Catch
one of the big fish......
BASS
The bass is similar in appearance to its relative the hapuku, but grows
larger, has a stouter body, larger eye, and shorter lower jaw. These fish grow
in excess of 200kg, but an average size is more like 20-30kg. They tend to
deeper (200m-800m) and more northern waters than hapuku, but their ranges and
habitat overlap to a large degree. A popular table fish, bass is not
commercially distinguished from hapuku, and is recreationally caught by
deepwater bottom fishing with large strip baits on 24kg or 37kg tackle. While
hardly classed as sportfish, these large powerful fish are hard to move off the
bottom.
HAPUKA
Hapuku(Groper)is a well known food fish, this species is
widely distributed about our shores in depths from a few metres down to about
240 metres on any kind of ground. It is subject to heavy fishing pressure and is
now more abundant in deeper water. Its colour is variable, usually shades of
grey-blue to grey- brown. The food taken is anything of suitable size, mostly
other fishes, but including crabs and prawns. The more slender form, pointed
head and protruding jaw distinguish this species from its deep-water relative,
the bass. Mostly fished for over deepwater reefs, particularly in the winter
months. Hapuku fishing is regarded as more of a food-harvesting exercise than
sportfishing. However, hapuku hooked in shallow water, where they cannot be
disabled by pressure changes, will give an excellent fight.
BLUENOSE WAREHOU
These deepwater fish are a member of the warehou
family and are found over deepwater reefs and rocks all throughout the country,
from depths of 200 to 500m. They move into these areas in mid summer and are
available to rod and reel fishermen through the winter. They are fished for with
similar tackle and rigs to those used for hapuku and bass, and are usually taken
in conjunction with them. These popular table fish may top 40kg in weight, but
tend to average around 10-20 kg. Most recreational captures of this species are
made in the Bay of Plenty and Cook Strait.
GEMFISH
Gemfish, a slender long lived fish, is found
throughout New Zealand coastal waters but is more common at depths of 150-200m,
and often caught when hapuka fishing. Looking somewhat like a barracouta, it is
in fact a delicious eating fish when fresh, although its keeping/freezing
abilities are poor.
YELLOWTAIL KINGFISH
Yellowtail kingfish is a large fish of northern waters, which moves south in
summer months to about Banks Peninsula, it is also known in Australia. Its
colour is variable in shades of grey-green to blue-green with yellow fins,
particularly the tail fin, and there is a yellowish brown stripe along the
sides. The large head, streamlined form and short low first dorsal fin are
readily-observed features. Its food is mostly other fishes, either bottom or
surface kinds. Piper or garfish is a surface species commonly taken. This
sought-after sportfish is taken with a wide range of techniques including
trolling, livebaiting from shore or boat, jigging, and flyfishing. The worlds
largest kingfish are found in New Zealand and most world records are held here.