Fishing Reports

The Big Game

The sun's setting on a great season with over two hundred Marlin caught or tagged and released eastside this year, primarily BIG Striped Marlin, but big Black & Blue Marlin as well as a few Broadbill, although not many Tuna at all this year.

Some outstanding successes have been reported like Marlin on 3kg line by Hook'n Bull, a triple shot from Encounter with a Striped Marlin, a Broadbill and a Black Marlin in 24hrs. In addition to records many true Novices got onto their first Marlin, as well as dedicated Fisho’s with personal records surpassed and certainly many highs (with a few lows) discussed at length.

Other notable catches include Marlin on spinning reels, the sudden and successful proliferation of live-baiting this season and the conspicuous absence of Marlin at the 3 Kings.

Planning, lots of preparation and Lady Luck’s help are key ingredients but as Gary Player said “the more I practice the luckier I get”. Reading Rick Pollocks reports from Pursuit have provided timely updates as well as the good oil of information, also with some excellent success. Tutukaka has been the hotspot all season long.

Even I got lucky with this nice 130kg Striped Marlin while out for a quick fishing mission on Sunday afternoon just the other day, a bit of a lift to get it aboard, more gym work needed I guess. A few more details in my fishing diary thread here:

Like most afflicted with the Marlin virus, I’m also in denial as to the season ending but already thinking of ways to enjoy next season with more sparkling plastic fantastic. Compiling Marlin film footage over the dark and fishing-free days of windy winter will surely help stave off the abstinence rash, or is that like putting out fire with gasoline Mr Bowie? The plan is to show how catching a Marlin from a trailer boat can be readily achieved, there’re a LOT of trailer boat Fisho’s, including me that hold Marlin in high, near unreachable regard, in reality a basic and simple system can catch Marlin successfully, hey if I can, you can, solo to if you want.

Snapper and Workups

Heart pounding, fast and furious fishing time is in force in the Hauraki Gulf at the moment.
The changeover to winter has been thrust upon us with it the inevitable changes to fishing styles warranted. (Oh yeah, lookout the Razor Gang has already had a couple of Point-men in the firing line just off Tiri!).

Workups are certainly one of the most adrenaline pumping, sure fire way to get Snapper aboard, as well as other species. Using a big jig, or an array of clean Soft Plastics (no smelly hands or boat for me thanks) are two highly successful ways of catching big fish in the mayhem of workups. If there’s a Whale in attendance, a lot of BIG Snapper rise right up with it, so be prepared to do my interpretation of ‘wash fishing’ i.e. when the Whale surfaces with a mouthful of Anchovies, be prepared for big Snapper to be right underneath and close behind in the Whales wash. And when the Whale inevitably departs and it appears to be a barren fish-free zone, fish like these can hang around in the area for a day or three!

The workups have been moving about over the entire gulf, basically working  the Anchovy and Pilchard schools out in 50m deep or more lately, feeding up as much as possible before winter hibernation mode sets in. Just off southern Great Barrier has been crazy-good at times. Then a day later, the party is over and all the guests nowhere to be seen…already somewhere else, like between Little Barrier and Omaha, or right back over in close to northern Coromandel cliffs. Be prepared to be vigilant in your observations and the signs are plenty for when, where…and if workups will occur On Any Sunday.

The middle ground south of Anchorite Rock is still not holding many of the bigger fish in numbers unfortunately but enough there for successful random drift fishing.

Using Soft Plastics that mimic the Snapper meal tickets has been one of our keys to successful fishing lately, especially when it’s quiet times and the fish ‘aren’t biting’, with luminous sinkers and the Green Anchovy or the Bleeding Pilchard shown below. Lots of fish still being caught in close by the 12 footers by various cunning methods which is fantastic to see so it’s not all about how far you travel, for example places like Wellington reef are holding some excellent Snapper, just minutes away from the northern side of Whangaparaoa.

For those keen on getting away from it all, northern Anchorite Rock, northern Coromandel and Channel Island are holding some big boys. Eastern Tiri seems to have lost most of its fish lately, although right in by the Ahaa’s and the Noises is holding good clumps of Snapper schools ready for the right time and place to be caught.

I reckon an evening burley session on a still Autumn’s evening over there would have to be the go about now…be prepared for John Dory, Snapper, Kahawai and the odd marauding Kingfish too. Anchored with burley flowing, a live-bait on a Flasher rig beside the boat, one on a balloon out the back while you’re stray-lining half Pillies or casting the Softies around. Sounds like a wonderfully keen recipe to help balance the stresses of life with some beautifuly red rewards like these thrown in for good measure.

Speaking of real and keen Fishermen, Top Catch Westhaven and Top Catch Glen Innes now also have Catch Soft Plastics and are keen to show why they are so effective, smell and hassle free. They also have the Catch Snapper DVD, showing various step by step ways of how to catch Snapper on Soft Plastics, right here.

Lastly - upsized monster Kahawai are still on the loose out there, great sport and tasty when bled, iki’d and iced immediately. Smoked they are a favourite fish, being treated correctly makes a huge difference in flavor and they’re a very healthy eating fish too, several heavy hitting 8 pounders graced our decks after epic deep and aerial battles, a thorough thrill on light gear…crumbed KY fish cakes with sweet chili sauce rocks!

Enjoy your fishing, whatever style(s) tickles your fancy on the day, wherever and whenever you can, or desire to fish. Try something old, something borrowed, something new, it’s all good.

Cheers

Espresso.

P.S. The Catch Patch

A) Workup hint: be the first to drop your line in on arrival using the RED Cray, then move to the Bleeding Glow Squid as it hangs on exceptionally well. Once calm is restored, move to the naturally coloured Bleeding Pilchard or Piper and enjoy those aching arms! Use purpose designed Catch hooks and your success rate simply skyrockets, no matter what SP/SB you use.

B) Drift fish the open, seemingly barren areas at the moment can be rewarding...as Snapper are moving out and around with lots of singles that won’t show on sounders or be detected via surface activity. But given a few hours, nice Snapper with their wonderful winter condition can be brought aboard…. in 25m or more this picture shows what has been the most successful fish catching combination, don’t forget to grab an extra packet of Harpoons..you’ll see why when you get them.