Fishing Reports

As I write this report I know that we are certainly in the changeover phase here now. Its South/Southwest 35Knots and cold , and there are snow warnings for the South Island.

Gamefishing

And yet we are still getting Marlin and Yellowfin, several of each over easter ,and more in the week leading up to easter!!.

One boat -Aquila-the boat that got the big blue earlier in the season- got 2 striped.marlin in the days leading up to easter, on two consecutive days, and Yellowfin, mainly around 12kg , but one of 39 kg, have been coming in, as they return north to the tropics now.

But this cold first real southern storm of the year will shut it down for sure.Usually it takes one of these to shut the gamefishery down each year and this will do it, so game fishos, you better get out there now!

Kingfish- A feature Article.

Kingfish are still absolutely everywhere, both offshore and inshore- as usual getting them to bite is the problem.

Take jigs , rapalas and live baits every day if you can, as there is more chance of convincing them to bite if you give them all the options.

Whale, Ohinau, Red and Great Merc, and Opito Bay /Tipaki point are all holding lots of kingis , along with the offshore pins like Richards Rock and the Aldermans.

Jigging is rapidly gaining popularity, and often outfishes livebaits.Most of the big(400grm) jigs work well, but its hard to beat the Williamson ones for price.

Crimp a loop connection to the jig from your trace,or a loop knot  that tightens without losing its loop, so that you get a better action on your jig-it makes a difference, and if Barracouta are a problem, then use 120lb Flourocarbon, or you will be the tackle shop owners best friend!!

The other thing that is crucial is to have a high speed reel, over 5 or 6 to 1 ratio, or you just wont get as many hookups.Shimano have several reels to fill this niche, ii.e Torsa, Trinidad,and Torium, but the best value for money is the Torium 30.

We tested this against the Tekota- more a Hapuka reel due to its lower speed ratio(4.2 :1) - and the Torium (6.2:1 ratio) received twice to 3 times the hookups with the same Jig on both-Its just the superior speed triggers the kingis to strike out of instinct rather than hunger.

Also if you are not scared of doing upmarket knots, then do a bimini twist in your braid-(You are using braid arent you?...) and then do an Albright knot to connect a 5 metre leader of 120-150 lb mono to your braid and then you have a wind on leader to give yourself further insurance against bust offs from both Barras, and Hot kingis getting you to the bottom, and dragging you along the reef.

Of course then connect via a normal swivel to your 120 lb Flourocarbon trace and you have the ultimate setup!!Also make sure you have a fairly stiff rod or much of your jigging action will be lost on the lift up stroke.

And finally do tie a rubber band around the hook to keep it along the length of the jig , or you will not hook many of the strikes on the way down , as the hook and cord flutter above the Jig on the drop.

Snapper

Snapper fishing improves by the week as you would expect now. Temps are down to 19 degrees or less now and this is triggering the snapper to move in on to the reefs to feed up and put on condition for winter.

Meanwhile some fish are still out on the sand and 16-18 metres depth of Kuaotunu and Otama is doing quite well, esp. in the morning. A friend and I went out for 2 hrs the other morning to Otama and got 8 snapper between 2-3.5 kilos. and that was only in a kayak!@!!!.

John Ellwood on the "Whai"- A top Whitianga charter operator,snagged a 23lber for a client a couple of days  ago, despite a distinct lack of tide movement,showing yet again that when the going gets tough, the good guys always shine through.

But in general the spring tides are the go, making for a more active bite. Maybe you should go Hapuka fishing on the neap tides instead!!

Good Fishing

Andy Kerr- Stingray Charters- Whitianga.