Meridian 441
This a great time of year for targeting big snapper, and some specimens have been taken in the Hauraki Gulf, Coromandel and at Great Mercury Island. The far north is a rich hunting ground for big snapper, and the coast all the way from Tutukaka to North Cape always produces good fish.
The approach for targeting these fish remains pretty standard. If fishing from the rocks, you need plenty of berley, strong tackle and big, floating baits. Rock- based anglers are challenged by their circumstances — they can’t follow a fish, and if it gets in to weed or rocky areas they can’t do much except try to pull the line free, or give the fish slack line hoping it will swim out. The best fishing is found in channels that lead to deep water, and where there is plenty of weed, such as kelp and reefs, which harbour food such as small fish, kina and shellfish.
Tackle should be 15kg breaking strain, preferably heavier, with long, powerful rods which can apply leverage to the fish and lead it away from hazards.
Fishing from a boat is different. Lighter tackle can be used, and some anglers use only 6kg line with matching rods and reels. Berley is essential, and baits such as fillets of fresh mackerel or kahawai, or whole mackerel or piper are favoured.
These have enough weight to cast without a sinker, they will sink slowly through the water column, and they deter small fish. If strong currents are It is worth looking for work- ups out in the Hauraki Gulf as fish are moving out into deep water where they will remain for the winter. running and water flow is an essential ingredient for snapper fishing, then a small ball sinker can be added.
Successful charter skippers who specialise in this type of fishing have their own tricks, and one which works well is to catch a maomao or trevally, remove the filler from one side, and rig it with one 7/ 0 hook through one side and the other in the head which fixes it firmly for casting, and a round sinker can be pressed into the eye so the bait and the hooks and sinker are all combined. A free- running sinker can pendulum when the rig is cast, reducing distance.
By catching fresh bait at the fishing scene you are offering the quarry what is available in the area, which is more likely to be accepted than a frozen mackerel imported from Chile.
This type of fishing, which is basically straylining, will often produce snapper of over 9kg, and most people understand that these big fish are old, are good breeders, and it is better to put them back, perhaps after taking a photo, and keeping smaller fish for eating.
Snapper are still coming from the flats above Meola Reef in the Waitemata Harbour but that won’t last much longer, and further out the Steve Devine scored a 9kg snapper with a bonus crayfish which took the bait, while straylining near Great Mercury Island. reefs off Waiheke Island, the Noises and the Ahahaas have been producing fish. It is also worth looking for work- ups out in the Hauraki Gulf as fish are moving out into deep water where they will remain for the winter, and there are still concentrations of good- sized snapper in the Firth of Thames. As water temperatures cool the barracouta are expected to show up.
Fishing in shallow water this summer has been consistent and one unusual bait which often works successfully in the shallows is a pilchard cut in half length- ways from one side of the head to the opposite side of the tail, rigged on two hooks, cast well out and ‘‘ walked’’ back to the boat slowly. A moving bait usually works better than a stationary one, which of course is the principle behind fishing soft baits and other lures from a drifting boat.
The Manukau Harbour is ‘‘ running hot and cold’’ according to local anglers, and surfcasters are catching fish at Hamilton’s Gap, where snapper up to 3kg are feeding on small mussels in close. Freshwater Like farmers, trout fishermen are waiting for rain. Temperatures are cooling but fresh water i s badly needed in streams, rivers and lakes to get fish moving. Bite times
Bite times today are 2am and 2.20pm, and tomorrow at 2.45am and 3.10pm. These are based on the moon phase and position, not tides, so apply to the whole country. Tip of the week For most anglers a spin reel with a bait- feeder mode is the preferred reel for straylining. Overhead reels are fine but require more technique when it comes to casting the baits as ‘‘ birdsnest tangles’’ are more likely. It is interesting to note that champion distance casters all use overhead reels. What is more important is that the rod and reel are matching in terms of weight and tackle capacity.
More fishing action can be found on Outdoors with Geoff, 6.30am on One of North America’s fastest growing flybridge boat manufacturers seems to be finding favour here, too.
Ask most ‘‘ marine watchers’’ what they think of Meridian boats and one is likely to draw a pretty blank look. The brand certainly doesn’t have the recognition of a Sea Ray, a Riviera or a Maritimo, yet it i s one of the fastgrowing lines in this part of the world, on both sides of the Tasman.
Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, Meridian Yachts is part of the Sea Ray Group which, in turn, is an operating unit within the Brunswick Boat Group ( the same people who own Mercury, Mariner and Bayliner, among many others). Meridian is represented in this part of the world by Sports Marine, which has offices in Auckland, Christchurch and Sydney.
According to Sports Marine’s Scott Williamson, the Meridian range i s establishing a good following in New Zealand and Australia, and around the Pacific Islands. Eight new Meridians have already been sold, the most recent being a new 441, which was delivered to Fiji In December.
The Meridian range is reasonably small, with just four models ranging from 10.4m to 16.2m.
According to Williamson, the 441 Sedan is the most popular.
One of the reasons Meridian i s enjoying such success is what Captain Steve Larivee calls its continuing desire to upgrade its quality. Larivee, who works for the US- based independent Boattest. com, praises Meridian’s focus on improving the quality in ‘‘ liveability and aesthetics’’, areas he believes other manufacturers often struggle to get right.
‘‘ Even Meridian’s smaller yachts have an eye appeal that others seem to lack,’’ he says.
