9 from the helm

It was with a mix of nostalgia and excitement last month that we announced the transition from a monthly to a quarterly publication format.

Having been published for nearly half a century, nz fishing news has long been the ‘anglers’ bible’, undergoing several ownership changes and formats as various publishers have sought to keep up with modern trends and do the best for their audiences.

I’ve been a hardcore soft plastics user for many years now, and in the process i’ve enjoyed strong associations with the two most popular brands here in new zealand, gulp! And z-man.

I love fishing with lures and sometimes wish we had a wider range of medium-sized sportfish species available in new zealand. But then again, with modern lure techniques, a great many species that were once considered only able to be caught with bait are now regularly taken on artificial lures of one type or another. As most fish make a living by eating other types of marine animals, it is really only a matter of finding the right buttons to press.

With so much at stake with our inshore fisheries, it’s fortunate legasea will be at the hutchwilco new zealand boat show in full force, ready to discuss sustainable and ethical fishing practices.

There is enough fishing line abandoned each year to wrap around the equator 400 times, and enough abandoned fishing nets to cover the entirety of scotland. Drifting for years, these ghost nets terrorise everything in their path, from marine life to the marine environment.

The nz fishing news hosted vava’u international fishing tournament will celebrate its 20th anniversary this october.

The godfather team took the top cash prize of $462,350 for the highest number of points at the fifth kubota billfish classic, the largest fishing competition in the world. Mid life crisis won $350,000 for the heaviest billfish weighing in at 256.5kg.

Commercial fishing, like any business, operates with the underlying goal of generating more revenue and increasing profit margins. There have been longstanding concerns that commercial fishers are harvesting at rates that exceed the ability for fish populations to be replenished. This can have devastating impacts on the delicate balance of our oceans.

Rayglass boats, one of new zealand’s largest grp boat builders, has announced the launch of the newest model in its legend series, the legend 3000. The multipurpose cabin cruiser comes fully equipped with premium features and is the perfect crossover for boaters looking to entertain family and friends, spend the day fishing, or take a weekend getaway.

Navico group, a leading supplier of integrated systems and products, will be at the 2024 hutchwilco new zealand boat show in hall 2, stand #244, showcasing a range of exciting products, including:

New zealand underwater association has launched its new zealand diver survey and if you are in the water with mask, snorkel and fins, with or without a tank, you are a diver and the association want your opinion!

Fisheries new zealand is seeking feedback on two proposed measures to help address kina barrens and rebalance local ecosystems.

More than a fishing spot

The 2023/24 season of the export nz fishing competition finishes on friday, 31st may. You only have a few weeks left to win yourself an $85,000 extreme 1770 and a range of shimano prizes worth over $10,000! If it’s bragging rights you’re after, you’ll have to work hard, with the current leaderboards full of some great catches.

Cooking with

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.

Nose to tail recipes

New zealand is surrounded by over 15,000km of coastline, with more than 65% of us living within 5km of the ocean. So for us kiwis, our coastal marine environment is a significant part of our lives and wellbeing.

You don’t have to be a scientist to notice changes in the hauraki gulf marine park. There are fewer workups with seabirds swooping into the water, and if you’re fishing it’s increasingly uncommon to reel in anything other than a snapper.

Export spot x

Fishing with family is so important – not only do you get to spend quality time with loved ones, but you create great memories, get away from the madness back on land, strengthen relationships and connect with nature. I have fished all my life with family, starting from an early age fishing with my dad and brother, to now fishing with my wife and daughter. Being able to share my passion for boats and the marine environment with loved ones is so important to me.

& the battle of the bills

Dan govier physically and mentally has never been far from the sea.

2024 jetfish-equipped

Late last year, honda marine announced the bf350 – its biggest outboard yet. Now kiwi anglers can really get excited as one has landed on our shores, and we fielded an exclusive offer to check it out.

Evaluating the ford everest wildtrak over 5,000km in the last four months through a range of conditions means we’re capable of giving it a comprehensive hands-on review.

Jeep’s new grand cherokee has hit kiwi shores, promising the ideal combination of comfort, space, performance, and towing capability. But does it deliver on the billing?

I must confess, as we loaded up our arsenal of fishing gear for the three kings – including big shimano stellas and ocea jiggers – i had written off the comparatively petite shimano ocea jigger ld 2500mg and game type j pe6 jigging/ livebaiting set.

In the february edition, i wrote a review of the new vexed range of terminal tackle which was put through its paces in the bay of islands.

New zealand boat show 2024

If you are looking for a place for great adventures, or a place just to get away from it all that will create memories of a lifetime, then a quick 3.5-hour flight to niue will deliver just that.

As our main fishing season looms (june to november), the weather is finally settling and things are starting to heat up! We’ve had an unusually long hot and wet summer this year but have fortunately been spared from any serious cyclone activity.

Classic, glassy days have kept the bite slow but steady over the past month. Team troppo reports that the yellowfin tuna bite slowed a bit as the water temperature rose to 32.5°c. However, when they did find patches of cooler water, the yft came on strong, with fish to 70kg being weighed by their anglers.

Find out how a love for fishing and a commitment to do something meaningful led auckland woman renee mcfadyen to her role as an honorary fishery officer.