Fishing Reports

What a mixed bag the West Coast can be. Despite some hard work the rewards have been somewhat patchy.

Water temperature seems to have reach a plateu at about 21.5^oC with water quality all over the place. Previously blue water can go green overnight as currents move things around.

So what has been happening? On the whole there are some encouraging signs with the odd Marlin coming in over the bar to the scales. Congratulations to the guys on "Sundance" who stayed out on an overnighter and were rewarded for their efforts with a Stripie of 112Kg weighed at Little Huia on Sunday.

Stripies seem to be where you find them with no real hot spots. Stick to the tried and true lures for the West Coast, Black / Purple and Lumo are what you should start with. Although some fish are being seen out wide I would stay inside 80m as out wide is no better and why travel if you don't need to. Unless you know better I would work from behind the bar to Piha.

Albies are all over the place but seem to be very scattered from 50m behind the bar out past 1000m. The larger fish seem to be wider but it sure is along way out there. Some skippies are around with good numbers coming from close in off Piha in the 40-50m area. This spot was holding some very nice water that couldn't be found further South  off the bar.

Bait is still very patchy with some Kahawai finally showing up. However surface bait is scarce with most bait in deep meat balls. Try using weighted rigs to drop a livey down deep for some drifts. Something must be working it down there.

To wrap up there are not a lot of fish coming in but they are there , you wont catch them sitting on the couch or at work so get out and give it a go.

See you on the water .

Jeremy

j.hmillichamp@orcon.net.nz