Current Lines 23rd April 2012

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we shall remember them.

Late April signals the tail end of our marlin season, and what a tale it will tell. Take me to the April sun in Cuba….and since Easter has come and gone the weather has improved with several long range trips up to the Three Kings taking place. Since the last issue a monster broadbill was landed just hours after the ink had dried. Jim Gigger fishing on Primetime with John Gregory went out and came back with a 404 kg broadbill swordfish caught on 37 kg line a pending world record catch weighed in on the 9^th April. Watch this space for more on this exceptional capture.

Also on the broadbill scene the Tauranga launch Sea Hawk went out for a day time broadbill attempt and came home lucky with a 171 kg broadbill caught not too far from Mayor Island. Up north there have been several hard luck stories with the launch Shiraz losing a big blue est 300 kg on April 11^th or was it an April fools rumour that went the distance and found my ears? There were also two broadbill caught from the vessel Sagittarius - one on Monday and the second on the Tuesday.

On a side note - Lads off the good vessel "The Weapon" fought what they thought was a large broadbill for ten hours on stand up, only for it to turn out to be a large thresher pulling the scales to 289.1 kg. Well done Zane Roderick, huge effort. This is the heaviest thresher so far for this season.

Heard through the grapevines this morning and the story went like this: “Much action out from Toots?” “Yeh a bit, only six boats went out and there were three striped marlin caught, we got one and an 8 kg mahimahi.” 50% success ratios are hard to come by on the coast this year, and Tutukaka is living up to it’s tales of being a good late season destination.

From the Bay of Islands up through Whangaroa, up to Karikari and further north, fish have been found in warm waters in close 90 m out to 150 meters deep. The Wide birth Islands up to Whangaruru out from Tutukaka seem to be holding fish at present.

From the Muriwai Sports Fishing Club – determined junior angler Jessie Wright has weighed in a 165.2 kg broadbill swordfish as a courtesy weigh at the Houhora Club’s weigh station on Easter Monday. A pending junior women’s New Zealand and World Record claim caught from fellow Muriwai member’s Nathan Adam’s trailer boat “Western Break”. Nathan is having the season of a lifetime with another record claim for the boat and crew.

With the season coming to a last hurrah, thoughts must tend towards who will be this seasons Annual trophy winners. Clubs are reminded to get their nominations in before the July 7^th closing date. Just a gentle reminder of some of the trophies up for honours; TOP JUNIOR ANGLER OF THE YEAR, LORD NORRIE GOLD CUP (heaviest striped marlin), THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA CUP (most meritorious catch), FISHERMAN OF THE YEAR (heaviest gamefish), and THE SAUL TROPHY (most tagged gamefish).

As per who will catch the last marlin of the season, it won’t be done on a couch in front of the television, with shorter days and it being not as warm these balmy autumn fishing trips will bode well for those who venture out.

Regards,

EDITOR, NZSFC