Fishing on Marine Farms – Go For It!

The New Zealand mussel industry are strong advocates for encouraging local communities to indulge in the many & varied species that lie beneath their farms.  Following are effective techniques for fishing around a mussel farm and the answers to commonly asked questions.   A mussel farm is like an iceberg – there is more below than above.  They create a rich and diverse habitat that seals, fish, dolphins and seabirds find useful – we hope you will too.

The mussel industry in New Zealand is based on the cultivation, harvest and processing of New Zealand Greenshell^TM  mussels (Perna canaliculus). They are native to New Zealand waters and mussel farms are generally located where Greenshell mussels naturally occur.  No chemicals (including pesticides, herbicides or artificial feeds) are used in mussel production.  The only artificial components are the ropes, floats, anchors and stockings that suspend the mussels.  In fact – the industry protects the water quality as mussels require high water quality standards in order to grow successfully and meet the stringent food safety requirements of both the domestic and international market.

Does the mussel farmer own the water space?  No – coastal permits provide an applicant with the right to occupy a defined area of water.  They have the right to place structures within it. 

How is a mussel farm constructed?  A farm consists of a series of floats held together by longlines attached to each side of the floats.  The line is anchored to the seafloor at each end.  A series of weighted ropes (up to 10km long), on which the mussels are grown, hang down from these lines.  The average farm comprises 3-5 ha.  There are currently over 640 mussel farms throughout NZ. 

Can anyone fish on a marine farm?  All fishers have the right to enter all marine farms and are free to tie up to a marine farm while fishing (whilst respecting the marine farmer’s structures).  There are some hazards such as the descending anchor lines at each end of the long lines – so keep a good look out and don’t travel faster than 5 knots within a farm.

Marine farms are great ‘fish attracting’ devices as they provide shelter and food for fish.  Each dropper is actually a complex micro-ecosystem laden with fish delicacies.  Tiny crustaceans like crabs, shrimps and tubeworms coexist with larval fish to create a smorgasbord for any predator that can get amongst them.  As harvesters strip lines, these creatures along with damaged shellfish are dislodged, creating a natural berley trail.  Fish in the area soon become acclimatised to aquaculture activity and actually associate the noise with a ready supply of food.  In effect, all the banging and crashing acts as a form of audible berley and attracts fish. 

Fishing alongside harvesters can be productive, but should be approached with a plan.  First note what the harvester is doing.  If it’s hanging spat or tying floats there is unlikely to be significant berley trail and so, it’s not worth fishing there.  If you’re unsure what its doing, observe the floats.  Floats that sit high on the water and are clean, are empty.  The harvester is likely to be tying floats or seeding the line.  Floats that are covered in marine growth and sitting low in the water are heavily laden and ready for stripping.  Harvesters will be moving along the line in the direction of these heavily laden floats. To avoid having to reposition your boat, tie up to the empty portion of the line or an adjacent line.

The berley trail may extend some distance because of the depth of the water and the strength of the current, so fish may not necessarily be in close.  Determine the direction of the current and rather than anchor, start next to the harvester and drift the baits down the current line.  Cover plenty of distance with the drift before uplifting the gear and repeating the process. 

What can be caught around mussel farms: John Dory, Kahawai, Kingfish, Snapper, Tarakihi, Blue Cod and Gurnard - so match your tackle accordingly?

Crimpy’s Recommendations:   A ledger rig is usually better than a strayline in deep water as it’s important to get a big snapper under control quickly.  Allowing them to run on a strayline lowers the angle of line in the water and gives the fish the opportunity to drag it under droppers. 

Unless trying for a Tarakihi, its better to use big hooks, even if small Snapper are present.  I prefer 8-10/0 Black Magic Red recurve hooks; they hook better and are less likely to be chomped by big Snapper.  It’s a good idea to use different baits, just to see if the fish are being fussy.

I also drift an un-weighted stray line back with the current as Snapper, Kingies and Kahawai will often come up off the bottom. You need to keep in touch with the rod at all time and manually strip line from the reel as the bait sinks. This lets the bait sink naturally without drag on the line and won't spook cagey 'snaps'.

Drifting live baits from a ledger rig near the bottom will tempt John Dory, as long as the baits are small and hooked through the lip or tail. Cover your options by having one hook baited and the top hook rigged with live bait. Targeting Kingies with live baits is better done from outside the farm for obvious reasons.

Fishing alongside harvesters can be an exciting and rewarding activity, but it is better to approach it with a system in mind, rather than just to pull up and dangle a line in the water!