A light tackle passion pays dividends

‘Light tackle fishing is addictive’ suggests James Farley, who recently caught a world-record claim 7.70kg snapper on one-kilo line.

James was fishing a short distance off Muriwai Beach in October with his son Carson when he hooked the fish over a clean bottom on ‘silly string’.

James had been playing around with light line weights for 4-5 years and his best effort on a snapper was around 3.5kg and his target was a 4.6kg (10lb) fish.

“I didn’t think it was possible, but continued trying for the fun of it.”

James and Cardon were in around 8-10 metres of water, sticking close to the shore as there was a storm brewing with a strong offshore wind. The boat was a 4.4 metre custom-built tiller steer open vessel which they regularly launch off Muriwai when conditions allow.

Using an old freezer-burnt yelloweyed mullet bait that had been defrosted and then frozen again several times, James hooked up from the anchored boat while Carson continued fishing with a conventional ledger rig.

“Initially I thought it was a snapper but as the fight wore on, I started having doubts and was calling it for a tope. I put a little bit more drag on it on that assumption, and that probably helped with the final result.”

The fish headed up past the anchor rope and for much of the time it was a stalemate with neither angler or fish having an advantage.

“Light line fishing is as much about the mental challenge as a physical one – it becomes a waiting game and while there is the temptation to go hard, you have to resist and tough it out.”

Slowly but surely James gained the upper hand and after approximately an hour and 10 minutes, the prize was his.

“I couldn’t believe it and the buzz that is light line fishing kicked in – it is extra rewarding when you get it right.”

James was fishing with a three-kilo RADZ custom-built rod and a Shimano Caenan 150 baitcaster reel spooled with 1kg Momoi mono. The hook was a 6/0 Gamakatsu Suicide and the trace was a ‘bit of old 24kg game line’.

When ratified, the new mark will have just pipped the current holder, Jim Powell, who landed a 7.60kg snapper in February 2017, fishing at Rangaunu Bay.

James says his rig is ‘nothing special’. He prefers the ledger rig and doesn’t bother tying doubles in the mainline, but does double the line when making the joining knot.

Asked if he had any other light tackle goals he wanted to achieve, he said he didn’t, but would like to get Carson into it.

The junior boys 1-kg mark is 3.08kg and he says that this is ‘doable’ with a bit of practice.

“In the meantime the Muriwai SFC member will keep fishing light line ‘for the fun of it and the personal challenge’. Watch this space!