Greetings fellow Fisho’s
How is your spring fishing going ? We trust the longer daylight hours and the warmer weather means you are able to get out and cast/drop a line and your efforts well rewarded.
It is good to receive Club Newsletters (if the National Office is not on your Newsletter mail list we would appreciate a copy) and see what clubs are doing. Good to see also those membership renewals coming in but still a lot to come yet – according to the Constitution if you have not paid up by now you are officially no longer members of your Association. So get those forms back in if you are in the overdue category. We have seen a few new members showing up in affiliation forms but it would be simply great if there were lots more – what is your club doing about increasing its membership ?
Another reminder – next years Nationals – have you made your accommodation bookings ? This is important if you want to secure ideal accommodation because as we said last month it is also the WOMAD Festival that weekend in New Plymouth so that means accommodation will be at a premium. If you are not getting info’ from the Host Club about the Nationals contact me urgently.
We are still also waiting for information on some items to come back to us from clubs. Have you replied to those earlier requests ? Those email contacts are important.
Whilst on the reminders – what has your club done about its presence on the two FREE websites ? Can people find out about your club and what you are doing if they go on line ?
I was in a sports shop recently and there on the counter was an information brochure about the local club. What a great idea. Not a great deal of cost involved in printing these DLE Cards and you are having a presence amongst the very public who are interested in what you are interested in. I include a copy of the two sides of this pamphlet/card for your information and I am sure there is no copyright if you want to do something similar. Well recommended. (Just reproduce it as your club details on the websites !)
Now also is the time when those spring catches may qualify for a certificate, a pin, maybe even a record, but at the very least they need to be sent in so they are in the system for consideration for an Annual Award. Weigh-masters – have a supply of Application Forms at the weigh-desk for people to complete at your club days or whatever. “You can’t catch a fish if your hook is not in the water - and you can’t get a catch recognition if the Application Form is not sent in” I don’t care how many Applications I get – encourage your club members to fill in a form (tick every box) for all their catches !!!!!
Maybe a reminder here about some of the trophies :-
Cyril Hoskin Memorial Trophy – Most meritorious saltwater catch by a Junior
Diawa Cup – Most meritorious saltwater catch using artificial fly
Franich Trophy – Heaviest Snapper caught by Junior
Gladding Cup – Heaviest Trout caught from shore on a fly
Kilwell Trophy – Heaviest Trout caught by trolling, harling or spinning
McFetridge Hook – Heaviest Kingfish
NZ Fishing News Trophy – Most meritorious Kahawai
Rapala Cup – Most meritorious saltwater catch using spinning gear
Rockhopper Shield – Six heaviest fish caught from rocks (not necessarily all on same day)
Tisdall Trophy – Six heaviest Trout caught from shore (not necessarily all on same day)
Tortue Ocean Award – Heaviest Snapper
Mustad Golden Hook – the one everyone wants – Most meritorious scale fish catch
Bridport Gundry Cup – six heaviest fish caught on hand line (good one for the kids on wharf)
The term “most meritorious” at present means the heaviest fish on the lightest line so a line sample is necessary with the application. The definition for this is being re-thought at present but there will be no changes until the New Year. Your thoughts on what constitutes the “most meritorious” would be most welcome.
Having a certificate on the wall, or maybe a pin, to give recognition of that great catch is a real incentive for anyone. This especially applies to Juniors. Encourage your Juniors to send in Application Forms. Remember the one Application Form is used for everything. Records and some other awards need line samples so don’t forget those as well. I enclose a copy of the Application Form for you to photocopy in case you no longer have one on hand.
Remember to keep an eye on your local Newspapers for those small public notices which may appear from time to time about proposed Marine Reserves in your area. I believe such notices are deliberately kept small or placed in obscure areas so that not all will take notice of such. Auckland based fishers – the ARC is advising of its intention to declare the sea around Tawharanui Regional Park a Marine Reserve. If this area is of concern to you action needs to be taken now. Watch out for local meetings on the Shared Fisheries issues – this proposal is of real concern – the old “Soundings” in another format.
888 Did you know that there are a number of NZACA Members who serve on the Regional Advisory Committees set up by the Minister. These guys give up their valuable time to ensure our recreational fishing interests are looked after. We need to be very grateful to such. Such thanks also must go to those who constantly keep an eye on the wider picture and put in countless hours preparing and submitting submissions etc. We would be very much worse off if it wasn’t for these people. Remember also your membership makes you part of the NZRFC and they are at the forefront of the battle on your behalf. For those who so wish you can take out an additional personal membership/support of the RFC for just $25 per year. The other which needs our/your on-going support is the Kahawai Legal Challenge.
Have any club followed up on the information sent out last month about the new Kiwi Tackle Club ? If you would like Don Boddie to come an address your club meeting I am sure if you contact him something could be arranged.
►►►►Greg Smeal is also looking for material for the column he writes for the NZ Fishing News each month. News from your area, photos etc. would always be welcome. You can email Greg on .
In this months issue of the Fishing News is a good article by Graham Andrews (the Last Word) on Fishing Licences – read it !
50th Anniversary Badge – Remember we are calling for orders for these (Order Form sent out previously). This will be a one-off production run so no orders no badges. Some clubs have put there orders in already so don’t let your club members be disappointed.
I know I am repeating myself, but I feel I should. It is over the matter of the challenge put out a number of months ago by the Wairoa North Clyde Surfcasting Club in Northern Hawkes Bay for clubs to match $50 being put up by them to help finance the continued production of our Members Manual. To date only one other Club, the Feilding Surfcasting Club, has risen to this challenge. Whilst I know a number of clubs struggle financially, there are a great many others who can boast of good bank balances. So the contribution of $50 is not really asking very much !
A number of clubs are reaching their own 50th. Anniversaries why not dig a little deeper and find around $650 and sponsor a complete section of the Manual with your very own designed Section Divider. This would make a great memento to your clubs longevity and be there for all to see.
(Based on responses to date I am not holding my breath on either of these suggestions – why don’t you prove me wrong !)
In conclusion let me put a plug in for our sponsors both at Association level and at your local club level. Sponsorship is always hard to find and we must fully support those who support us. Whether it be fishing products & tackle firms, magazines, beverages or Gaming Trusts; no matter who or what, they deserve to be acknowledged and supported. Without them we would be the poorer or unable to do what we would like. So in no matter how small a way, show them your gratitude by giving them your custom.
That’s it from me for this month
Graeme Dawber
YOUR ASSOCIATION Secretary
