Fishing Reports

What a brilliant stretch of weather we’ve just experienced.  Makes one actually forget the horrors that was winter and early spring – we may very well get a summer yet!  Predictably, with the glorious weather has come a large contingent of eager anglers out on the water.  Effort has abounded as virtually everyone has been able to fish their favourite patch of water – everywhere within the Bay!

Inshore

Better and more encouraging stories continue to come in. Most, rather than some, anglers have come home with the goods and you needn’t go far to do so.  Supporting the fat cat fuel companies is never a favourite pastime for any of us and you don’t have to do it now to get a good feed.  Indeed, some excellent fishing off “Coastlands” in a mere 15 metres of water (about 2-3 miles from the Whakatane River entrance) has produced some excellent results for small boaters. 

The ever present gurnard and kahawai are there in good numbers with the nice addition of some decent (2-3 kg) snapper to boost morale and dinner selection.  Matata is also shining with a nice diversified catch as is the sandy environs of both Ohiwa and Opotiki.  A nice mix of both snapper and terakihi have rewarded prospectors.  Anywhere from 35 right out to 50 metres has stopped anglers with their eye on vibrant looking bottom sign on their sounders.  Water colour is picking up slowly as is the temperature.  All in all very encouraging for the weeks ahead leading up to the impending holiday season.

Offshore

A bit of a mixed bag but overall decent fishing.  The deepwater fishing, in particular has picked up – largely as a result of near perfect conditions and more effort being thrown at it.  Again, and as per normal, try to be at your chosen possie early as things are pretty much all over by 9am or earlier.  Small to medium sized (3-8 kgs) bluenose have led the early charge with decent support from mixed sized gemfish and smallish hapuka with a few bass thrown in. 

Kingis have become somewhat more difficult with the afternoon usually far superior to the mornings proceedings.  Mainly 14-18 kilo fish with the odd one over 20.  Bait is somewhat more preferable to jigs at the moment, subject to change.  Back in around the island both trevally and the usual assortment of shallow water reef fish are obliging most days.  Water clarity and temp also perking up here nicely.

Ranfurly Bank

A real mixture of fortunes here with generally good to great kingfish action and difficult to acceptable bottomfishing.  Kingis are climbing all over the jigs as bait usage (and gathering) is not necessary on the least – and you don’t have to be a “guru” either!  Many of the wonderful fish are in the 20’s with enough over 30 to be very gratifying.  “Whopper of the Week” went to an “Enchanter” angler at a splendid 41 kilos, weighed and released.  The same angler with his huge good fortune also bested another at 38 and two more over 30 – great fishing in anyone’s book! 

On the bottom, however, is a far different story.  Some days it is very difficult with very little to show for a huge effort.  Other days the dividends are evident for the work with few quality fish among the mainly hapuka catch.  A 40 kilo bass was the best fish landed among three boats there this week over three boats with few puka over 20k’s.  Water green and still cool but obviously no effect on the kingis.

Summary

Overall pretty good stuff although room for improvement most everywhere.  The best news?  We’ll probably see that improvement very shortly!!