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Welcome to Current Lines 8th April 2012

Autumn leaves are brown and the skies are grey – wow this is too close to the truth, just add I can’t stand the rain and my friend the wind and you have the current weather pattern, not that conclusive to comfortable fishing by any standard so what is new for Easter? What we need is “take me to the April sun in Cuba!”

At the recent Manukau Sport Fishing Club’s West Coaster One Base the fishing was considered reasonable after being postponed from its original timing, yet on the last day two mighty fine striped marlin came to scale - a 171 kg winning fish and a 168 kg fish, just 5 minutes too late for the cut-off. Both were in the upper size range for NZ’s west coast and were in the same region as last year’s top NZ stripey of 197 kg caught out from the Manukau Harbour.

Whilst attending the LEGASEA launch in northland at the Whangarei Deep Sea Anglers Club based in Tutukaka on Saturday 31^st, we were all entranced while watching the launch Bwana II glide into her marina berth with not one, but three marlin flags flying. Quick investigation revealed they had courtesy weighed three broadbill swordfish at Houhora earlier in the week. Weighing 120, 126 and 165 kg these broadbill were all caught during daylight hours with deep set baits. (Squid, a whole skipjack and a skipjack fillet). It just goes to show you can learn how to catch fish by reading books and magazines.

Just in, the charter launch Gladiator just courtesy weighed a 57 kg yellowfin tuna at the Houhora Club’s weighstation. Yes there still is the odd yellowfin getting through into our waters, may there be more. Rumoured to be just north of the Karikari light in 150 metres of water.

At the recent 28^th Annual IGFA International Auction and Awards Banquet, the “Bob Herder Light Tackle Award” was awarded to Eryn and Guy Jacobsen of HOOKN’ BULL fame. The New Zealand husband and wife team are among the very best of light tackle record anglers. The pair have received 11 records each (22 total) for striped marlin, Atlantic and Pacific blue marlin, broadbill swordfish, Pacific bigeye tuna, mako shark and bronze whaler shark. With the exception of Eryn’s 264 lb 8 oz striped marlin taken on 60 kg line, all of the duo’s other records have come from 20 lb tackle and under.

Also announced in the latest IGFA International Angler magazine Vol.75 No.2 the following new world records; as at March – April 2012

Editor

NZSFC