Latest from The Catch
A damn good fry-up!
As a keen fisherman and cook, I am always looking for interesting and exciting ways to cook my catch. Yet, to be honest, the oldest and simplest, tried-and-true recipes seem to get just as much praise...
A damn good fry-up!
As a keen fisherman and cook, I am always looking for interesting and exciting ways to cook my catch. Yet, to be honest, the oldest and simplest, tried-and-true recipes seem to get just as much praise...
Article
Firing up reluctant kingfish
One of the great things about kingfish is that they can be targetted in so many ways – but no matter how you fish for them, they can be frustratingly ...
Feature
Hard or soft for snapper
It’s a common dilemma for many of us:
when should I use a softbait and when is it better to use a metal jig lure of some sort?
The Catch: Let’s put this with that…
Pairing different soft-baits with specific jig-heads can significantly increase your chances of a successful fishing day.
Exclusive
Fishing gear that multi-tasks
So many different fishing techniques are used on such a wide variety of fish species these days, that many of them require specialist rods and reels f...
Feature
BYO ‘super bungy lure rig’!
A home-made bungy trolling line is a great addition to any fisher's arsenal, whether chasing fresh bait or a feed.
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Gettin’ jiggy with it!
Heavy metal should feature in every angler's bag of tricks, but there's a huge variety of jigs and jigging techniques. By Mark Kitteridge.
One only h...
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Yay for squid!
The most spectacular demonstration of how good a bait squid can be occurred on a trip to the King Bank, off the Three Kings Islands in the mid 1980s. ...
Cover up, buddy!
In addition to the more common freckles, moles and age spots, there are also dry, scaly patches (actinic keratosis) and even a few basal cell carcinom...
Just gaff it!
Last issue we looked at using landing nets, which requires less skill – even complete novices can be coached through the netting process by an experie...
Get The Net!
If the fish is quite modest in size and well hooked, it should be possible to lift it into the boat by holding the lure or trace. However, bigger fish...
Chilly fishing
The planet might be warming, but we can still expect several months of cooler weather.
What a drag!
Properly set, a reel's drag system prevents busted lines and lost fish, but too much drag can be hard on anglers.
Fishing smarter with lures
A typical day’s fishing can cost between $100–200 in bait – expensive when compared to a couple of $20–25 slow-jigs or $10–15 worth of soft-baits.
The Catch: Spare the rod
I have seen lots of rods broken in lots of different ways. The vast majority of breakages were preventable.
CYO mackerel
Skyrocketing bait prices could make justifying regular fishing trips more challenging for budget-conscious anglers. Perhaps it’s time to catch your ow...
Deploy the drogue
Dragging a reliable, suitably-sized drogue slows the boat’s drift, making lure presentation easier and much more effective. A drogue can also offer ad...
Go small and soft! (Part 2)
A finesse approach to fishing soft baits can pay dividends, especially in heavily-fished areas with educated fish.
Downsize for more fun
The day I chose to go smaller with my soft-baits turned out to be a turning point in my fishing life.
Leaders in their field Part 3: Rigging baits for Kingfish
Kingfish are an enigma. One day they smash anything remotely edible, baits and lures alike, the next they seem to have their mouths sewn shut. Unfortu...
Leaders for kingfish –Part II
Catching a decent kingfish is a dream for many anglers – and once you feel that immense power through the rod and line you’ll understand why!
Treats for kingfish
My intentions were good: to continue with my ‘Leaders in their field’ series, this time for catching kingfish. Then I realised I hadn’t yet covered th...
Leaders in their field (Part 2) Leaders for lures
Whether bait or lure fishing for snapper, a leader’s primary purpose is to protect against line damage.
Festive family fishing essentials
Mark takes a break from his ‘Leaders in their fields’ series to suggest fishing items and techniques that will help Christmas holiday success.
Leaders in their field (Part 1)
A leader might be just a relatively short length of line, but its diverse roles make leader use essential to most forms of fishing.
Find those fish (Part 4): Work-ups – a wild gannet chase!
Hovering, fluttering and feeding seabirds often indicate feeding predators.
Find those fish (Part 3) Closer to home
Where to fish, when and why: reading the clues the inshore environment provides.
