Fishing Reports
SEPTEMBER NORTHERN REGIONAL REPORT
WESTCOAST
Before the westerlies set in, west coast fishing over deep-water reefs had been excellent. Most known reefs held good stocks of pan size snapper with a few schools of larger fish about and some nice tarakihi standing off. Apart from plenty of nice kahawai, beach fishing has been ordinary. The winds should bring snapper back into the shoreline to feed on smashed shellfish. Whitebait are running well and some good catches are being reported. HOUHORA/CAPE KARIKARI
There are some good signs of early schooling snapper in close with big reds being landed off Great Exhibition Bay beaches north of Houhora. Some initial runs of school snapper and kingfish up the eastern harbours are being reported. Apart from the Moturoa Islands, snapper fishing in close around Matai Bay has gone off the boil. DOUBTLESS BAY
Snapper are massing off Tokerau Beach, with some good catches of memorable fish being reported. Surf-casters are having fun, with casts carried well out by the westerlies. Needless to say, kite fishos are having a ball. Kingfish remain scarce, even on the central Fair Way and Albert reefs. Some nice tarakihi can be found, hovering in the lee of deep-water fouls and reef systems. Check Berghans Point for kingfish. WHANGAROA AND CAVALLIS
There is heaps of baitfish inside the harbour. The harbour entrance can produce a few noddies with the occasional nice snapper being taken off Peach Island, up the estuaries and off Totara North. Divers report large schools of big snapper off Stevies with Mahinepua and the Cavallis having gone off the boil since featuring over winter. Kingfish remain deep and off-shore where they add to the catch of bass and hapuku being taken over deep-water reefs. TAKOU BAY
The extensive reef systems, both in close and off-shore, from Takou Bay to Lion Rock are holding some good stocks of snapper at present. Fish are in absolutely prime condition. These noddies remain very mobile, but generally reward perseverance. The razor gang is in attendance, and a good berley trail can attract the good, bad and the ugly. Plenty of moray eels and an occasional shark help the snakes keep the tackle companies in business. BAY OF ISLANDS
After a shocking winter, the snapper fishing is finally on the mend. Some good catches of big fish have been reported from Capstan Rock and Red Head. A punter with Bay Knight Charters picked up a 30lber a few days back. The Onslow and Albert Passage regions remain favoured for tarakihi, where some reasonable schools of good fish reside. The razor gang stands on duty between 60 and 70m. With schoolies not yet well settled, drift fishing may be the way to go. Tight lines!
Before the westerlies set in, west coast fishing over deep-water reefs had been excellent. Most known reefs held good stocks of pan size snapper with a few schools of larger fish about and some nice tarakihi standing off. Apart from plenty of nice kahawai, beach fishing has been ordinary. The winds should bring snapper back into the shoreline to feed on smashed shellfish. Whitebait are running well and some good catches are being reported. HOUHORA/CAPE KARIKARI
There are some good signs of early schooling snapper in close with big reds being landed off Great Exhibition Bay beaches north of Houhora. Some initial runs of school snapper and kingfish up the eastern harbours are being reported. Apart from the Moturoa Islands, snapper fishing in close around Matai Bay has gone off the boil. DOUBTLESS BAY
Snapper are massing off Tokerau Beach, with some good catches of memorable fish being reported. Surf-casters are having fun, with casts carried well out by the westerlies. Needless to say, kite fishos are having a ball. Kingfish remain scarce, even on the central Fair Way and Albert reefs. Some nice tarakihi can be found, hovering in the lee of deep-water fouls and reef systems. Check Berghans Point for kingfish. WHANGAROA AND CAVALLIS
There is heaps of baitfish inside the harbour. The harbour entrance can produce a few noddies with the occasional nice snapper being taken off Peach Island, up the estuaries and off Totara North. Divers report large schools of big snapper off Stevies with Mahinepua and the Cavallis having gone off the boil since featuring over winter. Kingfish remain deep and off-shore where they add to the catch of bass and hapuku being taken over deep-water reefs. TAKOU BAY
The extensive reef systems, both in close and off-shore, from Takou Bay to Lion Rock are holding some good stocks of snapper at present. Fish are in absolutely prime condition. These noddies remain very mobile, but generally reward perseverance. The razor gang is in attendance, and a good berley trail can attract the good, bad and the ugly. Plenty of moray eels and an occasional shark help the snakes keep the tackle companies in business. BAY OF ISLANDS
After a shocking winter, the snapper fishing is finally on the mend. Some good catches of big fish have been reported from Capstan Rock and Red Head. A punter with Bay Knight Charters picked up a 30lber a few days back. The Onslow and Albert Passage regions remain favoured for tarakihi, where some reasonable schools of good fish reside. The razor gang stands on duty between 60 and 70m. With schoolies not yet well settled, drift fishing may be the way to go. Tight lines!
From 
Steven Radich
Steven RadichReport type: Saltwater
Report date: 10 October 02
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