March 5, 2015
It seems that yellowfin tuna are not gone forever from New Zealand waters. Dare we hope that this season is just the start of their return, or is this just a painful reminder of the superb fishery that has been lost? The Bay of Plenty was once our yellowfin ‘tuna capital’ over summer. For most […]
March 1, 2015
Crayfish might not be on everyone’s catch list but they are a treasured meal when shared with family and friends. Not surprisingly they are also a valuable commercial species so when it comes to management there is always high interest in any catch increases. Management of five crayfish stocks is under review. These stocks extend […]
February 21, 2015
More species of seabirds breed in New Zealand than anywhere else in the world. Seabirds are good indicators of what is below the water’s surface, this makes them an angler’s best friend. But when seabirds get close to the boat they can easily tangle in our fishing lines or get caught on baited hooks. This can […]
February 17, 2015
Over 4.5 million snapper, 1.1 million kahawai and 680,000 blue cod were caught and kept by recreational fishers during 2011-12. These are the three most popular marine species, by number, in New Zealand. Around 5.4 percent of all finfish was taken from charter vessels. These estimates and harvest figures for other popular species have been […]
February 15, 2015
Since last year’s rule changes, there has been an increase in the numbers of gut hooked snapper being released. These fish will most likely die. This outcome goes against all notions of conservation and makes us feel bad when we watch these wasted fish floating away or being eaten by birds. However, this is a […]
February 10, 2015
Summer is a hectic time of year for the LegaSea team as there are so many fund raising events, fishing contests and community gatherings to attend. It is such a buzz to see people enjoying the fishing, the camaraderie with their mates, and spending quality time amongst family. And this is just a snapshot of […]
January 30, 2015
Crayfish are a prized catch and important ecologically so it is critical we protect the fishery from over-exploitation. The Ministry for Primary Industries has just issued proposals for the future management of several fisheries, including the northern crayfish stock called CRA1. LegaSea again objects short consultation timeframes, this time we only have 18 working days […]
January 29, 2015
One of LegaSea’s 5 Principles is to value recreational fishing. Our fishing supports a vast array of businesses, from charter boat operations, boat builders, tackle dealers, bait and ice suppliers and the assortment of fishing media. Many coastal communities rely on the summer influx of tourists, including fishing families, to maintain their accommodation, fuel and […]
January 16, 2015
There has been widespread discussion about the number of small snapper being caught in close off the northeast coast and whether the new 30cm minimum size limit is good for the fishery. There is some suggestion the size needs to return to 27cm, or have no minimum and land everything. There are downsides to that […]
January 10, 2015
After a hard-out year many of us look forward to time on the water catching a fish, sharing that catch with family and friends, and importantly, enjoying the experience with our kids. To achieve success we need fish in the water. LegaSea has developed 5 Principles to help rebuild our depleted fisheries. If you want […]
