIES /
Phone Derrick on 021 629 327
or email derrickp@NZ Fisher.co.nz
ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES /
Phone Jennifer on 09 522 7257
or email [email protected]
ADDRESS / NZ Fisher,
C/- Espire Media, PO Box 137162, Parnell,
Auckland 1151, NZ
WEBSITE / www.NZFisher.co.nz
This is a GREEN MAG, created and distributed without the use of paper so it's environmentally friendly. Please think before
you print. Thank you!
Cover Image: Regular contributor, Ben Assado’s friend Jim did well in landing this massive snapper from the rocks at Great barrier.
Contents
Know whatyou’re doing
Phone 0800 40 80 90 or visitwww.boatingeducation.org.nz
Core Courses Specialty Courses RYA Courses
Wide range of courses for all types of boating available nationwide
Ocean Yachtmaster
Day Skipper
Boatmaster
Maritime VHF Operator Certificate
Coastal Skipper
Radar
GPS Operator
Engine Maintenance
Marine Medic
Sea Survival
Sea Kayak and Waka Ama
Club Safety Boat Operator
Bar Crossing
PWC
Powerboating
Sail Cruising
Motor Cruising
www.nzfisher.co.nz 5
WIS
EWO
RD
S
“The way you see people is the way you treat them, and the way you treat them is what they become.”- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe German Writer & Philosopher, 1749-1832
6 www.nzfisher.co.nz
“I’VE JUST ARRIVED HOME from a couple
of hours eyeing up beautiful, shiny toys at
the Auckland Boat Show. I’ve been blessed
with meeting hundreds of keen, passionate
fisho’s through the publication of NZFisher;
I couldn’t walk 25 metres without bumping
into another friendly face and having a
fishing focused chat.
Despite the passion and long years of
experience of those I spoke to, many of my
conversations were about the apparent lack
of snapper in our back yard, the ubiquitous
Hauraki Gulf. After the reduction in
recreational bag limits in 2013, based on
the bumper fishing years of 2011 and 2012,
it’s a surprise that there aren’t actually
more fish being caught. It’s all anecdotal
– not considered scientific enough to be
looked into yet, but it feels like there’s lss
snapper than the last two years. Sadly, due
to the slow pace that fisheries management
wheels turn, there’s no chance we’ll know
the truth for another year.
What the boat show highlights to me is the
sheer size of the industry in New Zealand
- About 600,000 active recreational fishers
support it. While we happily spend on our
recreation, there’s a feeling of desperation
from some retailers who are getting
squeezed too as fish number a[p[ear to be
Editorial
dropping. Along with fish numbers some
have been impacted by the rise and more
so, the fall, of the recently closed FCO chain
in New Zealand. Offers of up to 70% off
fishing tackle are going to draw the core of
the tackle market in for a t least a look and
takes a chunk of turnover out of the market
for some time. But with FCO’s closing,
retailers are expecting a return to the good
old days, or as good as they can get with
internet sales on the increase. So what role
does our retail network have these days?
www.nzfisher.co.nz 7
I’ve got a handful of stores I frequent, but
there’s only one ‘local’. Even though it is
way across town, I’ll head there as first
choice because I love the interaction with
the proprietor.
The best stores have an owner and
often staff who don’t just love fishing,
they live it, dream it and in a few cases
have broken marriages because of their
passion. Of all the advice I’ve had, the
best has consistently come from the
mouths, and essentially the hearts, of
tackle store proprietors.
It’s pretty hard sometimes to swallow
a 25% difference in the price you pay
for something locally and what you can
import it for. But along with our snapper
stocks, it seems decent fishing retailers
are on the decline. I feel for the staff at
FCO, but I’m quietly glad they’re out of
the market and our locals will be getting
increased custom again.
In my day job, I get to travel the country
and visit stores when I can. If you’re ever
in Te Awamutu Salt Water Sport Fishing
is a must. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a
better stocked, more complete tackle
store. If you’re in Auckland, there’s a few
goodies still out there. My favourites are
Go Fish on the Shore plus Rod & Reel in
Newmarket, but I hear good things about
Norcross, Yeehaa, Hunts and Hunting &
Fishing. If I’ve missed any, my apologies,
it’s not intentional!
Winters pretty much landed on us and the
fishing has changed once again. The Marlin
look to have headed off, no reports from
the Kings included Marin this week, so I’ve
dedicated the next few weeks to moocher
hunting in the shallows.
