Fishing Reports

It’s nice to be home, there’s no place like quite like it.  That’s despite being subjected to the worst weather (by far) than we’ve seen in well over two months!  It is winter after all so we must expect storms, some big ones like those that have recently ravaged New South Wales.  The current weather we are experiencing will pass and we’ll be able to get back to the business of fishing, which isn’t all that bad I might add.

Inshore

All reports suggest a very consistent scene here.  While nothing large is coming in, catches have approached limits.  Although it may be a symptom of angler preference/pressure, it would appear the fishing is superior to the east of Whakatane rather than west. 

Even straight of Kohi Point (less than two miles) success is sweet with a combination of snapper and pre spawning gurnard.  35 metres of water seems a favourable depth off Port Ohope with plenty of snapper there, some nicer fish to four kilos with the odd decent kingi thrown in for some spice.  

On the western front terakihi are starting to come on the bite to the NE of the Rurimas with a combo bag of snapper and silversides off Matata.  Some good snapper off Lottin Point in deep (70m) water and great kingi fishing near Cape Runaway with mostly rats but Auckland angler Murray Wallis dispelled this notion with his 28 kilo beauty.  Overall it appears to be a healthy fishery at present.

Offshore

Not vibrant but steady as she goes.  Still some beautiful and relatively warm water here, getting predictably warmer as one ventures further north.  While marlin may now be a pipe dream, large albacore could well be a possibility.  Bluenose, albeit small in size (3-5 kilo average) are providing consistent action for deepwater braid brigade. 

One interesting aspect is seeing them bite all day and close to White Island as opposed to the normal change of light.  Shallow water around the island is quite productive on a wide variety of species with anglers not knowing whether their next catch will be a terakihi, rat kingi, XOS trevally, golden snapper or pink mao mao and all in the same possie. 

Kingfish are anything but hot but worthwhile for those that persevere.  Unlike the past two winters, the fish are in deeper haunts rather than shallower spring/summer spots.  120-190 metres is a good depth range to look at now with Aucklander Dan Irvine coming up trumps with his personal best 25 kilo specimen.

Ranfurly Bank

A continuation of success stories here but weather is always a huge factor and current conditions make the Bank a no go area at present.  Mother Nature’s protection is one reason why this is such a desirable destination.  Recent visits have provided very consistent fishing with most areas yielding a pleasing combination of hapuka, bass and trumpeter. 

While there’s been plenty of fish of a nice size (10-20k’s) little has come to the surface of lunker dimensions.  Kingfish have also put in a good appearance but you’ll need to target them in a little deeper water as the shallows are full of rats and little else.  60-80 metres is a good depth with jigs taking more fish than live bait at present; the fish are of a decent class with 15-20 kilos commonplace and 26k’s being the largest taken – but certainly not the largest present!  Very different start to last years winter season which started out hard and only got tougher.  Long may this situation last.

Summary

As you will have just read, not a lot wrong with the eastern bays scene at present.  The cold snap appears to have daunted many anglers enthusiasm – don’t let it happen to you in light of the productive fishing we are experiencing.