When I held the position of roving reporter for a fishing magazine, the editor expected me to be factual. Along with that responsibility came the necessity of being controversial, if there were difficult subjects someone has to air them and put views in print.
These topics usually brought the famous, or infamous 'Letters To The Editor', I have to be truthful and say I loved them.
Controversy brings out the best and the worst in people. The best ideas can be kicked around until a consensus would be formed, this could then be used for representative ideas to angling clubs, national bodies, sometimes even government. I was involved with the Volkner Rocks marine reserve, and that was a highlight. There were some brilliant letters from readers, both for and against, and then there were others.
I will happily start a topic that could draw responses from both side of the spectrum, that is what topics are all about. Please don't think there are personal issues with regards to the chosen subject, there isn't, it's simply to give members the opportunity to air their constructive views if they so wish.
The subject, large, mega dollar surfcasting competitions.
It is reasonable to assume that locals have a certain advantage in knowing what spots are producing, and more importantly, what baits are working well. Now it's the last part I am suggesting could be discussed.
Would it make for a level playing field if competitors were limited to using, for example only, three nominated baits? The organising club or committee could rule the only baits that can be used are (again example only) pilchards, bonito and pipis, or a combination of any of these.
This idea would remove the home advantage and give every competitor, no matter where they have come from, the same chance as locals. The home angler will still have a small advantage over where the fish are (or were) but as far as bait is concerned, every competitor is on a par.
I feel it necessary to add, I don't fish competitions, the last time I entered one would have been thirty-five years ago, so there is nothing personal is this topic.
We'll see how this goes, if it is supported I am sure there are other ideas that can be discussed also.
Re: A Curly One.
Posted by Phill on 17/4/2013, 8:27 pm, in reply to "A Curly One." Tackle Tactics
A pegged comp would suit me as I don't have the time to scope out the comp beachs and it would negate the local knowledge .
Re: A Curly One.
Posted by Da-Iceman on 17/4/2013, 11:02 pm, in reply to "A Curly One."
I think there is nothing wrong with home advantage it is up to outsiders if they want to enter or not. would be like asking the all blacks and aussie play a test in fiji Gizzy
"The worst day Fishing is better than the best day of work"
Re: A Curly One.
Posted by Phill on 17/4/2013, 11:09 pm, in reply to "Re: A Curly One." Tackle Tactics
Look at the bigger picture , more entries maybe?
Re: A Curly One.
Posted by racepics on 18/4/2013, 5:20 am, in reply to "Re: A Curly One."
I don't enter big comps either, but it would seem to me that any serious comp participant would have done a little research online among forums such as this prior to the comp and discovered what baits work for certain areas. I've never fished the south island coasts but I'm pretty sure I could search around and find a little recent info on what baits are currently productive.
I don't think restricting types of bait would have much effect unless the organisers decided to forbid the use of the favourites.. It would also be very hard to police?
The other thing that comes to mind is the possibility of something new being discovered. For example, the news on this forum a while back that the biggest Kahawai caught in the Porangahau comp was caught on ox-heart or something similar. People experimenting with alternative baits can add valuable info to the 'surfcasting pool of knowledge' as long as that info is shared.
I think a pegged comp would end up being somewhat of a lottery unless the beach being used was the same all along (such as Marine Parade / Awatoto in Napier) Otherwise some contestant is going to land in the prime spot and catch the best fish, even though he/she might not be a very good angler. The very best anglers given a lousy location won't be able to catch fish that aren't there. A competition is about fishing skill, and unless you can provide a level playing field, pegging would remove a lot of that skill and replace it with luck..
Posted by James HB on 18/4/2013, 7:25 am, in reply to "Re: A Curly One."
Bottom line is if your going to enter a big comp you should do some research to find out what baits to use and where to fish. Generally the same baits work around the north island, pillies, anchovies, skipjack and crayfish. these baits are always in my chillybin whether I'm heading away for an evening fish or a big $$$$ comp. There are always a few add ins specialising for certain species such as octopus, squid and shellfish for a snapper comp. As for where to fish its a lottery anyway as to if the biggest fish in the area will be in the hole you choose. Local knowledge can lead you to where guys have been consistantly catching but what size and will they be the biggest on the beach? Just my thoughts.No excuses, just get out there!!
Re: A Curly One.
Posted by Rex HB on 18/4/2013, 10:47 am, in reply to "Re: A Curly One."
What exactly is a mega bucks comp? 10,000? 50,000? Home town advantage is sometimes only fair if the bulk of the peole supporting it are from the home area. But at the end of the day James is right. It is often a lottery. A good idea but I dont know if it would make a lot of difference.
Re: A Curly One.
Posted by Charlie on 19/4/2013, 6:16 am, in reply to "Re: A Curly One."
