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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HOT OFF THE PRESS
War Machine: pushing the limits of Phantom Powerboats F2 innovation
Kiwi innovation goes full throttle with the Phantom Powerboats F2 War Machine.
Emirates Team New Zealand back in action for AC38
After a year behind the scenes, the defenders are back on the water — refreshed, refocused, and eyei...
Team Sapphire claim overall honours at the NZ Bridge 2 Bridge Waterski Classic 2025
Scrutineering and the Show ’N Shine at Hamilton’s Classics Museum set the tone for a standout weeken...
New global weather models raise the bar for marine forecasting
With the launch of the PredictWind PWAi, AIFS and ICON models, New Zealand boaters get sharper tools...
Airmar opens ANZ distribution centre in Melbourne
Local inventory to boost supply, speed, and support for New Zealand and Australian marine dealers.
Naiad production in USA
The Whiskey Project Group (TWPG), a global leader in high-performance watercraft design and manufact...
Ngāti Wheke propose drop in fishing quota in Lyttelton Harbour
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Severe thunderstorm watch for Upper North Island
Heavy rain and thunderstorms expected this afternoon and evening.
MetService has issued a s...
1934 Classic Arch Logan ‘Little Jim’
Some boats feel alive the moment you step aboard. Little Jim does.
Freedom Boat Club Christchurch and Freedom local
Freedom Boat Club, the world’s largest boat club, is expanding in New Zealand with a new location at...
Sir Russell Coutts to headline Yacht Racing Forum 2025
The 15th edition of the global Yacht Racing Forum returns to Amsterdam this November, bringing the w...
Dometic’s CFO departs after steering a strong recovery
After helping deliver improved margins and stabilising Marine sales, CFO Stefan Fristedt announces h...
Palm Beach XI returns to take on the 2025 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
Boating NZ takes a first look at the Rolex Sydney to Hobart — and the rebirth of Palm Beach XI.
FNZ proposes continued exemption for returning spiny dogfish at sea
A new Fisheries New Zealand review supports keeping the rule allowing fishers to return spiny dogfis...
Palm Beach 85 — the superyacht that still drives like a Palm Beach
The PB85 stands as both a flagship and a benchmark for modern boatbuilding excellence.
Transat Café L’Or 2025: Class winners crowned across the Atlantic
The world’s longest double-handed transatlantic race crowns champions in the Ultim, Ocean Fifty, and...
Auckland’s bioluminescence at Stanmore Bay described as ‘unforgettable’
People have been flocking to Auckland's Stanmore Bay to catch a glimpse of an unusual bioluminescenc...
The sailors to watch
The 2025 A-Class Worlds field is stacked with past champions, Olympic medallists, and Kiwi contender...
Pāua poachers caught in Taranaki: hundreds taken from closed area
Fisheries officers and Police intercept two groups in as many nights, seizing over 450 illegally gat...
Remembering Brian Edward Collings
A craftsman, innovator, and proud New Zealand boatbuilder.
New head for Volvo Penta
Volvo Penta has appointed Hanna Ljungqvist as Head of the Volvo Penta Marine Business and a member o...
From fire to flip: Day 1, Key West World Championship 2025
Monster Energy / M•CON leads Key West World Championship 2025 opener as a spectacular Mead Family Ra...
Sargo 45 Explorer arrives in New Zealand
Finland’s all-season flagship sets a new standard for Kiwi adventure boating.
McLaren Performance M300: Honda’s 300-horsepower breakthrough
The McLaren Performance M300 marks a rare crossover between automotive engineering and marine power....
The science of speed
The A-Class fleet at Milford shows how technology and seamanship combine to produce breathtaking per...
Viabilis Oceans claims Ocean Fifty victory in Transat Café L’Or 2025
French duo Baptiste Hulin and Thomas Rouxel pull off a dramatic comeback to win in Fort-de-France.
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Coastguard responds to late-night Mahurangi callout
Quick thinking, teamwork and a helpful kayaker prevent a marine emergency from escalating.
Sodebo Ultim 3 claims second in Transat Café L’Or
Coville and Schwartz take a hard-earned podium in Fort-de-France
Cabba countdown: Round 3 returns to Round Mountain Raceway
Round 3 of the Penrite V8 Superboats returns to Cabba with fierce trans-Tasman rivalries.
SailGP 2025 Grand Final: Four teams, one title, and US $2 million on the line
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Sarah Psaila: “Everyone deserves to come home”
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Rayglass Boats completes first 380 Wide Body Protector at new Takanini facility
Milestone marks a new era of in-house manufacturing and innovation for the Kiwi boatbuilder.
SVR-Lazartigue takes line honours in the Transat Café L’OR 2025
Laperche and Cammas master the Atlantic to claim a record fifth victory for Cammas and a career-defi...
Marine Pest of the Week – Asian Paddle Crab (Charybdis japonica)
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Raymarine brings innovation to the Sydney International Boat Show
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Offshore greats Dalin and Mettraux named 2025 Rolex Sailors of the Year
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Emirates Team New Zealand recognised as 2025 World Sailing Team of the Year
World Sailing honours the Kiwis’ innovation, teamwork, and enduring excellence after a historic Amer...
The A-Class returns to Auckland
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Aucklanders urged to stay alert for yellow-legged hornets
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SVR Lazartigue surges toward victory as Transat Café L’Or nears its climax
As the Ultims close on Martinique, the Ocean Fifty and IMOCA battles tighten — and Kiwi sailor Conra...
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.