The Fishing & Adventure boys ran an
episode recently of their fishing in the
inner Hauraki. A haul of a nice mid-teens
King and 70cm snapper were a reminder
that we do still have some excellent fishing
on our doorstep. I’m keen to buck the trend
and get some good fish from the ‘back door’.
You won’t get a feed at home on the couch,
so get out there and get some for yourself!
Derrick
Marc Venema / Shutterstock.com
8 www.nzfisher.co.nz
SPO
RTS
FISH
ING
I WAS STANDING ON a local ledge with
Gary and Joe at some very un-gentlemanly
hour back in July. With our beanies on
and sipping coffee from the thermos on a
perfectly still and crisp winters’ morning,
we were trying to catch a snapper for
breakfast (the only way to justify to our
wives our absence every second Saturday).
Gary said he was dead keen to do a serious
land based kingie mission in the late summer.
From memory, Joe’s response was instant,
and my rubber arm was already flailing about
when the only five-knot gust of wind blew
through and twisted it up behind my back.
While we only skipped around the subject
through the coming months, the seed had
Orca in the anchor
Rockin’ On Prime rewards for a bunch of land-based muppets
been planted. After the new year, when
the festive season glow had worn off and
we were all back at work staring down
another year of hard slog, it didn’t take
long for the subject to come up again.
We studied the tides and picked a
weekend at the end of February that
looked the goods with nice morning lows
just after the first quarter moon. It just
so happened that this weekend was also
Gary’s birthday that made the decision
that much easier.
Gary emigrated from the UK with his family
about four years ago. He a dead keen land
based angler who, after a landing a few from
the boat, has been obsessing over a king
from the rocks for a wee while. To get one on
www.nzfisher.co.nz 9
10 www.nzfisher.co.nz
his birthday would just be too much.
Along with another local mate, Greg,
we decided on northern Coromandel
as the destination. Being a peninsula,
Coromandel is an excellent destination
due to there always being a coast to fish
no matter what the wind decides to do.
Particularly handy when you are planning
a trip weeks in advance.
There are tonnes of options when the
weather is good, and most are relatively
easy walk-in spots too. However, on this
occasion we were saved from the hard
slog and bush bashing that normally
accompanies these missions by a good mate
and fishing buddy, Benjamin. He offered us
the loan of his IRB while he was attending a
wedding in Christchurch.
43 phone calls, 536 group emails and 91
swell map hits later and the weekend had
finally arrived. The weather gods had smiled
on us, and the forecast was perfect. As we
loaded all the gear in the hot sun at 5pm on
Thursday evening, I couldn’t help but feel
this was going be a great trip.
We got to our base for the weekend around
midnight. Thankfully the ranger had left the
key where he said it would be, and we were
able to settle into a couple of beers on the
porch after a long drive.
As the waxing moon threw a blanket of dim
light across the towering hills that formed
the valley surrounding us, fishy tales and
plans for the morning were discussed to
the soothing sound of crickets in the still
air. There is something very surreal about
northern Coromandel that I can’t quite
put my finger on. The anticipation of what
tomorrow might bring was thick amongst
the boys, but somehow we eventually
managed to get our heads down.
A few hours later the first alarm went off and
after a brief moment of disbelief, we were
up and moving about. Perhaps it was the
excitement of waking up somewhere new
with a whole coastline of unlimited fishiness
to explore that got the boys out of bed.
Perhaps it was the heavy, thick air lacking in
oxygen as a result of four men sleeping in a
small room that inspired us to be on our feet
in a very short amount of time.
Whatever the reason, teamwork was the
name of the game. With one man making
lunch, another cooking breakfast and the
other two sorting bait/burley and loading
the boat we were down at the water’s edge
ready to launch the IRB at first light.
That day was the first time the other lads
had done a land-based mission using an
IRB for transport. So in true early morning
fashion, I gave some very vague details on
how this beach launch was supposed to go.
We dropped the boat in the water, and I
went to park the ute and trailer well up
above the high tide mark. By the time I got
back the others had managed to get the
bow facing into the crashing swell, but the
engine wasn’t running. The boat was half full
of water, and the back of the transom was
very close to the water line. Breakers were
smashing over the bow, and things were
looking a wee bit hairy!
After a heap of priming, choke and revs
in waist deep water with the boat getting
smashed by the swell and a dozen pulls on
the starter cord, the engine finally fired up.
