Fishing Reports

Having been here only a scant week it’s a little early to get a handle on what’s going on just yet, that is if anyone has done so of late! Without doubt, the “weather bomb” westerly gale we all suffered a couple Saturdays ago did profound damage to the water quality up and down the coast. It undid virtually an entire “summers good” in a 36 hour period. While the north seems to have felt those effects least water temps and colour are only rebuilding now. Will/can things return as they were? Only time will tell

Whangaroa - Doubtless Bay – Cape Karikari

All have had their day in the sun – until the “big blow” that is. More recently gamefishing has gone backward in a big way with even skippies thin on the ground. 120-150 metres seems to be the best bet with Berghans Point as good as anywhere to have a look for a beakie.

Back inshore things are predictably far more vibrant with some decent to good snapper fishing, ample large kahawai and enough kingfish to force a rerigging session on occasion! Expect improvement throughout this normally productive area. A bycatch of a 22kg albacore saw a woman narrowly miss out on a NZ Record.

505 – Garden Patch

The best quality water remaining along the coast by a country mile. Despite the 20 plus blue water there have been few visiting boats and even less captures. An area to watch over the nest week.

Great Exhibition Bay

The best of a diminished lot along the East Coast without question. In spite of reduced water quality (only 19-19.5 degrees C now – was well over 20) many boats are getting a shot a day here. The water in 120-150 metres off Paxton Point through to Parengarenga off the best opportunity currently. In a pleasant surprise, a pre Houhora One Base catch for the “Te Wairoa” was a splendid 192kg black marlin – just to prove there’s some life remaining in the season. And if there’s any doubt about that whatsoever then consider strongly the …………

West Coast

While always weather dependant, boats working the bottom end of 90 mile beach have had a ball recently. While no huge scores surfaced, the striped marlin wealth seemed very evenly spread with most boats getting a fish most days. Recent mini competitions saw some hot action here and should continue given favourable weather conditions – easily the strong point for game fishers currently in the entire country.

North Cape– The Shelf – Compass Rose

Very little attention given this area recently with few boats traveling to/from the Kings. Bottom fishing been unusually hard for those trying.

Three Kings - Great Island

Some brilliant kingi fishing around the islands now – even to a nuisance level! With hoards of hungry kingis roaming around, catching bait can be a nightmare! With most of the fish in the low 20kg category, there are also enough in the low 30’s. Trying to extract koheru from the ravenous throngs can prove to be difficult if not impossible. Trolling marlin lures can also be productive.

Middlesex Bank

No recent visits but commercial skippers report lots of bronzie problems there – great!

King Bank

The best bet for a billfish in the area. After some outstanding action back at the beginning of the “Nationals”, things have become for more pedestrian and sporadic since. Stripees are still coming onto the bank but, with relatively little bait about, there’s little incentive at present. The “bottom” of the bank in a turnabout seems to hold more fish than the usually hot top end. Aside from a few stickfaces there’s good kingi action and reasonable bottom bouncing to keep crews occupied. Plenty of scope for improvement.

Summary

The Far North has not escaped residents questioning the term “summer”! Things are very much on the cooler side, both air and water temps. With the impending effort on the water associated with the upcoming Houhora One Base tournament plus settled weather we fervently hope to be able to have a far more enjoyable report next week complete with some great catches. Until then …………….