Fishing Reports

Summer? Yeah right! The next person that suggests global warming to me better duck cuz I’m swingin! Can’t get over how cold it is – and that’s pretty much across the board. How about having fingers so cold we can’t tie knots properly? In December? Anyway, now that I’ve got that off my chest, the fishing isn’t half bad!

Inshore

This juggernaught just keeps truckin along. The coastal strip which receives the most pressure due to its proximity is holding up well. A good example was the recent Ham’s Tournament held by the Whakatane Sportfishing Club.

Ever popular for obvious reasons leading up to the holidays there were very few complaints heard among the 280 contestants. All the near shore species are fishing well, and in many different environs. Snapper still rein supreme with most, and always will. While most of the catches revolve around the omnipresent pannies, there are some real nice fish among them.

The deeper water (30-60 metres) out off Port Ohope/Waiotahi seem to be producing a better line of fish including some over 7 kilos but you need to be lucky or patient. Often the first bite doesn’t occur for a very long time, allowing the berley bomb to do its thing.

Once it finally attracts the fish in your part of the sandy seascape, you’re in business – and it’s usually not just snapper. Good catches of terakihi (where do they come from?), kahawai, trevally, kingis and the pup hapuka often follow suit! Back inshore things are not too shabby either with the large expanse that makes up the Raus and Matata also delivering the goods.

A stack of gurnard seem to be most everywhere on the sand, with a few good sized (for the BOP) and approaching the kilo mark. All in all a vibrant picture here, one that awaits the hoards of waiting holidaymakers.

Offshore

The epitome of inconsistency at present – hell, make that all season really! Despite slowly rising water temps (we’ve been blaming everything on the cold water temps!) the kingis just don’t want to play ball like they should at this time of year. We get one good or even excellent day on them, then end up “paying” for it the rest of the week!

Exactly what happened last week with a most memorable session with many fish in the 20’s and one over 30. The following six days we were calling a session with more than three fish a “bite”! Still some quality exists, evidenced by Australian angler Chris Hallings beauty at 33 ½ kgs. Nice way to break in your new jig rod, Chris! This fish followed closely by “Pistol” Pete Williams.

The bulk, however, are still the 15-18 kilo models – if you’re lucky that is. Jigs are marginally out producing bait in this finicky fishery. Elsewhere the deep water fishing is mimicking the kingfish antics. Get a good catch one day- you better look over your shoulder the next. Bluenose jaunts early in the mornings are the most productive but there has been some decent sessions on hapuka, bass and gemfish of moderate (8-18kgs) proportions.

Back closer to White the reef fish have finally hit their straps after being coy as well. Terakihi lead the parade but followed closely by golden snapper, decent sized pink mao mao, huge leatherjackets and many porae up to six kilos. More nice – a lures is also worthwhile as coke (2-4kgs) albacore have turned up in numbers. A sure sign of summer?!

Ranfurly Bank

This place, at least for kingfish, is everything White Island is not at present. While the bottomfishing is pretty ho hum (for there), the kingi fishing is bordering on phenomenal. Not only numbers but the quality is outstanding. The last boat to visit there nearly a week ago was the “Enchanter” complete with a group of keen but relative novice anglers.

They scored a very impressive 9 kingfish over 30 kilos – and a few of them over 35!!! Just how good is that?!? Better still; the vast majority of them are still there to terrorize the next lot of unsuspecting anglers! The enticements don’t seem to matter either, just pick your (their) poison.

As mentioned the bottomfishing is good but can’t compare with their yellowtailed counterparts. A few fish seemingly everywhere but it takes awhile and a few moves to finally secure a catch of predominantly 10-20 kilo fish. A few 30 kilo jobs, both hapuka and bass, top out this scene currently. Water cold (15 degrees C) and uninvitingly green as well.

Summary

Simply put, we’ve had plenty of the ying – we want some yang! Surely summer is coming and there are signs everywhere. Flowering Pohutukawa’s, sunfish, flying fish and jellyfish in droves – even the odd warm day. Really though it feels like a long time until we can talk about, let alone enjoy, the impending game season. Till next week, the “grouch” is signing off!