"Jack Nilsen of Accurate, Del Marsh of Calstar, and Tom Ward of Longfin Tackle have returned after three weeks of fishing and touring New Zealand. Jack is making arrangements for Ben Secrest and Accurate to market Accurate Reels in New Zealand, a fishing paradise. Kingfish (yellowtail), marlin, snapper, grouper, tuna, trout, lobster, and more are available to catch.

"The boys targeted kingfish on this trip, fishing deep water with knife type jigs and bait. The technique for fishing the knife type jigs is very interesting and effective. You get lots of exercise.

"We fished for the kingfish over deep water pinnacles that come up to about 250 feet. The jig is worked from the pinnacles to about 50 feet up.

"When the bite comes it is sudden and very strong. The challenge is to turn the fish and keep it out of the rocks. We caught kingies up to 45 pounds; they probably averaged around 30 to 35 pounds. These are very strong fish, especially during the initial fight.

"The included picture of the young lady angler is of Nicola Ellwood. Nicola had the largest kingfish this day and showed us old salts how it should be done. We have also been fishing for snapper while pulling lobster pots. Jack had an estimated 22-pound snapper, outdoing Dels' snapper by several pounds.

"Del Marsh was in heaven. He landed a trophy rainbow trout that amazed our guide and local tackle shops; an 11-pound, 10-ounce trout. That is the largest rainbow trout taken from this lake in many years. Tom Ward is having it mounted, to display at his Longfin tackle shop. The fish was taken at Lake Rotoiti. The lake is located in central North Island and is noted for excellent trout fishing.

"We have to compliment the New Zealand sport fishing community for their catch-and-release attitude. One day we had approximately 40 kingfish and kept just four fish to eat. Everyone is very aware that taking more fish than you need is just a waste and disrespect of the fishery resource.

"New Zealand is an amazingly beautiful country. The people are the friendliest I have encountered anywhere. Driving down the highway in our motor-home people in the countryside waved to say hello. We made many friends here who made us feel very welcome in New Zealand."

-Jack Nilsen, Accurate Fishing Products