b'Editorial Issue 56 - 2024FISHING IN GODZONE Issue #56COVER PHOTO A 50cm+ snapper caught on the 100gm Juicy Bright Eye jig off Mangawhai.EDITOR AT LARGE Mathew HewetsonWRITERS & CONTRIBUTORS Scott Cushman, Drone Fishing NZ, Fish & Game NZA healthy snapper caught in theDESIGN Kaipara harbour where the fishingBlockstart has returned to its best in years.Butwww.blockstart.co.nzis the fishery now under threat? PUBLISHER Marlin Marketing Limited Mathew Hewetson 022 355 0588 T he west coast snapper fisheryin September and as I write this in latemathew@marlinmarketing.co.nzis now under the gaze ofSeptember, nothing has yet been released. Wellington.Just like the Eye ofAny changes could apply as soon as from Sauron in the Lord of The Rings1 October 2024.movies that sees all, the powersMy main concern is that having grownFishing In Godzone is subject of Godzone are watching and longing forup and fished the west coast of Northlandto copyright in its entirety.The contents may not be reproduced the ocean bounty that has returned toover my 50 years, I have never seen suchin any form, in whole or in part, the Tasman Sea. good snapper fishing in the Kaipara andwithout the written permission of the publishers. All copy, Back in June, Fisheries New Zealandoff Dargavilles Ripiro Beach.I can recallphotos or other material (FNZ) released a proposal paper withhow hard it was to catch just one snapperforwarded to the magazine options for the future management ofwhen surfcasting back in the early 90s,will be assumed intended for publication unless clearly Snapper 8 (SNA 8) on the west coastwhen now it is almost a given to catchlabelled not for publication.of the North Island.FNZ were seekinggood snapper when we fish in the harbourOpinions expressed from such content are not necessarily those to increase the Total Allowable Catchor surfcast along Ripiro Beach.I wouldof the publisher.(TAC) and Total Allowable Commercialargue, along with many anglers that theISSN 23821655Catch (TACC), while retaining thewest coast snapper fishery is currentlyfishingingodzone.co.nznon-commercial allowances for boththe best in Godzone, from Ninety Mile/fishingingodzoneMori customary and recreationalBeach down to Taranaki.fishing interests. The damage done to the west coast Are we surprised?Recreational stayssnapper stocks by Japanese pair trawling the same but all the options tabledin the 70s and 80s was shocking and allowed for healthy increases for theallowed by past governments.It has taken commercial take.This proposal was oneover 30 years for the stocks to recover, of 20 reviews seeking public feedbackand this has been done by keeping the within 21 working days.LegaSea andTACC at the lower end without increases. The New Zealand Sport Fishing CouncilI hope Minister Jones uses good (NZSFC) strongly objected to thejudgement and thinks of Kiwis first, and unreasonable time frame available tonot of a few select company profits by make submissions. With no response,selling off our precious kaimoana to the joint parties collaborated to developoverseas markets who have decimated a comprehensive submission by the 29their own fish stocks. They say the west is July deadline. best, lets keep it that way.Shane Jones, who is the Minister forMathew Hewetson Editor at largeOceans and Fisheries, was due to decide 8FISHING IN GODZONE MAGAZINE'