Things are getting just a little more interesting all the while, particularly on the game fishing scene.  The week of northerlies has done its magic, just in time for some of the many tournaments scheduled for the summer season.  The water has gone from a chilly green to cobalt both water during the welcome northerly injection – pushing into the beaches.  Even swimmers, divers and surfers are all commenting on the pleasant change.  It’s not just pelagic seekers who are benefiting either, read on…………….

Inshore

The warm influx of water seems to have really bought on snapper fishing in many areas.  In an incredibly late spawn, the snapper are biting well and pristine condition.  Full of roe and milt, they are showing a ravenous appetite to beef up their condition factors.  Once again it doesn’t seem either depth or terrain dependant – the fish are seemingly everywhere!  From 60 metres on the sand to 10 metres in the foul, they are keen.  Soft plastics continue to impress, especially at the Rurima Rocks.  In a bit of a turnaround, Te Kaha’s famous “Queen Street” has been experiencing some great fishing but at an unusual hour – after dark.  While many shallow water spots and harbours revel in the hours of darkness, Te Kaha Point is neither.  Stories of many fish over 20 pounds caught after the setting sun are coming out of the area.  Waihou Bay has been producing as well with the close and accessible White Cliffs good on the change of light.  Back closer to Whakatane the ole reliable terakihi and gurnard are still available in good numbers for those who don’t want to travel far.  Large kahawai and some trevally round out the nearby scene.  As an aside, young Nicole Rackham landed a world record claim at Whale Island.  Fishing with her father on the family boat “Can B Fishin” she played the 26.4 kilo thresher shark for 2 ½ hours on 3 kilo tackle – a nice catch Nicole, hope your line tests out for a well deserved record!

Offshore

Despite a fair amount of trolling effort this beautiful bit of water has been unproductive of late.  Perhaps the Whakatane Tuna Tournament, in progress now, will change that.  Meanwhile the kingis and bluenose plod on with regular, if a little mundane, catches with neither on fire.  One saving grace with the kingfish is size with quite a few over 20k’s with some beauties up to 30.  Again, bluenose need to be fished early or you will suffer from ho hum fishing in the middle of the day – after 9am for that matter.  Near the island reef fish such as terakihi are far from prolific, much the way they’ve been all season.  A sweetener has been some beaut trevally – some pushing 6 kilos.

Ranfurly Bank

Pretty steady on all fronts of late although state of the moon has created some huge tides.  These strong currents (2-3 knots) have made bottom fishing tough but kingfish ideal.  Huge workups of sauries on top of the bank with kingis and gannets completing the picture – all very exciting.  Jigs are working very well with bait, even livies, not doing the business.  Perhaps the movement is mimicking the frantic movements of the hapless sauries.  An estimated 35 kilo fish, dutifully tagged by an “Enchanter” angler, is the best by far – well done.  Plenty of hapuka although size is lacking followed by bass, king terakihi and trumpeter.  Until the big tides subside look for this area to continue tough for bottom bouncers but ever so exciting for kingi jig fishers.  Beautiful water over 20 degrees C bathe the entire area.  Plenty of skippies and decent sized albies abound on the top end of the bank with the promise of much more at any time.

Pelagic Game Fish

Things certainly heating up in more ways than one.  With NZ’s first mahi mahi and blue marlin coming out a day apart further north, it would appear the warm water and its exotic inhabitants are on their way.  Waihou Bay looks very exciting as always with a nice shortbill spearfish coming out of only 180m of water off the Cape – shallow for those creatures showing the quality of the water.  Tuna showing up in only 80-100m of water off Waikawa Point as evidenced by the 54 kilo winning YFT in Taurangas recent tuna tourney as well as Whakatane first 4 tuna of their current contest.  Marlin, all stripees, are also beginning to make their presence felt.

Summary

Excited? You bet! Something tells me summer has only just struck us.  Now if we can squeeze another 3-4 months out of the situation …………… First things first, we’ll settle for a good next week!