Fishing Reports

Will these incessant westerlies ever stop?!? They just keep truckin’ with slim regard to water temps or angler comfort! In spite of this annoying adversity, things are pretty vibrant and even improving in some areas.

Inshore

If definitely a case of status quo which isn’t half bad. Regardless of what depth, type of bottom terrain or technique employed chances are you’ve got a good story to relate. Straylinging in less than ten metres or bottom bouncing in 60 – doesn’t matter as results will follow. Standout has been gurnard. Plenty of them and decent sized – at least by BOP standards. Find some sand (as if there’s a shortage of it!) and you’re in, sometimes limit proportions for all onboard.

Snapper have also been consistent with limit or near limit catches showing up. While there haven’t been any “monsters” this week, a fair few have been in double digits (pounds). Otherwise and as per normal, pannies rule the day. Terakihi, kahawai, trevally, kingfish and pup puka finish off an impressive list of support cast. Water still cold and infested with jellyfish, more than can be remembered for many years. On the incoming tide, they are transported miles up the Whakatane River enmasse only to come back down on the ebb tide. The mind boggles to think what the fishing could be like with a couple more degrees!

Offshore

White Island continues it’s inconsistent ways with most everything as Benji Marshall, captain of the Kiwi rugby league team, found out recently. During his film shoot he managed three small bottomfish but still enjoyed his time on the water and in a helicopter (1st time). Kingis, eveyones prime target this time of year, have been most frustrating.

The bit a little one day, then nearly disappear the next. A few over 20 kilos but the vast majority come from the same mould, 15-17 kilos. Jigs are working better, on a parity with live baits most days now. Warmer water should work wonders on this species as well as its only 16 and a bit now. Elsewhere bottomfishing, both deep and shallow, is …………… you guessed it – inconsistent!

Early morning bluenose forays can be very good for 8-10 kilo fish, if you hit it right. A few puka, small bass and gemfish do their best to fill the gaps. Ruby fish, terakihi, pinkies, porae and golden snapper do their best to fill the bin in the shallows, some days much better than others. Wate around White decidedly green but improves markedly (nearly blue) both to the west and north.

Ranfurly Bank

If the weather allows, this is where you want to be. While the bottomfishing is pretty good, the kingis are phenomenal! Not only numbers but size is mind blowing at present – about as good as it gets. While they bite in the mornings, the afternoons really turn it on. Jigs and bait work equally well with superb quality showing up on many of the reef and nearby rocks in anything from 35 out to over 100 metres.

Simply put they are everywhere, and that despite cold green water enveloping the place. Many of the fish are over 25 kilos with some much larger. “Enchanter” had a regular group from “Yeehaa” tackle in Auckland score no less than an impressive ten over 30 kilos in one session! Others over 40 were landed and released but the big news was David Howes superb 50 kilo hog on 15k line no less! This is the same David Howes that scored the country’s largest kingi (46.4k) last season. Lucky or good? A bit of both! It’s pretty obvious if you want an XOS kingi then Ranfurly is the place to be at the moment. Hard to fathom what increased water temps might trigger here?!!

If you can drag yourself out of the shallows, then there are plenty of great eating bottom species to accommodate. Bass and hapuka are in nearly equal numbers with a strong contingent of trumpeter to compliment the catch. With most fish in the 10-20 kilo bracket, there are a few “lunkers” currently. Neil Welhim scored the largest on a recent trip at a reasonable but modest 33 kilos. With regular trips scheduled down there leading up to (and after) Christmas, it will be interesting to see what may turn up in subsequent trips.

Summary

With most everyone accepting a late (maybe very) game season, it’s easy to enjoy what we have at present – and it’s not too hard to take. The busy charterboats are getting battle hardened with the weather they’ve had to contend with of late. Will the official start of summer change this? Don’t hold your breath!