Welcome to the May edition of NZ Fishing News.

The dominant event for May is the Hutchwilco NZ Boat Show, to be held at the ASB Showgrounds, Auckland mid-month, May 17-20.

This is when the best of the best is on display, especially in the trailerboat market. Each year the boat show awards are made and these are hotly contested, and after the winners announced, even more hotly debated.

The awards are not without their controversies, especially as there can only be one winner.

The show is not just about boats. There is plenty for the diving and fishing enthusiasts as well. Ask the Experts gives show patrons an opportunity to discuss the latest trends and techniques with those in the know, and the 'tackle supermarket' is another popular feature for visitors hunting out that end of season bargain.

This month's edition contains a 10-page feature on the show which highlights some of the features as well as details on a great subscription offer where everyone is a winner on the 'world famous in New Zealand' Spin and Win wheel.

There is plenty of other reading in this month's edition. In the news section there are two pieces on new world record swordfish claims. The boats will be familiar names to you - Primetime and Western Break.

Continuing on the gamefishing theme, Graeme 'Bonze' Fleet highlights a recent trip across the ditch to contest the Aussie interclub event out of Port Stephens - a bit like our NZSFC nationals except they are fished as a one base. Mark Kitteridge attends the first of the magazine's 'Marlin University' trip aboard Arenui in this month's Charter Connection.

Snapper fishing all around the North Island continues to produce excellent results. Mark Kitteridge and Mark 'The Captain' Phillips give us their spin on soft baits and hard bodies lures specifically. Mark Kitteridge looks at line angle and how it affects lure action while The Captain shares some techniques on deploying hard bodied lures - who would have thought of down rigging for snapper!

Kayak specialist Stephen Tapp offers readers his list of seven 'must have' items for any trip while Adam Clancey suggests some 'beaut' bait alternatives. Crayfish for bait - you have to be kidding!

For those who like their action offshore, Sam Mossman highlights a recent summer trip to Rarotonga while spearfisher Darren Shields 'discovers' the Trench' on a trip to Hawaii.

Appropriately, this being the boat show issue, we cover off two highly spec'd fishing craft.

Both were written by Sam Mossman. The first looks at a particularly well-appointed 7.5 metre White Pointer Ramoe. This craft has everything that opens and shuts and is stacked full of features. Similarly the Trailerboat Trial this month spotlights Adam Clancey's Profile 585 Centre Console. Used as the filming platform for much of Adam's Black Magic Fishing NZ programme, this craft has some innovative ideas to help making fishing more pleasurable and successful.

For the surfcasters, Andrew Macleod gives his considered and well documented arguments for the best moon phases to fish - something that has relevance to all anglers.

Added to the above are all the usual columnists - Silver Flies, Casting About, Fair Chase, Southern Currents, Surfcasting for Beginners and like. Enjoy your reading and if you are heading to the Hutchwilco NZ Boat Show, please don't hesitate to call at the NZ Fishing News stand for a chat.

If duckshooting is your game, good luck and safe hunting for the 2012 season.

- © Fairfax NZ News