Sharks are here, so start thinking big

Bronze whalers come into harbours and shallow waters at this time of the year. Photo / Geoff Thomas

Going after the bronze whalers is a challenge with its own risks

The annual influx of bronze whaler sharks into the Waitemata Harbour has started, and some keen fishermen who specialise in targeting the large fish have been catching them off Bucklands Beach.

Bronze whalers are classified as game fish, and in some parts of the world are also regarded as man-eaters. While they are common in our waters, they do not threaten people in the water as there are plenty of fish for them to eat, although it is wise to get out of the water when they are sighted.

This happens often at popular beaches such as Matarangi, Omaha and Pakiri Beaches in mid-summer.

But few people realise the big sharks go into the harbour and into waters such as the Panmure Estuary.

In the shark family the largest specimens are the females, as they are with other large fish like marlin. And the female whalers migrate into inshore waters to give birth.

Some anglers who specialise in fishing for the big sharks from the shore set large baits off beaches like Bucklands Beach, Musick Point and Duders Point.

They take their baits out in a dinghy or paddle board or kayak, and use large baits rigged on wire traces and large shark hooks, attached to game tackle.

Experienced anglers use galvanised hooks rather than stainless steel hooks, so if a shark breaks the line the hook will soon rust and fall out.

Bronze whalers can also be targeted from a boat in spots such as the waters around Crusoe Rock, the Rangitoto Channel and the deep hole off Kauri Point at Birkenhead.

Popular baits are a whole skipjack tuna, a kingfish head or a small stingray.

The sharks are large - up to 200kg - powerful fish, and must be handled carefully when close to the boat. The angler should back off the drag on the reel when the shark is close so it can lunge away if the crewman can't hold on to the wire trace.

Gloves are needed to grab the trace, and loose line can be dropped over the side so if the shark breaks away there is no danger of loose coils wrapping around an arm or leg.

When close enough, the hook can be twisted out with long-nosed pliers and the shark released.

There is a new system of recording world records for all fish, and that is by length.

The fish must be measured and photographed although with a 150kg bronze whaler shark it would be pretty challenging trying to get an accurate measurement from nose to tail. The new records category is designed to encourage anglers to release their catches back into the water.

Details of the new rules on length records can be found online at www.igfa.org.

Fresh waterThere are good numbers of trout in the Tongariro River, but they are proving hard to tempt.

Small natural imitations like the pheasant tail nymph will sometimes induce a strike, but persistence is needed.

Some of the fish are freshly run from Lake Taupo, which is late in the spawning season. Traditionally the spawning runs occur in winter.

One theory is that for many years some fish have been running up the river much earlier than usual - in late summer - while others wait until late spring, and their progeny return three years later at the same time, so extending the runs at both ends of the season.