Kiwi

Pretty much same action as for Bream-wounded fish. Check but from what I remember from when I was there you are not allowed trebles on lures only single hooks. Cheers Rowan

What about a barracouta???

Hi Gorms. I got a alloy rocket launcher bent up for my boat. When they di so I got them to put one rod holder in each top corner on an angle facing out. I then got 2 x 25mm lengths of alloy pipe and set them up as outriggers. I slot them into the angled rod tubes and have pulleys and a clip on the deck. Cheap and not as flash as the true ones but very functional. Rowan

Same deal walked into A**** and they were marking down their braid. Had some tangled on the ground and asked what price it was going at. Told $20 per got 300m (295m) 30lb jigging and 300m (295m) 20lb bionic for $20 each. saved marked full retail as $109.99 and $80.00 Stoked Rowan

Hey Flashback PM sent have a look there heaps of info. Cheers Rowan

Hi Mate, The kiwis get right into this style of fishing. Have a look here. http://www.fishing.net.nz/asp_forums/forum...ski-pwc-fishing Cheers Rowan

I mainly use overheads with and without braid. I hold the bottom of the rod in my left hand under the reel and use my thumb to guide the line over the spool as it comes in. Just be careful when winding in braid with softer wet fingers as it can cut in. Some people use thumb or finger stalls (small length of bike inner tube over appropiate didget).Cheers Rowan

Good Luck and we look forward to the report.

Hi Dave, I sent you a pm re good charter people there. Or go to the Game club at Paihia. The better option is to catch the ferry across to Russell and drop into the game club there. Most of the skippers hang there for a cold one after the day. Earl Grey is a great smaller boat that has a good rep and no bull. He is good for kingies and snapper. Capt Bucko has great adds and does seem to provide the goods. Good luck and tight lines. Rowan

Great trip there. I have seen the Bluewater Arafura boys on Foxtel lately and they certainly do know their stuff.

I did not respond re duralec as I am not familiar with the product. I have had the experience of electrolysis jelly forming where saltwater sits on the alloy, this produces a corrosive jelly and also with the breakdown where the stainless and alloy touch. The early shimano calcuttas were great disprins-just add salt water and they disolved. Regular washing out of bilges with fresh water even with a light detergent helps stop the build up. Creating a barrier between the two dissimilar metals will also slow down the reaction. I greased the pop on snaps on my canopy as they reacted with the alloy of the rocket launcher and also themselves. How many times do they stick together then break when you try to seperate them??

Garry, I use marine /trailer grease on all fittings-ss canopy clips etc. Or I use a plastic spacer between the alloy and ss. This limits electrolysis cheers Rowan

Dicko, Damm good idea. I was caught out at security at Newcastle with my luggage already on the plane and my reels in a backpack. I was told to either take the line off or leave 7 reels in the car for a week with my rods on board as well. When I mentioned that I wanted my luggage removed from the plane (luggage cannot travel unaccompanied)or my reels put on, 10 minutes before departure so I could rebook and travel on another flight the lady hit the roof. "It will take 15 mins to remove my luggage and cost $1500 per minute in lost time etc" My reply "Your call" She suddenly found a way to get my reels safely on and we left on time. Cheers Rowan

Most airlines will not let you take reels onto the plane with line on! It must be packed in the hold or not have line on the reel. I was caught by v at Newcastle on the way to Brissy. So wrap them in cloth and insure them if they go missing. Rowan

Carefully grab by bill. Lean back and use the waves to help wash it in. Over the stern rather than the side. If you are facing stern to the waves/sea then be careful of too much water coming in. Watch out fot the pectorals catching on the motor and in particular fuel lines. I speak from experience in this case. Watch out for where the bill goes as it slides in.

I use an old shimano speedmaster loaded with 30lb braid. I tie on a 4m 50lb mono leader. I use the lightest jig that will get me to the bottom. Look at various sites and check out marks for the perch grounds. Generally winter kingies school at about the 100 m mark over reefs. Summer they do not tend to school as much. If you find a school of slimies, salmon or taylor etc then drift around the school with a couple out under baloons as livies. cheers Rowan

I had a drive on trailer for my custom 8m tinny. It had a great set of centering rollers at the rear. When you first approached the trailer they would center the boat. With the sternleg tilted up I would give it a nudge of power and drive up and over the "bump" up to the post. Leave it in gear and climb over the bow to hook up the cable. Turn motor off wind boat last 400mm up to post drive out. I could do this in 10 minutes with an 8metre boat. I would do the exact reverse to launch. 10 min from unhooking at the water to being at sea. You need centering rollers/skids at the stern. From there it is up to personal preference. Skids seem to take more spread out weight and the boat is not bouncing on a small area like with rollers. Mine came with rollers so I can not give an opinion on skids. Those that I know that have them are very happy with them.

Minimum 80lb gear!!! All fish are big there as others have mentioned. High speed overheads or good quality spinning reels. You don't want to be out of action due to gear quality on the trip of a lifetime. Pick up you jigs over there with the dollar at 1:1.25 it is in your favour. Trace supple 100-200lb Black Magic. Remember you are not allowed to carry spooled reels on the plane in hand luggage, they must be in booked on luggage. The snapper lots over 20lb and trevally are record species there as alternate targets. I used 3m of 200lb trace tied to a 200lb bearing swivel with a 200lb windon. 9/0 gamagatsu livebait hook same as I use for marlin. Use the biggest bait you can get-4-5lb trevs work well. The 40lb plus kingies get to be a pest. bibless lures and rapalas work when moving. If you are into softies take the biggest you can get your hands on and score the heavy weights for deep fishing. Depending on where you leave from Auckland is the best bet to stock up otherwise Whangerai is the last big city the will have the gear. either pm or email me for some contacts for gear before you go. rmnicks@bigpond.com tight lines Rowan

Must be baby Great White feeding time

Tie a short bimini twist on the end of the braid. join via uni/albright knot 100lb trace 5m then tie on dropper 100-150lb with 2 droppers/hooks or buy pre made rigs. 8/0-10/0 circles or chem gamagatsu with squid, very hard bait not picked off by small fish and small cyalume light sticks, glow beads-damm dark in 300m plus use a 1m piece of 50lb (breakaway if snagged in rocks) tie on sash weight/1.5kg wieght. sort out drift back up boat into current to keep line vertical and take out drift. let line down takes 5-10 min. when line hits bottom feed out line as needed to keep in bottom feeding zone. when got hook up spend 20 min winding up. have break/heart attack ciggie do it all over again

Check these short footage out!! http://www.oceanfootage.com/stockfootage/Marlin Cheers Rowan

Hi Kiwi Dan, Very strong flesh-large dark red muscle. Bleed as soon as caught under pectoral fins then ice down. Cut out dark red meat. Strong bitter flavour. Not bad as sushi, can be fish cakes, pan fried a bit strong flavour. Not too bad with a sweet chilli sauce and rosemary. Most would say to save for bait, but not inedible. Cheers Rowan

Lumo Sprocket Zuker purple/black Joe Yee Apollo Evil

Pm sent re nz boats. Don,t forget you can not take reels loaded with line on as hand luggage. It must go under neath Rowan

Nice fish! Sorry to be negative but it does look a little like a stripie???