Fishing Reports

We used to take spring runs of good sized albacore for granted in the BOP – that is until recent years.  They were so predictable that the Tauranga Gamefish Club had an annual two day tournament in September dedicated just to this species.   Ironically, after many disappointing years (none landed last year, a handful the year before) they scrubbed it this season.

While they were usually nice sized fish averaging anywhere from 9-18 kilos, we have not seen the size which are being landed consistently at present.  They are long finned monsters in the albacore world with many well over 20 k’s.  To make this fishing more interesting is their range and feeding habits.

Usually albies are caught in a total absence of action, at least none which can be observed above the waters surface.  This time there have been extensive workups complete with boiling fish and a multiplicity of birds above them. Find the birds (gannets, petrels, terns, etc) and you’re in business – simple as that.  More often than that it will be multiple strike pandemonium at the stern of your boat and it doesn’t seem to matter what type of lures you’re running either. As long as they’re not too big and have a little weight in the head they’ve been taken with great relish by the marauding longfins. Black Magic Tackle Terrors, Zuker ZTW’s, Redeye Tuna Targets and bibles minnows have all worked well regardless of colour pattern.

While they have been more consistent in the mornings, they have bit all afternoon some days – and in bright sunlight.  They are feeding almost solely on 4 – 5 inch squid and there appears to be plenty about.

So far only W and SW of White Island have not been proven, all other directions have. Anywhere from a few miles south to 9miles south east and three miles north then onto the Volkners has been the huge “hot” area.  Sometimes this entire area is producing at the same time; such is the size of the body of fish.

This situation lands itself perfectly to light tackle fishing although so far most anglers have armed themselves with 15-24k gear.  Even at that these fish, most larger than the yellowfin we’ve seen over the past few summers, give a good representation of themselves.

Two notable exceptions to the above were National Record claim which came in on Sunday the 3^rd.  Christine Isbister landed a 19.6k fish on 8 while Adrian Stokes put a 21k albie on the deck after nearly two hours on 4 kilo. Well done to both anglers. With any luck we may see more records fall before this run ceases and moves on.

And just how long will it last – anyone’s guess!!  As long as the bait and nice water remains, so should they.  Some years we’ve had them for only a few weeks while others took us right into yellowfin season in November.  Let’s hope for the latter.

So get out there and have a go – it’s a lot of fun and a good way to blow the cobwebs out as we approach summer