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Many people, when first considering the possibility of taking up flyfishing, naturally see it as a tranquil, poetic sport that is done in beautiful surroundings. There’s one hiccup though - most newcomers perceive flyfishing to be a difficult sport that is hard to learn.

NZ Fishing World spoke to five of the country’s most respected kingfish fishermen to find out the secrets to their success.

The ability to bridle rig and deploy a healthy skipjack tuna live bait is an essential skill for any serious game fisherman.

Forsyth Thompson has fished the length and breadth of New Zealand. Part two of this series covers some of his best spots in the Far North and Bay of Islands

Jigging is an effective method for targeting kingfish, but for sheer adrenaline value, targeting top water kingfish has that extra bit of visual excitement.

Rod and reel maintenance is an activity seldom loved by fishermen however it can save you money and heart ache if something fails on a monster fish.

The less obvious but equally important principles of stray lining are often the underlying keys for success.

Many people stow away their boat over winter, however proper care and inspection is essential to ensure springtime does't become an expensive repair exercise.

NZ Fishing World’s Forsyth Thompson has fished the length and breadth of New Zealand. Part three of this series covers some of his best spots in and around Auckland.

Gurnard are a gastronomic delight and fun to catch. Michael Parker shares his gems of wisdom gathered from 25yrs of chasing this fascinating fish.

Waiheke Island could never be described as an ‘average’ destination, the stand out region for me has always been what is commonly known as the ‘bottom end.’

Jack mackerel are a tasty bait and are attractive to both fish and fishermen. Put one on your hook but keep a couple for an appetizer and you will understand why predators happily eat them.

The Albright Knot is a good knot for joining a main line to a leader or two lines of different diameter. It's not as good or strong as an FG, but a great alternative and a go-to when you are at sea and need a solid joining knot in a hurry.

The stunning weather of summer compels us to get out there and fish but it can be a frustrating time of the season with snapper occupied by spawning rather than feeding, as John Durrant explains.

Fishos spend countless hours on the water but most of us tend not to get in and discover the whole other world under the waves. John Durrant fulfilled a long-held ambition to obtain his PADI open water certificate and quickly reaped the rewards that diving can bring.

For me, chasing kingfish on jigs is where my craze and passion for fishing started.

Saltwater fly-fishing (SWF) is a past time that seems to be hooking more anglers every year.

Finding deep-water targets is the first challenge but then bridging the great chasm of water between you and the bottom is the next, here's how.

The Uni Knot is a good knot for attaching your line to the hook or swivel. It can also be used to tie two lines together.

An expert's view on rigging droppers, runners and flashers

Take the humble bucket and turn it into a tool that can dramatically improve your berley’s performance from the rocks.

This may come as a shock, but in the days before jigs, fishermen would use bait. Not highly sophisticated but still effective were ledger and strayline rigs adorned with pilchards

Spring and Summer work-ups are one phenomena that not only get nature's participants excited but fishermen as well. As the water warms up in springtime, snapper start to move into the gulf, usually from a northerly to southerly direction.

Loading your Viking kayak does not have to be hard work nor is it essential to have expensive loading devices...in this short video Stephen Tapp shows how he loads his Profish Reload without fuss.

Smoked seafood is a delicacy to be shared. While commercial smokers have a place, do-it-yourself models can produce excellent results for those that put in the effort. Want to learn how to put one together? Here’s how…

Sometimes it makes sense to go small.

Josh James introduces some international guests to the delights of fresh kiwi kina.

Here's a great demo of how to properly fillet gurnard and sole from Knifetech NZ

Superfast scallop shelling by a pro. Watch carefully and you pick up the tips.

Impressive double cray grab by Wellington spearfisher. Here's how it's done.

Kingfish are big bad brawlers so don’t be afraid to take the gloves off when fighting them. Some days you need every tip and trick in the book!

A classic Saltwater Assassin aka Lee Kennedy kayak vid. Enjoy.

The guys at Morningtide make great videos, but it's not all that easy. Here's a look at what it takes behind the scenes. Finding great land-based spots is hard work. And sometimes you still don't catch fish.

The Mokohinau Islands would have to be the most talked about destination in the Hauraki Gulf. Unfortunately, its remote location and the lack of accurate information on how to get the most from a trip out there means many never actually give the Mokes a crack.

Great Barrier island, the jewel in the Hauraki Gulf’s crown. It always seems so close yet so far away. Is the fishing really as good as they say it is? In a word – yes.

Ever found a crayfish, gone to the surface to breathe up and come back to find that it's tucked back and locked in to the crack or cave it's hiding in? Try this..

Little Barrier Island often beckons in the distance for those fishing Kawau. On a scenic basis alone it is worth the journey. Get there on the right day the fishing can be as good as it gets.

A huge and immensely varied fishing destination the Coromandel attracts fishermen of all types.

For the last ten years I have made it my mission to learn everything I could about catching marlin on lures. It has been an amazing journey and my learnings are ever evolving.

Located on the north side of the end of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, you will find a small sheltered sandy bay called Army Bay.

