Kingfish Go wild - Update 11

The gods were smiling.
Tuesday July 10 saw the early morning heavy in misty rain as dawn creped slowly over Auckland’s Half Moon Bay. It was a typical cold damp Auckland dawn where the chill just seems to creep into the unwary bones.
Mike Lawson from Lawson Cartage had departed the Parengarenga fish farm in the far north around 11pm the night before loaded with some 1100 kingfish up to 1.4 kgs. Larger fish than we were expecting, in fact the load average was 1kg per fish, this was going to be a test. Included in them were some 400 fish sporting www.kingfishgowild.co.nz www.kingfishgowild.co.nz tags. The NIWA designed tanks were designed to transport fingerlings up to 100gms so needless to say we were all nervous and waiting to see how these fish would travel the distance. Another of the problems with carting fish 10 times larger than the design factor was these fish had to be flushed down a 150mm pipe where larger fish could become stuck very quickly if the release crew were not careful.

The truck and load arrived safely and as day light gained its strength we loaded the support crew from Niwa plus representatives from Mfish and both recreational and the commercial fishing industry. The VIF’s our kingfish took up pride of place along with local media and crews from both TV One and TV3. Once aboard and after a safety brief from the crew the Port Kennedy slipped away from the landing and made her way quietly down the Tamaki Estuary. Representatives from our local iwi in Manukau City had given their blessings and advised the gods would smile upon us this day. True to the Kaumatua’s words, as we entered the Motuihe channel and looked in the direction of the Noises group of islands the skies were clearing. The day would be good.

And as we made our passage we had a chance to have a look at the kingfish in the transport tanks through the small side windows. It was easy to imagine as the fish peered back that there too was anticipation of, “Let me out!”
Nearly two hours later, we closed in on our destination, with the skipper, Adam, positioning the barge so that we would drift in a position which would allow our released kingfish to be carried into the rocky structures of the Noises on the last of the outgoing tide.
Shortly after our arrival, the Commodore of the Outboard Boating Club, Owen Braddock, and his crew arrived to ensure that we had no mortalities drifting away.
Behind them, the Ministry of Fisheries’ patrol vessel, Kaitiaki, arrived with the Minister of Fisheries, the Hon. Jim Anderton, on board. The seas were calm, with an ever-so-slight breeze, clear skies and sunshine – excellent conditions in which to release our fish.

Already we had seen early signs of abundant bait fish, so it would not be long before our kingfish would be hunting for a feed. The NIWA support crew prepared the first tank for release, and after the minister had had an opportunity to observe the fish and say a few words acknowledging the efforts of all in working together in what he described as a “worthy shared fisheries project.”
The doors were opened and the first fish passed through the pipe into the sea, whereupon there was an immediate eruption as some fish burst and leapt from the water, eager to escape, and others got quietly on with their business of acclimatising to the new conditions with the current gently taking them towards shelter. As the next tank was being emptied a voice from behind was heard to enquire “well Keith what’s it feel like to be the godfather of kingfish”? No comment but I must say I was proud to play a small part in making today happen. A day that would not have happened, had it not been for the many supporters from all walks of life who have shared my vision and helped to make it so.

Tank after tank was released among an air of joy, expectation and finally satisfaction, when only three fish were identified as mortalities. Two of these got damaged in a jam-up in the chute because of their size, and one, after hitting the water, leapt with such force that it hit the steel belting of the barge and knocked itself out.
These three poor casualties were quietly buried at sea where they could attract any local predator which might be seeking a quick feed before our main school of fish attained the shelter of the Noises’ reef structures.

At this point, I must acknowledge that to have such a successful release of fish, far larger than we anticipated, is due to the skills of the NIWA and support teams who not only tagged the fish the day before, but transferred them into the transport tanks and of course the driving skills of the Lawson brothers in getting our fish to the Hauraki Gulf safely.
A special acknowledgement must go to Brett Subritzky and his crew from Waiheke Shipping, who were professional in every aspect of the day’s events, and provided the ship at no charge to the campaign.

Because we were going to be away for some six hours, the support crew would need feeding. Once again, Sanford Ltd came to the party with the makings of a seafood luncheon prepared by Eric and Angela, our resident caterer from the Bucklands Beach Yacht Club. Every one left feeling not only contented but were happy to be part of the occasion.

On our return to Half Moon Bay, the crews departed with both NIWA and the transport truck heading north for the second loads tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday. The next release sites will be Houhora, Mill Bay in Mangonui, Totara North in Whangaroa, and the Bay of Islands.
Given the experiences learnt today, we are confident that by releasing large numbers of larger fish, with 30 percent carrying tags, that these fish will be able to provide us with good information in the future. All too often when we tag kingfish, they are larger and it is one or two here or there and in an area where there may only be some 10 or so in the season. This was a one-off opportunity to tag a large number of juvenile kingfish and release them in one area.
By doing so we will hopefully gain better information.
A report page will be developed on this web site in the near future.

Well that’s all from me today, except to say thank you one and all. We are making is happen, history in the making, proving that by working together we can put something back. There is a lesson here somewhere.

Thank you one and all.

Keith Ingram

The Minister of Fisheries the Hon Jim Anderton congratulates Keith Ingram on creating kingfish go wild

Kingfish leap as they swim free for the first time.

The transport to kingfish freedom

Kingfish behind bars waiting to escape.

A tagged kingfish at the release.

Part of the support crew

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