SPO
RTS
FISH
ING
www.nzfisher.co.nz 11
With the transom about to disappear under
the waterline, I was taking no chances.
I whacked her into gear and hit the gas,
launching the boat forward. With one hand
on the throttle, the other on the side rope
and my body and legs flailing out the back
like some perverse giant-sized squid vicious
teaser, we cleared the breakers and I pulled
myself on board!
“All good”, I think were my exact words as I
smiled at the others as casually as I could
before dropping the scuppers. Quietly though
I was thanking fate I wasn’t ringing Ben and
telling him I had sunk his boat!
Pretty soon the scuppers had done their job.
With the water completely drained from
the hull, we were planing our way to spot-X.
Upon arrival, it quickly became obvious that
we weren’t going to be landing on the ledge
I had hoped to fish. The swell was wrapping
around the coast and pumping into the small
bay that we usually use to unload. With three
inductees on board and my own confidence
somewhat in tatters after the diabolical
launch, the call was very quickly made to try
another ledge further down the coast that
had produced decent fish for me in the past.
This ledge was easily accessible, and so
began the offload. The boys picked up
the gist of the bungee system in no time.
Before we knew it, Greg and I were tying
off the empty boat while Joe and Gary were
setting up on the ledge.
It was at this point that Greg and I noticed
we had taken on quite a bit of water again.
I instantly thought the worst – that there
was a tear in the hull. As we took off again to
drain her, Greg suddenly turned to me and
asked that obvious but taboo question that
no skipper ever wants to be uncertain off:
“Are the bungs in?”.
The brief moment of relief that the problem
had been identified and was easily rectifiable
was quickly swamped by the mortifying
realisation that I was going to have to live
with this error for not only the rest of this
trip. But until such a time that each of the
others had committed an individual act of
muppetry of equal proportions.
Once on the ledge, we got set up and then
went about trying to catch livies. They proved
12 www.nzfisher.co.nz
extremely difficult to get at first and didn’t
improve much over the day. We pumped a
solid burley trail and cubed continually. We
fished spinners, un-weighted pillie cubes,
baits under floats, retrieved baits, soft baits
– you name it, we worked it. Unfortunately
though the Kahawai just didn’t seem to be
around and the two or three we did secure
and deploy as live baits ended up belly up
within 10 minutes.
We took turns at regular intervals throwing
a popper about and despite four sets of keen
eyes on the wash, we didn’t see a kingie
cruising all day.
In the mid-afternoon around high tide, the
thought of a chilli-bin packed with beer and
salt-ice got the better of us, and we decided
to pull the pin. As any fisherman will tell you,
conceding defeat for the day is never easy
but knowing that you have two more days
up your sleeve certainly softens the blow.
Getting back to camp a little earlier than
expected also allowed us plenty of time to get
organised for the next days’ assault!
In the morning, we were on the beach again
launching by daylight. We were much better
prepared having had a chance to properly
organise ourselves the previous afternoon.
We had virtually halved our gear, the boat
was properly packed and, of course, (the
question was raised many times!) the bungs
were in!
Greg decided to park the wagon up the beach
this morning while I got the engine idling.
There was far less swell today which made
this job easier and as soon as Greg got back
down the beach we were off.
We went straight for the ledge we dismissed
the day before and were met by the sight of
a very small and manageable swell wrapping
around into the bay. With everyone having
had a bit of practice with the bungee system
yesterday, we were all happy that this would
be (and was) an easy disembark.
Once landed, we got a burley out straight
away and let it go to work while we set up our
kit. Without the drama of yesterday, we were
on the ledge getting ready half an hour earlier
than the day before and were greeted by a
glorious sunrise.
The water along the ledge looked very fishy.
It was clean, had good visibility with plenty
of current and a nice swell smashing up
against the rocks that was creating plenty of
white water. It just oozed potential kingfish.
By the time the first bait hit the water the
Kahawai had sniffed out the burley and
were ready for breakfast. Within 20 minutes
and with three hours until the low, we
had three livies out bobbing about under
balloons - pretty much the polar opposite of
yesterday’s start.
With ourselves now well set-up, I decided to
throw a popper about to keep myself busy
while the other boys set about catching a
feed of snapper for tonight’s meal.
After an hour or so and a couple of livie swap
outs (a couple went belly up), the fishing
slowed a little. Joe and Gary’s livies had
followed the current and made their way
around to the left of the ledge (a prime spot
where I have seen many kingfish harass baits
in the past). Mine had left its prime position
on the edge of the wash to find itself right
back in close to the ledge and getting bashed
around in the surge below me.
