Mercs are right on your doorstep. My pick would be to go there. Epic fishing!

PM Ramprage. Scott has a place down there and is a top man with lots of local knowledge.

Don't drive past Kuaotunu reef early in the morning (and just outside it on the sand) without flicking a few softies around. It's my favourite place for yak fishing and there's always a few snapper and kings about and some bloody good ones amongst them.

Great Merc is a good option as is Karopuke, Red Merc and all the islands in between. Have a look at your charts and anywhere with a bit of structure and some current is worth a look for either softbaiting or strayling. Couple of spots would be the Reef off the end of Blackjack/Otama and Bumper point for straylining. You need tide and wind aligned so that's key.  Hopefully one of the locals can give you some advice too. The place is a gem and there's so much great fishing on your doorstep - look forward to the reports!

Can someone remind me how to find kuaotunu reef, its about 500m out from the ramp?

Great place that reef  at dusk, heaps of berley and whole straylined pili or squid. I've pulled many big snaps there. Just make sure your comfortable coming back into the ramp at dark, can be quite daunting if you don't keep to marker on the rock and the two on the hill.