Fishing Reports

The great fishing continues as the water warms and it seems there are fish just about everywhere. Here's a bit of a breakdown of where we have been knocking them over.

Starting at Great Barrier...simply because we just got back from there...in a word...... awesome!

Huge schools of pilchards, mackerel and kahawai are being shadowed by kingfish, 'couta and big snapper along the south western coast. We fished amoungst the melee for a day and had great results with 15kg kingfish, 8kg snapper, dory and good size kahawai being caught (and released at times) on live baits, fresh baits, jigs and soft plastics. The jigging was hard work but the "pay me for the pain" attitude worked well using 200gr and   300gr Zests in blue/white and pink/white.

A lumo jig from the Williamson stable worked well too. At night we had huge schools of pilchards around the boat and filled the livebait tank with them, slimies and jacks all of which were turned into big snapper the next morning. Up around the Needles, Katherine Bay and around the Broken Islands fished well too.

Gannet work ups were scatterd around the place too and pretty much every work up produced good fishing for snapper, dory and kingfish on jigs. We had mint conditions which makes it alot easier and provided heaps of options. The diving was pretty good too although there were reports that the scallops were not that flash yet.

We fished in amoungst the working scallop boats off Little Barrier the other day for a feed of fat pannies and fishing around the spit area off the rangers hut beaches has been ok too. The Horn Rock reefs produced good snapper as did Jimmies foul. Fish up to 9.5 kg came from these areas both on the drift and anchoring and burelying. Not rocket science just good locations. You will have to fight off the hungry 'coutas if you want in out here though.

The back of Kawau has been a little slow but keep in mind that the fish are mostly on the sand of the middle Gulf and are probably moving onto the reefs at night if they aren't hanging out in the middle. Some will make the reefs home over time and the place will fish alot better soon. Kawau Bay and the Takatu Channel are starting to produce a bit more too and in rough weather you can get some pretty decent shelter and still catch fish in here. The islands south of Kawau are starting to fish betetr too and reports of a few big fish are filtering in from around Saddle Island, Waiwera and along Orewa Beach. The 50ft area off the beach is well worth a drift.....nod nod wink wink! This guys says to me the other day as we did a few drifts around the shallows...."What the hell are we doing in here!" It was about then that we said to him....."Why dont you turn around and take that bent rod out of the rod holder and you'll see mate" Up pops a 5kg snapper!

Keep in mind that fish will go where there is food.

The Tiri Channel is holding fish. The crew from Carters Whangaparaoa had a good day in there last weekend while we were away with 5kg snapper gracing the decks. The 30m area in the middle of the channel was the spot and is a good sign of things to come. The wormbeds south of the channel are a bit hit and miss but well worth a look especailly if the birds are working. The back of Tiri is a little slower but thats about normal for this time of year.

Along the back of Waiheke and around the Bottom End is fishing pretty well with the change of light being the best times. Baits and soft plastics are doing the job. The Firth is filling up too and recent reports suggest a bumper season in there.....may give it a shot later this week for a change of scenery.

The back of Rangi and along towards Rakino is holding a few too but again the change of light will be the best time in the shallows. Fire a live bait out too and there some kingfish being caught along this coast with the hardest part being getting them out of the shallow lava flows. Pretty hard on the gear, all that rock! Its a toss off either to bump up leader size and get less fish or stay as light as you dare and lose the odd one here and there. Good livies should be easy to find on the sand nearby.

A few fish were nabbed in the Colville area recently too but the current in here makes the snapper fishing a little harder. Kingfish will be starting to hang around Channel Island and the Square Top and the Pinnacles area will be worth a shot as well.

Not alot of free dates left on DIVERSITY for 2007 but we are fishing all the way through the Christmas break and New Year period. We have other boats working with us so we should be able to get you out there and amoungst the action.

Give us a bell on 09 4240607, me direct on 021 2446346, flick an email through to deepsea@clear.net.nz and check out the website to see what we get up too - www.charterconnection.co.nz

Cheers all

Damian"Damo"Clayton - Charter Connection - Where fishing is catching! ©