www.nzfisher.co.nz 1

NorthlandSnapper & Kings

Matariki from the rocks.jpgwww.nzfisher.co.nz

ISSUE 53 November 2015

Snapper on Bait The Best How To Yet

Edition Snapper

Spring Snapper Madness

http://www.frewzaboats.co.nz/495-frewza-pontoon-hull/

www.nzfisher.co.nz 3

4.. Editorial

8.. Spring Snapper Going Hard

14.. Kaipara Trevs on Softies

18.. New Stuff for your Tackle-box

20.. Northland Magic

25.. Video of the Month

26.. Reader Pics

28.. Smashed on the Rocks

33.. Competiion

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 Derrick on 021 629 327

or email derrickp@NZ Fisher.co.nz

ADDRESS / NZ Fisher, PO Box 47794,

Ponsonby 11144

WEBSITE / www.NZFisher.co.nz

This is a GREEN MAG, created and distributed without the use of paper so it's environ-mentally friendly. Please think

before you print. Thank you!

CONTENTS

Cover Images: Michael Walkley with Snapper.

4 www.nzfisher.co.nz

WELCOME TO THE second to last

edition of NZFisher this year. It’s my

fifth since taking over the reins, and

we’re going well. I trust that our readers

are enjoying what we put out as much

as we enjoy creating it for you.

This month welcome Michael Walkley

to the contributor list. Michaels one of

the fishiest guys I’ve met recently, I feel

like he’s on the water more than I’m at

home, let alone on the water. Michaels

one of the new breed – a lure Fisher

with little need for bait, but he’s also a

talented squid fisher – something we’re

hoping to bring more of to the mag.

Check out Michaels trip report later in

the mag. Thankfully he’s got a great eye

for a photo too!

I’ve been reminded recently that what

I write here does get read and becomes

part of readers perception of the state

of our fisheries.

There’s no surprise to those who know

me that I’m often engaging in fisheries

management discussions both face to

face at meetings and with colleagues,

but also often online.

I’ve been involved in fisheries

management for about ten years,

originally with the Recreational

Fishing Council, the NZ Angling and

Casting Association and more recently

assisting LegaSea to continue increasing

recognition of rec fishers rights. I am

ashamed of the way we (rec fishers)

have historically represented ourselves

EDITORIAL

www.nzfisher.co.nz 5

– so much bad blood and in-fighting;

but the status quo sees us fronting

up and working within the ‘system’ to

assure there will be inshore species for

future generations.

LegaSea is two years into meetings with

MPI & Commercial representatives on

a strategy to resolve issues evolving

around the shared snapper fishery

‘Snapper 1’ which was the focus of the

2013 review and recreational bag limit

reduction. That bag reduction (and

minimum size limit increase) had an

immediate and significant effect on the

fishery – recreational catch, through

reduced angler participation and

reduced catches, and that effect will

carry on through to future recoveries of

this fishery.

We know rec catch has dropped

because there is very strong, accepted

and effective monitoring of recreational

fishing effort and catch results in SNA1.

Contrary to the misinformation put

forth by Sanford Fisheries CEO, there is

no need to further monitor recreational

catch in the Hauraki Gulf.

His magnanimous offer for Sanford’s to

stop commercial fishing in the Hauraki

Gulf may have grabbed headlines but

had both recreational representatives,

MPI and his fellow commercial sector

colleagues scratching their heads.

From what I can tell, he had a bright

idea on a slow day and injected a

little spice to the Hauraki Gulf Forum

meeting he was attending – potentially

just a jab at the LegaSea representatives

there, who knows. Either way, it’s this

kind of negative spin that slows the

process, creates more distrust and

further muddies the waters.

So, why do I raise this? Partly because I

am annoyed by the further distraction

from what is a positive process but

mostly because I want you to know

that while there’s a bunch of negative

and pointless articles out there,

LegaSea are working on tirelessly

to defend and extend your rights as

recreational fishers.

Please take a minute to visit their

page at www.legasea.co.nz and see for

yourself. Better still, share your spare

change – they need all the support

hey can get.

