Fishing Reports

The great weather continues (although the end is nigh) after all the rubbish we endured for so long – yang is alive!  With its has come a lot of effort on the water, more concentrated than we’ve seen in months.  Great to see so many anglers, most starved of their sport, on the water enjoying themselves and, in general, successfully.  Stories abound from nearly every corner and fishery – what a nice turn of events.

Inshore

Streams of boats have recently made their way over bars, bound for their favourite locations.  Overall most had some, or even a lot, of success.  Snapper are certainly on the move, despite cool (13-14 degrees C) green water.  Being mainly on the sand, depths has been the 40-45 metre mark.  That expanse off Ohiwa Harbour entrance has been productive for most with drifting the caper until you come across the fish. 

Once the bites commence simple lower your anchor down (slowly – no noise) and continue your fishing in what hopefully will be congregating, schooling fish.  Both bait and the softies are favoured with far more utilizing natural enticements.  Most are plump, fine looking fish with the odd one knocking on five kilos.  If snapper don’t do it for you there’s plenty of other options.  Carrots (gurnard) have been plentiful as long as you are on the sand with near limit fishing for some. 

Terakihi are sporadic depending on the day and where you are.  Some good (again near limit fishing) stories are damped down by the hard luck variety by some.  Kahawai are fat and have every reason to be.  It would appear we are in the throes of some of the best whitebaiting in many years so kahawai will get theirs well before they make it to the nets.  Some catches over 10 pounds have been recorded although they pale in comparison with the western bay at 30-40 kilos!  Looking good in the inshore scene with every reason to believe we’ll see improvement and better consistency as spring blossoms.

Offshore

Good to see some effort out toward and at the smokey isle as well with a few opting to fully utilizing the brilliant weather we’ve been granted.  Kingis are becoming more consistent with some quality fish landed.  Jigs and bait are both producing with depth of encounters and condition factors very interesting.  The last week there have been some very nice fish taken in 15-20 metres, 160 metres but not a lot in between – go figure. 

Unusual to see quality fish in such shallow water, not so the depths for this of year.  “whopper of the Week” was taken by jig wielder Gavin Buikingham at 30.4kgs.  Well done on your Volkner Rocks fish!  Many of the fish, particularly the sub 20 kilo models, are in very poor condition – been a hard winter for us all.  Retained fish have also exhibited under developed gonads – seemingly a long ways away from spawning.  The larger fish, however, are in prime condition – possibly ahead of where they should be for this time of year – another go figure! 

Elsewhere deepwater fishing is trying with substantial fishing by a few yielding only a few gemfish and small hapuka.  Back in the shallows isn’t a whole lot better with terakihi and trevally hard work around the island.  Don’t despair, both should improve with time and markedly so.  Some signs of summer despite 14 degrees water have been sightings of sunfish and flying fish.  A decent (12kgs) albacore was landed just SW of white to brighten up the trolling prospects as well.

Ranfurly Bank

A pretty vibrant picture down there but well expected for this (any) time of year.  Bottomfishing is legendary as long as medium sized hapuka is your goal.  Doubleheaders outnumber singles on the lean 8-14 kilo fish.  The odd fish over 20 k’s figures in the mess but not a lot of quality there – just heaps of quantity.  Bass are not numerous or large either with the largest recently landed on a bounced jig.  Whangamata resident Steve Trebilco nailed the 33 kilo specimen with deft skill. 

A few trumpeter and king terakihi finish off the offerings unless you go shallower (sub 80 metres) when red snapper, XOS blue cod, true terakihi and even snapper round out the smorgasbord.  Kingfish were not bashful in coming forward either with some beauts obliging along the numerous omnipresent “rats”.  Live, dead bait and jigs (300-400 grams) were taken with equal relish with jig pro Steve Trebilco again coming to the fore.  His superb 34 kilo specimen (released after sling weighing and photo session) was the best of a number of 30 kilo plus fish landed in a relatively short afternoon session.  Water is cold and green but obviously has little effect of these resident fish.

Summary

Obviously a pretty rosy situation which makes for some pleasant reading.  Amazing what some decent weather can produce and attitude it can engender.  As mentioned earlier, this situation has every probability of improving across the board.  If you haven’t had a dabble yet this spring, and there’s plenty of you, don’t fret – the best is yet to come!