Fishing: Gone fishing - for some beaut presents

By PETER JESSUP

Fishing for Christmas gifts is fairly easy this year, with lots of new gear on the market.

As beach access for vehicles is progressively closed down, lumping the gear along the country's beaches and sand spits becomes a chore.

Kite fishing developer Paul Barnes has the answer with a fold-up aluminium cart with pump-up tyres and strap-on storage for the chilly bin, rods or kite and float etc. It's the Rolls Royce of beach carts, designed to negotiate sand with a load of up to 30kg. The cost is $150. View it at www.fishingkites.co.nz.

Penn International has a new rod range, with solid graphite core to the tip, which is covered in a fibreglass drip-coat. They're stronger and more responsive than previous models. The new Power Stick Pro range includes stand-up game rods and 1.8m-2.1m boat rods, plus longer Tri-Fibre rods for rock fishing with overhead reels. Price range $160-$180.

The Penn International 975ld overhead is tops in its range. Beautifully smooth on the cast and with equally efficient and sweet drag, it carries 6-10kg line, best with 300m of 8kg. At $700-800, it's a worthwhile long-term investment

Cheaper, at $30, is the Jarvis Walker filleting set. Good value in anyone's language, it includes two different length filleting knives, a bait knife, sharpening stone and cutting board. It is available at Rebel Sport, The Warehouse and fishing shops.

Jarvis Walker have also put out a simple long-line for holidaymakers. At $60, it includes weights, floats, and 25 hooks. All you need is bait.

Neat for the boat is a collapsible cray-pot. With an alloy frame and rope mesh net, it folds flat for easy storage under boat squabs or in the back of the car. At $60, one cray would pay for it. And Jarvis Walker have also released a range of telescopic rods for travellers, in all sizes and styles from 1.8m boat to 3.6m surfcasters, at around $70.

From Shimano, and imitators, come "squidgies", a cheap buy for the kids to give dad. They are soft rubber lures you thread with your own hook. Coloured to flash and attract both salt and freshwater fish and scented with fish attractant, they seem to work all right in harbours and murky water.

For Aucklanders or those coming to the big city for the season you can't beat Bruce Duncan's guide Fishing the Hauraki Gulf. First published a year ago, it is already in its third reprint.

Duncan, who has fished the area all his life, reveals more than 200 spots and gives advice on best tides, winds, rigs and other information. Aerial photos give graphic evidence of current flow, surf wash and so on around Gulf islands. A steal at $30.

For the full monty you can't beat Geoff Thomas' The Complete NZ Fisherman. The hard-back is $40, the soft-cover $30. TV fishing guide Thomas has re-released some of his videos in a two-for-one deal. Trout Secrets and Rotorua Secrets are available for $30, as are Blue Water Magic on gamefishing as well as Kingfish Secrets.

The NZ Fishing World magazine has a good Christmas deal - buy a 12-month subscription for $48 and get a Blade Reef filleting knife and sheath valued at $34 for free. A subscription card is available the current issue.