Tight lines,

Derrick

6 www.nzfisher.co.nz

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8 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Spring Snapper Going Hard

Putting the basics into practice By Michael Walkley,

NZ Fishing Community Admin

LUREFISHING

The Author Michael Walkley with a Z-Man caught Kawau snapper

www.nzfisher.co.nz 9

AS WITH YEARS gone by, when the

warm spring waters flood our Gulf, the

spring equinox winds tend to follow. This

season has been no different and lately

the constant 20-knot south-westers have

dampened our spirits.

So when the weather bomb gave us

a brief gap in the wind, we made a

quick decision to hit the Gulf the next

day. We awoke to prestige conditions,

5-knot variables and calm seas. The

boat was hitched, the rods were

stowed and gear packed. Clear skies

and calm waters awaited.

We arrived at a bustling Half Moon Bay

boat ramp and it was clear we weren’t the

The Author Michael Walkley with a Z-Man caught Kawau snapper Rainbows under the sea - what makes them bite.

Snapped up.

10 www.nzfisher.co.nz

only ones with the same plan in mind. As the

ramp jostled with activity, we eagerly wet the

boat and off we went,

The game plan was to hit the middle ground

between the gannet rock and the tip of

Coromandel so the down went hammer and

all that was left was the spray as we blasted

to the destination. When we arrived in

the general area, we started to mark some

good sign so we stooged around. The marks

were thick and very low in the column; the

snapper schools were there waiting for the

ever present bait to meet the onslaught of

marauding birds,

Mayhem followed every drop; every twitch

had us buckled over on the light gear we

had entrusted to do the duty. I was using

a Shimano t curve inshore paired with a

Shimano Stradic ci4+ with 8lb braid and 12lb

leader and trialling the new Shimano Rock

hoppers in 115g pink. These lures are deadly!

Welcome to paradise.

www.nzfisher.co.nz 11These lures generally allow easy and healthy release of un-wanted fish.

12 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Basically, the lure is designed to sink lead

first and the skirt is designed to free fall

behind the lead, so it’s designed like a

running rig. Once the lead touched down

a very slow wind is used to give the lure

life as the skirt drags along the bottom

back to the lure wind slowly a few metres

off the bottom then drop and repeat.

No repeats were necessary because as

quickly as the lure hit the bottom it was

engulfed by the eagerly waiting snapper

below. Today was one for the books, the

bin was chocka before 10am and this was

only the beginning. Size increased with

every drop; we were getting fish up to

There’s worse by-catch!

There’s no end of species that’ll fall for these tastles offerings!

www.nzfisher.co.nz 13

Rod and Reel Fishing Specialists480D Broadway, New Market, Auckland

09 520 0307 www.rodandreel.co.nz

The spring snapper have arrived!

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All available in-store or online now at Rod and Reel

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All the latest gear from Shimano, Daiwa, Okuma, YGK, SeaFloor Control, HOTS, and so much more. Available in store now!!

around 7kg. Many boats in the area

broke the 20lb benchmark.

It’s amazing how we’ve gone full

circle in the last 20 years. Back then

the old lethal lures and buzz bombs

were weapons of choice; now we

have the likes of the ever popular

inchikus and kaburas which have

flooded our markets. They have

made a huge impact in the way we

target these beautiful fish we have

inhabiting out pristine waters. The

styles and colours are immense and

each type has its own attributes that

make it unique. ■

There’s worse by-catch! The arsenal.

Wee Mahimahi - fell victim to a micro-jig off the west coast.

14 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Kaipara Trevs on Softies

SPORTFISHING

Chasing mighty Kaipara Trevs on soft plastics...

MY MATE DARREN has been chasing

big Kaipara Trev’s lately in his back yard.

Living in Shelly Beach, the Kaipara is just

a stones throw away and over the years

he has mastered the area pretty well.

The plan today was to head out in search

for some of those Kaipara Trev’s. We had

decided to fish for them on softies. Wait,

what, we aren’t taking any bait!

I must admit I can’t remember the

last time I fished without bait. It

would have been a very long time

ago. Darren suggested today is a soft

plastic day only.