FIND THOSE FISH (PART 1): Current favourites
Oceanic currents, temperature breaks, structure and concentrations of baitfish are key factors when searching for pelagic gamefish.
Calamari time
The cooler months may not suit some anglers, but they signal productive and tasty times ahead for squid (egi) fishers!
More fish in the sea
Why aren’t we doing more to breed and release native fish? A simple question with complicated answers. Alex Stone looks at some of the issues surround...
Wrigglier rubber
My advancing years and a long-time passion for soft-plastic fishing probably qualify me as a ‘veteran’, but the challenge of bringing soft-baits to li...
The power of movement
Finally, an overall recommendation: don’t overdo the strength of your trace: the thinner the trace diameter, the better your lures’ natural action. Go...
KNOW YOUR BAITS PART 1 – You got to move it, move it!
Dead baits might not be quite as effective as live baits, but there are ways to impart an illusion of life to them that fish find hard to resist.
Th...
Let’s stray-line!
Strayline fishing is perhaps the most effective bait fishing technique, especially for snapper. It’s essentially a simple fishing style, but taking th...
The stray-line rig
Perhaps the simplest and probably the most effective rig for catching snapper, the stray-line rig benefits from a few subtleties.
Last month we looke...
Deadly dropper rigs
Novice anglers who read last month’s Boating NZ may now be the proud owners of a new spinning outfit and destined (hopefully) for ‘bait-fishing greatn...
Let’s get started!
Fishing success – or lack of it – is greatly influenced by an angler’s skill level and choice of fishing gear. Taking time to learn the basics can mak...
Better put a bib on!
Trolling bibbed minnows is arguably the easiest way to catch kingfish – if you know the basics!
These essential elements include: using suitable tack...
Slip into a slider!
They may look more like Christmas Tree decorations than fishing lures, but kabura or slider jigs do the business on snapper – and a whole range of oth...
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A damn good fry-up!
As a keen fisherman and cook, I am always looking for interesting and exciting ways to cook my catch...
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NZ Events Worth Adding to Your Calendar
Have an event you'd like to list on Boating New Zealand. Contact us with the details.
FISHING
Hook Me Up Fishing Competition - Matakana vs Hillside, 7 Mar 2025 in Whakatane
The Kubota Billfish Classic, 12 - 15 Mar 2025 in Mercury Bay, Whitianga
ITM Fishing Competition, 13 - 16 Mar 2025 in Whangaroa
NZ Lure Masters (Catch, Measure and Release competition), 3 & 4 Oct 2025, New Zealand wide
REGATTAS
Toyota Youth International Match Racing Cup, 26 Feb - 4 Mar 2025 in Auckland
PIC Harbour Classic, 28 Feb - 1 Mar 2025 in Auckland
Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race 2025, starting 11 Oct 2025 TBC from Sydney Harbour
PIC Insurance Brokers Coastal Classic, 24 Oct 2025 TBC from Auckland to Russell
Rolex Sydney to Hobart, 26 Dec 2025 starts in Sydney, Australia
HYDRO THUNDER
JET BOAT RACING
2025 NZ Marathon Coast-to-Coast, 16 to 25 Mar 2025 starting at Greymouth ad finishing at Christchurch
WATERSPORTS
IWWF University Nationals (waterskiing), 26 February to 2 March Orakei Basin, Auckland
MEET UPS
Bay of Plenty Trailer Yacht Cruising Rally, Easter 2025 at Lake Rotoiti, BOP
SHOWS
Moana Auckland - New Zealand's Ocean Festival, 27 Jan to 9 Mar 2025 in Auckland
Auckland Boat Show, 6 - 9 Mar 2025 to be held at the Viaduct Events Centre and Jellicoe Harbour, Auckland
The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show, 15-18 May 2025 to be held at the Viaduct Events Centre and Jellicoe Harbour, Auckland
NZ Boat, Fish and Dive Show, 30 & 31 Aug 2025 to be held at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Waipa
NEWS TIPS?
Send your photos, videos, stories, and tip-offs to ahoy@boatingnz.co.nz or call us on 022-023-7507.