Steve Radich's Bay of Islands Fisherman’s Newsletter

The climax of the snapper spawning cycle has now past with many snapper now showing weak or spent egg/milt sacks. Some spent snapper are also about with fillets hardly worth taking. That having been said, since snapper are serial spawners, they will continue to produce milt and eggs while habitat conditions allow. To fuel this serial instinct, snapper will continue to feed more voraciously than normal. In other words: expect good snapper fishing for the duration of the summer.

Catches of larger noddies have been regular with the Tapeka Point-Roberton Island-Capstan Rock triangle producing more than its fair share. Apart from the Middle ground that traditionally performs throughout the summer months, other regions worthy of attention include Mitas Foul [west of Moturua Island] and Whale Rock [off Red Head/Okahu Island].

A good summer fishing strategy for those with snapper in mind is to fish the middle ground region during full light with Mitas or the Whale ideal for a dusk fish. Then if an evening on the water is called for, the Roberton-Taheke-Capstan triangle is the place.  All this having been said, if you are lucky enough encounter working birds, especially gannets diving with mutton ducks on the water; expect both snapper and kingfish to be in attendance.

Tarakihi too are in absolutely prime condition right now with numbers and average size up on recent years. The deeper foul-adjacent soft bottoms between Onslow Rock and the Ninepin generally hold the best schools. For those who target these tarakihi, expect a few large magenta surprises, especially as the day draws to a close. Always hang out a floater or two just in case. Then there is that vast and under-fished region between Oke Bay and Kingfish Reef – always worth a look when sea conditions permit.

Kingfish too abound around all the traditional structures [viz: Maomao Rock, The Sisters, The Ninepin, Cape Brett etc, with surface feeding schools of trevally a feature of the latter. Best technique for taking trevs out of these schools is the rather brutal technique of casting extra heavy triple-hook systems into their midst and ripping them back.  The use of speed jigging as a fishing technique has recently surpassed the traditional deployment of live baits as the best kingfish strategy. Still, hard to beat the thrill of a big kingfish nailing a freaked out livie.

For those with billfish on their minds, water temperatures are well up with some sightings reported. Seek the latest SST charts then target the edges of the warmest pools. Merry Xmas.