b'Editorial Digital Issue #64 - 2025FISHING IN GODZONE Issue #64COVER PHOTO The new Oceanpro 535 centre console on its first sea trial off Pauanui.EDITOR AT LARGE Mathew HewetsonWRITERS & CONTRIBUTORS Scott Cushman, Graeme Paterson, LegaSeaDESIGN Blockstart www.blockstart.co.nzPUBLISHER Marlin Marketing Limited A healthy-looking bin of snapper is becoming harderMathew Hewetson to achieve for Kiwi anglers with the recreational022 355 0588 catch declining to around 5,000 tonnes a year. mathew@marlinmarketing.co.nzT ravelling around 2,000km ayear.This is a massive difference ofFishing In Godzone is subject month and I am often surprisedalmost 70 times more than the total by the comments I hear fromcaught by recreational fishers. to copyright in its entirety.people on my trips aroundRecreational fishing only accountsThe contents may not be Godzone.Most often it isfor less than 20% of the harvest fromreproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the written from non-fishing people who arentfish populations from inshore waters,permission of the publishers. All out on the water fishing, and they sayin which the public have an interest.copy, photos or other material forwarded to the magazine that the fish stocks arent like theyThis is, for the main species (mostlywill be assumed intended used to be, and with so many peoplesnapper, kahawai, red gurnard, andfor publication unless clearly out fishing in boats or using dronesblue cod) that the public targetslabelled not for publication.Opinions expressed from such off beaches that they are to blame. within 12 nautical miles of the coast. content are not necessarily This simply isnt true, yes there mayThis article provides further insightsthose of the publisher.be more people who own boats sayinto how the recreational harvest data isISSN 23821655from the 1980s as the populationcaptured and estimated by the Nationalfishingingodzone.co.nznaturally has increased, and of coursePanel Survey which is conducted by/fishingingodzonedrones didnt exist back then!But ifthe National Research Bureau (NRB) you look at the facts of our fishery,under contract from Fisheries New commercial fishing takes most of theZealand.There is a scientific method seafood from our waters every year. used with 30,000 random households LegaSea have provided a goodinterviewed, and 5,000 - 7,500 fishers article in this very issue on thisare also recruited to take part in topic, and reading it helps to opendetailed surveys throughout the year.ones eyes.They point out thatThese commercial numbers need to recreational catch is on a decliningbe discussed by all Kiwis as the shear trend, not increasing. In 2018, theamount of kaimoana being taken estimated recreational harvest wasfor mere profit, cant be sustained around 9,000 tonnes. By 2023, it hadon the natural resources forever.dropped to around 5,000 tonnes. Take care when out on the water, be Now in terms of total weight, fromprepared, check the weather forecast the 2023 survey it compares toand take and wear your life jackets.around 340,000 tonnes of fish landedMathew Hewetson Editor at largeby commercial fishers in the same 6FISHING IN GODZONE MAGAZINE'