Fishing Report from the Far North April 24th

  • Game Fishing, General Saltwater, Northland

Well it was bound to happen and finally did; some nasty weather! After tropical conditions which saw everyone kicking off the blankets at night we got hit with a cold snap that was tough on the body – and water quality.

Shedding a full degree overnight after the first blow we have gone nearly another 2° the following day – hard to take! After we get rid of these cold souwesterlies we are bound to regain some of our previous water quality but certainly not all of it.

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Doubtless Bay – Cape Karikari

One of, if not the, hot spot for marlin recently. A good body of fish were to be found anywhere from 95 out to 140 m of water prior to and even during the recent low. The eastern end of the Bay from Bergen's Point was the most productive with some boats getting six shots a day, many four! Some were very nice sized as well with two being weighed over 150 kg. Otherwise some consistent fishing for both snapper and Kingfish throughout the Bay.

Cape Karikari

Also some marlin here as well, just not the same concentrations – yet! Stacks of bait, mainly Jack mackerel, are in residence out in 100 m off the light which could engender some excellent fishing for stripees in the near future – perhaps even the exciting very visual meatball variety! Plenty of skippies and even the odd yellowfin about as well. Steady snapper fishing for those staying in shallow around the rocks and islands.

Garden Patch

Still something for everyone out here. Some of the nicest looking water still holding some stripees with the outside chance of a stray blue or mahi-mahi. The day droppers are getting plenty of chances at swordfish but only a few being landed, mainly in the 100 – 200kg bracket. Bluenose in full spawning now with some nice catches to be had – if you can avoid the killer whales! They are very adept at getting every fish off your line – great spectacle but guaranteed to result in an empty fish hold unless you like crushed heads! The odd hapuka, Bass and gemfish complete the deepwater story out there.

Great Exhibition Bay – North Cape

Well worth the effort while trolling through this expansive but relatively featureless bay. A fair few marlin have been seen, hooked and landed with 120 – 150 m being the best depth. Four American super seiners (in excess of 1000 tonne capacity) have taken up residence here, attempting to scoop up the remaining skippy schools. A few yellowfin have also popped up in this area straight out from Mount Camel and Houhora. Plenty of snapper, Kingis and trevally throughout, especially near Parengarenga Harbour. The Shelf Prior to the blow there was some action on marlin and even yellowfin along this stretch with 140 – 200 m being the preferred depth. This region in particular has been hit hard as far as water quality goes – shedding nearly 3 full degrees and lots of colour! It is decidedly worse the further up the shelf you go towards the....

King Bank

Still the darling of this area, pre-blow anyway. Boats were getting one to three chances a day on marlin. Not bad but certainly anything but hot – especially for this time of year and with the water quality we have had until now. Kingi's have not been ultra cooperative or large of late. Bait, either live or dead, has out fished jigs quite considerably just lately. Bound to pick up soon. Bottom fishing, other than will king tarakihi, remains very hard.

Bass will soon come into the heart of the spawning season so hopefully we can expect a welcome positive change then. Great Island – Prince's Group Some excellent fishing around these rugged outcrops for a wide variety of fish. Kingfish, XOS trevally, snapper and blue cod lead the way. Being stuck in tough weather around the islands is not a hardship at the moment – just make sure you have got plenty of bait as you will need it!

Middlesex Bank

A few visits here recently but still disappointing in a number of ways. While water quality is similar to that at the King Bank, there is a decided lack of billfish activity here. Kingi fishing was hard for one boat but excellent for the other however, very few intact fish came to the boat due to hoards of ravenous bronze whaler's! Bottom fishing okay and definitely better than the King Bank but nothing to get excited about.

Summary

While we will certainly regain some of our recently lost water quality, we won't get it all back. Although tropical visitors such as blue marlin and mahi-mahi will be lean on the ground, hopefully the stripees will begin a strong run. Not only should we look for improved fishing at the King Bank but also along the coast as well. Would like to think we have got some of the best still in front of us.

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