WORDS BY Jason ‘Fish Whisperer’ Nuete

Delicious by-catch!

www.nzfisher.co.nz 15

Kaipara Trevs on Softies

Early in the morning, after resorting my

tackle box with jigheads, elevator heads

and plastics for our soft bait mish, I made

my way to Shelly Beach. I left home just

after 4am and I took my time as we were

set to meet just after daybreak, at about

6am. When we arrived, there was little to

no wind, and with the bottom of the tide

the plan was to get to spot X on the turn.

His spot is between three to four metres

deep and his favourite gulps are the 4”

minnows and the new 4” Nemissis baits.

We launched at the turn and made our

way down the harbour. It only took as

a few min and Darren has pretty much

picked up Trevs straight away on the first

drift. It looked like it was going to be the

same all day, as soon as our softies hit the

bottom we instantly hooked up and they

were solid Trevs too.

We drifted along the bank for 50 metres

or so then headed back to our spot for

another drift. Each drift resulted in big

hits and runs. Every hook up didn’t

result in a fish being boarded with the

soft mouths that Trevs have, but it

was great fun with bending rods and

screaming reels on every drift. We even

had a toothy friend turn up which was a

lot of fun on the light gear.

Size is no issue for these healthy Trevs

16 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Although I don’t do a lot of

softbaiting, I certainly enjoyed

it that day. It was a great day

throwing plastics around with

some solid Trevs coming aboard.

We also got some nice Snapper,

Gurnard and Kahawai and to top

the day of on the way home we

cleaned up on the Scollies…

What an epic day on the mighty

Kaipara with a fishing buddy

hooking into some great Trevs.

Tight lines ■

This is what success looks like on the Kaipara.

And sometimes, the by-catch is less desirable!

No harm in stopping for a few scollies while we’re here!

www.nzfisher.co.nz 17

And sometimes, the by-catch is less desirable!

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Christmas MUST-HAVES

New Stuff for your Tackle-box

SAVAGE EELS:

Real 3D Imaging of actual eels is used

to create the most life-like lure in

appearance and action. The 3d eel

swims with a lively kicking action in

the tail and slight movements in the

body to give the most life like action.

Expect to get hit on the retrieve and

drop! Field testing by pro-staffers

haven given phenomenal results with

multiple snapper over 20 pounds

being caught.

Best rigged on a #3 hook on either 15-

30gm jig head in under 25 metres or a

60gm elevator rig in waters 30 metres

and over. For more information,

please see Savage’s Facebook page.

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The SWAGE gimbal is one of the most

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weight, but they are also very functional.

The reinforced gimbal base means

added strength during the fight, while

the elasticity off the PU molding

allows it to flex with the angler. The

removable pin means you can fish

with a gimbal knock, or take it out

when not required. 15mm EVA on the

back of the gimbal creates maximum

comfort for the angler when loaded

up, thus reducing fatigue / soreness in

extended fights.

New Stuff for your Tackle-box

FRESHWATER – PATAGONIA STEALTH ATOM SLING

For versatility and functional performance,

the Patagonia ® Stealth Atom Sling Fly Fishing Pack

is constructed of 840-denier, water-resistant coated

ballistics nylon, while the interior contains 200-denier

and 100% polyester for durability. The main zip

pocket can hold two large fly boxes, and the interior

hook-and-loop closure storage pockets provide extra

room for accessories.

With its breathable, stretch-mesh pockets, polyurethane

coating, and durable water-repellent finish, this pack

stays tough all season long. What makes the Stealth Atom

Sling stand out amongst the crowd, is its versatility and

function. Not only does it have a tonne of storage and

a pocket for everything, it also slides away on your back

when fishing. So it’s completely out of the way. When

you want to access something, just slide it around to your

front and it’s all there at your fingertips!!

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

SWTFNFINAL01-14paths.pdf 28/11/14 12:45:42 PM

GOSEN BRAIDThe confusing world of braided line, it is quite a

complex subject, for example, you have two X8 lines,

both 0.418mm thick (PE:6), both braid, yet one is

65lb and the other is 80lb breaking strain. Why?

