Fishing Reports

Aside from some fabulous weather throughout the period, there’s been a general improvement overall – particularly with the gamefish side of things.  While there’s little sign of any populations or concentrations of billfish, there would appear to be more around over a large area.  Regardless of where you may have been over the past week you will have enjoyed your time on the water – that is unless you left the sunscreen behind!

Doubtless Bay

Consistent inshore fishing with an abundance of pan sized snapper about.  XOS kahawai plus the occasional kingfish, trevally and John Dory to spice up the catch.  Water cool and green in the bay but much nicer only a few miles out.

Cape Karikari – Great Exhibition Bay

Overall the fishing here isn’t a lot better than back in the Bay only much better quality in general.  Some very healthy specimens of snapper have been landed of late including fish over the magical 20 pounds.  Off Rangiputa out to the islands and then again up toward Parengarenga and North Cape have stood out as being the producers.  Depth doesn’t to be crucial with surf fishers through to nearly 100 metres of water yielding good catches although most are in the 20-40 metre range.  Good numbers of skippies out in 100-140 metres of water for those wanting to fill the freezer prior to winter.

Garden Patch

Although there are marlin scattered over a wide area at present, this would have to be the best spot to pre meet. Several multiples have occurred here, something we haven’t seen much at all over the entire season.  Water colour and temp are spectacular here with probably the best chance for a blue or mahimahi in the country at present.  Action is anything but thick and fast but most boats are getting one to three shots each day here.  With the great weather we’ve had there’s also been a proliferation of broadbill fishing done with a reasonable amount of success – both night and day fishing although numbers aren’t bad, size is nothing special with all fish under 90 kilos.  Still, a sword is a sword!  Also, the bottomfishing is quite good as well with good quality and quantity.  Bluenose, normally in decent numbers in 300 metres plus, are showing up well in 210 and well off the bottom.  For true bottom bouncers there is also good catches of hapuka and bass to be made.  As you can see, plenty to do in this little part of the Pacific Ocean!

North Cape – Surville Cliffs

The little bit of effort put in here by only a handful of boats have been reasonably productive just lately.  A few stripees are showing up now and again with the 140-160 metre depth the best.

The Hook – Compass Rose - Fingers

All of these areas, despite being many miles apart, have had their share of momentary brilliance.  Again, few spend any amount of time here, merely passing through to and from the Kings.  Water quality and temp highly variable with tidal movement seemingly everything.  While marlin have been in reasonable numbers at the “Hook” for awhile, the other two are well worth a look.  Also some decent to excellent bottomfishing at all three with some nice puka and bass coming out of depths between 100-160 metres.

Middlesex Bank

The darling of the two banks continues its winning ways.  Some nice looking water here just doesn’t look at your temperature gauge!  Fell to a lowly 14 degrees C recently although hovers more around the 16-17 mark.  Strong tidal movement here on a half moon phase, will be ripping at the upcoming full moon!  Kingis are biting well with jigs out producing bait.  Some very nice fish coming up out of 85 – 140 metre depths. Over stay your welcome and the taxman show up, and they are large and hungry!  Best policy is to skip around from spot to spot before they ping you.  Many fine fish in the 20’s with a few well over 30 for lucky anglers.  400 gram jigs are the best.  Some good bottomfish here as well with a nice mix of bass, puka and king terakihi – even a few monster blue cod to satiate Mainlanders!  Heaps of skippies and albacore if you’re needing a bait fix.

King Bank

Plenty of kingis and bass.  The differences is kingi are smallish (few over 20kgs) while the bass are very nice sized (few under 30k’s and up to 50 plus). Water variable here and still basically off limits to marlin.

Three Kings – Princes Group

Kingfish are showing here but, for some reason, not on jigs.  Stickbaits and live bait are the go.  Koheru are also sporadic like most everything else.

Summary

With the good weather behind us and some rubbish upon us over the next few days, don’t expect miracles.  The few boats out will be heartily compromised in their efforts and movements over this period.  Will be interesting to see what becomes of some nice water from North Cape south and east after this SW blow – can’t be good.  Until then ……….