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Is there a place for FADS in NZ

Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: The Work-Up
Forum Description: Game fishing related topics here
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=121944
Printed Date: 27 May 2026 at 10:32am


Topic: Is there a place for FADS in NZ
Posted By: MATTOO
Subject: Is there a place for FADS in NZ
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2016 at 5:40pm
Well they definetly work.
But is there use in NZ a good idea.
Should they be encouraged.
In that I mean known position and legitimate use in the seas around NZ.

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Still cruising in my now sweetas pimped out Southern 755 HT0!



Replies:
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2016 at 6:48pm
Good topic Matt.I really think the west coast would be a great place to scuttle a wreck or two. one in 15m for the divers. One at 65m to bring the marlin in nice and close


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Best gurnard fisherman in my street


Posted By: Catchelot
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2016 at 7:05pm
There have been FAD's in NZ before, so what is your point Mat, why not?
 
New Plymouth deployed one approx. 1989-90 I am not sure how long it lasted however.


Posted By: MATTOO
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2016 at 7:47pm
My point is that they are valuable to fisherman.

It seems that deploying them has been hap hazard as I understand they are not legally allowed to be deployed.

There are navigation concerns particularaly with commercial fishing lanes and in general for public navigation.
However the tools of mapping today allow infinite possibilities for navigation identification.

The benefits are somewhat selfish as a fisherman. But I also see the value to the charter fleets having zones of possible improved catchs which can also be good for there customers.

So I felt it could make an interesting discussion topic.

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Still cruising in my now sweetas pimped out Southern 755 HT0!


Posted By: Catchelot
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2016 at 8:20pm
Well there was one off the chicks last year, not sure if its still there.


Posted By: NumnuT_AUS
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2016 at 11:51pm
Who would look after and maintain them ?
Who would pay for them ?


Posted By: Polar_Kiwis
Date Posted: 06 Nov 2016 at 7:51am
Originally posted by NumnuT_AUS NumnuT_AUS wrote:

Who would look after and maintain them ?
Who would pay for them ?

Don't you just let them get all manky and weed grown?

Knowing our country you would need resource consent, have it marked on a chart etc...


Posted By: the angler
Date Posted: 06 Nov 2016 at 9:01am
Your best bet would be to just do it and def not say a word about it.
We had consistent hookups off the fad that was off n.p a couple of seasons ago.
Even a quadruple hookup.


Posted By: Seasider
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2016 at 9:55am
Originally posted by Catchelot Catchelot wrote:

Well there was one off the chicks last year, not sure if its still there.

I dont think its there anymore Al looking at these tracks from just one trawler.



Posted By: Catchelot
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2016 at 10:07am
Originally posted by Seasider Seasider wrote:

Originally posted by Catchelot Catchelot wrote:

Well there was one off the chicks last year, not sure if its still there.

I dont think its there anymore Al looking at these tracks from just one trawler.

 
CryCryCry


Posted By: Bigfishbob
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2016 at 10:56am
They work but why? Just how easy do you want your fishing? You have SST charts and all sorts of other data, as well as much more sophisticated fishing finding and chart plotting than we have ever had. 

So why would you need Fads as well as that.


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www.waikatosportfishing.co.nz


Posted By: Gowest
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2016 at 1:01pm
^^ Yes they work.... so why not I say. Rags and Kawhia could definitely do with a decent one Id reckon purely for the lack of structure out there


Posted By: NumnuT_AUS
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2016 at 1:52pm
Gday Guys,

there are a heap of FADS off the east cost of OZ.

they are removed each winter for maintenance, paid for in part by our saltwater fishing licenses.

look here

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/resources/fish-aggregating-devices



The FADS off Sydney got deployed in the last week or 2, can't wait to get out there and get amongst the dollies.

red marks means they are out for maintenance & will deployed shortly as the water warms up down there.

asking for trouble with anyone throwing out a dodgy FAD where ever they like.

Cheers
CS


Posted By: Marligator
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2016 at 3:14pm
The RMA makes it very difficult to legally deploy FAD's in NZ, almost certainly DOC and Maritime NZ would be opposed to them for various reasons. Who has the time and money to put into this, most clubs don't. There is no bucket of publicly sourced money to pay for them or their annual up keep.
 
This is the reason why they have in recent years been put in by people without the required paperwork.
 


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Posted By: cirrus
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2016 at 4:48pm
Lots of FADS on the East Coast of Australia. Looks like its becoming a bit of a FAD over there.


Posted By: camdog
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2016 at 8:19pm
maybe its time for saltwater licences in nz so we can have proper fads too

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Posted By: Crazy Horse
Date Posted: 12 Nov 2016 at 4:39pm
Could not agree more Camdog. All funds could go to fishing council so as ramps fuelling stations and of course fads could be set up for better of shore fishing.
Sooner the better.




