Fishing Reports

 Enough marlin to maintain expectatation but hardly a bumper season so far.Most of the action remains closer in, from 120M out to 200M. Very few blues. The skippies are still very patchy with albacore probably more prevalent. The conclusion is that the season is still running a month late, which should mean a top month in March, but better fishing in April (when fishing demand usually dies down).

 Kingies have provided a real highlight. Average size seems to have jumped with our last 3 snapper trips inside the Bay also producing kingfish up to 15kg. Steve Butler on Earl Gray reports good action alonside the Dog out at Cape Brett, with others reporting top catches at 71M Reef. Our only recent kingfish trip was fished on a rough day at Bird Rock, and provided a fish with nearly evry bait. Seven tired anglers chose to keep one fish each but released plenty more and chose to fish snapper for a "rest" in the afternoon.

 Most snapper have now spawned and moved out either to deeper water or "up the creek" and have provided good action for anglers fishing the shallows. A few schoolies are still hanging around the area between the Black Rocks and Mita's Foul and are still roed up. If the season is prolongues after a late start we may well see a second run towards the beginning of April.

 As always , drop me an email to MAJOR.TOM@xtra.co.nz if you have any queries.