Fish Measure
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Newbies Corner
Forum Description: If you're new to fishing this is the place to ask any questions about getting started ...
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=123849
Printed Date: 04 Feb 2026 at 11:38am
Topic: Fish Measure
Posted By: Foxtrot Oscar
Subject: Fish Measure
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2017 at 10:52am
|
Those MAF/MOF/MPI Fish Measure Ruler stickers that everyone has stuck on their boat somewhere are a great product and so simple. But I was wondering how you get on when LB fishing off the rocks or a wharf/jetty? It occurred to me that the fishing rod itself could be usefully employed and a couple of marks made with a 'white-pen' at, say, 27cm & 30cm from the rod-tip thus making an easily accessed 'ruler' without having to carry a tape-measure or somesuch. There's probably a better solution but I thought this might work.
|
Replies:
Posted By: pjc
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2017 at 3:04pm
|
Remember the measurements are from nose to v in tail ------------- Sex at 58.Lucky I live at 56 |
Posted By: Steps
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2017 at 3:07pm
|
Some caution on some stickers.. eg there has been a problem with Fish City Stickers in the past... no they dont shrink...they just measure wrong, and means bring in under sized fish. One can get plastic measuring sticks.. have sizes for scallops , fish cray and many fish types. Then there are roll up types.. great for LB And there are L shaped.. head against the top and length measure along the base....Which when in doubt, my preferred type, and what MPI use and most length based comps use And I saw a combo of the L type with a roll out, which I thought was pretty cool |
Posted By: Foxtrot Oscar
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2017 at 4:08am
Indeed PJC.  If close or in doubt - Throw it back in...
|
pjc wrote:Posted By: Foxtrot Oscar
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2017 at 4:18am
Yes, I found there is an historical article on here where the Ministry Director states they stand by their stickers and that if you have measured on one of theirs you are ok. My idea was trying to help the LB guys who need to carry their tackle, rod(s), bait, life-jacket, food/drink, maybe a rod-holder etc. with them. So, to avoid having to carry a measure of some sort would be a small benefit perhaps?
|
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2017 at 5:47am
|
You can buy roll out measuring mats from http://www.fishingcomp.co.nz/ They would be thew go. I think Burnsco sell them too for around $25. They go out to 190cm, should be big enough  ------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: Foxtrot Oscar
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2017 at 6:43am
|
Yep Smudge, I saw them at Burnsco - Great if you are in the Fishing Comp and need to know the size exactly - But just something extra to carry for the guys who only need to know "Legal Keeper or not?" That gave me the idea for a simple mark at 30cm (Waitemata Snapper) on my rod. Nothing extra to carry and I can gauge to keep or throw-back. That's the only thing I need to know. Marks at 27cm for West Coasters or whatever your target species are can be added as well.
|
Posted By: pjc
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2017 at 3:03pm
|
TapE measure in bag simple ------------- Sex at 58.Lucky I live at 56 |
Posted By: kitno
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2017 at 10:23pm
Tattoo some measurements along your forearm  You'll never leave it behind, and doesn't weigh much 
|
Posted By: Kezza123
Date Posted: 09 Apr 2017 at 12:42pm
|
I have a bait board with a 40cm ruler inlaid with epoxy and a block at one end to but the fish nose up to. Made for my boat but the board is removable so easy if I'm on a wharf. I had a fish measuring 31 on a sticker, but it was only just 300mm when fisheries checked it so it was a very close call which led me to make my fish ruler/bait board combo. |
Posted By: groovyfisherman
Date Posted: 09 Apr 2017 at 6:11pm
|
I carry a tailors or seamstress tape. Can measure snapper to kingfish not only to keep but to get a length and/ or girth measurement for release. Doesn't take up much room either when rolled up with a rubber band round it or weigh much. Works well in a boat to for game fish.