The second line is heavier (higher denier) because it

has lots more fine lines making up the skinny lines

that are knitted into the eight main fibres (X8). The

skinny lines are also more tightly knitted so there

are greater strength and abrasion resistance; it’s

smoother and casts better. There is no magic tougher

braid, other than quality X, higher denier and genuine

(PE) Poly-Ethylene line. Gosen Braid is available at

reputable tackle retailers or form Storm-water tackle.

20 www.nzfisher.co.nz

WELL, WHERE DO I START? Earlier this

year I had organised another far North

trip for Pea and I. I had my new 550

Senator and the plan was to head North

for labour weekend to chase Kings.

We had booked two days off before;

that would give us a 5-day window

to fish. I have been fishing the far

North for over 20 years now and our

number one spot to stay at is the Top

10 Holiday Park in Whatuwhiwhi.

Staying here allows you to just about

fish in any weather the Gods can

throw at you. It doesn’t matter too

much what way the wind is as there

are multiple places you can launch

from within 10 minutes of each other

to get a line wet and most times you

will still land solid fish even in double

figures. You can even venture to the

West Coast if the weather allows.

Pea and I left Auckland straight after

work on Wednesday, not with my new

Northland Magic Words & images by

Jason ‘Fish Whisperer’ Nuete, Pure Fishing

www.nzfisher.co.nz 21

Senator in tow but a friends small 380

Senator. I sold my boat to move into a

new 550C Osprey, so we dropped back

to the little tin. If there is one thing I

love to do and that is to chase big fish

in the 12-foot tin.

We knew we had options of where

to fish, weather permitting, so we

weren’t too worried we about the

smaller boat. Most of the spots I have

fished over the years are within easy

reach of a small boat and as stated

before no matter where the wind

comes from we should be able to find

some solid fish.

After reaching the Top 10 in

Whatuwhiwhi around 9pm, we

unpacked quickly so we could gear up

for our first day. I had been keeping

the eye on the weather and at first it

was looking promising. As the week

went on it changed constantly. It

looked like for our first couple of days

we would have to fish the coastline

around Knuckle Point. The wind was

semi-offshore and it was only a quick

10 to 15 minute run from the ramp

over the road.

The sun rose on our first morning and

we were on the water at first light.

When we fish the far North we very

rarely chase Snapper. We are normally

here for the reef fish that we don’t

get back down home off the Bays. Pea

loves the Pig and Parrot fish but we also

try to find the likes of Porai, Tarakihi.

Lately, we have been catching some big

Blue Cod and on occasion we have even

pulled up some Puka pups off the cape

50 metres out from the rocks.

22 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Our first day gave us a few mentioned

above and it was a great day on the

water. On Friday, the wind dropped a

bit so we headed out off the bay in the

middle of Doubtless Bay. There were a

couple of long line boats working and

we could see they were pulling some

nice fish. We anchored up in around 20

metres of water. We had been moving

around most of the morning with little

to show but our first few baits were

quickly gobbled up by a few small

Snaps around the 40cm.

We had brought along a couple of

big Burls so we deployed them to see

if we could get some bigger mods

turning up. Each bait started getting

hit and after a good hour all hell was

breaking lose, Snapper after Snapper

was coming up they were also getting

bigger and bigger.

We had dropped the Burley half

way and this brought the fish up off

the bottom. Our baits were getting

smashed as soon as we were letting

them down. The arvo was an epic

Snapper Sesh and in the middle of all

the action I pulled a healthy Porae.

Pea pulled a few big Tarakihi and Blue

cod that were destined for home.

By Saturday, the rain had set in and

the wind was up. It was looking like

a whitewash so we took a ride into

Maunganui to kill some time. On our

return, we could see that just off the

Bay there were Gannets working.

Many, many snaps got their freedom after a glorious fight. Jason getting a good bend on!

www.nzfisher.co.nz 23

The rain was coming down but even

though the wind was up, it was

offshore and the Gannets were close.

Pea said bugger that (not as keen as

me!), so I quickly sorted out the boat

and within five minutes I was towing

my lure in the workups. It was so

quick the rod buckled over and I was

into my first King within seconds. I

got it boated as soon as I could. Being

a solo mish I had to do it all – reverse

the boat, chase the fish film it and

then land it.

