Fishing Reports

While we expect and receive further revelations each week at this time of year, we’ve stalled out on many aspects of our fishers just lately.  Summer, and the term is being stretched a bit this year, has largely been a disappointment thus far.  While it’s “officially” nearly two thirds over (has it started?) we have to feel the best is yet to come.

Inshore

Not a lot of change here with plenty of ups and downs but little consistency exhibited.  Savvy snapper anglers are still pulling the goods with some nice (7-8k’s) fish among them.  Shallow (sub 20 metres) water around the highly foul country surrounding the Rurima Rocks as yielding a lot of these larger fish with pannies (sub 2k specimen) available in many areas.  Stories relating to snapper run the gamut currently with near limits in a couple hours to a mere “feed” achieved in an entire days effort – which category do you fall into?!?  Elsewhere good quantity of fat kahawai seemingly everywhere, almost plague proportions if you are attempting to catch snapper via stray line.  Still reasonable terakihi near the foul with gurnard occupying the sandy environs.

Offshore

Continuing on with the consistency game, or more appropriately the lack of same, we arrive at the smokey isle.  The “day on, day off” rotation policy we’ve witnessed all season since back in October still continues today.  Wouldn’t be so bad if a) we fished on only the “on” days!  If you are there on the appropriate days, you’re in for a good experience on the kingfish.  Jigs still struggle to gain attention but surface attractors plus both live and dead bait proves lethal on mainly 15-20 kilo fish.  Many in the mid twenties are hooked with a few boated.  The odd lunker is there to be landed, as per always and Dave Aplin proved to be the lucky (skilled) angler this week. 

Taking out the kingfish section of the recent Whakatane Sportfishing Clubs 20k – 4 way by nearly 10 kilos from his closest competitor, he was more than pleased with his 32 kilo beaut.  Aside from the fickle kingi fishing, the other options were far more reliable.  Take the deep water fishing – it continues its winning ways, much in the same fashion it has for months.  A recent catch of an outsized 60 kilo bass was more than twice as big as anything else! 

A good steady stream and pleasing mixture of bluenose, hapuka and gemfish has kept the braid brigade smiling – and sore armed!  Back in the shallows the usual culprits remain cooperative in reef systems in the 50-80m mark.  Nice sized (4-5k’s) trevs are becoming quite consistent and a lot of fun for either light tackle or fly fishing enthusiasts.

Ranfurly Bank

It’s been so good for so long (months) down there that it takes a lot to perk up any extraordinary interest!  At the moment it’s good and very steady – not great; just plain good fishing that would be the rave anywhere else in the country.  Both kingfish and bottom species are firing well although few larger, make that truly large, fish have been apprehended of late.  Some spectacular surface action in the shallows with hook less stick baits or poppers attracting wedges of competitive kingis numbering to 50 or more at times.  They are literally knocking each other out of the way enroute to the enticement and make great visuals as such. 

The largest fish this week was a 33kg hulk with many more of equal size or better lost and numerous in the mid – high 20’s landed (and mainly released) as well.  Water sub 40 metres is the place to be but be ready for the toothy encounter but they may just not be “only” makos or bronzies.  We had a beaut of a great white (5m plus) take a fish within 15 metres of the boat – more great visuals to be cherished from the apex predator of the sea. 

Bottomfishing remain steady – not spectacular by Ranfurly standards but very good nonetheless.  Many puka in the standard 8-15 kilo bracket with a smattering of bass to 40k’s.  Water colour and temp is variable down that way which leads us to ……………………..

Gamefishing

Things at long last are heating up and none too soon.  The recent tournament over a few marlin but when you do the math with 136 boats it doesn’t read that well.  The areas between Rungapapa Reef and the bottom of the trench have been the best.  While there’s been a few smallish fish, the majority are nice fish over 100k’s.  The winning fish in the tourney was a stripey of 139k’s – taken from a 4.9m tinny no less!  After suffering from lousy water quality nearly all season, and certainly the last two weeks. 

Waihau Bay finally has some beautiful water arrive.  I feel they are set to come right and register some great catches soon.  Talk by commercial boys only a short distance out are talking about 22 degree water full of mahi mahi.  With conditions like this on their doorstep some blues are eminent.  Watch that area carefully – it has to fire very shortly.  Elsewhere is a mixed bag but nowhere can compare with the western bay thus far.

Summary

Interesting – definitely, exciting – not quite yet but it’s working on it.  We’re now getting to the business end of the game season with a lot hanging on what happens over the next two to three weeks.