Some areas, notably those further south, have exhibited little if any change since last report. Others, particularly off North Cape, have been this weeks darlings.  Weather continues to be brilliant but looks as though may end its great run soon.  While most fishing has not been steady.  So for the sake of expediency we eliminate right up to…………….

Parengarenga Canyon

Been some good, if not sporadic, fishing for striped marlin here – mainly in the 120-140 metre range.  Some days it pays big dividends to be in the area (some boats getting 4-5 strikes daily) while other times you wonder why you wasted your day.  As in most fishing, timing is everything.  Many of the fish are real nice sized here, 130k’s plus.

North Cape

Some very nice water – a little slice of summer (20.5 degrees C and purple) has taken up residence here and with it a decent number of stripees.  Recently (5 May) there were numerous fish taken or tagged with many more seen/lost. 

Richard Baker onboard his “Final Decision” had an outstanding day with three stripees hooked, two landed (one tagged) and within 15 minutes of deploying a bait just after dark – a long coveted broadbill swordfish!  Several other stripees were also landed within this relatively small (two square miles) area of warm (20 degrees C) purple water.  Water temps dropped dramatically on all sides of this quadrant as did the catch rate!  At the moment this area takes a lot of beating in the billfish stakes with some boats managing 5 strikes each day.

The “Hook” – Surville Cliffs

Depending upon the tides, the water can be warm or on the coldish side.  Recent marlin catches at both areas if you hit it on the right day.

Pedros (79 metre) Rock – Compass Rose

A few marlin here as well with every other boat passing through getting a bite, if not a fish.  Some nice (60 kilo plus) bass have been pulled out of the Compass Rose area just lately but not a lot of smaller brethren.

Prince’s Group – Great Island

Some good fishing here if the offshore banks don’t appeal for the day.  Kingis rule the roost, that is if you can stop them!  Some real freight trains at the moment, especially at west Island.  Also plenty of bottomfishing including some beautifully coloured and conditioned snapper and the occasional spotted grouper (must be returned as they are protested NZ wide).  Good koheru fishing and consistent – at last.  Just outside NW bay they bite most every morning, mixed sizes.  Smaller early followed by larger specimens later (8:00-9:00am) on.

Middlesex Bank

Same report as had been all season.  Plenty of bait (sauries and skippies), warm (19 degrees plus) water, great bottom and kingi fishing but no marlin.  Some XOS albacore abounding here as well – a light tackle anglers dream.  Big bronzies still a problem at times.  A few stripees turning up further west on the “Flemish Cap”.

King Bank

Still disappointing with the exception of one day when the “Real Passion” had 19 degrees, saw 7, hooked 3 and landed one.  Since then the upper half of the bank remains cold and inhospitable for marlin.  Great kingi fishing, particularly on the southern end of the bank.  Lots of nice bass and unlimited king terakihi as well.  Will to come right this season? A very good question which will be answered soon.  Lots of effort put in here for broadbill with only thresher sharks to show for their efforts of late.

Summary

With still marlin being landed in good numbers of Tutukaka and the BOI it would appear that our future looks good in the Far North.  All these fish “below” us, in theory, will come up the coast at some stage to say hurrah prior to departing for the winter.  In the meantime North Cape is not a bad option and plenty of other species there for the taking.  Till next week …………………