Posted By: livin4fish
Date Posted: 12 Nov 2016 at 7:04pm

Tauranga SFC went through the motions to put one inside Mayor about 18 or so years ago and BOP Regional Council stopped the idea in its tracks. Club was going to install and maintain it.



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No good fish goes anywhere without a porpoise: Lewis Carroll



Posted By: veitnamcam
Date Posted: 12 Nov 2016 at 7:05pm
Originally posted by camdog camdog wrote:

maybe its time for saltwater licences in nz so we can have proper fads too

Out of my cold dead hands.


Posted By: Fish Addict
Date Posted: 12 Nov 2016 at 9:21pm
Originally posted by livin4fish livin4fish wrote:

Tauranga SFC went through the motions to put one inside Mayor about 18 or so years ago and BOP Regional Council stopped the idea in its tracks. Club was going to install and maintain it.


Remember it is always the squeaky door that gets the oil. It may be a little tedious but shouldn't be too difficult to demonstrate to the powers that be that FADS are commonplace these days (just not in NZ). The impression I get from reading this post and others similar to it over the years is that funding is the major issue. Fishing clubs need sponsors. We have 6 FADS here in Perth. These are managed by the Perth Game Fishing Club and each has a separate sponsor. In addition other funding is also provided via revenue from recreational boat fishing licenses.


Posted By: part-timer
Date Posted: 12 Nov 2016 at 10:23pm
Originally posted by Fish Addict Fish Addict wrote:

Originally posted by livin4fish livin4fish wrote:

Tauranga SFC went through the motions to put one inside Mayor about 18 or so years ago and BOP Regional Council stopped the idea in its tracks. Club was going to install and maintain it.


Remember it is always the squeaky door that gets the oil. It may be a little tedious but shouldn't be too difficult to demonstrate to the powers that be that FADS are commonplace these days (just not in NZ). The impression I get from reading this post and others similar to it over the years is that funding is the major issue. Fishing clubs need sponsors. We have 6 FADS here in Perth. These are managed by the Perth Game Fishing Club and each has a separate sponsor. In addition other funding is also provided via revenue from recreational boat fishing licenses.

Thats a good idea... sponsered FaDs...but it would be hard to get compliance im guessing... bloody red tape !  the ones I have fished work really well... usually attract mahi..  and now the yellowfin are returning, they might get some of them to stick around the area too.. J


Posted By: Fishb8
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2016 at 6:35am
Maybe reforms in the RMA might make FADs more easily approved?

And commercial bans from around them, should they be allowed.

I know the Aussie licence money buys up snapper quota


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Be yourself; everyone else is already taken


Posted By: shaneg
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2016 at 12:32pm
Best fad ive seen were few years ago when they placed what think were hag fish pots off back of kumera patch. Attracted heaps of mahis around them (like hundreds of them and little kings) blue marlin seemed to hang close by.   Guys were stick baiting and live baiting the mahi and we hooked couple of blues not far away from them.
Krow had a ball on the mahis from memory.


Posted By: kingfishers
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2016 at 11:27pm
http://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/building-a-fad-fish-attracting-device_topic53641.html

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"My mind has gone fishing, ask all questions tomorrow"


Posted By: MB
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2016 at 11:37pm
Whether we get FADs or not, there have to be some fish left to aggregate around them! There are bigger issues at stake. Just saying Smile


Posted By: Alan L
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2017 at 5:21pm
Bit late to the party here, but there would be a good use for FADs esp in areas that do not hold a lot of pelagics. I do most of my gamefishing in Vanuatu. We fish the FADs ALL the time. Between the FADs is hard going - other than resident structure fish like Wahoo. But they will also hold at FADs.
They are paid for privately - the charter guys run a fund. They don't last very long. 12 mths would be good. Some longer, some 6mths. Cost about $4-5k for each one. We drop in around 2-3 new ones/yr in my locality to replace what we loose. Without them the trolling costs/distances would be very large. So it is economic sense for the charter guys. Unlike Aus they stay in all yr round - the season is 12mths.
But getting permission here would be near impossible? Greenpeace turned up in a rush of blood and cut as many of the FADs as they could find. Til the local ni vanuatu protested - they were chopping away their livelihood (selling fish) and their ability to feed their families. Thankfully they seem to have gotten over that phase. We had about 80 new ones recently deployed (still going on) sponsored by the Japanese Govt I believe - post Cyclone Pam reconstruction aid.
But honestly, while they would be great here the hassle of getting Govt and Greenpeace on side would probably make it more economic to fish without them.
Regards
Alan 


