Fishing Reports

As you know we have a "NO LIES" reporting policy. This is where it hurts but we weren't skunked!

The local fishing has slowed down dramatically possibly due to a recent barrage of southerly quarter winds and bit of rain. Sure did chill the water temps down quickly which in turn slows down the fishs activity especially the feeding. Recently trips, especaily the local trips, have been slow with 1 trip we did last weekend being a disaster. Other than a feed a new season scollies and a few fish for those who concentrated it was a pretty hard slog in numerous locations. If you are booking a trip over the next 6-9 weeks be prepared to pay a bit more and go abit further. I know where the fish are and we have to travel for it.

Here's whats been happening:

Tiri has really slowed down and only around the change of light and perhaps along the edges of the channel with a good burley happening will you have any real chance of securing a feed. Landbased fishers off the the island have been getting a few so in close along the back of the island should be ok.

Kawau and Takatu have been good to us this year again and the reefs have held fish well. The deeper spots we fished last week weren't as hot as they have been and the sou easter kept me away from the place over the weekend. I would expect it be even slower up there now after that bit of breeze but may give a couple of deep spots a go soon. In close could also be worth a shot with the tide running.

Anchorite was loaded with barracouta and bastard cod the last trip there so we didn't stay long. The 'couta are pretty much everywhere at the moment and often the only place to get away from them is in close. We did have a group that were keen on keeping a few "snakes" on a trip so we had a few laughs and terrorised the local snake population foir a few hours. May have done alot of you a favour by taking a few out eh!

Little Barrier has certainly been patchy so far. Snakes, bastard cod and a selection of red reef dwellers have been the norm and I am leaving the place alone for a while. Opting to fish another area that we have had good results from but need fair weather to fish it succesfully both on the drift and anchoring over the reefs here is the go. As you can see I am choosing (for now) to keep it myself a wee bit for obvious reasons.

The hapuka should be starting to hold on some of the foul around the Barrier, Mokes and even off the top of Little Barrier. Some of these deep reefs will also be home to snapper and kingfish too. We can do some of these locations in a day trip but we have to leave early in the morning. Travel times and the weather dictate the fishing locations and I prefer to spend the night before out there so reducing travel on the day. MAJURO will sleep 5 plus myself for this sort of trip and the BBQ is always good for those big breakies before heading away early. Great Barrier has some reasonable accomodation ashore too for the larger groups or those wanting a bit more comfort. 

Keep watching the ITM Fishing Show as these guys haven't finished yet! Some great offshore footage to come and a real "Old Man and The Sea" episode to come as well. Great stuff! Every now and then check in to www.charterconnection.co.nz as we will soon have a range of products for sale and members on this site will be eligible for the discounts of course. Add your self to our "casuals list" to be kept in the loop for upcoming trips and specials. A quick email to deepsea@clear.net.nz is all that is required or call me on 021 2446346.

Soon

Damo - The Charter Connection - Where fishing is catching!