I don't do competitions either as I think that they are unfair.I don't think limiting baits will work.Boaties had a comp up here recently that was limited to the size of fish I do not remember the deails as I am only into beach fishing but what I can recall it was limited to something like 32-38cms and 4 fish per angler.I don't know how the prizes were won but I suspect it was the heaviest in that size range.This could be a good idea for surfcasting comps as well.This would make it a lot more even for all competitors being local or not.
Re: A Curly One.
Posted by Hangler on 19/4/2013, 9:17 am, in reply to "Re: A Curly One."
Charlie, I am only guessing but it's possible the top prize in that competition could have been the closest to the average weight. If this is the case it would encourage competitors to return large fish as they would not be in the hunt.
With surfcasting I am not confident the idea would be popular but it's another idea that is constructive.
The surfcasting scene I grew up with was based on the heaviest bag, not the heaviest fish in certain categories. I also accept that would not work here, the snapper mindset is too ingrained. However, I do believe the heaviest overall fish deserves far more recognition.
Most would say it will mean the prize will be taken by a shark or ray. I don't have an issue with that, especially as playing a large fish for a considerable time to beach it, is of far more merit that landing a small fish in the large prize section ... gurnard or Kahawhai. These specie usually carry a substantial reward, far better than the non-scale.
Straight forward, GET OFF YA BUM AND DO HARD YARDS!
Posted by Chad on 19/4/2013, 11:41 am, in reply to "Re: A Curly One."
From my own experience, if you get off your backside and do some hard yards, the impossible becomes a reality. There are no excuses in my mind, not a single reason that anyone can't win, having the right attitude from the start and researching is a good place to begin.
There are competitions around the country in places that I have never fished before, and won them. Thats not because I just rocked up with home advantage, thats because after a few years of time on the sand I know exactly what the target species are going to take bait wise and the areas those fish will be. It is not rocket science. The landscape may change, but the concepts remain the same. I feel you are looking into it to much.
One thing that seems to be getting common is guys looking at the easy option. Putting things in the to hard basket and wanting it easier. Pegged out competition, small boundarys, restricted baits, ( In my opionion ) these are rubbish. Part of surfcasting and being successful is having allot of options. Some baits work on some days, some areas work better on some days, some days you make a bad call and you get punished, some days you make a good call and get rewarded. Removing options removes opportunity for fisho's to use their top two inches and make calls for the good or bad. Fishing one area all with the same bait and rigs has no merit, no skill, no decisions, everthing is removed, where is the fun in that, you don't even get to think. I personally couldn't think of anything more boring, its "giving up".
As for rays and sharks, they are the easiest species to catch on the beaches. They become more difficult to land that other species, given some have teeth and some have big wings, but as a species, they are easy to target and hook. A snapper, far more difficult to hook, allot easier to land, so there is a balance of merit there. For me personally, I wouldn't want top prize going to a shark, because they are only a shark, I don't eat em and it is encouraging people to catch, weigh and destroy fish that should really be put back and left alone. I would cringe if I came to a weigh in and saw 30 massive rays slaughtered for nothing, at least the snapper can be eaten ( Not many people eat rays and a big one would be more than enough for an army, let alone 30)
Once a little girl during a competition in Parangahau pulled in a 1.3kg gurnard. There is far more merit in that prized fish than a shark or ray. Thats a trophy fish. If a run of the mill 5kg lemonfish beat that, I would be thinking, your kidding me? ( Taking into account where the fishing was also)
Anyhow, im starting to ramble, long story short, if you feel your not up for a competition, don't enter, but don't stand back and try and water it down by removing the challenge. Some of you may want to put me to the sword for those comments, but there are other things out there that may suit you better?
Have you considered bingo? bridge?
On a constructive side, I wouldn't suggest altering the field to make things easier for some, I would look at moving the goal posts. A common concept now days is average weight. Over big contests allot of contestants weight good fish. Most right from the outset know that there fish is not big enough to win, and are already thinking " where not going to catch a snapper bigger than 8kg!". Whilst the largest fish holds the most merit, adding a combined weight bag or average weight fish prize and making it substantial ( as in a second place kind of prize) would include all the punters from the competition that caught a fish.
The snapper bonaza up north have done this concept wellWairoa Hawkesbay
Take Nothing For Granted
Re: Straight forward, GET OFF YA BUM AND DO HARD YARDS!
Well put Rex. I love competitions. They make me a better angler by making me study and research the location and species present. They make me check out my gear and to try new ideas. They make me watch and learn from others. They make me fish outside my comfort zone. They make me critcal of my baits. All these things will see you grow as an angler. You may not win a prize every time but you will be a winner if you keep your eyes, mind and ears open.The snapper don't know where the car park is! Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.
on 17/4/2013, 8:09 pm