Fishing Reports
December regional roundup
DECEMBER REGIONAL ROUNDUP
With the arrival of the fat man and his reindeer imminent, the prospect of fresh fish for Christmas looks very positive. Snapper are well and truly on the menu with a delayed annual spawning run playing right into the hands of Santa. Some nice tarakihi occupy most traditional possies with kingfish starting to make their summer trips up the harbours while the schools of kahawai look promising. Scallops and mussels are in top condition with scallop populations the best seen for many years. On the east coast, a wealth of bait-fish is in evidence. This bodes well for the coming game-fish season and could well produce some memorable catches well inside the 100m mark. The arrival of large schools of blue mackerel adds to the fish salad on offer. Large blues produce some great sport and provide keen fishos with the very best kingfish and big snapper baits. WEST COAST:
The snapper fishing has been poor but recent catches from reefs such as the Wiamamaku out of the Hokianga suggest that things are on the mend. Some nice catches of bluenose and ‘puka from 180 fathoms have been reported. Flounder have come into the surf with the 90 Mile’s bluff featuring. Mullet can usually be found in the red stuff. HOUHORA:
Last weekend the snapper started to fire. Dusk remains the best option with Henderson Bay and Rarawa both featuring. The Vegetation Patch is producing some nice tarakihi too, with some good kingies being taken off the Pukenui Wharf in recent days. CAPE KARIKARI / DOUBTLESSS BAY:
Once again, the schooling snapper are just starting to fire. The islands at the end of the peninsular are producing both memorable snapper and some great tarakihi. The inshore fouls off Tokerau Beach have been occupied by migrant snapper, with catches typically in the 2-5kg range. Some mega reds have been taken off Bergen’s Point while canny fishos, capitalizing on the food stirred up by Awanui’s scallop dredgers, are jigging in their wakes. Fresh piper is the bait if you wish to land a trophy snapper. WHANGAROA AND THE CAVALLIS:
Snapper generally leave the outer islands at about this time of the year for local spawning grounds, but reports of recent catches have been surprisingly good. Tarakihi catches from traditional grounds remain outstanding while the denizens of the deep keep most local charter boats in business. The harbour remains chocker with baitfish. BAY OF ISLANDS:
The snapper fishing is hot. Tarakihi are not hard to find while schools of baitfish keep most fishos on their toes. How to entice the snapper to feed with so much grub on offer remains a challenge. Fresh whole blue mackerel is the big snapper bait of the moment. Tight lines!
With the arrival of the fat man and his reindeer imminent, the prospect of fresh fish for Christmas looks very positive. Snapper are well and truly on the menu with a delayed annual spawning run playing right into the hands of Santa. Some nice tarakihi occupy most traditional possies with kingfish starting to make their summer trips up the harbours while the schools of kahawai look promising. Scallops and mussels are in top condition with scallop populations the best seen for many years. On the east coast, a wealth of bait-fish is in evidence. This bodes well for the coming game-fish season and could well produce some memorable catches well inside the 100m mark. The arrival of large schools of blue mackerel adds to the fish salad on offer. Large blues produce some great sport and provide keen fishos with the very best kingfish and big snapper baits. WEST COAST:
The snapper fishing has been poor but recent catches from reefs such as the Wiamamaku out of the Hokianga suggest that things are on the mend. Some nice catches of bluenose and ‘puka from 180 fathoms have been reported. Flounder have come into the surf with the 90 Mile’s bluff featuring. Mullet can usually be found in the red stuff. HOUHORA:
Last weekend the snapper started to fire. Dusk remains the best option with Henderson Bay and Rarawa both featuring. The Vegetation Patch is producing some nice tarakihi too, with some good kingies being taken off the Pukenui Wharf in recent days. CAPE KARIKARI / DOUBTLESSS BAY:
Once again, the schooling snapper are just starting to fire. The islands at the end of the peninsular are producing both memorable snapper and some great tarakihi. The inshore fouls off Tokerau Beach have been occupied by migrant snapper, with catches typically in the 2-5kg range. Some mega reds have been taken off Bergen’s Point while canny fishos, capitalizing on the food stirred up by Awanui’s scallop dredgers, are jigging in their wakes. Fresh piper is the bait if you wish to land a trophy snapper. WHANGAROA AND THE CAVALLIS:
Snapper generally leave the outer islands at about this time of the year for local spawning grounds, but reports of recent catches have been surprisingly good. Tarakihi catches from traditional grounds remain outstanding while the denizens of the deep keep most local charter boats in business. The harbour remains chocker with baitfish. BAY OF ISLANDS:
The snapper fishing is hot. Tarakihi are not hard to find while schools of baitfish keep most fishos on their toes. How to entice the snapper to feed with so much grub on offer remains a challenge. Fresh whole blue mackerel is the big snapper bait of the moment. Tight lines!
From 
Steven Radich
Steven RadichReport type: Saltwater
Report date: 12 December 02
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