Fishing Reports

What a difference a week makes! We’ve always known this (sometimes days) but it’s been borne out explicably just recently. While the rapidly warming water temps have changed some areas and their fisheries little, other regions have changed markedly – and all for the best. White Island is one of those that has benefited markedly from the 1 ½ degree hike in water temps in less than a week. Another that has improved is the …………..

Inshore

While fishing was already good here, it just got better – especially on the snapper front. Anglers that fish little and have caught similar are now catching fish, and they aren’t all small! The hotspot has been in 30-40 metres of water between Opotiki and Port Ohope with some great catches of fish registered. The line of snapper have been excellent as well with many in the three to four kilo range with some over seven. The fish are all rowed up and will soon spawn if not already doing so. This may be the best area to catch snapper but it’s by no means the only place.

Elsewhere there’s also been good fishing although the size can’t compare with the sand to the east. For those that aren’t interested in the crimson ones, there’s also terakihi, gurnard, fat kahawai and a decent amount of legal kingis hooning about. Also decent amounts of the pup hapuka stories just keep coming in. All in all it’s a very vibrant picture for the throngs of soon arriving holidaymakers ready to descend upon the regions. Enjoy yourselves but please only take what you can sensibly use of this bounty.

Offshore

We have said the inconsistency and generally poor showing here was due to abnormally cool temperatures and that a rise in that temp would turn on the switch – bingo! From struggling to achieve 17 degrees C to nearly 18 ½ in just four days has done the trick. Kingis and trevally, in particular, have responded very positively. Both have become very easy to apprehend, taking all manner of baits with gusto. Very nice average sizes are present with a few jumbos to make things interesting. Kingis are averaging in the high teens with many in the 20’s and even over 30.

Bait still is out fishing jigs, why is anyone’s guess. Around four anglers have all ties for whopper of the week off several boats at a credible 31 kilos – a popular number just recently. Half a kilo back was a notable capture by well known Auckland angler Terry Williams-King. Terry was using a Lucanis slow jig and got more than he bargained for. The tiny hooks were both straightened out but hung in there to record what is thought to be the largest of the species landed to date on these jigs.

The trevs are also pre spawn and virtually committing hari-kari! The entire south and west ends of the island are productive on all manner of techniques although deploying small baits back into a berley trail is hard to beet. Some of the fish approach six kilos although the average is a healthy 4 ½. Elsewhere bottomfishing is between good and excellent in both deep and shallow water. A nice mix of bluenose, bass, puka and gemfish of very mixed (3-30kgs) sizes as well. Numerous spots are firing with some of the best very close to the island. Best depths are between 240-300 metres of water – definite braid brigade stuff.

Back in the shallows (40-60m) the terakihi have really turned on in pre Christmas style. In a good support, there is the usual myriad of other reef species to add spice and colour to the catch. For those wishing to deploy small lures in their wake there’s “albaguppies” aplenty to keep you occupied! All in all, the geothermal wonderland is a pretty good place to be at the moment.

Ranfurly Bank

Things are progressing along nicely here with only one cloud on the horizon. Large “autoliners” have finally found this place, deploying their 10,000 hooks per set/each day! Originally they had targeted bluenose in the depths but this week its up on the plateau in less than 200 metres – not a good look but perfectly legal – ugh!! Otherwise it’s a slice of heaven out there are long as you get the weather right. Kingis are still biting their heads off with all manner of enticements effective.

A nice line of fish here with only moderate nuisance from “rats”. Many fish in the 20’s with a few torpedoes in the low 30’s landed. Tim Erp (yes, I asked and he is a direct descendant of Wyatt!) landed the “whopper of the week” with his 33 chunk, followed a kilo back by mate Dan Irvine. Jigs, live and dead bait plus monster soft baits have all done the biz. In the depths (not too bad here with 120-160 metres finding favour) the hapuka and bass are still obliging. While few monsters are showing (“Enchanter” anglers sported a brace of 40 kilo bass on his last trip) the average size is pleasing with many of both species in the 20’s. A few “hog” terakihi and trumpeter completed the catch. Water patchy which leads us to a little ………….

Pelagics

Very little trolling being alone at present but watch this to change over the upcoming holidays. Some decent albies (10-12k’s) have shown among the guppies. Surface longliners have caught no more yellowfin but increasingly more bigeye tuna with an average of around 50 kilos apiece. Supposedly a two degree at 1000 metres between Lottin Point and Ranfurly. Not much to get excited about but things will improve.

Summary

Despite being late on most fronts, things are pretty vibrant right across the board. Will be interesting to see what, if anything, the holiday trollers may turn over. Otherwise it’s sticking with the basics with an excellent chance of success.