Current Lines April 2017 Issue 2

Music by the Four Non-Blondes springs to mind, “I said hey what’s going on?”  Weather wise it is more like DD Smash, “outlook for Thursday your guess is good as mine”.  One day is hot, the next day it’s on with your swandri. 

Carrying on from her father Guy’s recent swordfish world record double, with new marks set for 15 and 10kg tackle on subsequent days, daughter, Kylie yesterday nailed a new women’s 8kg striped marlin world record claim fish.  Her stripey of 160.4kg comfortably cleared the standing mark of 125.0kg, set by her mother Eryn some 12 years ago, while fishing at the Three Kings.Kylie was giving her mum a “bit of grief” at the Bay of Islands weigh station, ”my fish is bigger than yours”!  Kylie was fishing from the family’s boat Hookin Bull skippered by John Batterton.  Another fantastic effort for Hookin Bull team. 

Well after 3 years planning and looking for the correct weather window Gavin and Troy went out on a swordie mission in the SOUTH ISLAND.  Some top advice from countless people on baits, rigging, the terminal tackle, fighting the fish etc etc and not to mention likely areas in the South Island. The advice really helped, so thanks to everyone we spoke to and there were dozens, you know who you are.  We decided on what some will call a very strange setup, a 50W spooled with 120lb jigging braid, with a

PR Knot to a 300lb leader.  Yes, no crimps, swivels, 20 meters of this before 10 meters of that.  We just decided it works for kingfish so let’s give it a go.  I can report first time out we hooked up and landed my first swordfish after 1-and-a-half-hour battle, most at 20kg of drag.  Biggest thanks to my mate Gavin who rigged an amazing bait, leaders and the fish, not to mention being supportive enough to get 2 days off during the week to come out.  Cheers mate, team effort.  Fisheries officers meet us at the ramp to make sure it wasn’t undersized, it went 201kg and was 3.5 meters long.  Was an awesome trip, ticked off many boxes for us too.  Over the Greymouth Bar, first time for me out wide West Coast & overnight, targeting our first Sword with lots of ideas and plans and it payed off.  And a few new species also for me with a 21kg Bluenose.  Was an awesome Mission we planned, with not a lot of sleep and a whole hour to get that sword into the boat with just two of us.  So many memories in just one trip and not to mention those menacing Mako’s hanging around. Cheers Troy. 

Taranaki duo Hamish Roper & Boyd Rutherford finally got a tick on their wish list today after 4 years of trying to catch a broadbill.  Boyd’s broadbill was unable to be released due to being gut hooked and weighed 49 kg.  Hamish’s sword weighed 111.0 kg.  A courtesy weigh for New Plymouth Sports Fishing & Underwater Club 

A note from Karikari – Been a few striped marlin caught the last couple of days off Matai bay, and a Black at the shallow patch on a live bait on jig gear. 

Ahipara club member Danielle Hamilton lands the heaviest Snapper in a Doubtless Bay Ladies competition, weighed in at 15.87kg.  She was out on Three Bears with Mike Fryer the skipper, on the West Coast at Ahipara.  A pending NZ and World Record on 8kg line.  She got this beast on the first drop. This is the heaviest Snapper weighed in for an Ahipara angler.  They had a great day hooking up on a Marlin too, but broke the line……. Go the ladies -Congrats Danielle!  

124.8kg Swordfish just weighed at Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club off Centurion! Congratulations to Waiuku’s Michael Grey! 

Saturday 22 April – 11am on the Paihia wharf, Snooks and Lola Fuller on behalf of the Fuller Family, gifted an amazing bronze marlin statue to honour the pioneering families of deep sea game fishing here in the Bay.  It’s an incredible legacy that has had significant impact on the area’s journey to date.  A good crowd were present and watched the unveiling, a replica of one of the biggest ever marlin landed in the BOI waters. 

Tairua weigh station –  Nice Swordfish for Evil Angel’s Matt Robinson this evening!!! Stand by for weight! UPDATE: 110.6KG 

Just a friendly reminder that the end is nigh, well the fishing season is anyhow, June 30th is the last day. The significance is that club applications for our NZSFC annual awards and trophies close on July 7th, 2017, only giving clubs from now until then to get their applications in.  First and heaviest, Old Man of the Sea, Junior Angler, just to name a few. We are also sitting on three, yes three NZSFC Slam applications being; Inshore Slam application by Karl Fitness, Mt Maunganui Sport Fishing Club, Billfish Slam application by Mitchell Tombleson, Tauranga Sport Fishing Club, and a Billfish Tagging Slam by Donna Pascoe, Houhora Big Game & Sport Fishing Club.

Editor

Current Lines