Fishing Reports

Well it was inevitable, the fishing was going to improve in dramatic ways – and it did on a couple of fronts. While the fishing quality has stagnated, and even gone backwards in places, the fishing certainly has not. It’s always a highlight to register the first of any species for any given season, in particular an apex pelagic one. The revelations we’re privy to recently are just starting to indicate the goodies we are for in the year ahead!

Inshore

Very productive here although the weather hasn’t always been so kind. While most boats set forth with snapper in the crosshairs (and succeeded) it’s terakihi that continue to offer blistering action at many locales. Matata has the largest although limit fishing is available in many places around the Rurimas. This, also, is the place for some decent snapper fishing with its veritable minefield of foul producing well in all depths. Soft plastics are going well but only just out-pegging pilchards, squid and skipjack. Back on the sand and much closer to Whakatane the gurnard are biting their heads off. Again, limit fishing in a short period (2 hours) is available within a couple miles of Kohi Point – very handy for holiday makers who just want a feed.

Offshore

After a month of difficult and frustrating fishing for kingfish, it now just doesn’t get any better. All the recognised spots have pileups of kingis, ready and willing to destroy any angler and their tackle. Several days prior to Christmas saw fabulous fishing using all known techniques. Live bait, dead bait (squid, mackerel, and flying fish) jigs, large SP’s and poppers all produced well. Often every line in the water was hit – every drift! Indeed, the fish were following drifting boats well off the reef systems into deep (over 150m) water, biting just subsurface the entire time.

To exemplify this situation was angler John Lavery taking six kingis during one drift, all between 16-22 kilos! If ever you wanted to see White Island at its best, it’s now. While their condition varies greatly, the size is pleasing. With some of the fish obviously already spawned and very lean, others are still bursting out of their skins! Average size is 16-19 kilos although there are quite a few in the 20’s and some much larger. “Enchanter” Japanese jig expert Mogi landed a superlative fish of 155cm in length. After a few photos it took three of them to life the estimated 45 kilo monster up and over the rail for its release!

With so many larger fish up on the surface, the visuals have been likened to armed combat! The hoards of usual rats have been replaced but their larger (in some cases much larger) brethren. Long may it last! If that isn’t enough the reef fish are biting well with terakihi, XOS pink mao mao, golden snapper and a good sprinkling of large porae there for the taking in 35-50 metres of water.

Big (4-6b kilos) trevs are also readily available, taken either as a bycatch of the reef fish or targeting them with SB’s, small jigs or small cubes of bait. Deep water is also doing the business with some brilliant mixed catches going to those who put in the effort in the deep water. Throw in the impending game season and one has a very vibrant situation at the smokey isle – the future looks excellent.

Te Kaha

Flying beneath the radar until now, there have been some excellent fishing her of late. “Pub-Point” is up to its old tricks with some outstanding snapper fishing – many prime fish over 10lbs in weight with enough 20lbers in the mix to make it very entertaining/challenging. If that isn’t enough the terakihi are going well out off the Keru River and nearby Waikawa Point with some decent (15-20kgs) kingis thrown in – great fishing for holidaymakers and locals alike – enjoy.

Gamefishing

Feels so good to head up this section! After two days of yellowfin tuna sightings (Hicks Bay – “PURSUIT”, 10NM North of Cape Runaway – “Zambucca”) the first yellowfin tuna of the current season was taken, at least for the Bay of Plenty, if not the entire country. While it was caught in a zany situation, caught nevertheless it was! An “Enchanter” angler was drifting a live mackerel at the Volkner rocks, hoping for one last kingi prior to home time.

After an unorthodox take and “unusual” 15 minute fight, a splendid 55 kilo YFT lay on the deck, glistening in the afternoon sun! What a hoot for all onboard, an early Christmas present! Its size mirrors the earlier sightings so it looks like we’ve got a decent body of big fish descending on the Bay – bring it on. Look for more captures, hopefully many more, over the holidays. 

Waihou Bay

This popular holiday destination will no doubt be overflowing to capacity as its population soars by 10 fold at this time of year. As if the beauty and hospitality isn’t enough incentive, the fishing certainly is. The bay itself is full of pan snapper and terakihi at the moment considerably. Larger snapper (some in excess of 20lbs) and kingfish are obliging anglers here with consistency.

Jig fisherman still ripping into the kingfish population with many quality fish (20k’s plus) among the throngs of rats. Their annual “Tuna Tournament” ending on New Years could be just that if recent sightings are anything to go by. Look for the results of this lengthy comp to be most interesting.

Ranfurly Bank

The brilliant bottomfishing continues but kingfish just don’t want to play ball. Hapuka, bass and trumpeter are literally everywhere although few larger specimens taken on recent trips. Kingis will bite but you must be prepared to stay on the bank until late, the bite doesn’t start until 6-7pm! Some nice water interspersed by green rubbish. Find the blue water and you’ll score non-stop albies and skippies on small trolling lures. Should be interesting and productive here next year; look for some great catches to emerge.

Summary

Well, it’s finally all go – took awhile! Big news is of course the tuna, followed closely we hope by marlin. All fronts are exciting at present with plenty more potential on offer. Have a safe and rewarding holiday period shared with family and loved ones. Don’t loose sight of what the holidays are all about while wetting a line. Will be back on deck (literally and figuratively) the second week of the New Year. Until then all the very best ………….