Fishing Reports

As we are well into the second month of winter, we have experienced a real mixed bag of both weather conditions and fishery.  While there’s been a few decent stretches of weather, especially inshore, the fishing has generally been quite rewarding to all putting in effort.  On the good days it’s great to see the boat ramps and coastguard radio so busy.  Obviously many anglers don’t believe there’s no point in being out on the water over the cooler months.  Good on em and long may it last!

Inshore

The juggernaught continues!  Snapper still cooperating in so many different possies and depths, it’s remarkable.  And they aren’t just pannies either with a good number in the three to four kilo category!  Have heard of good catches off kayaks in a mere nine metres of water and limits in 45-50m out off Ohope/Opotiki. 

Historically this bonanza shouldn’t last too much longer but who’s complaining?!?  Terakihi are not biting all that well but should improve markedly soon as water cools with the southerlies we’ve had of late.  Some big kahawai (a few over 3k’s), trevally and miniscule gurnard (few over a paltry 600 grams) make up the final composition of the current catch.  Te Kaha/Waikawa Point are also sharing in the melee with good snapper on dusk best.

Offshore

Probably the most inconsistent and least visited region over the past few weeks.  The few that have ventured forth have had mixed results but primarily on the poor side of the ledger.  Kingis are biting well – that’s not the problem.  While quantity is not the issue, quality certainly is.  Lots of rats to eight kilos are keen to please on all manner of offerings but good luck on getting much of anything you want to keep without doubt the larger fish are there and ripe for the taking – just have to be there on the right day and right place. 

Otherwise it appears to be springtime at White Island judging by the amount of surface activity about.  Mao mao, trevally and the ubiquities rats can be seen actively feeding on krill – unusual for this time of year.  The trevs are large (4 plus kgs) and hungry, supply plenty of light tackle gratification.  Otherwise the reef fishing.  Uncharacteristically difficult for the normally abundant terakihi but some of the very largest pink mao mao and leatherjacket (creamfish) one will lay eyes on. 

Both, while not exactly target species, are at the top end of their size ranges at nearly three and one and one half kilos each!  Water still relatively warm at 16 plus degrees C and clean/clear.  Little doubt should be some XOS albacore somewhere about!?!

Ranfurly Bank

While not nearly as vibrant as last visit there, still some good fishing to be had.  Hapuka predictably dominated the catch yet again with all males in the predominantly 10-15 kilo category.  A few nicer fish flirting with 30kgs are in the mix to keep everyone honest on drag settings!  Again, kingis are biting well but quality is the issue! 

Many rats throughout the water column in anything between subsurface all the way down to 80 metres.  Jigs and baits working equally as well with one nice (29kgs slingweighed and released) fish among all the rest.  In a good look at a large albacore reported to be in the region, some interesting results came to light. 

In spite of getting out to nearly 2000 metres of water norwest of the bank and seeing surface long line boats working, no albacore of any size were apprehended.  Instead, in multiple strikes, skipjack came thick and fast!  Hitting the lures and swivels alike, these fish acted more like mid summer rather than mid winter!  Water had dropped from 17 plus last week but only just under 17 now, again very warm for June let alone July.

Summary

Finally got our first cold snap of winter but the southerlies have had little effect on water temps thus far – but they will!  Will be interesting to see where we go next week.