NZ620312B - An Apparatus and Method for Fishing - Google Patents

Abstract

unmanned water cratt (5) con?gured to tow a retrieval line with baited ?shing hooks attached thereto. The water cratt comprises a motor (9) connected to a propulsion device (11), a ?sh ?nder (13) and a controller (14). The controller is con?gured to receive a signal from the ?sh ?nder to indicate ?sh are present. The controller then turns the motor o?, atter a delay period of time. The time delay may be set to ensure the water cratt continues travelling until the baited hooks are towed into the area containing ?sh. The unmanned water cratt may be in the form of a kontiki (as pictured). The ?sh ?nder may be con?gured to only send a signal when the detected school of ?sh is bigger than a preset size.

Description

James & Wells ref: 701526/62 PATENTS FORM NO. 5 Fee No. 4: $250.00 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION After Provisional No: 606933 Dated 11 February 2013, and AN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FISHING I, Graeme Stanley Pedersen, a New Zealand citizen of 10A Weld Street, Cambridge 3434, New Zealand hereby declare the invention for which I/we pray that a patent may be granted to me/us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: James & Wells ref: 701526/62 AN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FISHING STATEMENT OF CORRESPONDING APPLICATIONS This application is based on the Provisional specification filed in relation to New Zealand Patent Application Numbers 606933, filed on 11 February 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to an apparatus and method for catching fish. In particular it relates to catching fish off-shore in an ocean/sea or in a lake using an unmanned fishing vessel.

BACKGROUND ART Many good eating fish can be caught in the sea between the sea shore and around 2 km out to sea. The traditional way of fishing in such areas is to use a manned craft, such as a fishing boat, launch, dingy or kayak, to take the fisher to the area to be fished. However, this can be an expensive enterprise, given the capital cost, the time taken, labour etc. Furthermore, not all fishers are comfortable in sea going craft (nausea, sea sickness and so on).

Increasingly fishers are making use of unmanned craft to carry their baited lines off shore. A popular method is to use a craft known as a kontiki (also known as contiki or fishing torpedo).

A kontiki typically has a streamlined, waterproof, surface which is torpedo-like in shape.

Modern kontikis are typically powered by an onboard, battery powered, electric motor and propelled by a propeller connected to the motor. The battery power is typically chosen to provide sufficient power to take the kontiki up to around 2 km from the shoreline.

The kontiki is attached to a retrieval line, typically made of nylon, which has a length comparable to the range of the kontiki. The retrieval line is typically attached on shore to a winch, which may be driven by a motor or manually operated. The winch is operated to tow the kontiki back to shore.

Pre-baited hooks are attached by traces onto the retrieval line as it is being towed out by the kontiki. The traces (maximum of 25 traces/hooks in New Zealand) are attached at a spacing of about 2 m -5 m along a portion of the retrieval line. The retrieval line also carries a weight which causes a part of the retrieval line to drag along the seabed.

A timer is commonly fitted to the kontiki to limit its range by switching the motor off after the time set on the timer. More recently guidance devices, such as GPS systems and magnetic bearing systems, have been fitted to some kontiki to automatically steer the kontiki to the desired location, even in rough sea conditions.

James & Wells ref: 701526/62 Once deployed the kontiki generally is left stationary for several hours to enable time for fish to come across the baited hooks. However this is not a good practice for several reasons: the condition of the fish can deteriorate if caught early and left in the ocean for several hours before retrieval; and the chances of survival of the fish diminish rapidly – this can be serious if the intention is to release any live, undersized fish back into the sea.

A disadvantage of this type of fishing with a kontiki is that it is a very “hit and miss” approach. It is impossible for a fisher, located onshore, to know where the fish are. It can be quite easy to drag the fishing hooks over the area where the fish are congregating if the kontiki runtime is set too long. Dragging the hooks like this through a school of fish can scare the fish and make them too cautious to take the bait.

It would be advantageous to have a kontiki, and method of use of same, which addresses these drawbacks with the prior art as discussed above.

Another commercially available unmanned craft is known as a bait boat. A bait boat is usually a radio controlled craft that carries a fishing line. When the bait boat is in position the fishing line can be deployed using a hand held controller operated by the fisher on shore. This method of use of a bait boat suffers the same disadvantages as the kontiki method described above.

However, some bait boats are now fitted with a fish finder having an audible and visual alarm system which is triggered when a school of fish is located. The fisher can detect the alarm and turn off the bait boat’s motor using the hand held controller.

