Happy New Year!!  Hard to believe we’re nearly half way through our “official” summer season.  When one looks around at temps and sees everyone bundled up we then reflect on the coldest winter, spring and now December in six decades.  Need further verification?  How about icebergs marching up the east coast of South Island!  Next time someone wants to discuss global warming with me they better duck!  Despite unseasonably cool conditions there’s still plenty to celebrate on the fishing scene as we welcome in the New Year.

Inshore

Slow incremental improvements on the snapper scene with some nice catches throughout the region.  While most depths (10-60m) and bottom terrains (sand, low relief rubble and heavy foul) have or are produced, it’s hard to beat the Rurima Rocks at the moment.  Although catches have occurred all day, late afternoon on toward dusk has been the bewitching time.  With very few “lunkers” coming out, the average size has been pleasing with many fish in the 2-4 kilo bracket – not a lot of sub legal fish. One notable exception to this was Paul Mitchell’s beauty at 28 pounds – a real lunker.

Another trend which is far from surprising in the effectiveness of soft plastics on “everyone’s favourite”.  While the Hauraki Gulf is the stronghold for this new addition to the fishing scene, it’s also proving to be very effective down this way as well.  Been a little of a “double whammy” lately with the softs not only catching more but also larger fish than those using bait in the same boat.  The “silver bullet”? Maybe but not surely a needed addition in any anglers tackle box. 

Otherwise terakihi are holding up well and of a nice average size as well, some well over a kilo in weight.  Rounding off are some XOS kahawai (some approaching 3kgs) and plenty of roe laden gurnard.  A seeming abundance of small (5-30k) makos in inshore waters is a curious occurrence – maybe the huge decrease of surface longliners has made a difference over the last couple years.

Offshore

Good fishing overall with plenty of holiday traffic out wide and around White Island.  Most have not returned to port disappointed.  While main focus has been kingis, those who have plied the bottom have done well.  Bluenose remain the staple in the deep (300m plus) but there’s been a pleasing number of hapuka in the mid depths (160-200m) among nice terakihi.  While most are pups, some are nearly 20 k’s – good to see some hapuka after their near total absence for months. 

Kingfish should be nearly finished spawning but this year appears to be only starting.  Some good fishing but more patchy than pre Christmas.  Most are real barrels, bursting out of their skins with fantastic condition; roe and milt.  Jigs, in the hands of an experienced hand, are out fishing even live bait. 

200-300 knife jigs are lethal at the moment but don’t think just because you’ve splashed out and bought some it’s the ticket to instant success – it isn’t.  Getting the right mechanical movement and speed is crucial and doesn’t come accidentally or easily.  Inshore reef fishing is still reasonably tough with just a sampling of terakihi, red snapper and pink mao mao available.

Ranfurly Bank

Fishing remains excellent when weather allows.  Some fabulous kingi fishing of late with huge (the entire length of the high spot covered with crashing kingfish, leaping sauries and diving gannets – quite a sight I can tell you) workups on top.  A recent Japanese jig group experienced great fishing on fish up to 32 kilos but many in the 20’s.  This group was fresh from the tropics where they landed dogtooth up to 90 kilos on their 200 pound braid outfits.  Even these well proven outfits couldn’t stop some of the Ranfurly kingfish!  Big and fat leading up to spawning. 

Bottomfish remains good to excellent as well with some beauty trumpeter (many 8-12 kilos) supporting the bass and puka.  Some hapuka up to near 40 kilos but 25 plus is not unusual in a variety of depths (50-180m).  Bass, still some heavyweights present, are keen to testing visiting anglers.  A number over 40 kilos landed recently but “whopper of the week” goes to Tony Barnes with his 56 kilo beauty.  Long may this productive scene last and joined soon by some pelagics.

Pelagics

Well it’s finally happened, the eastern bay laid claim to its first yellowfin tuna on the 4^th of January – an incredibly late start but welcome nonetheless.  The 51 kilo specimen came after numerous strikes, near misses; bust offs and long unsuccessful fights.  Waihou Bay was the scene and will no doubt feature again soon.  In addition to the YFT action, at least two free jumping striped marlin have been seen, one hooked.  Water is incredibly patchy with cold green bordered by warm purple.  Obviously there are fish to be had and injects some long overdue and much needed enthusiasm into this beleaguered game season.  Distinct temp break at 300 metres off Cape Runaway which goes from mid 16’s to mid 17’s within half a mile – thereafter it slowly warms with northward travel.  The rest of the Bay suffers from low (16-18) temps except for a warm patch we’ve heard of (19 and purple) 20 miles NE of White.  All of a sudden we might have a season with cause for celebration but it may yet to be a long painful road to good fishing – still, it’s a start, something we didn’t have a week ago.

Summary

No doubt about it, the anty has been raised.  We’re still not out of the woods yet but all steps in a positive direction are appreciated.  Expect the next saga in this current season soon, hopefully with more good news.