Fishing Reports

Finally, something to write about!!  After nearly a full fortnight of very inclement weather, anglers were again able to get out and chase their chosen sport in comfort.  One good thing about this past fortnight was the complete certainty in the forecasts and, accordingly, the decision to not go to sea was easily made! 

Nothing worse than the 20-25 knot forecasts as we’re constantly second guessing ourselves.  When it’s consistently 35-50 knots there’s only one place to be!  Great to see so many getting out over the weekend and early in the week in what can only be described as pristine weather.  Aside from being high in the enjoyment stakes the fishing was quite productive as well.

Inshore

A huge exodus of trailer boats of all descriptions could be seen on the water recently – great stuff.  Launching ramps, and even beaches in a total lack of swell, were busy with boaties getting out in droves – literally starved for time on the water.  Most were not disappointed with the efforts with catches ranging from excellent to “just a feed”.  As fishing was quite buoyant prior to the stretch of poor weather, no one was quite sure what to expect after the break. 

Snapper were still available in good numbers in many locales while others struggled.  Interesting to note that depth was hugely important, for more than bottom terrain.  As it turned out the best places to be were the extremes – both shallow and deeper.  The usual depths that most anglers turned to for snapper, 15-35 metres, turned out to be the least productive with the stretch between Thornton and the radio mast best. 

Anglers reveled with their good fortune here with near limits of snapper, plenty of gurnard and waves of fat kahawai coming through sporadically to spice up proceedings.  Some of the snapper were very pleasing fish over four kilos with few undersized.  Again, out deeper, snapper in stronger currents and terakihi as the tidal runs lessened.  Merely trying off to the buoys mean you don’t even have to anchor up to achieve the action.  Expect snapper to move out even deeper as winter grips us further with terakihi becoming important in overall catches.

Offshore

Despite some pristine weather, few bothered venturing further a field.  Those that did struggled on most accounts for their troubles and increased fuel usage.  Deepwater fishing was generally a waste of time for the little effort it received with only a handful of small gemfish the reward.  Shallower water around White Island proved far more productive with terakihi biting well supported by pink mao mao and porae.  Some of the pinkies are absolute monsters of over 50cm! 

While the shallows kicked out the reef fish the kingis were far less cooperative.  Jigs are again out of favour with bait enticing the few fish about.  The vast majority were rat to 10 kilo size although a couple anglers were taught lessons by larger, wily fish.  Water remains relatively warm at 15.5 degrees C and ever so clear.  Bound to be albacore, if not something better, about if trolling lures were deployed.  Blue water extends well inshore, a pleasant surprise after all the strong cold south and west winds we’ve had to endure.

Ranfurly Bank

No recent visits and for all the right reasons.  Undoubtedly during the last fortnight it would have been a dangerous place to visit.

Summary

As mentioned, great to see anglers able to get out on the water after such extended periods of forced dormancy.  Hopefully we’ll have many more of these windows over the remainder of winter.  We long for frosty starts followed by beautiful fine days – the kind we’ve had just lately but been short of this month thus far.

We’ve hauled “PURSUIT” out for her annual survey and maintenance period.  Will be out of action until September when visiting World Cup viewers want to also sample our pictorial wares!  After some improvements and some time in the tropics we’ll be back on the water and relishing the prospects of the new season ahead. Will start up reports again in late September. Until then all the best for what’s left of winter