b'Editorial September/October 2023The editor poses for a selfie with a solid snapper caught surfcasting off Northlands Ripiro Beach.FISHING IN GODZONE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023 Issue #47COVER PHOTO A snapper landed on the sand when surfcasting. Photo: Mathew HewetsonInset: The new Oceanpro 540 GTS.Photo: Paul C SchraderEDITOR AT LARGE Mathew HewetsonWRITERS&CONTRIBUTORS Scott Cushman, PowerBoat H ello Godzone readers, We have caught several of our best fish offMagazine, Dan Westerkamp, Matt Strachanyou will probably be reading thisthe beach during this time from SeptemberDESIGN Blockstart magazine at the start of springto November over the past few years and thewww.blockstart.co.nzin September which signals afishing has really been consistent, offering somePRINTING change in the season and oneof the best surfcasting I have experienced inSCG Printthat most keen anglers havemy lifetime.It is great to see, and you know if been highly anticipating after theyou are catching bigger 50cm+ snapper off theDISTRIBUTION cold and darker months of winter. beach, then the fishery is healthy and in a muchAre Direct NZSpringtime welcomes longer warmer days andbetter place than it used to be. PUBLISHER the return of daylight savings, with the largeI can recall as a teenager learning to fish backMarlin Marketing Limited baitfish schools also returning, and predatorsin the late eighties and how hard it was to catchMathew Hewetson 022 355 0588 such as snapper and kingfish move back intosnapper when surfcasting, especially out on themathew@marlinmarketing.co.nzcoastal shallows looking to feed up on thewest coast of Northland where I grew up.The abundance of bait and get ready to spawn. snapper stocks had been hammered by trawlers However, spring can often be very wet andover the years and catching a snapper was rare windy and provide a frustrating time to get outon our regular fishing trips, we caught plenty in boats over this period to enjoy the betterof kahawai and trevally, but the snapper were Fishing In Godzone is subject to copyright fishing.We have all endured a tough year forsorely missed. in its entirety.The contents may not be boating and fishing already, so hopefully weThe return of snapper to being the mainstayreproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the written permission of will get a break and enjoy some more settledof species caught once again has been athe publishers. All copy, photos or other weather leading into our early summer thisgodsend out on the Tasman and fighting a goodmaterial forwarded to the magazine will be assumed intended for publication year.It is well overdue! fish through the surf and seeing the big red tailunless clearly labelled not for publication.In spring, surfcasting is a prime time to dustin the wave offers no better feeling, as you slideOpinions expressed from such content are off your long 13ft+ rods after winter andthe fish up onto the sand and walk over to picknot necessarily those of the publisher.respool your reel, tie new leaders and refreshit up. Tight lines and safe fishing. ISSN 23821655rigs to get down the beach or harbour to castfishingingodzone.co.nzfresh baits for big snapper. MATHEW HEWETSON Editor at large /fishingingodzoneGREAT DIGITAL CONTENTJOIN NOW, SCAN BELOW!FOR ONLY $5 A MONTH8FISHING IN GODZONE SEP/OCT 2023'