Fishing Reports

Weather, or weather reports, continue to be an issue.  Hey, after all, its winter so what does one expect?  For those that can recall last winter that’s not a particularly good question.  After last years brilliant winter we are now experiencing a real bear of a season.  All the expectations which arose from last winter are succeeding in being dashed this time around.  While we’re having a hard time finding three decent days to get down to Ranfurly Bank, I can only imagine what the Greymouth bluefin fleet must be experiencing.  Anyway, despite some rugged weather there’s still some pretty robust fishing to be had by either well planned or lucky anglers.

Inshore

Snapper, snapper and snapper – they aren’t giving up in their domination of the inshore scene.  Regardless of the bottom terrain or depth they just keep on obliging.  Most returning boats seem happy or very happy with their efforts on the day.  The vast majority are nice sized fish, several notches above pan size.  The large broken area that comprises the Rurima Rocks seem the preferred region but far from the only place to make a nice catch.  As per normal, straylining in shallow (5-10m) waters has produced the larger specimens – some approaching the magical 20 pound mark.  How long this consistent fishing will last is anybodies guess but don’t become too complacent.  History says it could get much harder at any time.  Terakihi are becoming stronger as they approach spawning but nobody is noticing much as the attention levels are elsewhere.

Offshore

Mixed bag for those very few boats getting more than a handful of miles offshore.  Deepwater is patchy at best and dealing mainly with bluenose.  One morning there will be good numbers of fish (4-8kgs) landed in 320-360m of water, the next day barely a “feed”.  Shallower water (120-150m) seems to be very sparten with a decided lack of fish.  The shallows (30-50m) around White Island are picking up all the while with good numbers of terakihi and XOS pinkies – all good eating.  A few good trevally are also providing some unexpected sport.  Kingis, some beauties, have also upped the anty with recent biting frenzies reminiscent of mid spring – not mid winter.  The Volkner Rocks, similar to last year, have turned on a couple of good recent sessions.  Knife jigs and live bait have done the trick with the mainly 15-20 kilo fish.  Largest fish was 27 kilos with several others lost, thought to be in the same category.  All good stuff and bodes well for spring ahead.  Condition varies greatly with some very fit and full – others lean and in serious need of a good feed.  All in all things are reasonably vibrant at the smokey isle with the prospects promising.

Te Kaha

Consistent fishing here with plenty going on.  Here, as elsewhere along the coast, snapper rule the day.  Depths of between 35-50 metres are most productive.  Definite bite times are evident with early to mid morning being the best.  An overabundance of rat kingis also make for lots of fun.  The 3-8 kilo fish are good for refining ones skills on light tackle.  Trevally (1-3kgs) kahawai and terakihi round out the spectrum available in this beautiful past of the Eastern Bay.

Ranfurly Bank

Steady, if not unspectacular, fishing remains much the same at the distant outpost.  Trumpeter inexplicably remain among the missing when typically they should be abundant.  Most possies hold several fish for the taking but nowhere seemingly provides anything that resembles hot fishing.  So, in untypical Ranfurly style, everything is OK but not terribly exciting.  Don’t worry too much – things will change soon, and for the better.

Summary

Despite some pretty inclement weather, there’s still some good opportunities available to keen anglers.  Dressing properly, a good look at the weather prospects and a good attitude is all one needs for mid-winter fun and food at the moment.  Don’t let the cold weather gremlins put you off.  Winter in NZ? It’s not all that bad!