Fishing Reports

 

Much has been happening since we last posted a report at the beginning of the month. The weather has been up to its' usual tricks and has only offered us a few really calm days to get up to Flat Rock and Takatu. When we have been forced to stay in the Tiri area, we have found it slow going and can only add, that it will probably remain so for the next few weeks. The back of the Tiri produced good fish on a couple of occasions but the numbers are down, as we would have expected. The burley trails have been flowing and the smaller groups have enjoyed good straylining when the wind and tide get it together. The area around Shearers Rock was fishing well but has died and it would be best, if trying to get a feed off the reef here, to try at the change of light using a good burley trail. The same would go for the foul around Shag Rock and the other foul out the back here. There is a fair bit of shelter from this persistent south west draft that has been whistling on for the last few months. We got a bit of a pasting coming back from Kawau in the "Help Michelle" fishing contest last weekend. Gusts to 55 knots and during that night a gust was recorded in the marina at Gulf Harbour of 75 knots! It split a mast! The team went away with 3 prizes despite the dismal day we had, but the contest raised a few thousand dollars to help Michelle Naish in fighting the disorder she has. A.J. Whetton was on hand to dish out the prizes and a great night was had by all. One recent trip started early and saw us trying a few different locations after having a few poor days around Flat Rock. We fished the Beehive just south of Kawau and got into the Trevally and small snapper pretty much right away. It didn't get any better but for a Snapper of around 5lb. Lightly weighted baits cast away from the boat caught the majority of fish as we were in about 7 metres of water. After a few moves and not much doing we moved to a Terahiki spot out behind Kawau and put a few of these fine table fish in the slurry. The full moon and real calm conditions took us up to Flat Rock the other day. The huge tide run and big moon were always against us and we found it very hard going. One fish of note that did get caught was a Golden Snapper (Alfonsino). Great to eat also. The area up here is probably best fished at the change of light too. Plenty of Cray pots in the area at the moment and the Crays are probably in quite close to the island. Even Tiri has been going OK for the spider hunters. A fairly rare sight for those onboard was the seal tearing a fish apart on the surface and playing with the carcass. Could be another reason the fishing was slow this day. The Tiri Passage is not fishing well at the moment, but it will only be 5-6 weeks till it is chocka with school fish! The area to the north and south of the channel is a major schooling area and we have had fantastic fishing in both these areas around the beginning and middle of October. It is not the same date every year of course but I'll let you know when it's all go. If you want to book a group for October and November you had better get in quick. Dates are getting filled quickly by groups but we will hold a few certain dates for casual anglers and the Forum Users trips we will run. We will hold off on running the next Forum Users trip till the season starts to get under way. In the meantime it is back to the burley trails and straylining for those big dark moochers. We have yet to land a 20lb plus fish this winter but there is bound to be few lurking around the place, perhaps only feeding every second day or so and perhaps only at the change of light. There are many locations around the coast that have held, or do hold big Snapper. Going back though the diaries has revealed a few hints to follow up on and I'll be doing so when this wind eases off a bit. We have few overnighters booked with accommodation at Pah Farm on Kawau Island. You will have to get in quick to enjoy one of these trips. The accommodation is bunk room style and there is a restaurant and bar on site. The trips cost $900 for a group of 8 anglers with the accommodation being $20 per person per night. You get to fish the Kawau and Takatu area for 2 days and enjoy some of that great island hospitality. Speaking of Kawau and Takatu, we got into a school of Kingfish (all juveniles) during last weekends contest. There were copious amounts of Kahawai around this particular reef and it must have attracted the attention of the school of Kingis. We tried livebaiting but got the rats in return. Good to see the numbers though. If you would like more information about trips or would like a list of casual dates in October and November then call or email us at deepsea@clear.net.nz or (09) 4240607 or catch me on the boat phone (025) 2446346. I can email or post you a list of dates available for groups too if you wish. Everybody should believe in something. I believe I'll go fishing! Damain THE CHARTER CONNECTION

 

From A Charter Connection...

Report type: Saltwater

Report date: 26 August 02