Join Aquatic Rehab TV as they showcase four common spearfishing locations in the Hauraki Gulf of Auckland, New Zealand. In this episode they hunt the elusive snapper, dodge sharks and land a big yellowtail kingfish.

No one likes to be a one-trick pony. Read part one of our nine part series bait guide.

I love witnessing people's first kingfish capture and take pride in watching mates getting buckled over the side of the boat by a big green beast.

Ask Auckland fishermen for an opinion of the Manukau harbour and its adjacent west coast fishery and most will suggest it’s a dangerous place, full of sharks and tiny snapper.

A heap of fun fishing Wellington's most under-utilised fishery, the Ruamahunga River in the Wairarapa.

Famously celebrated as Zane Grey’s Anglers Eldorado the Bay of Islands continues to shine as a favourite all-weather fishing destination for both locals and visiting anglers from around the world. The author learnt his trade in the Bay fishing every nook and cranny it’s hundreds of islands and rocky cliffs hide.

Here's how to rig a whole pilchard, both head first, and tail first.

Located around an hour or 70km north of the Auckland Harbour Bridge is a large sheltered bay, which opens up many fishing spots for both kayaks and boats.

Want to put together an A-grade set up? Check out the essentials, it might not cost as much as you'd previously thought. If your passion is chasing kingfish with dedicated gear, here are a few specialised accessories we love but which are often undervalued and overlooked.

Northland’s best-kept secret lies within a ring of snow-white beaches and Pohutukawa trees. In the author’s opinion the Cape Kari Kari, Rangaunu Bay and Garden Patch area offers the most diverse and productive fishery that is accessible with a moderate level of experience by a trailerboat owner.

Situated on the east coast about 35 minutes or 50km north from the Harbour Bridge you will find a hidden gem of a place called Sullivans Bay, also know as Mahurangi Regional Park.

Part three in our bait guide. Time to step up and try a Pilchard / Squid Hybrid. Application: Straylining with various weights, running sinker rig, bottom fishing.

As locations to weather a storm go, nowhere in this country can rival Whangaroa Harbour. With Stephenson Island, the Cavalli group and some of the best marlin grounds on the coast so close to its entrance it’s surprising this destination doesn’t get more press. Hopefully we are about to change all that.

The ultimate fishing destination for many, the famous Three Kings Islands and its associated banks, represent the pinnacle of recreational fishing in New Zealand. Trophy sized striped marlin, blue marlin, and swordfish are all caught routinely, as are comparatively oversized kingfish, hapuka and bluenose. Black marlin, yellowfin tuna, big eye tuna and bluefin tuna all show up frequently enough to be considered a realistic prospect on the right day.

Looking for somewhere new to Kayak, try Narrow Neck. This is one of those spots that goes to show what a fantastic place we live in. How many places in the world can you catch yourself a feed of fresh fish within sight of the city skyscrapers?

The authors favourite straylined snapper bait. Application: Any situation where the alternative would be a straylined pilchard.

A great rig for days when the fish are present but the bites not strong. Application: Straylining with various weights, running sinker rig, bottom fishing.

Auckland’s inner Hauraki Gulf is almost certainly the most productive fishery in the world, so close to city of this scale. Even though it is under constant pressure it consistently delivers results for those who understand its secrets. A medley of our best fishing journalists have provided the following tips.

Spearfishing is a sport growing very quickly in New Zealand. Matt Lind has been doing it for quite a few years and has some good advice for those wanting to get into the water. For me, spearfishing has become an obsession. Over the last 10 years it has taken up more and more of my free time and has now become the central focus of my working life as well.

Scott from Digital Fish brings us this tasty recipe.

Being completely different to big boats, a good deal of planning needs to be done to kit out your small boat properly and travel in comfort. Forsyth Thompson explains.

Remote, wild, unforgiving but oh so worth the effort when you get there, this northern part of the mainland offers trailerboat-based explorers the closest thing to an untouched fishery they can realistically access on a limited range.

Winter still has its grip on the watery world at this time of year, however Matt Lind shares how to pick the hot conditions for cold water diving and hunting.

This piper rig is deadly on kingfish. As a technique it is the first step in the process of mastering more advanced slow-troll baits and pitch baits. Application: Any situation where the alternative would be a popper or stickbait – ideal for kingfish around structure.

There are a surprising number of winter options for the angler, Mike Davis gives us the game plan on how to bag some prime winter trout.

Winter fishing has its challenges. The Keys to success involves patience, keen observation and a variety of different types of oily berley.

Rock fishing success can often be attributed to understanding the important influences that cause fish to inhabit one area over another.

Tasman in the South Island of New Zealand has it all for the avid fisherman and holidaymaker. As local Troy Dando points out, you can fish one day and if the weather is not so good enjoy hundreds of landlubber attractions the next. From Farewell Spit in the west to Stephens Island in the east, Tasman in the South Island of New Zealand has it all for the avid fisherman and holidaymaker. As local Troy Dando points out, you can fish one day and if the weather is not so good enjoy hundreds of landlubber attractions the next.

