Fishing Reports

If you needed a good example of the difference a week can make the last week would be a perfect example.

Two weekends ago the Marlin fishing off the Westcoast was the best early season start anyone could remember with over 10 fish coming in through Little Huia in two days. Add to that the number of fish taken to Counties  which would be at least the same,  probably  more and you start to see why we were all getting excited about the coming season.

Marlin were everywhere. From sightings in 16m off the Piha rocks to out past 180m and all points in between. Lures,  live baits you name it. Lure colours from blues to greens and squid combos when they were on the bite if you were in the right place watch out. Add to that masses of bait in behind the bar and Skippies and Albies all over the place well it just couldn’t get better.

Then last weekend we had a bit of a blow and a couple of showers  well a real storm with over 100mm of rain and 50knts. I have never seen the stuffing get knocked out of a fishery so fast. Reports coming in from the last couple of days are dire. Don’t get me wrong there are still a few Marlin around with two each for Wed. and Thurs. but it took a lot of boats to get them. The bait behind the bar has been muntered with all the fresh water coming out the harbour. Where did all the Mackerel go?  The water temp. is down by 2⁰ and its green out to 100m north of the bar and 70m south side. There is hardly an Albie to be found and only small areas of Skippies can be found even then they tend to be holding deep and only coming up occasionally.

So very hard work with a small bite time that has been late afternoon the only spark of hope in some very long days on the water. So with another blow due this week end hold onto your hats and let’s see what is left next week. On an interesting aside well I think interesting. One boat recently on bring a blue shark boat side found it coughing up a rather large octopus it had recently eaten. This was in 120m. So is there some secret foul out there or do octopus live on the flat bottom or did the shark dash into shore for breakfast then back out for Skippy for lunch. Who knows, what depth do they live down to?

Only a small moan this week. If you regularly  fish an area join a local fishing club. Not only will you by association become a member of  New Zealand Sport Fishing Council (NZSFC)so if you get a fish of a life time it might also be a NZ record, but you also help support and are supported by other fishermen like yourself. The Manukau Sportfishing Club owns and runs the scales at Little Huia. These don’t come cheap so join up and be a part of a great club. When you need that Marlin weighed they will be your scales that get used. If you would like to join the club e-mail msfc@ihug.co.nz its only $65. If you are not a member don’t expect the weigh master to jump to it just because you have caught a Marlin that needs weighing.

See you on the water.

Jeremy Millichamp j.hmillchamp@orcon.net.nz