| If you're planning on going big game fishing in New | | | | These seem to be growing in numbers in our |
| Zealand, you'll need to prepare yourself to | | | | New Zealand waters, though have a shorter |
| possibly catch the big one you've always dreamed | | | | season, mainly during the month of February. The |
| of. Because the industry is well regulated and | | | | average size is around 200 kilograms, although far |
| numbers are protected, there are still good | | | | larger ones have been caught. |
| numbers of fish to catch, and great spots to find | | | | BROADBILL SWORDFISH |
| them in. Taking a chartered boat out to a good | | | | If you are planning on enjoying big game fishing in |
| spot is the perfect way to spend a day or two. | | | | New Zealand, then you may be lucky enough to |
| So what kinds of fish can you hope to find in | | | | land a Broadbill Swordfish. These are relatively |
| New Zealand? There are a range of good sized | | | | new to the waters around the country, and while |
| specimens in our waters. The following are some | | | | they can be caught all around the coastline, they |
| of a Kiwi fisherman's favourites: | | | | are more common in the Three Kings and |
| STRIPED MARLIN | | | | Northland areas. They vary in size, buy normally |
| If there was a prized fish that set New Zealand | | | | come in at around 150-250 kilograms. |
| apart from other fishing spots, it would be this | | | | TUNA |
| one. New Zealand boasts the largest striped marlin | | | | If you are a fan of these big fish, then you'll be |
| caught on record, and they are abundant in the | | | | able to select from Yellowfin, which are more |
| waters surrounding the top half of the North | | | | common in the Bay of Plenty, and Bluefin and |
| Island. Many people choose to fish for them on | | | | Bigeye, which are available all around the nations |
| the East Coast of New Zealand as the conditions | | | | coastline. While these are not huge compared to |
| are calmer there, however, they are also in good | | | | the monster sized marlin and swordfish, they still |
| supply on the West Coast (though can be | | | | make a great catch. |
| sporadic). The best time to catch one of these | | | | Of course this is just a sample of the wide range |
| beauties is between February and May. An | | | | of fish you can collect as part of your trip. |
| average sized fish comes in at between 80 and | | | | Big game fishing in New Zealand is a popular sport |
| 120 kilograms and you may be lucky enough to | | | | with locals and tourists alike, wanting the |
| land one around the 200 kilogram mark. | | | | satisfaction of landing one of these beauties of |
| BLUE MARLIN | | | | the ocean, and then recording it for prosperity. |