Fishing Reports

When I was a kid in the late 60's my dad would often take us fishing from theTakapuna boat ramp.Often the ocean would be alive with birds from Takapuna out to the lighthouse and up as far as the end of Rangitoto. These were huge work ups. Something that had vanished until last week.

On Friday the 31st of October we saw and were part of the biggest congregation of fish I have seen in my adult life.

Baracuddas five foot long,huge black ocean going fat 3.5 kg's plus Kahawai.

The work up built up over the day. We watched the birds fly in from 11.30am onwards until mega work up erupted at 2.30pm.

The work up stretched from Shearers Rock,Tiri Tiri out to the Noises and at least 5 nautical miles deep out towards Coromandel. There would have been 100,000 screaming birds of all shapes and sizes. We saw one minature Albatross. There were whales and dolphins, including serveral Pilot Whales in this group. Of course the snapper were excited, who wouldn't be. For everyone onboard , you guys witnessed something that has taken 30 years to be seen again by my eyes. This was an extraordinary event . We had our heavy rock music blarring, which we are starting to get known for.

What a buzz for the half dozen boats who drifted into the no fish, no anchor zone and were photographed by the Telecome spotter plane. What a tosser he was, I am amazed he did not drop from the sky from bird strike and end up as shark food. He was so low he looked like he was a second world war fighter bomber buzzing these guys.

The rules are unfortunately to be aware of your position at all times when you are close to the no fishing , no anchor cable zone. I agree completely for fishers this rule sux.

The fishing is amazing under such an event. Often I looked down the side of the boat and there were a number of snapper on the surface waiting to be brought aboard or carefully released.