Fishing Reports

  Fishing has improved a little over the last couple of weeks, with water tempd up to around 16.5C by mid-day.Best of the snapper result are from the inside of Mita's Foul up to the 30M contour west of Roberton Island. The bite is not prolific but fish of around up to 15lb are rewarding the patient angler.

The deeper reef areas up to 45M are folding large numbers of leatherjackets, which can prove a tasty treat if using small hooks, but are a real pain when fishing for snapper. You won't feel the bites, but the bait will be quickly nibbled off.

 If you get no bites, but lose bait, don't waste your time or bait. Pull the anchor and shift. For the leather jackets  you do get, try breaking the neck and pulling the skin off. What's left looks like a small flounder and is delicious pan fried in a butter/oil mixture with a little garlic.

 The water out wide has warmed , but little sign yet of any major pelagics. Hapuka are holding on most reef and rubble areas from 120M out, but so are the school sharks and spiny dogs.

  Best kingie results have been from Rocky Point, though to be fair, the continuing strong westerlies can make fishing anywhere else unpleasant and hard work.. Our best fish were around 12kg, though Steve Butler reports a few over 15kg.. Barroacoutta are also in the mix, so make sure you catch plenty of baits or buy a few extra jigs.  The toothy critters will depart back to deeper water as the water gets warmer.

 As always, drop me an email at major.tom@xtra.co.nz if you have any queries