SPO
RTS
FISH
ING
www.nzfisher.co.nz 13
I wound up the slack line on the livie rig
before setting about trying to catch a new
live bait. I have seen this many times where
live baits that are tired swim back to the
ledge and then get caught up in the surge.
This leaves them unable to swim out against
the swell that keeps bashing them back up
against the rocks. While my bait wasn’t at
that stage yet, I figured it was probably better
to get prepared now.
I was casually casting about an unweighted
pillie, and I looked down to see my balloon
suddenly get dragged under the water
without warning and pop off. The clicker
on the TLD50 began to sing as I yelled out
to the others and ran over to lift up the
rod. By this stage, the reel was silent, and
the fish had stopped running. My heart
sank as I figured it had spat the bait. A few
tense seconds later the spool started to spin
again, and I pushed the lever up to strike,
waited for the weight and then struck the
hook home. The rod loaded up, and the line
began to pour off the reel.
Greg ran over and put a gimbal on me while
I tried to get the fish under control. By this
stage, after its’ initial run, the fish had dug
down deep right in front of me and was
dragging my mainline across the rocks.
Thankfully the kelp was cushioning the
24kg mono from parting but I was taking
no chances and backed the drag to about
halfway. This allowed the fish to turn and
run out to deeper water that gave me some
breathing space before I pushed the drag back
up and began the process of trying to wear it
down further out.
It felt like a decent fish and after a good
tussle out wide with some long solid runs
and plenty of give and take, I could feel him
Result!
14 www.nzfisher.co.nz
tiring. I began retrieving line at a good pace
and after a while he was back at the ledge.
He ran me up and down the weed line a
few times and had me scrambling along
the ledge trying to keep the mainline away
from the sharp rocks.
Finally, the wind-on emerged through the
surface of the water. With 5m of 200lb wind-
on and 3m of 100lb flouro trace being the
only thing left to drag across the rocks, I
knew I had this fish. Greg was down at the
water’s edge with the gaff, and as the trace
came within reach, he yelled that there was
another fish shadowing my one.
Greg grabbed the trace and quickly sunk in
the gaff. I was stoked as this was my first
land based kingie in a couple of years. While
I knew it wasn’t the 25kg model I’ve been
dreaming of, I knew it was far bigger than my
previous PB of 15kg.
Greg hoisted the fish up the ledge and lay it
down in front of me to much whooping and
high-fiving before we heard Gary yell out. In
the commotion, the rest of us hadn’t noticed
him wind in his live bait after seeing the other
kingie, and it had been smashed as well.
Before I had even had a chance to take a good
look at my fish, Gary was hooked up, and it
was all on again. It quickly became apparent
that this was another good fish and that Gary
wasn’t going to be able to muscle it in quickly.
It had him running up and down the ledge
with us in tow and forced him into a crouch
on more than one occasion.
The end game was hard work and became
a battle of attrition. The fish had burrowed
down deep and swum through the kelp
directly at our feet, and Gary had to take his
time inching it back. We later learnt that he
was fishing a mono he had brought with him
from the UK that was rated at only 38lb.
Slowly but surely though he started to get
the last of the mainline back on the spool
until I was able to grab the leader and lift the
fish through the kelp for Greg to gaff.
To a chorus of expletives and whooping, Greg
handed the gaff to Gary above us who hoisted
it safely up onto the ledge. Gary looked a little
stunned at first before suddenly exclaiming in
full English accent “Wot a peach of a fish!”
Garys’ was clearly a larger fish than mine and
the buzz on the rock with two solid kingies
at our feet was something that I’ll remember
for years to come. One of them was my new
PB, and the other was Gary’s first land based
kingie (and on his actual birthday). After all
the weeks of planning and build-up and not
to mention the drama of the day before it was
a perfect moment.
“After all the weeks of planning and build-up and not to mention the drama of the day before it was a perfect moment.“
SPO
RTS
FISH
ING
www.nzfisher.co.nz 15
After a few minutes of back-slapping, high
fives and photo’s we put the fish into an
insulated kingie bag and hid them in the
shade of the cliff. We quickly decided it was
Joe and Greg’s turn to land one, and went
about trying to catch live baits before the low.
