Fishing Reports

Snapper and Marlin on the Menu with West Coast bar Crossings Requiring Caution    

We end the first week of February with a touch of sadness because fishos know that those balmy days of summer are almost over again till next year. And so the pattern of massed schools of migrant snapper in close that started in spring and runs almost right up ‘till autumn is also almost at an end.

Interestingly, the day-time sea breezes have been the mildest I can re-call. Typically, the summer sea-breeze drives most in search of shelter by mid-day, but this summer it has been possible to fish on most days.

Snapper fishing in most east coast regions has been hard this past week with a full moon bearing most of the responsibility. Some experts say that the fuller the moon, the shorter and more intense the bite time.

Many east coast snapper are starting to return to their traditional haunts with the prospects of finding fair fish up estuaries imminent as autumn approaches. Presently, best fishing has generally been over the deeper off-shore fouls as migrant schools start to move off-shore. However, there remain sufficient fat, ripe hens and bucks over inshore fouls to keep most good keen men on their toes. Lost a beauty in the kelp myself at dusk this past Saturday, mainly because I was caught off-guard.

Out wide, the west coast has been running hot, with the high number of bill-fish being seasoned by a wave of yellow-tail and others of the tuna family. Striped marlin are predominating out west, while the whole east coast of the north-Island has been experiencing a blue patch of blue marlin. A number of beasts in excess of the old 500lb mark are now on the record books. With water temperatures above average on both coasts, the prospect of a boomer season is very real.

Beautiful tropical blue water is lapping the length of the east coast with marlin hook-ups moving into ever more shallow waters. For those who sometimes wonder what the big deal is about the water colour, I can tell you that once you’ve seen it you’ll understand – it’s just a gorgeous aquamarine.

And out wide Saturday afternoon, it was almost like Queen Street; with as many trailer boats as launches vying for a trophy fish. Spent a bit of time amongst a school of feeding dolphins and diving gannets – certainly felt fishy, and the number of vessels encountered carrying success flags indicated that there were indeed some big predators about.

For those with a west coast encounter in mind, please take great care. Boats have foundered on most bars this summer. Bar crossings require skill and technology. Personally I recommend multi-hull and pontoon style vessels for those who would like to reduce the risks involved in bar-crossings. Always wear your lifejacket and inform the local coastguard as you proceed. A vessel with outstanding buoyancy characteristics and heaps of grunt is required if you want to avoid that sinking feeling.