In 1987 when Paul's Fishing Kites released its first kitefishing system, fishing with kites was a rarity in New Zealand. Most people who wanted to fish multi hooks from shore used kontikis or huge inflated plastic bags to tow their line out.

Those few individuals who were using kites were using scott sled or diamond shaped kites. Paul's Fishing Kites tested every conceivable kite design before determining that their own purpose built design of delta kite had many advantages over conventional kites.

These purpose built kites have a multitude of additional advantages over bags and kontiki rafts. Paul's Fishing Kites Delta Kites have a huge wind range, can be tacked up to 60 degrees off the wind and have many unique built in safety features.

Originally, Paul's Fishing Kites concentrated on manufacturing big kite powered bottom longline rigs only. In 1988 Paul's Fishing Kites developed a new style of kitefishing from shore called a dropper rig system.

This further improved the performance and versatility of kite powered fishing rigs so much so, that it is now possible to safely fish with a Paul's Fishing Kite dropper rig in areas impossible to access previously.

Areas like shark infested waters, through huge surf and across strong long shore currents. It also became possible to fish on or near reef, troll, cast out other fishing lines or run just about any other conceivable fishing system.

Another huge benefit of the Paul's Fishing Kites dropper rig system is that it can be scaled down to run effectively from any fishing rod and reel spooled with 10 kg or stronger fishing line.

Paul's Fishing Kites is constantly involved in ongoing research, development and improvement of their kitefishing equipment in an effort to enhance your fishing success.

Paul's Fishing Kites also undertake research and development work for both the New Zealand Department of Conservation and the New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries.

The Target Snapper Hooks from Paul's Fishing Kites are the only selective and anti gut hooking fish hook available in the world.

Not only do they prevent fish from swallowing the hook, they also halve your catch of undersized fish and increase your catch of legal size fish.

These hooks are a direct result of our extensive research and development with the Ministry of Fisheries over the last five years. A report on the results of the fish hook trials is currently being prepared and will be posted on this site after the Ministry of Fisheries peer review process is completed.

An underwater setting device to prevent the capture of seabirds in the tuna surface longline fishery was invented by Paul's Fishing Kites in 1997.

This device is currently undergoing extensive at sea trials in the Australian tuna longline fishery.

This innovative device deploys the baited hooks 4 to 5 metres below the surface immediately behind the vessel and out of the diving range of most seabirds.

Information on the outcome of the underwater setting device trials will be posted on this site as it becomes available.