The Kahawai though seemed to have
disappeared and unfortunately for the boys,
didn’t reappear for the rest of the day. We
fished on through to the middle of the
afternoon but despite our best efforts could
not secure a decent live bait. At one point, I
even put out a large maomao but had to bring
it back in when I realised the clutch was not
engaging on my reel.
Back at the campground we quickly shot back
to the cabin to drop off the boat and pick up
some ice-cold bevvies before taking the fish
down to the filleting station at the water’s
edge. On the way, we stopped in at the
rangers hut and picked up a set of scales.
We hung the scales from a pohutukawa and
weighed mine first. It ended up going 18kg
which was a new PB for me and 3kg closer to
my goal of a 25kg land based kingfish.
Next up we all watched in anticipation as
Gary’s fish was hung up and pulled the dial
round to 23kg! An excellent effort on 18kg
line for anyone, let alone this being his first
land based king.
That evening, kingfish was all over the menu.
We gorged on fresh sashimi, followed by
islands style raw fish and then a main of
kingfish and snapper tacos with a beautiful
mango salsa that Joe prepared.
The cabin had filled with people during the
day. There were two sets of foreign trampers
and a group of fisherman from the Waikato,
who all enjoyed the fruits of our labour that
evening as the drinks and laughter flowed on
into the night.
It was a fitting way to round off a great day.
By contrast, the next day was uneventful.
We landed on the same ledge but the bait
never showed. We didn’t catch a Kahawai
all morning, and the maomao we put out in
desperation went unnoticed. We knocked it
on the head around midday so we could get
packed and hit the road back to Auckland at a
reasonable hour.
While it was a disappointing way to end the
trip, it did reiterate just how critical timing
and organisation can be to success. Had we
missed the bait the day before, we may have
gone home with our tails between our legs.
Thankfully though, we found the right ledge
at the right moment in time and turned three
days of tough fishing into a lifelong memory.
On the drive home, it was agreed that we’d
make this an annual trip. Greg and Joe had
some unfinished business, Gary was still
buzzing from the result, and me…well, I was
still to witness these guys commit their acts
of muppetry.
16 www.nzfisher.co.nz
FISH
ERIE
SMAN
AGEM
ENT
FOR THE FIRST TIME in four years
management of Marlborough Sounds,
Blue cod is being reviewed, and LegaSea
is encouraging recreational fishers to
have their say on the future of this
most prized fishery.
A multi-stakeholder group, the Blue Cod
Management Group, is seeking people’s
views now before they develop potential
management options to be included in
a public consultation document, due for
release mid-year.
If you have an interest in this important
fishery then please send your feedback as
soon as possible to [email protected].
Your comments can be detailed or brief. Do
it now, so your comments can be considered
early, and be sure to include your contact
details so you can be kept informed of any
further developments.
What’s up with Blue Cod? New agreement for
Marlborough Blue codUpdate by Trish Rae, Legasea
www.nzfisher.co.nz 17
Coalition of interests
There is unprecedented agreement on
how Blue cod in the Marlborough Sounds
ought to be managed in the future. So far,
groups representing more than 50,000
people have agreed on a range of potential
options that could be applied to this fish
stock after this year’s review.
Specific groups that have worked together
on this issue include the Marlborough
Recreational Fishers Association, the
Coalition of the Combined Clubs of
Wellington, the NZ Angling and Casting
Association and NZ Sport Fishing Council.
Their recommendations have been
distributed so others can support the same
measures. The intention is twofold; firstly
to have fair rules that apply to recreational
fishing across the entire Top of the South
Island. And secondly, to have simple
regulations that are well supported by the
local community and visitors to the area.
LegaSea is supporting the combined
group’s recommendations as they align
with our Principles to
1. Rebuild the fishery,
2. Stop senseless waste and
3. Set equal size limits, including
minimum size limits for sustainability
reasons rather than to give priority to
commercial fishers.
Feel free to download the details from
www.legasea.co.nz/bluecod.php
Next steps
The Ministry for Primary Industries will
conduct a formal consultation process
in May this year, with submissions due
by 15th June. Ministry will review all
submissions and make recommendations
to the Minister on what regulations ought
to apply when the new Blue Cod season
opens on 20 December 2015.
Please take the time to have input into this
process. The Marlborough Sounds Blue cod
stock is worth conserving as it draws people
to the area from around the country and
overseas. Let’s do what we can together to
rebuild this iconic fishery. ■
Call 0800 LEGASEA (534 273)
Email us [email protected]
Subscribe at www.legasea.co.nz
Read more at www.facebook.com/legasea
18 www.nzfisher.co.nz
LEGASEA LEGENDS IS A new initiative
that recognises people who are committed
to fishing and conserving fish for
future generations.
