Fishing Reports

Welcome to winter!  Never a nice aspect to contemplate unless you fancy snow and the cooler things in life.  Personally I enjoy the warmth and the things that are associated with heat.  Still change and seasonality go hand in hand – accept it we must and seek out the positive facets of which there are many.  People put their gear away after a good clean until spring miss out on some excellent opportunities.  Despite June upon us, this is exactly the situation we find ourselves now – more fish than anglers!

Doubtless Bay – Cape Karikari

Still a few marlin inhabit these waters, moreso back from Berghans Point and out from Stevensons Island off Whangaroa.  One boat supposedly had eight shots in two days, most others one each day.  Water fairly unspectacular but obviously good enough.  While not many, the size has typically been pleasing for these late season fish. 

Back inshore the snapper have been very obliging as have been the kingfish.  Size has picked up somewhat in Doubtless Bay although the choice area is on the western side of Cape Karikari.  A pleasing line of kingfish has made itself present both in the Bay and the face of the Cape.  Many of these fish are 15-20 kilos but enough pushing 30 to capture any anglers’ attention.  Plenty to keep any angler fully occupied at the moment.

Garden Patch - Pins

Pins still producing bluenose even though we are well past their spawning period.  The shallower “Patch” has been real hit and miss.  If you’re there on the right day it’s a good time on a variety of species.  The timing is imperative.

Great Exhibition Bay – North Cape

Snapper and, to a lesser degree, kingfish currently rule this expansive body of water.  Night fishing off the beach near Henderson Point has apparently been legendary with limits and larger fish commonplace for those in the know.  Parengarenga is also a hotspot with 25-35 metres of water off the harbour entrance a good bet.  The odd nice fish (12-20lbs) grace the mainly pan sized catch.

“Compass Rose” – “Fingers”

Coldest water all along the coast which isn’t surprising – been that way all season.  Some decent bottomfishing with a nice mix of hapuka and bass to 40k’s but nice average.

Great Island – Princes group – Three Kings

Koheru continue to fill the bait tanks with relative ease.  Those, in turn can be used to effect on some nice kingis, even in the anchorage in Norwest Bay.  They are averaging 15-20 kilos but the odd fish to 30 ups interest levels.  Did I mention they are keen!?!  At times they need to be caught so baitfishing can commence/continue!  Elsewhere, around the Princes Islets, the fishing is equally as good if not more diversified.  Add large trevs, snapper, blue cod and terakihi to the great kingi action there.  Not a bad option incase you get a bad day unable to get out to the banks.

King Bank

For the first time, this is the poor cousin – suffering in the water quality stakes.  This has effected any hardship on kingis or bottomfishing with both good to excellent.  Kingfish in particular are coming to the party with many fine fish from low to mid 20’s in the mix.  Bass, while in good numbers, have not shown the quality of other seasons with larger fish “only” in the 30 kilo bracket.

Middlesex Bank

After a season (or seasons) of being the “lesser” bank, it has finally arrived at this late hour.  Enchanter, skippered by relief skipper Paul Kingi, found several marlin and big numbers of skippies on the bottom end of this bank.  Landing two stripees (one taped out a 136kgs) was the highlight of those respective trips. 

Otherwise some excellent albacore action with multiple strikes of fish.  These longfins were full of saury and baby squid.  Up on the bank is no shortage of bass, king terakihi and kingfish with quality specimens of all three landed recently.  Water temp a full degree and a half about all surrounding areas.  Late season action?  This is where you want to be now.

Summary

With so few boats setting out, information remains very sketchy and at a premium.  Without doubt, a few more boats would shed light on what’s really around.  Sad fact is, there are none.  Still, despite a frustrating and inconsistent season it’s still not completely over – and won’t be for awhile yet.  Fancy a marlin in “winter”?  Now you know where you need to go.  Until next time …….