Custom Tackle Product Range

If there was ever a season to promoting a custom tackle service, it would be this one.

Excitement levels among the gamefishing fraternity are high, with water temperatures a couple of degrees warmer than normal for this time of the year. This has brought plenty of billfish, tuna and other popular species such as mahimahi and shortbill spearfish down our way.

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Greg and Kristen Zaloumis have established a Pyes Pa (Tauranga) business fitting out client’s game boats – everything from the smallest rigging components through to teasers, tackle, rods, reels and ‘riggers.

They have a passion for gamefishing and say screaming reels, bent rods, lines peeling out are the moments they live for. In establishing Custom Tackle NZ, they have scoured the globe to deliver innovative, quality fishing tackle that will give you an edge and maximise your chances of fishing success.

“When you talk to us, you are talking to the owners of the company. We are a couple of mad keen fishos that can give you expert advice, and offer unique custom products and services,” they say.

Captain Greg has fished all his life, starting when he was a toddler with his grandfather fishing off the wharf. He began fishing the NZSFC’s Nationals back in early 2000’s, regularly making the trek to Waihau Bay. He went after giant bluefin tuna off Westport for several years, landing three of the behemoths, the biggest weighing in at over 300kg.

Greg and Kristen have taken many offshore trips to fish the Pacific Islands – even their wedding and honeymoon were spent game fishing in Rarotonga and Aitutaki! They’ve also had a dream holiday of a month’s game fishing in Vava’u, Tonga.

The first marlin Kristen caught was just six months after finishing seven months of gruelling surgery, chemotherapy and radiation for breast cancer. She landed a 220lb blue marlin, and four days later landed her first striped marlin, winning the ladies division of the Tauranga Sport Fishing Club One Base. She has been dubbed the Pink Ribbon Marlin Lady ever since.

Last year saw Kristen catch a total of 13 marlin – all released – with Greg going one better to release 14 billfish. They got into the bluefin tuna over winter, Kristen landing two, and Greg one. They’ve also had the absolute pleasure of guests on board their boat catching their first marlin and bluefin, which they get a real buzz out of.

Kristen and Greg Zaloumis are passionate about their gamefishing.

Kristen and Greg Zaloumis are passionate about their gamefishing.

Topping off the team at Custom Tackle is Kane Tapper (former owner/manager of DeCoro Fishing supplies). Kane has 28 years of experience working in the fishing industry, 16 of them as owner/manager of DeCoro, and he brings incredible knowledge and experience to Custom Tackle NZ.

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Custom Tackle NZ is Kristen and Greg’s dream business. They love what they do and the people they meet. They would love to help you, whether you are setting up for the season, fitting out a new boat, replacing or repairing gear, or buying a gift for someone special. 

NZ Fishing News’ Grant Dixon put a few questions to Kirsty and Greg…

Why Custom Tackle?

“We identified a need for a shop that specialised in game fishing gear and set out to become the exclusive NZ distributor for a range of quality, proven, innovative international brands offering customisation of fishing gear. Custom Tackle NZ was launched in November 2020, with a showroom shop based out of our garage at home, and a website for 24/7 shopping.”

What services do you offer? Do you have any specialties?”“We are your one stop shop for game fishing, supplying everything you need. We import lures from all over the world that are proven fish catchers. We also offer essential services such as reel servicing, line spooling, rigging etc. As the company name implies, we offer several custom services, including custom made rods and reels, custom made lures, custom lure skirting, custom made teasers and dredges, custom printed lure bags/catch bags/catch flags. We also specialise in an individualised service for fitting out boats for game fishing supplying everything you need, whether it just be a few lures and some tackle, to the complete setup.

Kristen and Greg with Ron Patrick, whose brand new Riviera just got a full fitup from Custom Tackle NZ. This included everything from lures, customised rods and reels, to riggers, teasers, gaffs, tag poles and a towcam.

Kristen and Greg with Ron Patrick, whose brand new Riviera just got a full fit-up from Custom Tackle NZ. This included everything from lures, customised rods and reels, to riggers, teasers, gaffs, tag poles and a towcam.

What are some of your key brands?

In the reels we have Alutecnos – proven Italian reels with clients custom colour choices and boat name and logo on. This service is provided at no extra cost.

Sharkbound Rods are USA custom built game rods in clients colour choice of custom marbling with boat name and logo on, and Winthrop Adjustabutts. Other key products include TowcamHD, Momoi, JigStar, Pa’a hooks, and RippinHoo and BoraBora lures to name but a few.

One that is proving popular with Kiwi gamefishers is the Revolution 360 rod holders that allow the rod to be set at a number of different settings to best suit what is happening at the time.

The Italian Alutecnos reels are a key brand for Custom Tackle NZ.

The Italian Alutecnos reels are a key brand for Custom Tackle NZ.


February 2022 - Grant Dixon
New Zealand Fishing News Magazine.
Copyright: NZ Fishing Media Ltd.
Re-publishing elsewhere is prohibited

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