Fishing Reports

Things have taken a great turn for the better in the last two weeks. The water has warmed up over 20 to 22.50C. This warm water is wide spread with warmer spots up to 23.0. With reports of Marlin being caught up the coast last week there have been quite a few hours put in over the bar culminating in several Marlin being weighed at Little Huia on Sunday. Several boats also report multiple lost fish in a day so things are looking great.

Most of the Marlin action is outside 80m with reports of XL Makos in the same area. These big Makos sure make the reels go off when hooked and have led to some embarrassing hook-up calls. If it ain't got a bill it’s a Mako. This fishy area like last season also seems to be holding Saury so if you see them jumping don’t drive away.

There is still good Tuna schools around with small Albies being caught right into 50m. Out wider they get bigger. Past 90m there is a heap of Skippies with some boats catching their Winter Snapper bait in a day.

There seems to be a lot of Albatross around which is not normal at this time of the year. As they only eat Squid guess what some of that bait on the sounder is. They can be caught on those special jiggy things that look like lengths of barbed wire which are always tangled into unbelievable knots in the bottom of your tackle box or just use a standard 150gm jig. You don’t need strike too hard when you feel them as you will rip the jig through them. They tend to be in mid water so have a go, they do make great Marlin baits if you don’t want to eat them.

As the saying goes ”you see something different on the water every day” One boat recently spied a Sunfish in green water in 20m who would have thought.

Ok now for the weekly moan. When the first boat you see at the beach is broken down that’s a sign. Never before have I heard so many boats on the radio asking for assistance. This is flat, that’s broken, the things not working. If you can’t be bothered getting the motor serviced you shouldn’t be on the water let alone over the bar. With Coastguard charging upwards of $300/hr to assist non Coastguard members don’t expect other boaties to help out because you’re too cheap to look after your boat. Too strong I don’t think so. Sure stuff breaks but sheesh.

It is only about $90 to join Coastguard they do a fantastic job and deserve to be supported by us the guys who use them. Who else will you call when it turns to sh%t out there. If you are a member they will come and get you no matter what. If you join up make sure you specify that it is the Manukau Coastguard you want to join and a portion of the money will get to them.

With some better weather coming towards the end of the week I might see you out there .

Jeremy Millichamp 0273556155 j.hmillichamp@orcon.net.nz