The Fishing Paper and Hunting News

The June 2026 issue (249) is now live on the website and available in your local store.

As always please recognise and support our advertisers. We rely on their advertising revenue to pay for printing and distribution costs.

Check it out online now at https://thefishingpaper.co.nz/issues/april-2026-issue-247/

From the July 2026 issue we will be ONLINE ONLY during the winter months – so there will not be a paper available at your local supplier – the only way to access the Fishing Paper will be online.

The July, August and September issues will be online only.

We will use those month to continue seeking out new advertisers sufficient to allow us to return to an “in print” paper.

If we can’t secure sufficient advertising revenue then we will make a call on staying online, or on closing down the paper.

I can assure you that closing down the paper will be the absolutely last option and is not one I want to have to take.

Please reach out if you have ideas as to who we can approach for additional support through advertising or sponsorship.

Thanks for your ongoing support

Nicola
[email protected]

The May 2026 issue (248) is now live on the website and available in your local store.

The May issue is full of fishing and hunting adventures

• Kieran has an awesome day out with many PBs to be had

• Slow Pitch Jigging saw a real battle for the front page cover shot with Johnny having a great day out with his patience coming to the fore.

• Ivan needed to get in some time in the boat, not so many fish caught but still managing to have fun.

• Fisheries Reform – the debate and discussion continues – how do we find a way forward.

• Duck season will be upon us soon , PLEASE take care and be mindful of gun safety and target identification.

As always please recognise and support our advertisers. We rely on their advertising revenue to pay for printing and distribution costs.

Check it out online now at https://thefishingpaper.co.nz/issues/april-2026-issue-247/

The April 2026 issue (247) is now live on the website and available in your local store.

The April issue is full of fishing and hunting adventures
• Yolande has been out in her kayak again and a spell of good weather let her get in some good catches.
• Kim reflects on getting old, it’s happening to us all, including the dog team.
• Kim and Poss made time to get to the Chatham’s and by the looks of it they have had some amazing experiences, if it’s not on your bucket list it probably should be
• The vexed subject of fisheries management continues to take a lot of newsprint – what is the best way to manage fisheries, will fishing closures or exclusions achieve anything or just push the problem down the coastline to another area

As always please recognise and support our advertisers. We rely on their advertising revenue to pay for printing and distribution costs.

Check it out online now at https://thefishingpaper.co.nz/issues/april-2026-issue-247/

The March 2026 issue (246) is now live on the website and available in your local store.

The March issue is full of fishing and hunting adventures

• Gareth discovers his surfcasting prowess
• Bow hunters adventure in Stewart Island and in the Waikato water ways.
• Kim, who we know and love as our hunter and wordsmith extraordinaire is seen in the Chatham Islands with a fishing rod in her hands, what is the world coming too?
• Lastly but importantly various articles discuss fisheries management and the closure of parts of the coastline – have a read and form an opinion because the challenge of managing our fisheries resources is something that should concern all of us.

As always please recognise and support our advertisers. We rely on their advertising revenue to pay for printing and distribution costs.

Check it out online now at https://thefishingpaper.co.nz/issues/march-2026-issue-246/

The February 2026 issue (245) is now live on the website and available in your local store.

The February issue talks about two issues which are or should be front and centre of mind for many of our readers.

- What’s happening with our coastlines and our coastal communities – and aren’t they inextricably linked. There is an article from Daryl Sykes discussing this issue, then Norm our retired fishermen chips in too.

- The NZ Arms Bill 2025 is open for public submissions – if you have a gun, or are around fi****ms then you should be finding out what is in it and have your say. Anyone can make a submission – remember if you don’t have your say – then you miss the chance to influence future gun management.

- Awesome to see Matt with his prized catch and to hear about his dream moving from the States to the Marlborough region and also a great endorsement for the work that all fishing clubs do – supporting new members.

- Are you getting over to the West Coast during February – there will be more than a few boats making the journey for the Buller Bluewater Classic – early day for the organisers who are discovering events like this take a lot of work – but good on them, they have the bones of a great month celebrating fishing

As always please recognise and support our advertisers. We rely on their advertising revenue to pay for printing and distribution costs.

Check it out online now at https://thefishingpaper.co.nz/issues/february-2026-issue-245/

The January 2026 issue (244) is now live on the website and available in your local store.

- Johnnys visit to the canals brings in great success with a PB brown and rainbow trout. Well worth the flight down.

- Yolande, That Kayak Fishing Chick gets success on day two with a monster snapper

- Have a read about the One Ocean Protest, this is something we should all be thinking about,

- Is there any future for lobster farming in NZ? What would need to change and who would be involved?

- Stoney Creek and Pulsar have joined forces to resource “Hunt for Good” , we all know about the major pest problems we are having around NZ farming and forestry land and “Hunt for Good” sees animal numbers being thinned and the meat helping to feed thousands.

- Finally if you didn’t see the information in the December issue, go back and check again and see how you can win a pair of Yukon Solaris Binoculars.

Check it out online now at https://thefishingpaper.co.nz/issues/january-2026-issue-245/

The December 2025 issue (243) is now live on the website and available in your local store.

- Jasper had a great first Kayak Fishing Debut under the watchful eye of that Kayak Fishing Chick

- Young Eve showed that it is never too early to get out on the water and what a great father daughter experience to relive in future years

- Our retired fishermen, or is that oracle? Norm, reflects on the dissent and disagreement which seems to be impacting so many aspects of fishing.

- Recognition for the Fiordland Marine Guardians as they clock up an impressive milestone as well as national recognition for their work

- BE IN TO WIN: Turn to page 12 to see how you can enter a Pulsar competition to win a set of Yukon Solaris 10x50 binoculars.

Check it out online now at https://thefishingpaper.co.nz/issues/december-2025-issue-243/

The November 2025 issue (242) is now live on the website and available in your local store.

- Snapped in Nelson Bay , what a great day out for Ewan bringing in a great snapper (just don’t tell his brother)

- The Hauraki Gulf Protection Act – not fishing up there so doesn’t concern you ? think again as the implications are far reaching and impacting commercial and recreational fishers alike.

- Make sure you understand the new limit changes for Blue Cod Fisheries . In fact make sure you know all the limits for all fisheries.

- Another great article from Any about night vision and what it can add to your hunting toolkit.

- If you haven’t yet get in touch with Dean at Image Boats to book in your demo ride – you can find them over late December and January in the Top of the South island making their way down the West Coast.

Check it out online now at https://thefishingpaper.co.nz/issues/november-2025-issue-242/

The October 2025 issue (241) is now live on the website and available in your local store.

- What an amazing catch for Johnny as he hauls in a john dory – read the full article on page 3.

- The seafood world came out in September to celebrate the awarding of Sustainability and Innovation awards 2025 , jump onto page 3 to see who won the big awards .

- The Marlborough Bowhunters are taking every opportunity to get out for a hunt and there was a bonanza haul on their last trip , follow their adventures on page 4

-Whip up a Kahawai Fish Curry , we have used Kahawai but you can replace this with other catch . The spices in this will put a tingle on your tongue and might ward off some of those nasty cold bugs doing the rounds.

-As always , please support our advertisers as they allow us to keep producing the paper for you.

Check it out online now at https://thefishingpaper.co.nz/issues/october-2025-issue-241/

The September 2025 issue (240) is now live on the website and available in your local store.

Check it out online now at https://thefishingpaper.co.nz/issues/september-2025-issue-240/