Fishing Reports

There seems to be fish everywhere around Tiri at the moment. South of Kawau and all the way through to Rakino is loaded with snapper and huge schools of bait fish but often you will have to wait it out until the school is ready to feed. It can be a bit frustrating seeing all the fish on the sounder and having to sit it out but the wait is quickly forgotten when the action starts!

Tiri – as I said, the place went off over this weekend and the fishing was great. Fish up to 7kg were not uncommon and were taken on strayline and ledger rigs. Best results were from in the channel but I did hear of a boat doing very well a mile or so off the back of the island in 40m, drifting whole pillies. They had some big snapper and when they had filled up the bin they moved off a bit, anchored and got into a few good size Gurnard of up to 55cm. We did best in the middle of the tide run with fish coming through in schools and feeding very aggressively, swallowing big baits and scoffing cube baits on the flasher rigs and ledger rigs.

Kawau – is starting to really fire up now and the islands south are holding some pretty good fish too. There are plenty of horse mussel beds and scallop beds in the area which would make it an attractive place for big schools of hungry snapper to hang out.

Flat Rock is its usual hit and miss place at the moment but there a few Kingfish showing up and harassing the schools of bait fish that hang out in the burley. A dawn raid or an evening shot out here could be the go. Maori rock is still fishing well and can be a great spot to target kingis too. The smaller tides this week have no doubt been treating the regulars with some good fishing.

Little Barrier – Don’t go driving past the good fishing to get out here. The fish have moved down into the Gulf more to spawn and I shall be leaving the place alone for a bit now and should I head out that way will spend my time on the deeper reefs that hold fish as they all move in closer. Some of the reefs out here can hold some really big fish at times. The water temp out here by the way is now over 18C!

Cape Colville – had a lot of fish move through the area and they probably still are but why go so far when they are right here on our doorstep. The thing I like about this area is the current racing over all the reefs and structure that abound the place. It can be a bit fickle out here at times and hard to fish on the big tides but the fish are fit! They have to be.

Great Barrier – I’m really looking forward to taking MAJURO (new Boat) out here for a few trips. She is perfect for it with her huge cockpit and well set up deck, those long drifts over the deep foul will be all good! Up around the Needles will be holding kingis and good Snapper and there will no doubt be a few Yellowfin swing by the place as the water warms up further. Closer in it could be a bit harder going with the days being so bright so would suggest a bit more depth and bit of current if you venture out this way.

Middle Gulf – Anchorite will be loaded with those Red Cod still and you would be better off to explore the other reefs in the area or fish the edges of the reefs for Snapper. Haven’t heard of any good Kingis from here yet but no doubt there will be a few rats around. Put ‘em back if they’re not a metre long. Keeping baby kingfish is not heroic – more ignorant.

If you are crossing the Gulf or are having a look out here, keep your eyes peeled for working birds. The fishing under and around the work ups can be excellent on the drift using baits or jigs. The long Zest jigs have been working well in all the colours.

Gulf Harbour – We left the marina the other day and within minutes were into some excellent eating size Snapper just out from the marina! Fish to about 4kg were abundant and it was not long and it wasn’t long before we had enough for dinner and were back. I only mention this to illustrate that the inner Gulf is loaded with fish and you should get out there and into it.

Call us for bookings on 09 4240607 or you can get me on the boats on 021 2446346. Email us an enquiry to deepsea@clear.net.nz