b'Editorial Digital Issue #58FISHING IN GODZONE Issue #58COVER PHOTO Sam scored a 40kg yellowfin on a Black Magic Maggot XT. Photo: Josh YorkeTrolling off Tairua in the new Oceanpro 535CC.Photo: Scott CushmanEDITOR AT LARGE Mathew HewetsonWRITERS & CONTRIBUTORS Scott Cushman, Drone Fishing NZDESIGN Blockstart www.blockstart.co.nzPUBLISHER This big kahawai caught whenMarlin Marketing Limited surfcasting in January by theMathew Hewetson editor was 62cm and nearly 4kg. 022 355 0588 mathew@marlinmarketing.co.nzH appy New Year to all keenfish encountered.Dont get me wrongFishing In Godzone is subject fishos and hunters.TheI love catching all the snapper that are summer weather overnow so abundant once again on theto copyright in its entirety.the holiday season wasTasman side, but it worries me withThe contents may not be reproduced in any form, in whole definitely a mixed bag withthe lack of kahawai encountered. or in part, without the written wind, rain, sun and even snow forIn January we finally started catchingpermission of the publishers. All copy, photos or other material some places around Godzone! big kahawai again when surfcasting thatforwarded to the magazine It sure made getting out on theput on a display in the surf and fight sowill be assumed intended water hard for smaller boats whilehard to the end.Some were huge withfor publication unless clearly labelled not for publication.the larger boats that could on thosethe biggest going 62cm. They really areOpinions expressed from such changing weather days found outa true sports fish and one we shouldcontent are not necessarily the fishing was excellent.The gamecherish.Kahawai are being targeted bythose of the publisher.fishing and in particular the yellowfincommercial boats to be sent to AustraliaISSN 23821655numbers have been outstanding. for bait for cray pots, often for littlefishingingodzone.co.nzHowever, I want to mention the mostreturn and at what cost to Kiwi anglers. /fishingingodzoneunderrated fish in our waters in myThey are not only important for kai here editorial, the humble kahawai.It is oftenbut for the health of our seas with food a bycatch for many anglers but really itfor bigger predators such as kingfish and is an important fish in the ecosystemmarlin who visit in summer.The kahawai in our local waters.While stocks in myneeds some much-needed love again so opinion are not in as good a conditionremember to support the submissions as we need, the stocks seem to be wellput forward by LegaSea when they down, and we have struggled to catchcome up to help their stock levels.or even see the large schools when outWe cant forget about this little battler, on the water over many fishing trips. the fish that punches above its weight.In fact, out on the west coast whereSafe fishing out there, remember to we surfcast often, I went several tripsplease take and wear your life jackets.throughout last year until we hookedMathew Hewetson Editor at largeone when they used to be the most 6FISHING IN GODZONE MAGAZINE'