|
Posted By: The Tamure Kid
Date Posted: 09 Apr 2017 at 8:31pm
|
Landbased off the rocks, I always take a narrow piece of scrap ply as my 'bait board' - because I hate cutting bait on the rocks etc. I cut it to measure 30, or near enough to 30 and mark out the exact legal length. If I need leave it behind, it's no drama. I am still in the rookie class when it comes to kingies off the rocks, and a keeper is still a novelty. So I take a rolled up Min of Fisheries one in a little plastic container. I wouldn't be too keen to use my rod as the measure on the rocks - O try to avoid lying it down against the sharp stuff. |
Posted By: Glaucus
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2017 at 8:57am
| I've got some spearo mates who have cut the MPI sticker lengthways so it is narrow and then stuck the ruler part on their speargun. Maybe could do something similar and stick it on your rod? |
Posted By: Foxtrot Oscar
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2017 at 9:04am
| Some good ideas above indeed but ...That's what I'm getting at Glaucus but even that's excessive. I only need two marks - one at 0 and one at 30cm. No need to carry anything extra. |
Posted By: Steps
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2017 at 9:15am
|
I have a bait board with a 40cm ruler inlaid with epoxy and a block at
one end to but the fish nose up to. Made for my boat but the board is
removable so easy if I'm on a wharf. Similar.. I have a ply insert in the bottom of the bait board...makes filleting easy without trying to cut in over a lip on the front.....and from one side that a fish can be nosed up to... a caved line at the 25 and 30mm.... Down side is in actual real life there tends to be a lot stuff on the board.. bait, few sinkers, couple lures and soft baits build up over the day...so doesnt work as well as the original concept...be ok if there was only 1 on board but 2 or 3 of us... Tried the tape.. yep have a couple on board.. but fiddly to hold the fish run a tape over, just as about to read it kicks.. So its been primary stickers...and if fishing hard, and less than 31 cm the aluminium strip with measure on from a old fishing comp is handy. The bait board will need replacing soon, ands going to do as Kezza...epoxy a wooden rule in, but close to the front 1/2 where the board tends to be a little more MT... But also have been thinking about something like a lightly spring loaded hinge that folds up and down on the gunnel to flick up put the fish nose against and then measure off. |
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2017 at 4:02pm
|
If you only need two marks why not use a felt tip pen to put two marks on your rod? ------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: pjc
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2017 at 7:15pm
------------- Sex at 58.Lucky I live at 56 |
Posted By: Stormbringer
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2017 at 7:26pm
|
I have the same as Glaucus mentioned on my speargun tube and on my surf caster from the fore grip up to ferrel (just the measurement part of the mpi sticker) -------------  |
Posted By: Downtown
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2017 at 7:39pm
Put 3 marks. |
Posted By: Muppet
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2017 at 8:19pm
| Use your hand span. Mine is 23cm so I can easily tell a legal snapper with just that. I also work with measurements every day so have a keen eye for getting close to perfect guesstimations on fish length. If it really bothers you and you need exact those measure mats or a good ol tape will do. |
Posted By: Foxtrot Oscar
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2017 at 8:32pm
LOL Keep up Smudge. That was my original suggestion in my first post.
 |
Posted By: Foxtrot Oscar
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2017 at 8:33pm
You're on to it DT.
|
Posted By: kitno
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2017 at 8:56pm
But what if he caught a gurnard?? |
Posted By: Downtown
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2017 at 9:10pm
| Measure it against your snap mark and make a call, if really unsure chuck it back |
Posted By: Foxtrot Oscar
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2017 at 9:24pm
|
Gurnard? Kingi? Cripes - I'm having enough trouble catching a snapper!! I could put 4 marks on the rod with letters: S = Snappy G = Grunta Ky = Kahawai & Ki = Kingi I'm unlikely to need the 'Ki' marker to be truthful. Having said that - the only Snapper I caught on Saturday was 40cm (New Penny Curly Tail) and the only Ky I hooked spat the softy when it saw the boat. |
Posted By: kitno
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2017 at 9:47pm
| There's plenty of options really. Marks on the rod, marks on beach or rod spike, sewing tape, builders tape. All ideas work fine and are zero to minimal to carry. Main thing is they are used accurately. Ky has no minimum size. |
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2017 at 11:49pm
I know! so why not do it? You don't want any of the other suggestions ------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: Foxtrot Oscar
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2017 at 2:52am
Done it Smudge!  Thanks Kitno.  I'm delighted the topic has generated such interest and input from some of you 'Big Names'. |
Posted By: kingfish15
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2017 at 3:57am
 This is a good option for $6 from catermarine, its quite sturdy and is easy to get a accurate measure. Sizes for snapper, tarakihi, trevally, cray's and scallops. Only downside is that it dosen't measure kings. http://www.catermarine.co.nz/itemdetails/Fish-Measure-Red-Plastic---/3657.aspx |
Posted By: Foxtrot Oscar
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2017 at 4:31am
|
... and you have to carry it - which is what I'm trying to avoid. Looks useful though.
|
Posted By: pjc
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2017 at 1:19pm
------------- Sex at 58.Lucky I live at 56 |
Posted By: Steps
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2017 at 1:38pm
PJ you actually weighed it....(???) yep 20gms on the nose, I also have a heavy black one.. 22gms |
Posted By: xtremefisho
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2017 at 10:38pm
| have had this problem before with the stickers resulted in a warning for undersize snapper by a cm |
Posted By: Foxtrot Oscar
Date Posted: 13 Apr 2017 at 10:39pm
As I mentioned earlier: "Yes, I found there is an historical article on here where the Ministry Director states they stand by their stickers and that if you have measured on one of theirs you are ok. "
|