Fishing Reports

Well what a week on the West Coast. We have gone from "whats the point of launching the boat is nothing out there" to " can you service the boat by the weekend?".

Temperatures are up another degree to over 22⁰C with a good change in colour around the 50m mark.

Last weekend the Manukau Sportfishing Club held its annual Westcoaster tournament with nearly 40 boats out for two days. There was a lot of ocean covered and it showed at the scales, with 1 Stripped Marlin weighed on Friday and 6 on Saturday. The heaviest fish was 144kg followed by a 138kg. This event went off very well with some fish well over 100kgs not even getting into the money.

These larger fish are coming from a patch of water up towards Muriwai that yeilded a monster 175Kg fish earlier last week. Yes that's a Stripped Marlin not a Blue. Closer to home there are Stripies being taken closer to the Bar so if you don't want to drive 20miles after crossing the bar all is not lost.

There still seems to be two depths to focus on. Closer in the 50-60m area is holding vast schools of Jack Makerel as well as a heap of Albies, some Skippies and  the predictable Mako brigade. Further out 100-120m is still holding good Albie numbers with Marlin present as well. If you don't want to burn a whole tank of fuel stay closer in and live bait the Makerel schools. They are easy to catch and last very well. The makos will take a few of them but that wont matter. Historically good numbers of Marlin have been taken in close so I don't see this as fruitless exercise.

Right in close to the Bar there have been Kingfish seen feeding so have a jig ready just as you clear the break area. 

For those of you fishing the "Nationals" tight lines I will be at Waihau Bay for the week so I might see you there.

If you want to contact me mail me at j.hmillichamp92@clear.net.nz