Fishing Reports

We have been noticing a lot more school fish showing up out in the Gulf and down the north east coast. Easily recognisable by the clean white bellys and brighter pink colouring on the females and the greying chins on the males.

The bigger spring "jacks" move in first with the females not far behind. We have been getting some good fish - schoolies - to about 7-8 kg this last week from out on the mud in the Gulf. There are fish under the work ups too but if you don't find one of these then you may have to work a little harder.

There is fish moving to the 50-60m areas north of Cape Rodney with pretty good reports coming from the area. These fish are out on the sand and often hangout in midwater making them considerable harder to latch onto but stick at it as they will feed at some stage. Quite often we find that staying in the same area  but just moving off a mile or so will get us into a different school that is perhaps into having a feed.

The Mokes is still patchy from what we hear but there a few good puka showing up from out the back of the islands.

Little Barrier has been pretty consistent and the 'coutas are thinning out at last although they do tend to hang around the bigger reefs structure well into summer. Off the rangers hut in 40m has been OK with a few schools of snapper moving through in a day along with the odd john Dory and terahiki. Closer in along the boulder banks there are fish too but they take a bit more coaxing to drag them out of the weeds.

Great Barrier has been better than great this winter and spring and we have really enjoyed the fishing over there these past few months. Heaps of our clients have acheived personal bests and enjoyed alot of different fishing eg; speed jigging, deep water drift fishing, shallow water straylining and of course the soft plastics fishing.

Check out this recent trip...no bait. 

 http://www.fishing.net.nz/asp_forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=23188

Alot of new products are on the market now and along with rods, reels and braids some of the new baits like the Squidgies are going to be catching some really good fish over the next months.

Closer in, Kawau has been hot and cold with some guys struggling and others doing well. Close in has been the pick of it and try to get in some current. This helps the burely flow over a wider area and therefore giving you a better chance of attracting a decent fish.

 The Middle Gulf is staring to fish better again and if you get the bite time right and find the fish on the bottom then you will come away with a feed if not some of these big jacks that in the schools. Anchor up if you cant find the birds working and get a good burely flowing. Sit it out - you will get fish eventually. There are some BIG gurnard out here too at the mo and they are taking soft plastics and baits when the snapper cant beat them to it.

Tiri will be a while yet before it fires up so head out deeper and get rewarded.

On a side note we will be running trips for you spearos out there. Day trips and overnighters with various destinations in mind. Give us a bell if you're keen.

Ther will be a price rise soon if the diesel keeps going up so get in now and book your trips.

Cheers

Damian"Damo"Clayton

Charter Connection - Where fishing is catching!©

www.charterconnection.co.nz