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The Maori Fishing Calendar

Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Landbased & Surfcasting
Forum Description: From rocks or beaches, here's the place for the landbased fishos to share information
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=85188
Printed Date: 30 May 2026 at 6:35am


Topic: The Maori Fishing Calendar
Posted By: Te Aho
Subject: The Maori Fishing Calendar
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2012 at 4:25pm
Does anyone have any thoughts about the Maori fishing calendar? 

Me and my family are keen to put it to the test for the next three months and record our results. I remember Bill Hohepa (or Wayne Wills) teaching it to me when I went to his fishing camp, I have to say, although I'm part Maori myself, I'm not 100% convinced that it works. I know that my ancestors used the moon to fish by (and do gardening and hunting by it as well), so I'm interested in it and keen to find out if there is any truth to it. 





Replies:
Posted By: Naki-Fisher
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2012 at 8:14pm
It dose and doesn't work bro, what you must remember is, its only one part of the equation you still have to find the fish. they an't as plentiful as they once were. i think the calendar has been commercialized too much, back in the day they had no idea of time so i think originally it was roughly based on the moon and time of day. im only on my phone so don't want to get too into it, but if you can talk to the elders, do some research then let us know what you find.

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The 20lb+ Snapper club No Longer Eludes me Broken with a 12kg new PB
Goal for the next 12 months: catch another 20lb+ Snap and watch it swim away
Hook a King LB here in the Naki.


Posted By: Naki-Fisher
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2012 at 8:18pm
If you can and going to test it, please also add mine in the loop and compare the two against each other

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The 20lb+ Snapper club No Longer Eludes me Broken with a 12kg new PB
Goal for the next 12 months: catch another 20lb+ Snap and watch it swim away
Hook a King LB here in the Naki.


Posted By: Te Aho
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2012 at 9:12pm
Originally posted by Naki-Fisher Naki-Fisher wrote:

If you can and going to test it, please also add mine in the loop and compare the two against each other

Sure, It will be interesting to compare results. 


Posted By: ycha223
Date Posted: 26 Nov 2012 at 10:58pm
Interesting to know about the Maori fishing calendar.
 
As Chinese, we have the similiar theory/calendar for fishing, and over the past few months, I observed that there are some truths to it.
 
Our theory is:
 
There are difference between a "living tide" and a "dying tide". "Living tide" is 3 days before and after the first day of the Chinese month (Day when it's a new moon), and again, 3 days before and after the 15th day of the Chinese month (Day when it's a full moon).
 
Therefore there are 2 weeks of 'good fishing', they are the 'living tides' weeks. The 'dying tide' weeks are the two weeks in between, this make up the 2 week of good fishing and 2 week of bad fishing in a month.
 
These Chinese fishing calendar, Maori calender are inline with the Western solunar theory, that when there is a new or full moon, tides move quicker than therefore the water gets more oxygenated and thus fishes are more wanting to eat.
 
Having tried it myself, there are some truths to it. When I tried walking out to fish on a 'bad week' I generally don't get much fish, e.g. 1 or 2 small ones max. In the 'good week' I generally do get at least 2~3 fish more, although some 'good days' can be bad too due to the wrong wind direction, wrong tides, or, simply my bait isn't appealing enough. Having said that, small bait fishes take about anything I offer to them, while I find that bigger fish tend to be much more picky...
 
At the end, just go and drop that line into the water...


Posted By: South Taranaki Surfcasta
Date Posted: 27 Nov 2012 at 8:19am
I'm not convicnced about going by any calanders, bite times etc. I've caught fish on both 'good' and 'bad' days, all times through the day/night, all tides..

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Surfcast all Day, all Night..


Posted By: Naki-Fisher
Date Posted: 27 Nov 2012 at 12:19pm
Similar to Lethals in the boat forum I would like to know if any of you check mine and how it works for you? i have not long received some very valuable info from back in early 2000's that should improve it, time will tell. Mine is based solely on old land based data so it should differ a little from the rest.

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The 20lb+ Snapper club No Longer Eludes me Broken with a 12kg new PB
Goal for the next 12 months: catch another 20lb+ Snap and watch it swim away
Hook a King LB here in the Naki.



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