Far North fishing report 14 June 2015

  • Game Fishing, General Saltwater, Northland

Well, as per normal, the fishing effort decreases dramatically at this time of year - certainly on the gamefishing side of things. And, as per usual, the fishermen stop well before the fish do - especially this year! Read on...

Doubtless Bay - Cape Karikari

Just when you thought the snapper fishing couldn't get any better, it has! Limit fishing is commonplace and it doesn't take long to achieve your bag allotment. While most are pleasingly plump pannies, there are enough moochers around to delight the purists - some bordering on the magical 20lb mark. Since the rains have come the kingfish have become scarce - totally devoid around the wharves we are they were once prevalent. Lots of fact kahawai complete the inshore scene. Despite cooling water temperatures (now down to 17) there are still the odd marlin about as well as skippies. The latter are all miniatures in unsurprisingly shallow water - well under 100 m and even 50.

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Garden Patch

This diverse and productive area will be the focal point for anglers over the next month, weather permitting. While the bluenose spawn is long over there are still enough there to justify fishing the deep along with bass, hapuka and gemfish as a welcome bycatch. The big drawcard will be broadbill swordfish with many anglers trying their hands, weather permitting. Already some lovely fish from there have graced the weighstations at Houhora, Mangonui and Whangaroa and you can bet there will be more. Day dropping has become an exact science for some but even novices are having a crack - sometimes within the first hour of their first try! So if you fancy doing battle with the "gladiator" have a crack, all you need is some nice weather, reasonable tackle and a good attitude.

Great Exhibition Bay - North Cape

Merely an extension of the area immediately to the east – except better! Lots of hungry snapper with a larger average than the Cape or Doubtless Bay. Some XOS trevally will also give you a good run for your money! The Shelf leading up to Compass Rose Very few boats have been through here of late, even fewer during daylight hours. Some excellent catches up of hapuka to 30 kg have been landed with doubleheaders the norm. Also a few chunky bass. Water cold and green now. Middlesex bank Very few visits all season and far fewer now. Decent bottomfishing but hit and miss on kingfish. Sharks are there in abundance one day, none the next.

Great Island - Prince's Group

Lots of fun spending a day around there with plenty to do. Kingi's have been very consistent with lots in the low to mid 20's. Big trevs, hog blue cod and snapper complete the scene. Divers scoring some crays in the crystal clear water. King Bank Doesn't surprise you that this continues to be the darling of the Far North? It shouldn't but more so now than at almost any other stage of the season. Bottom fishing has been excellent as long as you don't time your visit around the extreme moon phases. Plenty of bass, hapuka and the omnipresent king tarakihi as long as you don't experience a 2 - 3 knot current. Kingi's are abundant and they do like the current, stronger the better. Some lovely fish over 30 kg's with many in the upper 20's abound. Jigs are performing well in deeper water but it is hard to go past a lump of bait, either live or dead. And with water pushing 20° (that's right, not a typographical error) and 19 everywhere it's probably the best place to land a marlin in the entire country. Inexplicably skippies have disappeared but, if you do get one, it will be a horse.

Summary

"PURSUIT" and her crew as well and almost all of the other charterboats have left the Far North for yet another season. Overall it is been a productive season with reasonable weather. While it is nearly 9 months out we are already looking forward to our return next autumn. If you still fancy some fishing don't be shy to get out. Time your weather and go for it! Remember the anglers always give up long before the fish do!

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