While this improves the chances of catching fish, this system still can have problems, such as the hand held controller can be lost, damaged, misplaced, left at home etc., the batteries may run down without replacements being on hand and the controller can have a relatively short send/receive range, especially in adverse weather or atmospheric conditions. If any of these events occur it is possible to lose the bait boat together with any caught fish.

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.

Throughout this specification, the word "comprise", or variations thereof such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or James & Wells ref: 701526/62 group of elements integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an unmanned motorised water craft, and a method of using same, for long line off shore fishing. The water craft of the present invention includes a fish finder which, on detecting fish in the water, sends a message to an on-board controller. The controller is programmed to wait a period of time (delay period) before switching the motor off.

The delay period is calculated to be the time taking to drag at least a portion of the retrieval line attached to the water craft so that baited hooks, which are on traces attached to the retrieval line, are in the vicinity of the fish.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an unmanned water craft configured to tow a retrieval line having baited hooks attached, including: a motor connected to a propulsion device; a fish finder; and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to receive a signal from the fish finder when fish are detected by the fish finder and to turn the motor off after a delay period of time following receipt of the signal from the fish finder.

In a preferred embodiment the water craft is a kontiki.

In a preferred embodiment the fish finder is configured to emit a signal when fish above a preset size are detected.

In a preferred embodiment the delay period is calculated to be the time taken until at least a portion of the retrieval line having the baited hooks is towed into the area containing the fish.

In a preferred embodiment the delay period is calculated using a speed of the water craft and/or a depth of the detected fish.

In a preferred embodiment the controller includes a micro processor.

In a preferred embodiment the controller is programmed to calculate the delay period.

In other embodiments the delay period is preset before the water craft is launched.

In some embodiments the controller includes a timer.

James & Wells ref: 701526/62 In preferred embodiments the signal from the fish finder is a data stream.

In other embodiments the signal from the fish finder is an audible signal.

In a preferred embodiment the water craft includes a guidance system.

Preferably the guidance system is a GPS system.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of use of an unmanned water craft having a motor, a fish finder and a controller, the method including the steps of: a) launching the water craft with a fishing line attached into a body of water; b) operating the motor to propel the water craft through the water; c) operating the fish finder to detect fish in the water; d) sending a signal from the fish finder to the controller when fish are detected; e) using the controller to turn off the motor after a delay period of time following receipt of the signal from the fish finder.

In a preferred embodiment the unmanned water craft is a kontiki.

In a preferred embodiment the method includes the step of calculating the delay period as the time taken for the water craft to continue moving until at least a part of the retrieval line with the bated hooks is towed into the area containing the fish.

In a preferred embodiment the delay period is calculated using a speed of the water craft and/or a depth of the detected fish.

In a preferred embodiment the method includes the step of calculating the delay period using the controller.

An apparatus and method of use of same according to the present invention may have several advantages over prior art apparatus and methods, including:  improved likelihood of a catch as the inclusion of an inboard fish finder on the unmanned water craft enables the unmanned water craft to stop in the vicinity of a school of fish, rather than the hit and miss approach of prior art methods;  improved survival rates of the caught fish as the unmanned water craft can be retrieved earlier than in the traditional methods (where uncertainty of the location of fish led to the unmanned water craft being left stationary for several hours); James & Wells ref: 701526/62  improved catch rate as the delay before stopping the unmanned water craft after a signal is received from the fish finder increases the likelihood that the baited hooks are dragged into the area where the fish have been detected; and  Improved reliability as, once launched, control of the unmanned water craft is independent of the fisher on shore.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a kontiki according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a method of use according to one aspect of the present invention; and Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a method of use according to the present invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An unmanned water craft according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is a kontiki as generally indicated by arrow 1 in Fig. 1. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is not limited to a kontiki, but may be used with any unmanned water craft that drags or deploys a fishing line behind it.

The kontiki includes a sealed, waterproof, main body 2 having a bow 3 and a stern 4. The main body includes a handle 5 for ease of carrying and visual warning devices in the form of a flag 6 on a mast 7 and a light 8 which is automatically switched on in dark conditions. The flag and the light (when used) are used to warn other people in the vicinity of the location of the kontiki in the water.

A battery powered motor 9 is attached to the main body 1 by a support 10. The motor drives a propeller 11 which is protected by a propeller guard 12.

A fish finder 13 is housed inside the main body. This may be any commercially available fish finder which uses a sonar device to detect fish. In a preferred embodiment the fish finder is able to provide data on the depth of the fish and their size. Ideally a filter in the fish finder may be preset so that the fish finder only triggers a signal when a school of fish above a preset size is detected. The fish finder is configured to emit a signal when fish of the same size or greater James & Wells ref: 701526/62 than the preset size are detected. The signal is preferably a data stream, although in other embodiments it may be an audible or visible signal.

