Fishing Reports

Fishing improved inshore almost immediately after posting report #5. Winds have been swinging all over the place, and sometimes into that northern area. Air and water temperatures have warmed up considerably as a result. Snapper are biting their heads off with an absolute flotilla of boats fishing over the recognised grounds. Some fish are moving into shallower water where they are catchable on fly. Any snapper over a kilo is a good fish on fly. Larger fish are very fussy but these smaller fish readily eat amphipods (sand hopper type crustaceans) so are more than willing to nail a small fly fished slow across the sand. They provide great sport when they do. Some impressive snapper are being taken off the rocks around Russell at present so anything is possible. A big snapper on fly is a trophy fish and right now is the best time of year to do it.

A lightning swoffing raid on some far northern ocean ledges highlighted the fact that the season is heating up fast. Kahawai were schooling off a wave bashed headland and provided spectacular fun as they charged down big waves to nail slowly fished 'fur & flash' deceiver flies. We had hoped for a bigger run of fish than those presently common in the Bay of Islands but struggled to find anything over two kilos. The only serious kahawai that did strike buried me in the kelp (there's only so much pressure you can apply with an 8 WT in a big sea). We weren't complaining: kahawai off the rocks in that sort of environment are just brilliant. With an orange morning sun glinting off the wide Pacific Ocean and a heap of fish slashing flies at our feet we were very happy chappies indeed.

Shortly after the kahawai disappeared and a bunch of piper leapt into the air and took off on their tails. Kings were obviously about. 12 WT rods were dragged into action and popper flies plastered on the ocean. Soon there was a big green head pushing up behind the fly. A big yellow tail flicked out of the water momentarily as the fish made a lunge at the fly but then peeled away and was not seen again. Twenty minutes later we had to abandon the rock to waves and an incoming tide. We felt satisfied though. Summer was definitely here!!