Bluefin tuna

7 from the helm

Imagine your doctor, after examining your physical or emotional ailment, handing you a script.

When i got into gamefishing i soon began to question whether the name of this sport did it any justice. I cannot think of any other sport that offers such an adrenaline rush. The excitement when preparing and heading out to go gamefishing is unparalleled. This is particularly true when the target is the elusive broadbill swordfish – the ultimate fish for me. Hooking one of these is such a rush, and, until you experience this feeling, you just cannot describe it.

It’s interesting: i fish with some of auckland’s keenest fishers regularly, yet none of us owns a boat over six metres in length. Tellingly, all of us have chosen tinnies, too. True, none of us is particularly wealthy, which obviously has a significant influence on the boat chosen and used, but we’re not poor either. We could buy a bigger boat if we really wanted to.

When i tell people i’m from the shetland islands, they generally smile, raise their eyebrows, and nod politely. I don’t blame them. I have pretended many times that i knew where that was. Imagine my surprise, then, when i found out that a community of shetland islanders, instrumental in the fishing dna of wellington, lived down the road from me!

Dispatches is where we shwcase stunning, fishy imagery from the best photographers in the country.

The effects of barriers to fish passage on native species and trout in taranaki, and a recovering kōaro and eel population in nelson/ marlborough are among the insights gained in an electric fishing research programme carried out by fish & game (f&g).

Assuming you’re reading this copy of new zealand fishing news before the 31st of may, there are only days to submit your catches into this season of the export nz fishing competition. April, with a few long weekends, proved to be a busy month, and with over 7,500 catches approved so far this season, the current leaders for each species have set a blistering pace.

As ihover 10 metres below the surface in the inky darkness, i am trying to focus on the lights ahead of me rather than the 150m of water below me (not to mention the swordfish and makos that frequent the area). My husband hovers nearby, looking decidedly more comfortable than i feel. It’s 1am, we are ‘blackwater diving’ about 5 miles east of the poor knights islands, and i am wondering how on earth i got myself in this situation.

+ seaweed chips

The kai ika project is a non-profit initiative bringing communities together to share previously underutilised fish parts to reduce waste and feed the community while conserving fish for future generations.

Recently fisheries new zealand (fnz) proposed to severely reduce the recreational take of pāua around the bottom half of the north island. A small harvest for a family feed, fnz proposed to cut the recreational daily bag limit from 10 down to five or three per person per day.

Finally, some positive news as the pāua fishery around kaikōura has reopened for the second time after the 2016 earthquake that caused mass coastal uplift. The uplift led to the mortality of many species, including pāua.

The southern bluefin tuna (sbt) fishery is just around the corner for the east coast of the north island, with catches already happening on the south island’s eastern shores meaning the migration is on its way and will be here before you know it!

Every country has its iconic sportfish. In india, it is undoubtedly the mahseer – afish i first encountered in the books of jim corbett, a revered hunter, fisherman, conservationist, and humanitarian of the british raj period.

Bombie bashing’ is the not-toosubtle art of sliding up to a big ‘rock’ of coral in the tropics and throwing in a softbait or fly. It’s great fun. There probably isn’t any other fishing you can do in the tropics (or just about anywhere, for that matter) when you can just about guarantee a hook-up moments after your artificial offering touches down. Once the hook-up happens, you have to lock down everything and haul the fish out without giving any line at all. With the coral so

It’s been a hard summer, we have all felt it. Here in the coromandel, families and businesses have really suffered, and i know we are only one of many regions that have been copping it. Years of covid setbacks followed by an absolute dud of a summer, and then cyclone gabrielle… all our thoughts are with the families affected by this devastation. It’s been hard to know how to progress, with feelings of guilt for being able to start moving forward, knowing so many others are st

A redemption story

Filleting and storing the catch can be a messy business. Grant dixon shares some simple tips that will ensure your fish is presented in pristine condition, free from any contaminating mess and moisture.

