Fishing Reports

A few surprises and changes but, in general, a brilliant picture that has potential to get even better! Doesn’t seem to matter where you are or what you target (with the exception of game fish of course) – chances are you are in luck. Also, with the odd short lived glitch, weather has also cooperated handsomely – most everyone is wearing smiles these days! Read on…………..

Inshore

Plenty of fish in this well traveled spectrum but quality is an issue. Snapper are being caught hand over fist and mostly legal size – but just! Some are catching dozens of fish, only to keep a very small percentage. The cliffs of Matata are beckoning those who are seeking out the larger fish. Terakihi is still an option but seldom chosen – crimson is the colour in most peoples mindset. Gurnard also still please with enough decent (10-18k’s) kingis to keep things interesting. Water clearing and warming up which will please divers and swimmers alike.

Offshore

Simply a success story all the way around. Choose a target and it’s probably yours. While the kingis are very obliging, it’s the deepwater (not so deep) which are stealing the limelight. Some skippers say they can’t remember better while others are favorably likening it to Ranfurly Bank – and that’s saying something. No need to fish deep, early or late – banker’s hours will do nicely.

200-240 metres is seemingly the magic depth and many areas right around the island (White) are producing well, such is the magnitude of the fish. Bluenose (some large females), hapuka, some XOS gemfish (many over 10kgs – some to 16!) and even bass complete the circuit. Usually three or four drifts is all that’s required, time then to move onto the next species. Big question, where have they been?!? Kingis are superlative although few are biggies.

The 15-20 kilo fish rule the roost but on “Enchanter” angler blew that out with a massive 36 kilo fish – largest taken there in weeks. Flying fish are working as good, if not better, than live bait. Jigs still sluggish and a third rate enticer. Another question – why haven’t jigs produced this season as they have in the past. A few theories are being brandished. Best to wait till next year to carry this forward. Trevally are biting equally well as kingis as they are also in mid spawn. Water also very pretty out here with gamefish can’t be far away.

Ranfurly Bank

Also a success story. Kingis are biting well with all offerings being accepted, even jigs. Many quality fish in the 20’s and, once again, an “Enchanter” angler scoring a quality fish of over 34 kilos. Bottom fishing is also brilliant in a variety of depths (80 to 200 metes plus) with all species prodding great catches. Hapuka, bass, trumpeter and king terakihi are there in good numbers. While most of the bass and puka are in the “average” (10-15k’s) category, there have been a couple outsized specimens. Completely the clean sweep, “Enchanter” again produced a couple beauts. A 55 kilo bass is notable but nothing compared to one amazing trumpeter. This 21 kilo beast has got to be the largest ever taken on rod and reel! Ah, Ranfurly, still producing the magic after all these years. Water down here is green and cold – game fish off the menu – for now.

Pelagics

Last Saturday was easily the first day of summer as far as eastern Bay game anglers are concerned. Waihou Bay produced an exciting day with a beauty blue (197k’s) and a successful double strike of yellowfin (54 & 50) in the same place – 250 metres of water off Orete Point. Later that afternoon striped marlin drove meatballs of mackerel to the surface to excite anglers. While five or six were hooked, none were actually landed. Another blue was released on Monday off Waikawa Point two days later, just to prove Saturday’s fish wasn’t a fluke. Water is beautiful and warm, approaching 20 degrees C. With a current spate of light NE winds, we can expect more excitement. Westerlies – stay away!!

Summary

Things sound good – they sure are with potential to still improve, particularly on the game side of things. Till next week – buckle up!