Fishing Reports

Boatfishing - West coast

SNAPPER
There have been plenty of snapper taken in close at Pukerua bay (especially around the turn of light) and out on the Wairaka rise (in 30 - 50mtrs through the turn of tide).

Up to the the end of the year there were not too many caught south of Plimmerton but with the big northerlies recently it should push them down to Makara and spots like the bridge, bears head, north and south of boom, macs rock, opau and tecam bays. With the warmer water you can catch them during the day in 25 – 50mtrs and around the turn of light in 10 – 20mtrs. They feed on the sand and on the reef.

The 50mtr holes north of boom on the sand can be good as well as the sth end of mana in 50mtrs on the reef. Good baits have been baby squid, pillies and skipjack tuna. I have also heard a whisper that tua tua have been really good this season.

KINGFISH
There have been some nice kingfish caught at hunters already and over the coming months there should be some great captures. Anglers are using the new long jigs with assist hooks to great success but the best technique is using live mackerel or kahawai around the 300 – 500gm size with a 4 – 5mtr 130lb trace, 6 – 10/O livebait hook and 6 – 10 oz running sinker above the trace.

Put it down to the bottom and wind up 5 turns to avoid snagging. Either drift over the pinnacles or anchor up on the turn of tide. Around the turn of light is the best but if you have a turn of tide a couple hours after first light it is premo.

PUKA
Most spots have been firing good puka. Water depth of 130 – 150mtrs off makara, verns, the back of Mana island and back of Hunters have all had good fishing. Fishermans and the 78mtr rise have also been good in 200mtrs. 65lb is the heaviest I have heard of this summer, average size is around 15 to 25lb.

JOHN DORY
These fish have turned up early this year and have been  a regular catch while catching tarakihi. Live baits such as cod, scarpie or mackerel have been the baits to use. Ledger rig on the bottom, 5/o hook.

TARAKIHI AND BLUECOD
Have been ever present all along the coast. The best fishing we have had has been out from the slip south of Moom (50mtr) and at the makara fenceline (25mtrs) but also the south end of Mana and Wairaka rise have been good too.

Remember the best way to catch teris is with small hooks (1 to 3/O) and small baits (strips of squid or s.b.m). Lighter traces of  around 30lb will help catch more fish. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR HAVING A GOOD BERLEY ON THE BOTTOM AND FISHING THE TURN OF TIDE.

Boatfishing - South coast 

THE TRENCH
Bluenose have been in good numbers this side in 120 – 180mtrs. Puka have been good on the other side of the trench in 220 – 240mtrs A few bass have been caught but no monsters, plenty of hoki, ling and tope

INSHORE
You’ll get some good gurnard fishing off Fiztroy/Pencarrow bay in 20 – 25mtrs and Lyall bay in 10 – 15 mtrs. Tarakihi and cod are firing off Turakerei, Baring, Wainui in 40 – 80mtrs. The bigger ones are in 70 to 100mtrs with school puka as well. Warehou should be caught off Island bay in 50mtrs on the sand, also around 5 mile reef, Baring and Turakerei in similar depth but near the reef. Small strips of squid or jigs with flasher rigs do the damage up off the bottom for the warehou.

SURFCASTING
The south coast continues to produce good numbers of spotty sharks at the spit in Palliser bay, Wainui beach, Whangamoana and various other spots. Some nice moki to 4.5kg have been taken at Paikakariki and at the Spit. Moki are running reasonably well at many south coast possies like Longbeach, Karori stream, Palliser, Wainui and Pencarrow.

Some good trevally have been caught off Scorching bay point, Houghton/Princess bay, Pencarrow and Tecam bay. A 8.5kg snapper was caught in Evans bay in November. And a 7kg snap at the spit a bit earlier. There have been numerous schoolies caught in the harbour but not too many biggies. I heard of one angler berleying up heaps of small snapper to his feet off point Jenningham recently. Kingfish have been hooked and lost with one caught at the overseas terminal.

Plenty of gurnard have been caught at Seatoun wharf, Lyall bay airport runway and Miramar wharf. There are still heaps of redcod and spiney dogs in Palliser bay but they should disappear with the warmer water. Quite a few eaglerays are around providing good sport for anglers who like getting a bit of string taken off their reels quickly. Places like Plimmerton, Eastbourne gate, Cobham drive, Paikakariki, Ohau and Tecam bays are all good for those (also good snapper spots).

Up and coming Fishing competitions
7/8 jan - castlepoint boat and shore comp
21/1/06   lake ferry surfcasting comp 9am to 3pm. Frank 0272815890
04/02/06 - 05/02/06 Super Fish comp, Castle Point. Barry Smith ph 06 377 5051
17/02/06-19/02/06 Ngwai Big 3 comp, Ngawi Ev Skeet  06 377 0596
19/02/06-19/02/06 Surfcasting comp, Tangimoana Boating Club M Smith 06 324 8942
4/03/06 - Carters gone fishing kids fishing comp - queens wharf 10.30am
10/03/06 - 12/03/06 Fishing Comp, Plimmerton Boating Club, Richard 04 233 1592
20/05/06 – 21/05/06 - Aon Southern Bait challenge boat and shore comp, pete lamb 043878150