A surfcasting cast, when performed correctly, is a thing of beauty. It’s all about timing and technique rather than power as some people think. Much like in golf, the biggest, strongest people don’t necessarily get the most distance. The approach to the cast is just as important as the cast itself. Safety is a paramount consideration so watch the surf for a while before wading in to make your cast.

Winter isn’t always considered the best time for fishing, but it is a long haul between autumn and spring and I spend as much time winter fishing as I do fishing at any other time of the year. It can require a different approach though and there are many more obstacles in the way.

Mick Hall explores the wilderness of Hokianga Harbour and reveals a few of his favourite fishing spots.

Unprepared fishermen are often left with shaking hands after hooking an unstoppable green torpedo – the kingfish is a powerful and intimidating fish to hook.

The Rodney area north of Auckland has some little gems when it comes to fishing. There are bays, ledges, estuaries, islands and rock stacks which are all places of interest for the fisherman.

Having dedicated more than 65 years of my fishing life to targeting gurnard, I am the first to admit that my knowledge on this topic is far from complete, mainly because they keep shifting the goalposts all the time.

About January last year I was eating breakfast watching TV, about to start a day’s paua diving in the Chatham Islands, when the news of a shark attack off the Auckland coast came on.

Many fishos are too quick to discount the muddy Manukau Harbour as a land-based option but, Michael Parker explains, there’s quality fishing to be enjoyed if you pick the right spot at the right time.

The West Coast of the Auckland region can be an intimidating place to fish but with the right knowledge, preparation and a bit of luck, it can also deliver explosive results.

Rock fishing newbie Paul Walker charts a treasure trove of nooks and crannies heading up the East Coast from Auckland

Forsyth Thompson is a self-confessed land-based addict and has fished off rocks all around New Zealand. Here’s five epic locations that Forsyth just loves to hit.

When you rock up to a new location to enjoy another day on the briny, you may feel completely out your comfort zone. Don’t worry though as there’s plenty you can do to stay ahead of the game and the fish.

The Bay of Plenty is an angler's and seafood lover's paradise. Here you will find big game fishing, pipi and mussels, flounder in the estuaries, whitebait at the river mouths and large schools of kahawai chasing them as well as snapper easily caught from the beach.

Fly fishing was once a form of the sport that was reserved for freshwater only but some anglers are now opening up to the opportunities that the discipline offers in the briny.

Ed note to start. John Adams is an ex commercial fisherman with a vast amount of expertise using echo sounder. He is the author of How to use an Echo Sounder/Fish Finder, and a keen recreational fisherman.

I believe fishing is a process of continuous learning and improvement. Many things I do now would have been considered unnecessary and inefficient when I started out.

Perhaps Captain Cook should have investigated further instead of dismissing the uncharted six-nautical-mile-wide bay as he sailed past. His log references the note “doubtless a bay”, hence the name Doubtless Bay.

I was casting softbaits around for snapper, catching a few when the fishfinder lit up with a huge school of fish. The water around Great Barrier Island was crystal clear and there was at least 10 metres visibility.

Taking your boat in close to rocks as swells pound the coastline can seem like a daunting challenge for many softbait anglers but if you go carefully and do the preparation, it can deliver fantastic results. There's a heavy swell rolling in and the skies are hastily darkening, warning us of an impending downpour. But we don’t care.

No one knows why, but every year at this time the biggest snapper to be found off the west coast are migrating from the lower reaches of the island up past Whanganui, through the Egmont Bite, past Kawhia then Raglan and Port Waikato and on up to Piha and Muriwai.

Charter companies are the professionals in our game so it makes sense that we should keep an eye on what they do. NZ Fishing World has the inside scoop as Lionel Korach of charter firm Memorymakers gives us his insight to catching kingfish.

John dory are subjectively an ugly fish, and don't fight very much, but they are one of the best tasting fish in the sea. They have delicate white flesh and the oyster sauce (made with fresh oysters) compliments the John dory really well.

Targeting kingfish on lures from the rocks is nothing new. In this country, kingfish are with out doubt the most prized species likely to be fooled by an artificial bait.

I was once told “you don’t catch a marlin, you earn one”. I have recently discovered this statement is almost uncomfortably close to the truth.

If 20% of the anglers catch 80% of the fish, how do you put yourself in that top 20%?

I was ten years old the last time I went fishing.

We’re making steady progress on our course to the mighty Great Barrier Island from Waiheke’s Matiatia as a toothy southwesterly whips up the following sea on FQ Fishing’s well-equipped 10.5m Senator.

With the big pelagics away in bluer pastures, now’s the time to get stuck in to some off-season tackle and boat maintenance. Because before you know it, it’ll be game on once again.

Crossing west coast bars in New Zealand is one of the most dangerous assignments a Kiwi fisherman will undertake. It pays to have local knowledge, a good vessel and good contact with the Coastguard, as Peter Jessup explains.

How to tie PR and FG knots

Here's how to install an anchor running rig.

Since the late 1980's when the market for snapper exports to Japan really took off, the iki jime method of killing fish spread and it has now become de rigueur for many amateur anglers.