What a great fish, it was solid and

went 105cm. I quickly unhooked

it slipped back into the water and

got my lure back in, the birds had

moved off while my 10-minute battle

was going on but once again within

seconds of setting it back into the rod

holder away it went again.

What a magic morning I had in the

rain fighting Kingfish all by myself!

I ended up catching six, all of them

were 100 to 110cm. All went back,

apart from one that was destined for

the Smoker of the boat owner.

Sunday saw the wind switch round

to the South and it had dropped a

little. It was all lined up as expected

and with an out-going tide for the

morning this time our destination

was launching off Rangiputa – This is

a magical place with white sands and

crystal clear waters, the place just

reeks of fish from big kings, Snapper,

24 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Trevs and all sorts of other fish. We towed

our lure through a workup that had Gannets

diving and scooping up Piper. We have

caught some monster kings in this harbour

but this time there were none or they just

didn’t want what we were offering.

With the tide running with the wind, we

had about four hours to fish before the turn

and in the 12-foot tin we wanted to be out

of there before the turn. I decide on a spot I

had fished with my mate Steve on a previous

trip, where we caught some solid fish.

When we got there, we drifted and my

bait was quickly smashed by something

that didn’t hook up. I told Pea we need

to anchor up and drop the burley. He

wanted to shift closer to a cliff for a bit of

protection from the wind (Old man!) but

I was adamant there would be some good

fish sitting in the mouth of the harbour.

The pick was dropped and then the burly.

My first bait was nibbled at but when the

rod buckled over and my reel started to

sing, it was all go from the first bait that

was dropped to the last bait used. This

spot was on fire and the great thing was

nothing was under 40cm, there were solid

fish coming aboard left, right and centre.

Pea’s smile got bigger and bigger and we

normally don’t get too overexcited but it

was even hard to hold back the occasional

yea ha!!! It was a top morning with well

over 30 to 40 solid fish coming aboard

and the best part they were all 40 to

65cm with nothing under sized or close

to it With us going home tomorrow we

decided to keep 4 each and we let the rest

go to fight another day.

The Far North is a part of me. I feel lost

when I haven’t been for a while. It is

special with it’s pristine beaches and clear

water. I wonder how long this playground

will be around, as each year I head North

I see more and more traffic. I hope to get

my kids there, and maybe make it a special

place of their own one day. Tight Lines ■

Who’s wetter_ The King or the fisherman_ Worth getting beating from the weather for

www.nzfisher.co.nz 25

How ToCheck out this great new online ‘How to’ page from Mandy Kupenga

VIDEOOFTHEMONTH

FishingAdvisor.co.nz is a new website created by Mandy Kupenga dedicated of ‘how to’ fishing videos and articles, including how to prepare and cook fish. If you’re keen to learn more this summer

about how to catch a yummy feed and cook up a feast, check us out at www.fishingadvisor.co.nz. Check out an intro video here.

26 www.nzfisher.co.nz

Lee ‘Kayak Assassin’ Kennedy with a hefty 20lb+++ Barrier red.

>

READERPICS

James Webb with a very

healthy looking 18lb Hauraki red.

>

>Novel way of keeping snaps alive - Hat Tip Matthew Alexander

Winner!

Reader Pics

> www.nzfisher.co.nz 27

Steve Walkley with a spring

snap on a Z-man softy

>

Mike Walkley with a Motuora snap.

>

Webb with a tasty Hauraki pup puka

Winner!

>Leah and her 4 year old Sam, enjoying quality time fishing for a feed

28 www.nzfisher.co.nz

NOT A NEW THING I know, but getting a

bunch of guys or gals together that are up

for a bit of adventure has really added to the

quality of the fishing we have been doing in

the Bay of Plenty over the last few months.

Using our boat to access rocks in the areas

that are producing some very good fishing

and on occasion some pretty nice fish as well

has been excellent fun allows us to lift the

level of adventure on offer in our region.

The Rock: Some of the things we have been

looking for when choosing our destination

have been critical to the success of the day.