People who contribute at least $10 per
month to LegaSea are entitled to join the
Legends programme and receive a Welcome
Pack and Certificate of Recognition.
The recent Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat
show in Auckland was the first time LegaSea
Legends was revealed to the public, and it
proved to be a winner.
New contributors welcomed this public
recognition of their generosity, and past
regular contributors were particularly pleased
to learn they qualified for ‘Foundation’
Legend status.
How are LegaSea Legends recognised?
• LegaSea appreciates the commitment of people who sign up to the Legends
programme. In return for your contribution you receive:
• A ‘Welcome Pack’, including a Certificate of Recognition and multiple decals
• Regular updates and access to tools so you can easily respond to fisheries
management issues and influence change; and
• Relevant ‘thanks’ opportunities through our sponsors’ promotions.
LEG
ASEA
UPD
ATE
What does is mean to be a LegaSea Legend?
• INVOLVED Actively
participating and eager
to learn what actions can
accelerate a rebuild in
our fisheries.
• RESPECTED Appreciated
by LegaSea and your
fishing peers.
• INFORMED Aware of the
issues affecting our fisheries.
• DEDICATED Investing $10
per month to help restore
your fisheries to abundance.
LegaseaLegends Recognised
www.nzfisher.co.nz 19
What happens to the money?
100% of public donations made through
the LegaSea Legends programme are
transferred to the New Zealand Sport
Fishing Council whose Board carefully
invests it in advocacy, research and
education work streams. There is an
endless list of issues that need to be
addressed and publicised; this work costs
money if we want it done independently
and consistently to a high standard.
In the 2013-2014 financial year, the Council
invested over $130,000 in advocacy,
research, education and promoting public
awareness of issues.
Collectively the Council’s projects,
submissions and public awareness
initiatives are designed to achieve
abundant fisheries and meaningful fishing
experiences for their members and for us,
the public who have faith and belief in
this work.
What has LegaSea achieved?
LegaSea has achieved greater public
awareness and engagement in fisheries
management and policy issues. In the
past two years, more than 120,000
fisheries management submissions have
been generated via the mechanisms
provided by LegaSea. Our ongoing
publicity initiatives regularly reach
over 100,000 people per month.
You are welcome to come aboard
and become a LegaSea Legend, or
if your business is looking for a
worthwhile investment then the
Building LegaSea or LegaSea Works
programmes might fit you better.
LegaSea is a public outreach initiative
of the New Zealand Sport Fishing
Council. The Council has an experienced
fisheries management, science, policy
and legal team. On behalf of the Council
LegaSea raises funds and provides
public-friendly information about a
variety of processes that are important
to the sustainable management of
fisheries for future generations. ■
LegaSea is the public face of the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council. The Council has an experienced fisheries management, science, policy and legal team. On behalf of the
Council LegaSea provides public-friendly information about a variety of processes that are important to the sustainable management of fisheries for future generations.
LegaSea has achieved greater public awareness and engagement in fisheries management and policy issues. In the past two years, more than 120,000 fisheries management submissions have been generated via the mechanisms provided by LegaSea.
20 www.nzfisher.co.nz
A MATE AND I TRY to get down to Haast
at least twice a year for a bit of a fish and a
hunt. The Haast area is one seriously wild
place, the scenery down there is almost
beyond words. The lack of launch spots for
vessels larger than tiny, combined with, the
weather and the swells ensure the region is
under little fishing pressure. Thanks to this,
the fishing is fantastic when you can get out,
and Haast rarely fails to produce a surprise
or two. This trip was no exception.
The first day of our trip started at 4.30am
for me leaving home to meet the boys,
Chook and Andrew, at Springfield. We
transferred all the gear to one 4x4 and a
trailer to continue the seven-hour drive.
Along the way, we stopped at an unusually
secret spot to drop our cray pots. After
checking into the Haast Lodge, we went
down to the river mouth and had a ball
hooking and landing Kahawai after Kahawai
on trout gear from the shore.
Day two was the freezer filler when we
returned to pull our full pots. We fished
the shallow reefs and sand for mixed bags
of nice blue cod, Tarakihi and gurnard.
It’s extraordinary how diverse and full a
fishery can be when it’s left to develop and
not get hammered.
