And yet another northern game season comes to a conclusion – or has it?!  As far as the fish (marlin) are concerned, probably not – they’re still spoiling for a fight without anyone to accommodate them!  Aside from the apex species there’s still plenty to keep anglers occupied.

Doubtless Bay

Still a hive of activity, particularly for this time of year.  Mangonui wharf continues to put up some great excitement, especially if high tide coincides with the change of light.  While the action is more sporadic now, the fishing is quite electric if your timing is right.  Kingis to 18 k’s still being landed (larger ones lost) with hordes of large kahawai and JD’s at times.  Out in the bay snapper rule the roost with some goods fishing all along the interior bay; Fairway Reef to Taipa being a good region to concentrate ones energies.  A few skippies turning up just off Knuckle Point - seemingly none anywhere else at the moment.

Cape Karikari

Nobody has seen any marlin here but then nobody is looking either.  Water temps have dropped a little but no reason to believe they aren’t still there.  Good snapper from East Beach through to Puheke although quality is not great.

Parengarenga - North Cape

Some great workups with gannets leading the charge – about 130 to 140 metres is the depth still.  Would have to be a good area to troll some lures or baits were anyone interested. Some good snapper fishing off the Cape, and Waikuku Beach particularly in the evenings.  Fish seem to want squid in the deeper (50-60m) water but only pillies shallower.

“The Hook”

Water quality very good up to this point but falls off markedly beyond this point.  A few skippies here as well as some decent bottom bouncing – hapuka (some well over 30k’s) dominating the scene.

Spirits Bay

Some consistent snapper fishing with a few beauties thrown in (some between 15-20lbs) among the mainly pannies.  A few decent (15-20k’s) kingis and trevs around to liven up proceedings with some of the kingis willing to play amazingly fair and fall prey to a patient angler, even on light tackle.

Three Kings – Great Island

Wouldn’t you know it, water temp drops and boats now ceasing operation with the XOS koheru biting like crazy!  All season they have been tough to catch and now they are keen to oblige.  Of course they make great bait enticements for marlin, kingfish and the like.  Otherwise kingis and trevally suddenly conspicuous by their absence.

Middlesex Bank

No visits lately so it’s a case of now waiting until next season to see if this once famous bit of water can reclaim its former late season greatness.

King Bank

As it has been for some years, the “face” of the Three Kings marlin fishery.  Some great looking and feeling (19-20 degrees C) water here, particularly toward the top end (Magnet).  No marlin landed this past week but a couple strikes were had on live bait with Andrew Kennedy jumping off a relatively small fish recently. 

Skippies abound in droves, not easy to secure 20-30 on bungies in as many minutes once they are found.  Kingis are keen but seemingly the big slugs (25k’s +) seem to only want to come out to play late in the day, leaving the “also-rans” (14-18ks) to take up the game during bright daylight hours. 

Bottomfishing remains excellent with king terakihi and bass vying for top honours.  Most female bass are heavy in roe with one commercial fisherman reporting one landed with 23 kilos of the stuff!

Summary

With this, our last Northland report for this season comes the genuine belief this game season is not over.  If ever there was a year when late season fishing could turn on it would have to be this one.  Two well known boats are contemplating trips to the Kings (read that King Bank) later this month.  Lets hope the condition prove favourable to enable these crews to try to secure the last marlin of the season and first of the new season. 

The New Zealand Big Game Fishing Council decides July 1^st as being the start of the new (2008) season.  The way things have gone all year and back into late spring it’s been easily documented as a late season from the outset.  If ever there was a possibility of achieving this feat it would have to be this year.  Good luck.

We normally define the late Northern season with top achievements by participants. Some years the list is long – this season it is not.

“Primetime” – again skipper John Gregory led his clients to a great season.  Despite fewer days at sea and difficult fishing he managed to catch (and mainly tag) over 100 billfish this season.  The gland slam of a blue and striped marlin plus broadbill swordfish in less than 8 hours had to be the highlight.

“Oracle” – despite having many bottomfishing and jig only groups onboard, the young crew achieved some good billfish captures including three marlin in one day, a 258 kilo blue and two swords on their last trip – well done.

That’s it for another year and a return to the Bay of Plenty.  Will continue reports from this locale until late next month when we will cease operations for a winter break.