The first thing we look for is “can we get on

it?”. Getting the boat up to the rock in such a

way that my crew can safely get off with the

tons of bait, berley and gear the buggers bring

is very important to me as the skipper.

It’s pretty obvious but closely looking at

what we have intended to land on before

hand is very important. We do a bit of a

‘sit and watch’ for a few minutes to see

what any surges are doing and what the

receding surges might uncover. For first

time visits to new areas we always have

a man on the bow and approach slowly

so as to avoid any unseen or unknown

obstacles. The boat picks up a few bumps

and scratches but ‘there’s none in the

lounge’ as they say, so a small amount of

war wounds has to be expected if you are

keen on this type of fishing.

LANDBASEDFISHING

Smashed on the Rocks

Words & images by Phil Josephs

www.nzfisher.co.nz 29

The other thing we look for when

choosing a destination is depth

from the ledge we intend to fish.

We try to find areas with steeply

shelved faces that race off into

deep water as quickly as possible.

It’s easier to fight fish in these

environments, saves losing gear in

the shallow ugly bits. Also, we are

finding when snapper fishing that

we are not only attracting the local

30 www.nzfisher.co.nz

‘Kelpies’, but fish in from the surrounding

sandy areas with the berley. All the charts

and things like Google Earth are very helpful

in selecting these place. We take into

account wind and swell condition, as well

considering how to keep the boat safe while

on anchor so you concentrate on fishing and

not checking the boat every five minutes is

really important.

We, when conditions allow, tether the

boat off on a long rope to keep it out

of the fishing area, one issue we have

found with this is as the tide changes

and current directions alter the boat can

move into areas you don’t want it to and

when fishing on small islands or large

rocks the wind travelling around the them

may cause the boat to drift back on to the

LANDBASEDFISHING

www.nzfisher.co.nz 31

rocks. We have taking to off loading crew

and gear anchoring away and then going

for a dive and collecting Kina on the way

back to the rock.

Everyone will know the benefit of Kina in this

situation so it’s a win win all round. The only

down side of the we have found is how many

people are prepared to drive up to the rock

and have a ‘nosey’ or drive past at a great rate

of knots, just out of casting distance!

After you have spent the morning setting

a berley trail!! I am astonished by how this

disrupts the fishing and it normally takes a

good 30 minute for the fish to come back on

the bite. So selecting areas that have low boat

traffic is obvious to an enjoyable day.

32 www.nzfisher.co.nz

The Crew

Getting the group together that are

into it is critical. Having people that

are confident to move when needed

and work together to get gear on and

off the boat has proven to be one of

the strongest things to the day being

successful. Willing net and gaff hands

when good fish require their attention are

also appreciated. We are running out of

a centre console, it a very easy process to

get on and off the boat. We have added a

pole on a hinge sent up to the front of the

bow rail that allows the crew member on

the rocks to get control of the boat while

we are close to the rocks. It prevents

them having to lean over and hold the

boat, lowering the chance of anyone

going into the drink and makes for a very

easy process getting on and off.

The Fishing

The fishing is excellent. The quality of the

fish we have experienced to date has been

very good. From very dark resident fish to

visitors in from the surrounding area, they

have been good. We have lost our share

of very good ones already but appreciate

that’s just part of it. If you have a chance,

find a rock and give it a shot. ■

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X5543

Rod and Reel Fishing Specialists480D Broadway, New Market, Auckland

09 520 0307www.rodandreel.co.nz

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Share an Awesome Photo and Be in to Win!

Share a fishy photo this month and be in to WIN one of two $100 Go Fish Vouchers!

COMPETITION

Competition!

SHARE AN AWESOME photo of you with

a fish to our Facebook page, or email it to

derrickp@fisher.co.nz by December 27th

2015 and you’ll be in to win one of five $100

vouchers from Go Fish to spend on anything

you like from their website or in store.

This month’s winners are: Leah Page and

Lee Kennedy. Leah and Lee have each

won a $100 Go Fish voucher, happy

spending guys! ●

www.nzfisher.co.nz 34

Winners: 1. Leah Page 2. Lee Kennedy

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