Fishing Reports

 

Satwater Scene: Spring conditions are unusually normal for a change. The air is dry, sun hot, and water cold. This is a normal pattern for a Bay of Island's spring (the last two warm water seasons have been abnormal). Subsequently the snapper are slow to move, while kingfish reports in close are few and far between. Generally this all changes around Labour Weekend; and sea temperatures play a crucial role in determining what is going to occur. With southerly quarter winds still predominating we have orcas, big kahawai, and barracouta out in the bay. Fast moving work-ups with lots of gannets bombing in from above have provided some exciting fishing for swoffers with good casting ability. You've got to catch up with the fish, lay a long fast cast out in a hurry, and then hope a 'couta does not slash your line. The occasional work-up with 'coutas on the surface is brilliant fun for Far North swoffers. In this situation they'll leave the water completely to nail your fly- an exciting way to catch this worthwhile sportfish. Remember the heavy shock leaders and long nosed pliers for removing the fly. Most Northland coutas stay down deep. It is big kahawai that have been featuring on the surface. Many of these fish have been pushing the three kilo mark and are great fighters. We have been carefully releasing everyone of these wonderful fish that we catch. Some big slimey mackerel and jack mackerel have been feeding underneath working terns; and these are great fun on a lighter fly gear and a sinking line. Again though, the schools are fast moving and hard to stay with. Keeping a live fish in the water while your buddies throw in a fly helps heaps. The pending snapper schooling season offers the very real prospect of taking surface schooling snapper on the fly. When snapper are spawning they can be less than a metre from the surface and willing to bite at anything that looks like food. A heavily weighted squid fly tossed in their midst should work as well as jigs do in this situation. Around this time good schools of kings should start to show on nearby reefs. Watch for big explosions around piper schools on calm evenings. Fly poppers are the way to go. Freshwater Scene: Northland rivers are surprisingly low and trout are fighting fit. The condition factor of fish caught has been amazing. Despite the floods of winter the fish seem to be well fed and in tip top shape. Recent explorations in two of Northland's better streams produced a couple of fish close to the old four pound mark (despite the fact that both managed to throw the hook in huge cartwheeling jumps). We have been discovering the joys of fishing the possum tailed 'flymph'. This is not a fly nor a nymph but a bead headed cross between the two. The 'flymph' can be bounced down rapids on a short line, fished downstream as a wet fly, or flicked into deep pools and gently jigged like an American 'crappie jig'. In Northland's changeable streams with overgrown banks it is the most versatile fly you can use. 'Til next time...

 

From Craig Worthington

Report type: Saltwater and Freshwater

Report date: 19 October 00