Afew weeks back, i was travelling home after dropping off people at queenstown airport. Part of the road winds its way through the kawarau gorge, an area renowned for motoring mishaps. Matagouri and briar nestles the road tightly here, particularly in the section near the roaring meg power station.

The story of new zealand’s native sea creatures

And miss b haven

It’s a bizarre and wonderful feeling driving a threelegged machine in and out of the water as you please, invariably to the admiration and envy of seashore onlookers. However, for new zealand company sealegs, who has been pioneering amphibious recreational boating ever since its first production model was built in 2004, it’s not unusual – it’s par for the course.

Kingfisher has been making boats in the tauranga area for over 19 years. The 390 powercat is kingfisher’s latest production model, devised and built in-house with the same design principles as other models in its stable of powercats.

The team at berkley made the connection between a fish’s sense of taste and the advantages it brings to increasing catch rates back in the 80s.

Vetus’ revolutionary bow pro thruster range now seamlessly integrates with yamaha’s helm master ex boat control system, giving boaties and fishers unparalleled, pinpoint control over their boat at all times. Using just helm master’s single intuitive joystick, skippers simply “point” where and in what direction they want their vessel to go, and the bow pro will combine with the engines to ensure it happens. This is an advantage when docking or close-quarter manoeuvring (especi

As the weather cools down, the squid come on the bite and shimano nz have you covered with the new 2022 models sephia bb c3000s reel and sephia bb s83ml egi combo.

Berkley pro spec 8 ultra cast represents the ultimate in modern super line. Manufactured from eight tightly woven 100% pe fibres, these are passed through a cold bonding process to produce the optimum handling performance braided line. Ultra cast effortlessly casts long distances while providing high knot strength and abrasion resistance, giving you a peak-performing braided fishing line. This super-smooth, high-viz, aqua camo-coloured line is available in 150 and 300-metre s

Ultraflex’s new integra js joystick combines with the company’s integra eps electronic power steering to interface directly with suzuki outboards, giving incredible steering manoeuvrability and advanced fishing functionality. At low speeds at ramps, alongside wharves or in marinas, integra js effortlessly moves the boat in any direction: forward, reverse, sideways or diagonally, enabling it to spin on its axis. In addition, integra js specialist fishing modes give total contr

Always have enough ice cubes for a cold drink with this 12/24-volt brass money portable ice maker. It features a carry handle for portability and can produce ice cubes in less than seven minutes. The touch control panel with a snowflake motif makes choosing different running modes with different colours simple. Fill the reservoir with water and choose the ice cube size. The unit’s compact design is 350(l) x 352(h) x 275mm(w), and a three-year warranty covers it.

The deadly shimano sephia clinch flash boost squid jigs are back for another season. Using shimano’s patented ‘flash boost’ technology inside the body of the jig, squid just cannot resist them. Now available in three sizes – 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5d, shimano have you covered whether you are fishing from the rocks or off the boat in deeper water with a stronger current. The range consists of many different models to suit different fishing conditions. Flash boost jigs are a must-have

A family of smaller-size electric reels, leobritz are small enough to hold comfortably whilst fishing; being able to enjoy the fight with the added assistance of the electric reel is an excellent feature for those who can’t fish with a conventional reel. They feature daiwa’s britz motor concept, a powerful brushed motor which delivers instant power when engaged. Britz motors are robust and offer high torque with up to 16kgs of drag. Both leobritz models have programmable jigg

Wayne barclay jenwayne041@gmail.com

Greg hopping greg@troppofishing.com www.fishsamoa.com

Scott greenwood greenwoods fishing adventures scottyg@ninet.nf

Paul pasisi paulpasisicharters@gmail.com

Charles wheeler crusoe fishing adventures crusoe@vanuatu.com.vu

Memories of watching coast watch on television had a lasting effect on dean rangi who became a fisheries new zealand fishery officer in july last year and has never looked back.

Fishers who took cockles from a closed beach and more than their share of pāua and mussels have landed big fines.

Throughout the year nz fishing news’ readers visit some fantastic fishing spots and make some great catches.

It never ceases to amaze me just how inventive anglers can be when it comes to targeting fish.