‘‘ In our opinion, its mid- range yachts have really nailed down the combination of comfort and style.’’
Like all American pleasure craft, Meridian names its models based on their hull length in feet. This means the boats often sound smaller than
Boat show offers chances to win
Organisers of the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show have announced that eight Viking Kayak packages, each worth $ 2000, and a trip for two to Sipidan, Malaysia, will be given away at this year’s show, at the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane, Auckland on May 16- 19.
These prizes are in addition to the show’s main prize: a Stabicraft/ Yamaha boat package, packed full of extras and worth $ 100,000.
The kayak packages will each consist of a Viking 2+ 1 family kayak, a large list of accessories and two adult and one child Hutchwilco multi- fit lifejackets. Two will be given away each day of LOA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.3m Beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.3m Draft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9m Displacement ( dry) . . . . . . . . . . 14,197kg Construction . . . . . . . . hand- laid GRP Engines . . . . two x Cummins QSB5.9 Maximum speed . . . . . . . . 30- 32mph Cruising speed . . . . . . . . . . . 25- 27mph Fuel capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1535 litres Water capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . 545 litres Base price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 950,000 Price as described . . . . . . . $ 995,000 they actually are. For example, the 441 i s, not as one might expect, a vessel slightly longer than 44ft ( 13.4m). Instead, it has a LOA of 14.3m ( nearly 47 feet).
Combined with a 4.3m beam, this extra length makes this a very spacious ‘‘ 44 footer’’, one able to incorporate a large flybridge, two goodsized cabins, a generous saloon with separate dining and relaxing areas and a compact cockpit.
There is no doubt a substantial flybridge is a must in a boat of this size, especially if, as is the case here, there i s just a single helm station. When under way, virtually everyone wants to be on the bridge. It is where everything is happening and where, of course, one gets the best views.
So Meridian has ensured there is enough room for all of the 441’ s crew to comfortably relax up here. For the skipper, there i s a reclining helm chair, with a forward- facing bench seat, ideal for one or two, alongside.
Further aft, a large L- shaped settee with backrest curves around a table.
In between, an entertainment centre with sink and optional electric grill separates the two areas. Other popular options include a refrigerator to starboard and a 23’’ ( 58cm) LCD TV with DVD on top of the fridge — perhaps not everyone enjoys watching the scenery pass by . . .
The 441 also comes with some fairly trick electronics. Digital controls are standard, as is an engine synchroniser and Meridian Yachts’ exclusive ‘‘ Docking on Command’’ feature, which links the bow and stern thrusters into a single control.
Also available as an option is the even more sophisticated Integrated Vessel Control ( IVC). This operates in much the same way as the Docking on the show. Those keen on diving will also have the chance to win a trip for two to the world’s only dive rig. The prize includes flights and a 5- day stay on The Rig in Sipidan. Command system but also includes control over the transmission. Where one would have previously manoeuvred sideways and added forward or reverse to move diagonally, IVC does it all with a single control.
IVC is available on Meridian 341, 391 and 441 Sedans, with t win inboards and bow and stern thrusters, but not on models equipped with Zeus pod drives.
Another option is to replace the standard bimini top with a glassed- in hardtop. While this would obviously add to the initial outlay, it will pay dividends on cooler days and when one is caught out in the weather, especially as the only helm station i s on the bridge.
When not up top, the 441’ s crew will no doubt congregate in the spacious saloon. Although reasonably open plan in design, it has been divided into two distinct areas: the saloon proper at the rear and the galley and dining area further forward.
The saloon has a large sofa on one side and two chairs and a small table and lamp on the other. Large windows let in lots of natural light and are deliberately low enough to give a view of the horizon.
The step- up galley is small but perfectly adequate for this size of vessel. It is also well equipped: a full- height refrigerator/ freezer, double sink, convection microwave, high gloss cherry cabinetry, three- burner stove and Karadon countertops throughout.
The dining area opposite features a U- shaped settee and table.
The 441 has two cabins or staterooms: the guests’ amidships and the master in the focsle. They are pretty interchangeable, with Larivee, for one, believing it should be the other way around.
The guest cabin spans the yacht’s full beam and features a double- sized island berth, built- in chest with three drawers, cedar- lined hanging locker, a desk with electrical and phone jacks, and a vanity with flip- up mirror and stool. Its en suite doubles as a day head.
The master stateroom features a queen- sized i sland berth, deck hatches and portlights to either side and an en suite.
Standard power is twin 380hp QSB Cummins electronic diesels and there are two upgrade options: to a pair of 425hp QSB CMD engines or to a pair of 480hp QSB CMDs. Both straight drives and Zeus pod drives are available with the two upgrades.
With a conventionally driven pair of 425s, the 441 will hit a top speed of 25.1 knots at 3280rpm, while using 188 litres per hour. In contrast, a pair of pod- driven 480s will top out at 32.7 knots at just 3300rpm, using at total of 188 litres per hour.
Meridian also offers a couple of options that are well worth considering: an engine oil changing system and a fuel transfer pump.
It also fits its own Smart Battery System: this knows which batteries need charging and how much cycle time each needs for maximum battery life. If the house batteries run down, the Smart Battery System simply takes power from the cranking batteries, but cleverly ensures there is always enough left to start the engines.
Want to know more? Check out the comprehensive boat test on the Meridian 441 in the March/ April issue of Pacific Powerboat magazine or at www. pacificpowerboat. com.