CURRENT LINES 23rd October 2014

It’s Labour Weekend. Time to dust off the camping, fishing and holiday cribs. The weather one day is “4 seasons in one day” the next it’s a balmy spring day when we all should be out fishing. If we are all not that careful over the winter sojourn our next fishing trip may be “six months hours in a leaky boat”

So it’s time to check the oil, batteries, fuel, fuel lines and filters, check the electronics and check your insurance policy, it may be time to update, replace or renew. Go to NZSFC website and go to the Club Marine page to get a quote,  http://nzsportfishing.org.nz/club-marine/ it is as simple as that and you can generate some much needed funds for your nominated fishing club which is a double bonus.

NZSFC member’s benefits. Please remember our partnership with Petroleum Logistics and our fuel card promotion. Go to www.gofuel.co.nz to sign up and don't forget to put in your Club name (under the 'promotional/discount code' heading)

It is time to sharpen your hooks, check your line, roller guides and other terminal tackle for corrosion and make sure they are working before you go fishing. It is also important to make sure you have paid your subs and are a current financial member before you go out and catch the big one.

Fishing reportsfrom around the country have been as sparse as hens teeth, but with careful investigation we can report the following; the first snapper to be measured and released at Mangawhai last weekend was recorded by Buck Buchanan fishing on his son’s boat so he had to follow the rules. In Buck’s words “it was a beaut about sixteen pounds and would have been a club pin fish had I weighed it in”.

Another reportfrom “up north”. We were out on the garden patch last weekend, the water was a nice looking 18.8 degrees with skippies popping around us, we were a little nervous being out here without any lures or the big gear, and it looked fishy.

NZSFC 2015 Nationalsfishing line class tournament is set to become better with the recent acceptance of a sponsorship deal for naming rights for 2015 to become the SIMRAD NZSFC Nationals to be fished from 21^st February to 28^th February inclusive. Stay tuned for more exciting news to follow about our premier line class fishing tournament. Remember it costs just $25 per angler and you can fish anywhere in New Zealand as long as you are within 200NM of the main two islands of NZ.

As at 22^nd Octoberthis year the following catches are the heaviest reported to date for this season; Luke Dolman has the heaviest Broadbill Swordfish weighing in at 132.30kg for the Tauranga Sport Fishing Club; Vance Fulton, the heaviest Kahawai weighing in at 3.050kg for the Mt Maunganui Sportfishing Club; Louis Wright, the heaviest Snapper weighing in at 13.60kg for the Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club; Stephen Holmes, the heaviest Trevally weighing 3.835kg for the Mt Maunganui Sportfishing Club; and last but by no means least Jane Rooke has the heaviest Yellowtail Kingfish weighing in at 39.40kg for the Whangaroa Sport Fishing Club. Let’s hope the fishing continues to improve as the weather does.

2014 Rugby seasondraws to an end. Have the Tasman Mako’s bitten off more than they can chew when the mighty Taranaki team face them for the ITM premier Championship finals? Will Manawatu be able to topple Ranfurly shield holders Hawkes Bay for the ITM Championship finals? We will know all on Monday. Thankfully it is a holiday so we can go fishing and recover.

It is time to reflecton the losses we all have to endure at times when loved ones, fellow delegates, friends and club committee members pass on. We will remember them, one way or another. The next time you head out through the heads, the next fish you release to appease tangaroa remember these friends who are no longer with us, they who fish will fish in the afterlife in a better place. It is also time to take care and respect the elements around us least we take them for granted and wind up fishing with the departed. The sea is not forgiving, the sea is to be respected and enjoyed, please take care out there.

Editor

NZSFC