KAY
AK
FISH
ING
Yup. From a kayak!
Hapuku from a Kayak!
Olly & the PukaII
www.nzfisher.co.nz 21
Day three saw us paddle out from a river
mouth two kilometres beyond the Open
Bay Islands, where we settled in fishing
in 35m of water. After a few cod, the first
surprise of the weekend turned up in the
form of a 21lb hapuku. To say I was stoked
would be an understatement!
Dropping the line back down I hooked a 6ft
7 Gill shark that became tail wrapped beside
the kayak; the line snapped, and it sank from
sight looking very sorry.
Then as I retied my rig, there was a splash
a few metres in front of me. I glanced up to
see the second surprise of the trip, heading
straight towards the back of my mates yak
(he was tied to the front of mine) was grey
fin!! As the shark passed below us, we rafted
up together and identified the shark as a great
white, although thankfully a small one at
around 3m long. It began circling us at speed,
checking us out. We calmed our nerves after
the initial shock and sat there, paddles at the
ready to give the shark a good whack if it got
too friendly. Eventually I hauled the anchor,
and as the chain rattled up the side of the
yak the shark seemed to lose a bit of interest
and we slowly paddled away keeping close
together. I’d describe the meeting as nervous
but fascinating!
Day four was a little more relaxing with a
surf cast that produced a few wrasse and
a fruitless evening deer hunting in some
seriously stunning, albeit barren, countryside.
Day five was the drive home and a chance
to reflect on an amazing week on the wild
west coast. It’s an often forgotten slice of our
paradise that we’re stoked to be able to enjoy
it and even get a decent paddle in too – down
here the weather’s often merciless. It was a
great and full weekend. ■
Olly & the PukaII
22 www.nzfisher.co.nz
BEN
ISLA
ND
.CO
.NZ
LAST WEEK I WAS asked whether I was
available to take a couple who were visiting
Great Barrier Island fishing off the rocks. They
were staying with a friend of mine, and since
I hadn’t been to her place, I decided to check
the area out the day before. After meeting
and having a chat with everyone, I walked
down from the house to the bay pictured
below to suss out the track and where to fish.
The Spot
In spite of the rain we had lately, the track
was still very manageable, and my plan was
to fish off the point. Like most of the spots
I fish regularly, this is a low tide spot. While
this spot does not boast deep water, it does
provide all one needs to land good fish. A
little bay that can provide shelter in south-
westerly winds, a lot of foul and a bit of a
current at the point.
The Plan, Conditions & Tide
Our plan was to meet the next day at 13.00
and fish the point facing into the bay.
Low tide was at about 17.00 and it would
take us about 30 minutes to get there. We
experienced a south-westerly wind 15 knots
strong, which was not an issue, as the little
semi-island we were fishing off provided
shelter from the wind. If anything, the wind
aided with casting further.
The Rig & Preparation
Although I brought along my gear, I didn’t
plan to fish on this day. I rigged two rods with
a single 6/0 circle hook at the end of about
1 meter of 30 lbs trace. The main line was
of the same category. My task for today was
to be a rock fishing caddy, aiding with rigs,
landing fish and so forth (I quite enjoy that!).
Of course, like any other avid land-based
angler, I had pre-tied a dozen rigs so that they
can be replaced quickly when the fish are on
the bite and re-rigging is required.
Benisland. co.nz
www.nzfisher.co.nz 23
Burley & Focus On Catching Fresh Bait
One of the local boys told me that they catch
plenty Kahawai here, and my plan was to
burley hard and get them to come to us.
We would catch a few, they are heaps of fun,
good eating (superb sashimi) and are top
fresh bait. It took about half an hour until
the first Kahawai was landed. And after that,
for about an hour more big Kahawai were
hooked, played, caught and released.
Both anglers were competent on their own,
and I was surprised to see that they hardly
snagged to the bottom. The Kahawai were
all the same size, about 3lbs. We put two of
them into a rock pool and one I cut up to
use as bait.
Snapper & Staying Prepared
It took about one and a half hours until the
first snapper showed up. We had the sun
in front of us, and it was difficult all day to
see into the water and observe the burley
trail. The snapper that were, however, all
undersized and I remember mentioning that
they will get bigger.
As a matter of fact, I believe that there
is always one good hook-up out there
when you’re out there on the rocks. The
challenging thing is to stay calm and
prepared, even after landing and releasing
the tenth small snapper.
