CURRENT LINES APRIL 23^RD 2013                        

The Rolling Stones “Ti….i…..ime is on my side, yes it is”, the season may be slowing down for some but others are just getting started. Another Stones great “Start me up” comes to mind with the effort going into day time deep dropping sword fishing at present.

From Houhora, Doubtless Bay, Whangaroa, BOI, Toots, Back of Barrier, Whangamata, Tauranga and Whakatane stories of epic battles, lost fish and some good sized captures are on topic and plentiful. One name in sword fishing history is the Garretts. Jerry once held the NZ and World Record 37 kg line record for the one he caught in 2003. Recently he took his son out for a shot, and 22.5 hours later he had a 167 kg broadbill on 24kg line. Awesome. Then there was a 277 kg ladies pending record catch on Diversion, the Weapon from Tauranga a 121.6 kg broadbill daytime catch, and Chris Ash and Graeme (Bonze) Fleet went out in their little laser craft (their words) for a day time broady shot. They ended up coming home with one each, no room for another was one comment heard at the weighstation.

From Whangaroa -  just a mention of the latest fishing action around these parts: we have had a great run of late marlin action with 24 striped marlin caught in the area in the last 8 days.  14 were from the back of Stephenson's Island, 4 from off Cape Karikari, and the rest in other local spots.

From the Whangarei Deep Sea Anglers Club – China Angling Association Game Fish Challenge 27^th April 2013 – They Report “While we know this is short notice, it is an exciting opportunity to take part in a Challenge that potentially could not only benefit our Club and our Members, but also our Tutukaka Community in the future. They are passionate about fishing and would like to gain as much knowledge as possible while they are here.  With this in mind they would like a small “low key” competition against local anglers on Saturday 27^th April.  Hence the “China Angling Association Game Fish Challenge” is proposed with sections for Heaviest Billfish, Team Most Points Tag & Release Marlin and Angler Most Points Tag & Release Game shark – No entry fee is payable but you must register with the Club Office (and of course collect a copy of the rules) prior to start fishing.  We would like their visit here to be a success, as it could evolve into a lot of future business for our Club, and it would be really great if we could provide them with some “Stiff Competition”!”

Tagging News - Striped Marlin Recaptures- we are delighted to report three striped marlin recaptures so far this year – a big improvement on the zero recaptures last season. Two of these tag returns were short term ones, while the other was both longer-term and long distance. The details are: No. 1: G 134114 The first recapture that came to attention this year was made on 17 February 2013, off Parengarenga. It was caught from the vessel Allegria by Pete Rowsell, and was retagged then released again. Inquiries revealed this marlin had been tagged off Cape Brett by Peter Moore, fishing on Headquarters, on 23 January 2013. It was recaptured 70 nautical miles from the tagging location after 25 days. The two crews involved might like to get together and argue over this one, since the estimated release weight was 60 kg the first time, and 115 kg the second time. No. 2: G125693 On 15 March, Ian Stephens fishing from the boat Pihaha caught a tagged striped marlin off Ahipara. It was taken to Houhora for weighing where it turned the scales to 102.8 kg. The original release weight was estimated at 130 kg. This marlin had been tagged on 7 March off New Plymouth, by Alan Melody fishing on Liquid asset. The fish had moved 240 nautical miles north in eight days. No. 3: N127538 although this recapture was made before the other two, it has only just been advised as the information came via the Tagging Recovery Officer of the SPC-Secretariat of the Pacific Community based in Noumea. The tag was found by a tuna longline captain on 12 January 2013. It measured 180 cm “short length” (most longline vessels record the length from the back of the eye to the fork of the tail). This marlin was tagged by Jeff Bawden fishing from one of our logbook vessels Macksom, at the King Bank during the 2012 Nationals. Like the other two recaptured fish it was originally caught on a lure and the hook removed. The estimated release weight was 85 kg. Of 85 recaptured striped marlin in the NZ programme, this is one of only four that have been caught after more than 320 days. The actual time at liberty was 328 days, and the distance between release and recapture was 1127 nautical miles. It is also the first NZ striped marlin tagged with a Hallprint nylon headed tag to be recaptured – although a blue marlin tagged in Samoa and a swordfish tagged off Cape Karikari have previously been recaptured with Hallprint nylon tags in them.

Further news from Tutukaka, on 13-04-2013 the trailer vessel (tinny) Yonka whilst trolling live bait at the Kumara patch hooked and boated a 210 kg black marlin. From Tauranga, local trailer boat “X-Factor was out by Mayor and whilst live baiting hooked, fought and lost after a while what they considered a bigger black marlin than the one mounted in the Clubrooms. Over 300 kgs big!

Editor

NZSFC