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Legasea Legend member


Posted By: the demon
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2017 at 8:44pm
Nice up the islands , dont need them here , plenty of fish out there north - south . Wish we had giantbtrevs though 👍


Posted By: Alan L
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2017 at 8:55pm
The FADS would hold fish that you don't see a lot of here, and save you a lot of searching around. I am speaking as someone in NZ that hardly encounters a gamefish in our area, and I don't know about up North. Last year in the Naki by all accounts you hardly would need one. But not all years are like that. The fact no one in the area where I fish in Vtu spend much time outside the FADs tells you something. First destination always the FADs. From one to the next.
Doesn't mean the fishing is easy or easier. At least you know where the fish should be. Sometimes they move off. Other times, because they get fished over all the time, the fish get very cagey and you have to adapt your technique. But it does save endless hunting around. What is the value in that? But at the end of the day, the hurdles to jump thru here would make it a pointless exercise I am sure. Elsewhere they are valued.
Regards
Alan


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Legasea Legend member


Posted By: LBGer
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2017 at 7:47am
Maybe some heavy 'cray pots' Wink in strategic places would be the go...

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A king on the bricks is worth 5 in a boat.


Posted By: muchalls
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2017 at 7:15pm
Green buoy near The Brothers, Bay of Islands- caught my first decent Kingie there recently


Posted By: Tagit
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2017 at 7:27pm
Found a FAD SE of Tutukaka on our way home a few years back. Flat calm day and spotted a 'red thing' off in the distance. Ran over to it and it was a bunch of old plastic oil containers. Looked very Faddy so we did a circuit or two wide for any patrolling Blues and then went in close to pick up some of the Mahimahi that were leaping around it. Lots of fun and made me realise how useful a FAD might be.


Posted By: Alan L
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2017 at 8:31pm
I wondered when people were referring to FADs in NZ if they meant the real thing. Looks like they were. I would imagine that is quite a risky process really - surface FADs. As far as safe navigation goes. The problem here is they are basically illegal, so no one is going to notify anybody of a FAD location. (Elsewhere they do).
But I would love to find one locally too. They are a game changer really in terms of what you catch and how you fish.
Sounds like a few illicit Fads have gone in over time. I am big fan of them and hardy do any game fishing not on a FAD. The odd thing is NZ is probably the only game fish area in the S hemisphere not using them. Tells you something about their usefulness elsewhere, and the PR crap we have to deal with here.
Regards
Alan  


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Legasea Legend member


Posted By: Alan L
Date Posted: 29 Jan 2017 at 12:51pm
Here are the latest FADs for Perth. You wouldn't want to run into one in the dark. They take them out of the water in the off season. A major commitment really.

Alan


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Legasea Legend member


Posted By: Fish Addict
Date Posted: 29 Jan 2017 at 4:40pm
Originally posted by Alan L Alan L wrote:

Here are the latest FADs for Perth. You wouldn't want to run into one in the dark. They take them out of the water in the off season. A major commitment really.

Alan
Just to clarify those structures shown in the photos are not FADS.  They are part of fish towers or artificial reef structures here in WA.  The link below provides a bit more info.  The FADS are much smaller and as you say are retrieved at the end of each season.
http://recfishwest.org.au/fish-towers-to-be-deployed-this-summer/" rel="nofollow - http://recfishwest.org.au/fish-towers-to-be-deployed-this-summer/   

All paid for with Fishing Licence revenue. 


Posted By: Alan L
Date Posted: 29 Jan 2017 at 6:00pm
OK, makes more sense. Thought bit of overkill. A fishing mate of mine in Perth sent me the pics and told me they were the new FADs to go in. Couldn't see why you would need such a big structure. Maybe he was pulling my leg.
Regards
Alan


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Legasea Legend member


Posted By: mangre 2
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2017 at 12:07pm
Someone I know found a fad way out the back of barrier, last week in a boxed area I had marked.

But he won't tell me which box it was.

Lol probably a good Idea for all involved.


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Beautiful is better than ugly, Explicit is better than implicit, Simple is better than complex, Complex is better than complicated.      http://oceanmobilemap.blogspot.co.nz/


Posted By: wanabe
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2017 at 1:07pm
Fads are a good idea and work in most places I have been to overseas, they do not have to go very far offshore and do not have to be placed in shipping lanes, most I have fish over are simple setups and are well inside most off the continental shelf's I have been at.

Mattoo
will you become our advocate to push the idea forward and get the ball rolling to stat the idea with the government.
If non of us do anything we are all fence sitters with great comments. if they push the commercial fishing to the 12 mile limit like it should be then yes why not a fad well inside that.



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