Fishing Reports

 

REGIONAL FISHING ROUND-UP Generally the snapper fishing off the east coast has been poor for this time of the year. Many corporate long-liners are being ordered south to the Hauraki Gulf. Apparently the vast offshore schools have finally collapsed. So much for the much vaunted quota management system! The vasty majority of local fishos with whom I speak report that their own snapper fishing has been absolutely diabolical for the last six months and has been in free-fall ever since they can remember. WEST COAST Snapper fishing from the surf has been good if you can manage a cast against the prevailing high-speed on-shore winds. The lulls in wind-speed late afternoon can be worth the wait. A few more sharks are starting to show up with a few good trevally around harbour entrances. Mullet populations in the upper Hokianga are looking pretty healthy with locals getting a good feed with the net. Mullet schools along the coastline are feeding in close. Keep an eye out for that tell-tale red stuff in the water. Flounder too are reported to be running on the 90-Mile. FAR NORTH All harbours are reported to be holding good stocks of medium size school snapper with a few nice kingfish starting to come in on the tide. Watch out for the kingfish to come in with the rising tide over the shallows and go out in the channels. Snapper fishing straight out from Rangiputa has produced some nice catches of medium size school snapper with the harbour entrance being one of the few places that can be relied on to catch a feed. Some big snapper are being landed off the beaches along the east coast north of Houhora. Late afternoon has been most productive. WHANGAROA Some nice snapper catches have been reported around the entrance to the harbour in recent days. Snapper in the harbour remain small and scarce with plenty of mackerel for the live-bait tank. Scallops are in prime condition although average size is a bit disappointing. Rat kingfish are plentiful over the north ground while sharks and barracuda can spoil a visit to the Ruahine Shoals. BAY OF ISLANDS Snapper fishing in the inner Bay finally started to fire this weekend. The Capstan Rock region and the middle ground inside Roberton Island featured with some others striking gold off Army Bay Kingfish are being taken off Rocky Point and the Dog with some great tarakihi fishing reported in the Albert channel region. Some big john dory are being taken on live-baits set for kingfish. Snakes are plentiful, especially in deeper water. Tight lines!

 

From Steven Radich

Report type: Saltwater

Report date: 07 November 02