The main body 2 also houses a controller 14 in the form of a programmable microprocessor.

The microprocessor is configured to receive (wirelessly or by cable) a data signal from the fish finder 13 when fish of the preset size or above are detected. The signal includes a trigger signal and data on the depth of the detected fish. In preferred embodiments the controller includes a timer 22. Preferably the timer is incorporated into the microprocessor 14. The timer is set to run for the delay period, at which time the controller stops the motor.

In some embodiments the controller may include a transducer, such as a microphone, a timer, and a relay. The microphone is used to receive an audible signal from the fish finder when fish are detected, which turns on the timer. The timer in these embodiments is preset to the desired delay period. When the delay period has elapsed a relay may be triggered to turn off the motor.

The main body also houses a guidance system, in the form of a GPS system 15. It will be appreciated that other forms of guidance systems could be used, such as, for instance, magnetic guidance systems.

The GPS system may be used to steer the kontiki to a preset location. In preferred embodiments the GPS system may be preprogrammed to include a plurality of locations (waypoints) in which case the GPS system will steer the kontiki to each of the waypoints in the sequence in which they are programmed into the GPS. An advantage of this is that a more varied path may be followed by the kontiki, thus increasing the likelihood of finding fish.

In use the system includes a nylon retrieval line 16 (shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3). One end of the retrieval line is attached to the main body 2 of the kontiki prior to launch. The other end of the retrieval line is attached to a winch which remains on shore. Preferably the winch is operated by a battery powered electric motor. The retrieval line is used to retrieve the kontiki after it has stopped at the end of the run, using the powered winch. A weight 17 is attached to the retrieval line at a distance from the kontiki, the weight and distance chosen so that the weight scrapes along the sea floor 18.

A fisher using the kontiki prepares baited hooks 19, each hook being attached to one end of a nylon trace. The other end of each trace is attached to a clip for clipping onto the retrieval line.

According to the method of the present invention, the motor of the kontiki is turned on and the kontiki is launched into the sea. The fisher allows a preset length of the retrieval line to unwind from the winch before clipping the traces and bated hooks 19 onto the retrieval line 16 at intervals of 2-5 m.

James & Wells ref: 701526/62 As the kontiki moves toward the programmed waypoint, the fish finder emits sonic signals 20 to detect any fish below the kontiki. When a school of fish 21 of the desired size are detected (see Fig. 2) the fish finder sends a signal to the microprocessor.

Upon receiving the signal, the microprocessor calculates the distance the kontiki 1 must move beyond where the trigger signal is detected in order to pull the baited hooks into the region where the fish have been detected. This distance depends on the depth of the detected fish and well as the distance between the kontiki and the baited portion of the retrieval line 16. This distance is converted into a running time, the delay period, at the current speed of the kontiki.

The timer in the microprocessor is set to the delay period. When the delay period lapses the microprocessor triggers a relay which turns off the motor. The situation is then as illustrated schematically in Fig. 3.

After a period spent fishing, which may be preset, the kontiki can either be returned to shore by operating the winch, or the processor may switch the motor on again and allow the kontiki to move to the next waypoint.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

James & Wells ref: 701526/62 WHAT I

Claims (9)

CLAIM 1. IS:

1. An unmanned water craft configured to tow a retrieval line having baited hooks attached, including: a motor connected to a propulsion device; a fish finder; and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to receive a signal from the fish finder when fish are detected by the fish finder and to turn the motor off after a delay period of time following receipt of the signal from the fish finder.

2. A water craft as claimed in claim 1 wherein the water craft is a kontiki.

3. A water craft as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2 wherein the fish finder is configured to emit a signal only when a school of fish above a preset size is detected.

4. A water craft as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the delay period is calculated to be the time taken for the water craft to continue moving until at least a part of a fishing line with baited hooks is towed into the area containing the fish.

5. A water craft as claimed in claim 4 wherein the fishing line is a portion of the retrieval line to which baited hooks are attached.

6. A water craft as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the delay period is calculated using a speed of the water craft and/or a depth of the detected fish.

7. A water craft as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the controller is programmed to calculate the delay period.

8. A water craft as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 where the delay period is preset.

9. A method of use of an unmanned water craft configured to tow a retrieval line, the water craft having a motor connected to a propulsion device, a fish finder and a controller, the method including the steps of: a. launching the water craft with a fishing line attached into a body of water; b. operating the motor to propel the water craft through the water; c. operating the fish finder to detect fish in the water; James & Wells ref: