Taking care of the earths coastline and ocean | Hauraki Gulf | New Zealand

Our natural environment is changing and as hunter gatherers, anglers, divers of the oceans we have a responsibility to do our part in caring for the places we love. This short discussion covers some issues and some ideas on what can be done to keep it healthy.
Always keen to hear your feedback as well as any ideas in the comments below, but please keep it positive!

[@hamishmacpherson8821]

Hi Rob. Good video mate. The soft bait vs soft plastics is a hard one. I’ve been using both for a long time. I keep going back to gulp but lose so many. Not worried so much about the cost. But lose quite a few. Then go out use soft plastic catch what I need on one bait and put it back in my tackle bag. Just my opinion. It’s a two edged sword

[@NZkayakfishing]

Thanks Hamish, yes agree re the plastics and soft bait. I understand the reasons for use however some anglers are excellent at managing them yet the ones that don't are causing the issues as mentioned. A lot of issues come from reuse when ripped, incorrect type jig head etc. I look at soft bait use in a similar way to natural bait and a half pilchard on the hook will always get the most attention yet can be easily demolished over other types. Soft baits are similar and certain types get ripped apart more easily. Technique also plays its part and leaving a soft bait sitting still or using very little action will get the attention of smaller fish that pick rather than inhale. I also prefer to use the most effective option for fishing and when considering soft bait or soft plastic the soft bait wins hands down. If an angler selects the best style/shape/colour and stays in contact with the soft bait plus uses more erratic movements then they are more likely to get the interest of larger predators before the smaller nibblers, the result is a number of decent size fish on one soft bait, result and better for the environment should it become dislodged. If there are lots of smaller size fish around and the soft baits are getting hammered I often go to micro jigs. I thinks the main thing to consider here is that we have a problem with plastic in our ocean so try not to contribute. If you have some other ideas on how anglers can manage soft plastics better then please drop some more info and appreciate your thoughts cheers

[@winterhawk1987]

Nice video Rob, perhaps working with schools to educate the kids who are the future, pretty hard telling adults what they should not do.

[@NZkayakfishing]

Thanks, its never going to be easy getting others to change and this video will not always be popular with viewers, however it needs to be put out there all the same. Yes getting to the younger generation is also viable, yet the focus for them these days is more about getting them outdoors and away from tech first in most cases, once they do then the changes are huge cheers

[@natgordon442]

Went out for a fish last weekend in the hauraki gulf. Took home 4 snapper and 2 had milky white flesh. Never seen it before. It's from malnutrition. Very sad.

[@NZkayakfishing]

Yes unfortunately this is one of the scenarios we see more often these days which is a sign things aren't right, I never saw this a decade ago. Apparently they have the same problem with halibut in Alaska cheers