Often this puts anglers off; they start
theorising and concluding that because they
have landed many small snapper that there
is only small snapper out there. They start
decreasing the drag and pay less attention to
what they are doing.
Believe me, when you’re out there with a
good plan and set-up, never give up and stay
on guard. When the big one takes your bait,
everything happens very quickly. If you are
not on top of the action, all you have to show
for is a story of the one that got away and the
story of the undersized snapper.
A great day on the rocks with a bit of a tail wind. Very enjoyable to be standing there and catching a feed..
24 www.nzfisher.co.nz
BEN
ISLA
ND
.CO
.NZ
The Hook-up
After a couple 35cm snapper had been
secured in a rock-pool, I felt very good. It was
a great day; we were comfortable, had heaps
of action on Kahawai and had even enough
snapper for a feed. Although I was still hoping
for a bigger snapper, the pressure was off, and
I mentioned that we did everything right.
“Now it’s time to land that trophy fish!”.
Well, Jim cast a slab of fresh Kahawai about
15 metres out and moments later said:
“Got another Kahawai on.” I watched his
line closely and couldn’t see any signs of
a Kahawai. The line was pointing steadily
into the water and not dragging in a zig-zag
motion. Jim was all cool and used the rod to
bring in what appeared like a bit of weight.
The first time I saw some colour, I saw
heaps of dark and brown. Still too far away
to say what he had hooked, but the closer
it came, the less it looked like a Kahawai.
Although I did not want to believe it
because Jim was reeling it in very casually, I
knew this was a big fish.
I thought it would be a Porae or similar, and
wanted to give instructions as to increase
the drag as the fish hasn’t gone for a run yet.
In the end, I did not say anything and only
moved down to the water’s edge to assist
with landing this mysterious fish.
I almost couldn’t believe my eyes when I
saw a very decent snapper about five metres
away from the rocks. It was huge, clearly
over 10 lbs but why didn’t it fight? “Did I
miss the fight? Oh boy, this one is even more
than 15 lbs”, I mumbled to myself as the
leader was in reach.
“What shall we do Ben, do you have a
plan?”. The fish looked exhausted to me,
and I managed to lift it out of the water.
Once it was out of the water, and I felt the
actual weight, I think we all were even more
surprised. Jim stated immediately that he
wanted to release the fish.
“I’m afraid this one is gut-hooked very deeply
Jim. I won’t be able to get that hook out.”
We placed the snapper into a big rock-pool,
and after a closer inspection, it was clear that
we could not do much for him. He was well
hooked in the gut area, and there was a lot of
blood coming out of the gills.
18+ lbs snapper off the rocks.
www.nzfisher.co.nz 25
This article is reproduced with permission of Ben Assado. Ben lives permanently in the hills of Tryphena, in a rugged and stunning bush block, and pursues his dream of living in harmony and sustainably from the land. Check out Ben’s website www.benisland.co.nz for more fishing stories and a great read about island life
I congratulated Jim and as you can see he was
very happy about this snapper as well. A bit of
a shame, as he said, that we had to kill it, but
I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t have had survived.
The happy couple continued fishing for
another hour while I began preparations for
heading back. Scaling, gutting the catch and
starting to pack in. We released the Snapper
and Kahawai that were very active in the
rock pool and here is a photo of some of the
snapper that were taken.
The Gist Of ItFish: Snapper
Caught: Rock Fishing May 2015
Bait: Kahawai slab
Where: South East Coast
Weight: 18 lbs
Gear: 30 lbs
Main: Line: 30 lbs
Trace: Fish landed an hour before low tide. ■
Smoked snapper head for Ben..
A memorable and very productive land-based fishing session on the Barrier..
26 www.nzfisher.co.nz
REA
DER
PICS
Reader Pics
Forbes Taylor with his first ever Grandaddy Hapuku
Forbes Taylor with a nice inner Gulf King
Mabel Richards (8) with a landbased Hiwihiwi
Image sent in by Craig Thin - angler unknown, but he looks pretty stoked!
Winner!
www.nzfisher.co.nz 27
Mabel Richards (8) with a landbased Hiwihiwi
Sam Richards (5) son with a landbased Hiwihiwi
Teghan Errington with a Yellowfin - not much detail, but we’re all jealous!
Sam West with a huge 29 pound Snapper landed in the Hauraki Gulf. Enticed by a mullet bait
Winner!
28 www.nzfisher.co.nz
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