Who regulates recreational fishing in nz?’ it’s a simple question with a not-so-simple answer – even for someone steeped in the recreational fishing industry.

Over the last five years, i’ve seen plenty of images and heard plenty of stories of people catching southern bluefin tuna (sbt) out of fiordland. I had always thought that it would be an incredible opportunity to be able to go and do that, but unfortunately, as i don’t own a large boat suitable for taking into a remote offshore environment like fiordland, i was limited in my ability to experience this magnificent fishery.

The taranaki open surfcasting challenge

It took me a long time to come around to jigging. I first tried it out (and immediately gave it up) years ago, using totally unsuitable gear in entirely the wrong place. It was bloody hard work and a complete failure, so i consigned jigging to the ‘not for me’ category.

Ispatches is where we showcase stunning, fishy imagery from the est photographers in the country.

In october last year, the bay of islands lost one of its legendary s ippers, eo stone, who passed away peacefully at home in ussell, aged years, after a attle with cancer.

Aweek out from the 2023 new zealand sport fishing councils nationals, cyclone gabrielle hit new zealand.

“I am still on cloud nine,” was the reaction of one of the igfa’s most recent hall of ame inductees ay of island’s swordfish lu ’s stalwart erry arrett.

Junior anglers now have a further 169 vacant igfa world records to target with the introduction of all tackle length categories for 169 species.

Fish & game has launched a diving programme to monitor new zealand’s trout populations and assess the health of the nation’s waterways.

Drift diving is a monitoring technique used to count trout or salmon within historical sites in river systems. Comparisons can be made between years to determine how the fishery looks and what factors are likely responsible for the increase or decrease in fish numbers.

The opening of the eastern fish and game trout season for 2023 has been changed back to the traditional time of october 1, regardless of the day that falls on.

The hutchwilco new zealand boat show’s most popular attractions are set to be a highlight of this year’s 2023 event to be held may 18-21 at the auckland showgrounds, greenlane.

The raymarine trailer boat tournament 2023 went ahead over a reserve weekend of february 4-5, with 76 anglers competing for a raft of inshore and gamefish prizes fishing out of tauranga.

The 2023 mercury ‘redefining the future of outboard boating’ event was held in the gold coast last month, and nz fishing news was invited over the ditch to learn first-hand about how mercury has been pushing the boundaries in the outboard engine space. Mercury has invested almost $2 billion in research and development since 2008, so it was no surprise that some cool tech was on show!

2022/23

When it comes to incredibility, the management of crayfish is in the upper stratosphere. It is so unbelievable that a high court judge recently questioned the validity of some “expert” assessments of crayfish management around the top half of the north island.

Kina, a shellfish also known as ‘spiky gold’, is a popular catch. They are most commonly caught by divers, so it gives peace of mind that this popular shellfish is harvested using selective, sustainable methods.

You don’t end up in kākahi by accident. Visitors must go out of their way to find it at the end of a twisting road. As you descend into the valley, past lush farmland and pockets of native bush, the sound of cicadas gets louder, and the air takes on an earthy, freshwater tang. With a population of just one hundred and fifty, kākahi is a peaceful little village, but it has a big history: epic māori battles, intense tōtara logging, atlantic salmon farming – and fly fishing.

Like many of us, our ‘from sea to sizzle’ columnist bea bagnall developed a taste for cooking kaimoana via opportunity and necessity.

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.

Never throw them out again

Recipe by: the kai ika team

With tarragon and lemon

The pomahaka river of south west otago is a big river. It starts its 125-kilometre journey in the umbrella mountains, and then it wends its snakelike way through fertile farmland until discharging into the clutha river below clydevale.

Last month, writer ar itteridge loo ed at the enefits of reducing the si e of soft aits. His time, the focus is on tiny igs...

He a ility to catch your own aitfish can save you a lot of money. It can also e critical to your success cut aits and live aits are crucial when targeting predatory species and it’s a whole lot of fun, writes sam ossman.

On its day, snapper fishing at the top of the south island is as good as anywhere in new zealand – if not better. Over the last several years, the average size and number of snapper being caught in tasman bay has been increasing and, as a result, we are seeing more people out fishing, supporting local businesses, and enjoying what this great region has to offer.

Gurnard, colloquially known as carrots or grunters by kiwi fishers, are a terrific eating fish that can be found in inshore waters around new zealand. Not only are they shaped like carrots, with a large, bony head tapering down to a small tail at the opposite end, but they also sport the same orange-red colouration.

Broadbill swordfish, otherwise known as the ‘gladiators of the sea’, are a mysterious and sought-after species for anglers worldwide. They can be immediately identified by their long, flattened swords, heavily built bodies, incredibly thick tail bases and large eyes, which allude to their deep water and nocturnal feeding habits. The colouration of the upper surface of the body can vary from a dark purple-blue to a bronzed brown. The sides fade, and the lower surface is off-wh

Southern bluefin are a large tuna species, highly desired not just by new zealand anglers but also by seafood connoisseurs around the globe. In fact, the value of the species is such that commercial catch limits are managed by international convention!

Squid are curious cephalopods, an increasingly popular target species in new zealand waters. The word cephalopod is derived from the greek language and means ‘head foot’, which is a fitting (if somewhat concise) description for creatures with eyes just above their many tentacles.

Just in case you needed further incentive to head along to the 2023 hutchwilco new zealand boat show, this year’s surtees/ yamaha grand prize boat package will be worth over $300,000 – making it the show’s most valuable must-be-won prize ever offered.

When a new lure hooks snapper on its first three drops, it will always grab the tackle tester’s attention!

The previous generation dialuna had cemented its reputation in the market as one of the best softbait rods going, and the 23 dialuna has transcended this class. Bringing the best in shimano’s rod-building technology with it. The renowned spiral x and hi-power x blank structure remains, however, the addition of the shimano’s hollow carbon monocoque butt makes this the most lightweight and sensitive dialuna ever. Finished with fuji’s famous stainless steel silicon carbide guide

As you’re reading this, there are only a couple of months left of the 2022-23 season, meaning you need to get your entries in to get a crack at the export nz fishing competition’s $85,000 end-of-season prize!

How the cra 2 commercial fishery actually operates

Recent visits to the offshore fads have been producing better results, with mediumsized yellowfin tuna becoming more abundant. Small packs of mahimahi have also been hanging around, which is very early in the year for these.

The fishing in samoa continues to be rewarding, with the run of xl yellowfin tuna and blue marlin providing lots of anglers with the fish of a lifetime.

Norfolk island, too, has had its fair share of unsettled weather, including a direct hit from cyclone gabrielle.

In sharp contrast to the last couple of months, the weather conditions for anglers and tourists alike have been perfect. Many hot ,sunny days and very little wind.

New zealanders doing the hard mahi to ensure the sustainability of our fisheries and aquaculture should put their hands up for the seafood sustainability awards, says dan bolger, deputy director-general of fisheries new zealand.

Josh wyber was a finalist in the emerging leader award category at the first-ever new zealand seafood sustainability awards, held in 2020.

In the final instalment of young yarns, hayden speed confesses that gamefishing is a form of fishing he’s relatively new to.

Set the range down to 100m.

In the three decades of my association with this publication, some interesting stuff has come across my desk. Sometimes, it’s a new fangdangled creation that promises to improve my fishing (spoiler alert: most don’t), and other times it’s a discovery made in the pursuit of science.