Age-old debate: bait vs lures

7 from the helm nz fishing news’ editor nick jones introduces you to our may issue.

Is it time, as recreational fishers, to show fish some love? Don’t worry, karen, i’m not talking about bestiality here – but rather suggesting we front-foot some management measures for our inshore fisheries.

I love softbait fishing in wash areas for snapper with its combination of light rods, small reels, and shallow and challenging terrain to pull big fish out of. From a visual sense, it is the icing on the cake as you are up close and personal with some of new zealand’s most scenic and stunning coastlines.

1can you give us a bit of your background? How did you get into creating fish art?

For around 20 years, nothing beat a freshly stunned mackerel slowly making its spastic way down an oily berley trail attached to a lightly-weighted two-hook rig.

Another baitfish factor i can’t keep ignoring is the potentially disastrous ramifications caused by the commercial bulk catching of baitfish to supply our baitfishing needs.

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

It’s all good news,” said one exhibitor, when describing the four-day auckland boat show, which concluded on march 26.

In 2022, the ministry for primary industries (mpi) received reports of some snapper and trevally being caught that had flesh that looked “milky white” or “mushy.”

From april 1, total catch limits (tac) for northland’s rock lobster fishery (cra1) will reduce by 21 tonnes, with the daily recreational bag cut in half. As from april 15, the red rock lobster recreational daily bag limit in cra1 will reduce from 6 to 3.

After initially postponing the century batteries reel legends contest, organisers made the tough call to cancel it indefinitely.

“Best day ever”

Fish & game eastern region boosted the fish population in lake mclaren with a release of trophy-sized rainbow trout just prior to easter, some weighing over 7kg.

Fish & game eastern region now have available a special winter trout fishing licence at a much-reduced price.

New zealand’s muchtouted wilderness is world-renowned for its scenic beauty, sense of isolation, and geographic variety. A flyfisher living here can truly claim to have one of the world’s finest playgrounds in which to ply their craft. Majestic mountains, bird-filled forests, and clean, clear waterways are a constant companion for the intrepid angler seeking that elusive engagement with some of the finest trout available on the planet.

In creamy lemon sauce

Bringing communities together

The real deal

Boat camping has been something i have wanted to do by myself for years. I had camped out on my friends’ larger boats but never by myself on my own little boat. My ex-surf lifesaving irb, which i have been using for a dive boat for years, has a scupper draining system (excellent in its own right), yet it doesn’t enable me to sleep in a dry boat at night – water flows back in.

It feels very surreal to have been featured in my talented friend renee taylor’s nz fishing news article a year ago and to now be writing my own. In all honesty, it is extremely fitting that as i write this article it’s international women’s day. In a way, i’m paying homage to renee for inspiring my spearing and freediving journey.

In the remote coastal villages of polynesia and melanesia, subsistence fishing is a way of life. It has been for thousands of years. Seafood was the primary source of protein for all within the community. Until recent times, this way of life remained unchecked. Commercial fishing was yet to reach the isolated waters of these islands, while traditional knowledge and techniques ensured the moana provided a bountiful harvest for all.

With winter just around the corner, some kiwis will be thinking about a tropical fishing holida, if only to escape from the tragic storm damage of earl summer. Most will be dreaming about trolling for blue marlin, ellowfin tuna, mahimahi or wahoo or igging and popper fishing for dogtooth tuna and giant trevally. But one tropical fisher seldom considered is deepwater bottom fishing with cut baits, writes am ossman.

Many anglers who visit tropical areas will have heard of ciguatera poison. These toxins are produced by dinoflagellates which adhere to coral and algae. They are eaten by small reef fish, which in turn are eaten by larger reef predators that accumulate the toxins in their bodies. Eating certain shallow-reef associated predatory fish – especially the larger ones – in some parts of the pacific islands and northern australia can cause people to become very sick indeed. The speci

Staying safe on the water

Plenty to see, do, and win

The 2022/23 season of the export nz fishing competition finishes at the end of may – this is your last chance to win yourself an $85,000 extreme 545 sport fisher and a range of shimano prizes. If it’s bragging rights you’re after, you’ll have to work hard. There have been a few leaderboard changes this month after some meritorious catches.

Fishers around the north island have been catching worrying numbers of what appear to be malnourished fish through spring and summer. The affected fish have milky, mushy flesh and can be skinny. Species affected include snapper, kahawai, and trevally.

Anew artificial reef off napier port is set to become a flourishing environment thanks to the collaboration between mana whenua, legasea hawkes bay, port of napier, and the community.

An interview with an addict

Refining a fleet favourite

If there is one aspect of angling available to kiwi fishers that has undergone the greatest evolution in the last decade or so, it must be inshore lure fishing.

Autumn is here and down south in my central otago patch the landscape is showing the effect of a sustained dry summer. While the north island was drenched in rain, gales, and a destructive cyclone, it was too hot across most of otago and southland. My home town alexandra regularly took the top spot for the hottest temperature of the day and the word drought is a looming reality.

Scott greenwoods

Charles wheeler

Fisheries nz are seeking feedback on a request for a temporary fishery closure and a method prohibition banning the use of nets covering tutukaka harbour, ngunguru bay, and ngunguru river (northland) and nearby areas.

Apāua poacher who took three suitcases of the shellfish from the kaikōura fishery has been sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment.

The coromandel scallop fishery has been fully closed to commercial and recreational fishing to allow it to recover, with a customary allowance set at 10 tonnes.

We invite you to share these moments with us and fellow readers by contributing your special images to the shimano readers’ photos pages. The pictures you send can be in either digital or print format. The following checklist offers some guidelines to ensure your special moment makes it into print. Images should:

Fishing competitions are nothing new. You get a couple of anglers side by side on the beach, beside the river, or on a boat, and you have a contest.