Fishing Reports

Fair amount of change over the past week with none of it particularly good! While weather has remained very constant and hot, a couple of our fisheries have tailed off or at least become inconsistent. Also fewer boats out testing the various areas so information is becoming a little more sketchy – read that as all the holiday makers have returned to work! Still have plenty on our plate to capture anyone’s attention, regardless of their preference.

Inshore

After virtually months of consistent fishing in this expansive region for every bodies favourite, things have inexplicably changed. Maybe not such a mystery as this could have signaled the end of a long spawning period. This crimson brigade have become picky with on again/off again performances. When they do cooperate there is no shortage of quality fish with many in the 2-3kf bracket. Whether it’s out of desperation or the target species, terakihi continue to shine with many of them of a very nice size. In a good supporting act we have good sized kahawai, trevally and the king of the sand – the ubiquitous gurnard. Still productive scene but, if you’re after snapper, you’ve got to be just that little bit better or lucky!

Offshore

White Island kingis have followed suit with the inshore snapper. While there are some excellent sessions, and days, of fishing you better be there on the “right” day! Jigs are definitely out of fashion, except on as many rats (up to 12 kilos) as you care to wear yourself out on. These post spawn fish are keen on a feed to reestablish condition and they want it as effortlessly as possible – end of story. With their aggressive behavior left behind, they are keen on large, even outlandish, baits. And with these large baits come some hefty fish, so big in fact relatively few are being landed – even on37k tackle!

While the largest to come onboard lately is just over 30k’s, there are plenty of larger fish there to be sure. Anglers are being tortured, albeit mostly for a short time, before these heavyweights affect their escape. Some are showing signs of recovering condition factor while others are mere shadows of their former selves. Some nice trevally there for anyone wishing to tackle them but shallow reef fishing has taken a tumble, particularly on terakihi. The sulphurous waters around the island have laid claim to more than one tank of live bait so be careful when staying anywhere near Works Bay overnight. Don’t be the one counting the next rows of dead bait lined up on the bottom of your tank the next morning! Still, deadies aren’t too bad at the moment. Out deep the bluenose continue to please, especially either end of the day. This should continue right in to April on these delicious and largest of all warehou.

Ranfurly Bank

Still a very rewarding experience overall. After a troll to the bank, you can select what species you’d like to do battle with and usually do just that. Kingis are biting well in the shallows and out around the 70 metre mark. Here they are taking everything, including poorly presented jigs, but the quality is not startling. Many nice fish between 15-20kgs (with the largest few just knocking on 30k’s) but the majority of trophy fish seem to be back at White. Bottomfishing has been great with an excellent mix of fish at most possies. Hapuka, bass, trumpeter and kingi terakihi seem to litter the bottom here in most depths (90-200m). Most fish are of a pleasing average for their species but there are a few beauts thrown into most fish holds. Bass over 40k’s and puka over 30 are certainly everyday occurrences. Usually doesn’t take too many drifts to secure everyone’s requirements, moving onto other pursuits. Trolling has been largely unrewarding. Except for one bigeye tuna (69 kilos), most boats are only washing their lures in their wakes. Seemingly little bat in the area but some very nice water. One day a visiting boat will hit the jackpot.

Pelagics

Little change here which one can comfortably say is disappointing. After the massive effort expended in the recent tuna tourney, little has changed except numbers of boats of the water. A few stripees seem to be anywhere and everywhere but in no numbers. Hot spots (if you can say this) have been the Volkner Rocks, just north of Opotiki. (70 metres of water or less) and Waihou Bay. Tuna remain totally absent, without any seen – let alone landed. Another of nature’s cruel mysteries. Fifteen years ago Whakatane was being referred to as the Tuna Capital of NZ, if not Australasia. Now we can manage but one in a four day major tournament! My how things have changed! If it’s albacore and/or skippies you are after then this is the place for you. The similar sized fish are taking small lures with great abandon in 60-90m of water. The only unknown is how many of each species you will land of the 3-4 kilo fish each day. Still, hope springs eternal and we have plenty (lets hope nearly all) of this season ahead of us. Hopefully the upcoming popular Ladies Tournament will fare better than the TT.

Summary

With the exception of a couple minor negatives, it’s steady as she goes. We always thought this would be a late season. Now we’re hoping more than ever it won’t be a fizzer. With the marlin showing from the Barrier north, it would appear we will get our shots. Keep your powder dry and be patient. In the meantime there’s plenty else to capture ones attention – just be sure to troll from A to B!