ISSUE 43 - 31/12/07

Welcome to Issue 43 of Current Lines

Looks like we have the First Marlin of the Season Tagged –
Congratulations go to Lynda Matthews – 29th December 10.50 am – Houhora Big Game & Sports Fishing Club.

MOF BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH PROGRAMME:
The Ministry of Fisheries has developed a 5 year indicative work programme for Biodiversity Research. This can be found at http://cs.fish.govt.nz/forums/thread/832.aspx  Feedback is not required at this stage UNLESS timing of proposed research is inappropriate or incompatible with other linked projects.

MOF HARVEST STRATEGY SUBMISSIONS:
The Ministry of Fisheries has revised its harvest strategy standard in response to feedback to their original proposal released in Nov 2006.
Attached is their advice letter asking for submissions by 29 Feb 2008.
Background info and previous submissions on the MFish standards process are online at the following link http://www.option4.co.nz/Fisheries_Mgmt/standards.htm

**Help - We need a Fish Smoker**  Angel Brown our resident “Smokey” for the last millennium (or close to it) is hanging up his hat and retiring which means we need a good keen person to perform this important role.  The coast definitely needs a fish smoker, especially during the contest season, Feb - April.  Please contact Sue at the Whangarei Deep Sea Anglers Club if you are interested.  Ph: (09) 4343818  or email: fish@clear.net.nz

A brief appraisal from an iconic Whakatane charter skipper, speaking of the current season, it looks like a beauty.  All indicators point toward a good one, full of pelagic game fish.  Already the yellowfin tuna are showing close to home port and many are speaking of a return of the “good ole days”, everything looks very promising.  Yellowtail Kingfish -This mainstay has really turned it on this season, and how! White Island in particular has really been consistent, sometimes even in very inclement conditions.  One has to go all the way back to 1995 and the introduction of the Voluntary Code of Practice on this species to put things in perspective.  Fishing now at the Smokey Isle is every bit as good as it was back then and quite likely better!  By being proactive we’ve not only maintained but enhanced what can truly be described as a World Class fishery.  Landing a kingfish over 40kgs is certainly the “holy grail”, while not seeing a fish of these proportions all last season, we’ve eclipsed it three times already – twice in one day!  The XXOS brigade was led by Simon Ward of Auckland.  Simon hooked and landed his dream fish, the 45 kilo specimen. Thinking that could possibly be our “monster” of the season, how wrong we were.  Less than a month later we were privy to a special day.  Using live squid as bait with borrowed 80 wides proved too much for massive 47 ½ and 43 ½ kilo hogs; in successive drifts no less!  Friends Kerry Plant and Bob Knight scored these fish and will have something to dine out on for some time to come.  Kerry’s fish is the largest of its kind to be landed onboard “PURSUIT” for many seasons.  On a different note, Wayne Downer took an 11 kilo “puka” on only 4k line!  As per usual, bass usually far exceed the weight of hapuka, largest of this species was a tie on 54 kilos.  Congratulations to both Damon McArthy and Mark “Brickie” Williams.

Seasons Prospects - With the advent of summer have also come some great prospects.  The La Nina forecast, plenty of warm blue water being pumped into the Bay, stacks of bait and recent tuna captures things look promising indeed.  Nearly thirty yellowfin have been landed as of this writing, with many around the 50 kilo mark. 

GAMEFISH IDENTIFICATION: Please be aware that our weighstations are attended to by volunteers, as such guidance is often required when some of the more unusual captures happen, if you are unsure there is information available from NZBGFC secretary.