Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => Fishing Reports => Members' Fishing Reports => Topic started by: weizen on January 10, 2007, 08:00:50 PM

Title: Fishing off the coast of New Zealand in the south pacific
Post by: weizen on January 10, 2007, 08:00:50 PM
Well you may have noticed I haven’t been around lately and with good reason.  I’ve been enjoying an extended stay in New Zealand visiting family.  We’re finally home now and I have a chance to write up a report about one of the best day’s of my trip.

My cousin was kind enough to take me out off the north east coast of New Zealand to fish for Snapper. 

My uncle picked me up in his land cruiser and then we headed over to get the boat and off to the beach to launch directly on the beach.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/weizen/fishing9.jpg)

The day was beautiful and as we started out it was a bit choppy, but not too bad. We had a few bumps, but it was only about a 45 minute ride to our fishing grounds.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/weizen/fishing1.jpg)

The method used for snapper down in New Zealand isn’t like what i’m used to when I go out and fish for salmon in BC, we head out and drop anchor and simply drop a line over the edge with 4-5 oz weights, and a 6-9 inch leader with a few hooks and some bait on it.  Let your line go to the bottom, reel up a few winds on the reel and simply sit and wait for a bite!
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/weizen/fishing2.jpg)

After about ½ hour of fishing, we had our first snapper on the line, as we brought it up we saw it was a 2-3 pound red snapper, good enough to keep!  We thought this was a good sign for the day, but as fishing goes sometimes, this was about as good as we would get for the day.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/weizen/fishing3.jpg)

We get it in the boat and I ask my cousing where the “Bonker” is, and he proceeded to laugh so hard he almost fell in the water.  You see, “Bonker” in  New Zealand had an entirely different meaning than what we use it for.  To have a “Bonk” is to have a Shag down there, so to interpret what I said it would have sounded like, “Where is the hooker”.  Was very funny.   My cousin then proceeded to “Bonk” the fish in the manner that they (Or at least him) does in New Zealand,  very effective but a little more butcher like.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/weizen/fishing4.jpg)

Once this snapper was in the cooler the fishing died off  and we didn’t have much luck for the rest of the day, but we certainly enjoyed the scenery.  We went to the back of a small island and enjoyed the shipwreck that was sunk for some divers.  The beauty of the south pacific is just breathtaking.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/weizen/fishing6.jpg)

Enjoy the rest of my pictures!

(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/weizen/fishing8.jpg)
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/weizen/fishing5.jpg)
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/weizen/fishing7.jpg)
Title: Re: Fishing off the coast of New Zealand in the south pacific
Post by: Big Steel on January 10, 2007, 08:54:53 PM
Real nice report Weisen, and great pics.  Thanks for sharing!! ;) :)
Title: Re: Fishing off the coast of New Zealand in the south pacific
Post by: Fish Assassin on January 10, 2007, 09:16:32 PM
Those tropical pictures are certainly welcomed on a snowy evening like tonight.
Title: Re: Fishing off the coast of New Zealand in the south pacific
Post by: weizen on January 10, 2007, 09:17:41 PM
Those tropical pictures are certainly welcomed on a snowy evening like tonight.

Tell me about it, My wife and I are NOT impressed with the welcome home weather we received after flying in last night.
Title: Re: Fishing off the coast of New Zealand in the south pacific
Post by: DionJL on January 10, 2007, 09:59:32 PM
I like the lami rod you used. 3lb snapper. LOL i've landed 6ft sturgeon on the same rod you used.
Title: Re: Fishing off the coast of New Zealand in the south pacific
Post by: weizen on January 10, 2007, 10:01:03 PM
I like the lami rod you used. 3lb snapper. LOL i've landed 6ft sturgeon on the same rod you used.

tell me about it.....was an interesting day :)
Title: Re: Fishing off the coast of New Zealand in the south pacific
Post by: THE_ROE_SLINGER on January 10, 2007, 10:01:12 PM
excellent pics! Looks relaxing
Title: Re: Fishing off the coast of New Zealand in the south pacific
Post by: Steelhawk on January 10, 2007, 11:35:52 PM
Thanks for the pics and the fish story. The red snagger is a good eating fish indeed. You can catch them all the way in the ocean around Japan, china, HK & Taiwan too.
Title: Re: Fishing off the coast of New Zealand in the south pacific
Post by: Troy_604 on January 11, 2007, 12:36:28 AM
cool pics, love the water
Title: Re: Fishing off the coast of New Zealand in the south pacific
Post by: scruffy on January 11, 2007, 01:55:45 AM
looks like you had a lot of fun,great pics
Title: Re: Fishing off the coast of New Zealand in the south pacific
Post by: Rodney on January 11, 2007, 01:59:55 AM
Nice report weizen. The reason those rods are used is that the size range of the snapper is between 3lb to 25lb. There is also a chance to bump into a school of yellowtail kingfish. ;)
Title: Re: Fishing off the coast of New Zealand in the south pacific
Post by: TrophyHunter on January 12, 2007, 09:33:52 AM
Thanks for the pics and the fish story. The red snagger is a good eating fish indeed. You can catch them all the way in the ocean around Japan, china, HK & Taiwan too.

What type of fish is a red snagger ??? or is it even a fish? maybe it is a sunburnt unethical fisherman ! please verify  ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Fishing off the coast of New Zealand in the south pacific
Post by: Steelhawk on January 13, 2007, 02:40:23 AM
What I understand is that it is a member of the Chinu (Japanese name) family. The red variety is really prized over the white or sliver ones, and are among the largest. See these links:

http://www.asiafishing.com/image/postphoto/photo5984.jpg

http://www.asiafishing.com/image/postphoto/photo6104.jpg


But there are also the real snapper family like the mangrove snapper & its many cousins.

See this link: http://www.myfishingpictures.com/showphoto.php?photo=56600&sort=7&thecat=554&password=

See this monster: http://www.myfishingpictures.com/watermark.php?file=554/815501070011_Small_-med.JPG

In Hawaii, they have a red snapper called Onaga, see this:  http://www.state.hi.us/dbedt/seafood/onaga.html
I tasted one in my last trip there. Yummy! But quite pricy also.

A few years back, I fished with a cousin in the harbour of Newport, Rhode Island for the local red snappers. Caught lots of them in 1-3 lb range by using just squip meat. They were delicious too.
Title: Re: Fishing off the coast of New Zealand in the south pacific
Post by: liketofish on January 15, 2007, 06:20:35 PM
Nice looking Red Snaggers..... Oooh, I mean snappers.  ;D ;D ;D

Thanks SH for sharing your in-depth knowledge & pics.

TR, you deserve to win the FWR steelhead derby because you sure don't miss anything. No way that steely can escape your watchful eyes ..... ;D ;D