Fishing Reports
Far North
Weather, weather, weather! We’ve been battling adverse conditions for most of this calender year with its effects having direct impact on most trips. How ironic that just as “PURSUIT” and her crew are ready to depart for the home waters of the Bay of Plenty, things improve dramatically! Luckily we where able to enjoy our last outing in idyllic conditions, far better than was seen in the previous two months. The old cliche “there’s no place like home” always holds true but the excitement and challenge (not to mention warmth) of fishing up north will be missed. Until next year …………
Northland
Still the odd marlin poking it's head up although there’s been very few boats trying for them. As the water temps decline, more makos are showing up to accept anglers offerings. A little bubble of warm water (nearly 18 degrees) still lingers off Doubtless Bay/Whangaroa and its no surprise the marlin have been seen there. Skippies are becoming thinner on the ground although a few can be found between Cape Karikari and North Cape, with a definite hotspot just off Knuckle Point. Snapper have been hit and miss with little in between. Still some great catches for those in the know. True hapuka are coming into the shallows in preparation for spawning with both commercial and recreational fishers making catches in water as shallow as 100 metres but mainly deeper. Bluenose have well and truly finished spawning but have left their cohorts, gemfish and bass behind in the depths. The Three Kings
Water temps continue to plunge there as well with the last remaining hot patches to the west. While Middlesex Bank still jumps up to nearly 19 degrees some days (and certain tides), it's neighbour to the east (King Bank) languishes in cold water (16 degrees) as visiting boats have verified for weeks now. Bottomfishing, however, seems to be a couple notches better at the King with plenty of decent sized bass to reward those anglers. Few hapuka but plenty of kingfish (to 30+ kgs) and tarakihi can be had on the Middlesex between marlin forays. Most every day there is a bite, albeit short, on stripies. One needs to exercise a lot of patience or get very lucky to find the saury foraging billfish at the moment. Fishing for broadbill will undoubtedly be the best bet if you want to tangle with a billfish from now on as evidenced by a few recent catches. Several fish over 200 kilos have been landed of late topped by a splendid 286 kilo fish weighed in at Whangaroa. Slow trolling and traditional drifting of baits seem to be equally represented and productive at the moment. Long may this ultimate challenge for recreational anglers last. Summary
In spite of cooling temperatures the Far North will continue to be a very viable locale to fish. Next report will be from the BOP – will be interesting to see what’s transpired in our absence!
Still the odd marlin poking it's head up although there’s been very few boats trying for them. As the water temps decline, more makos are showing up to accept anglers offerings. A little bubble of warm water (nearly 18 degrees) still lingers off Doubtless Bay/Whangaroa and its no surprise the marlin have been seen there. Skippies are becoming thinner on the ground although a few can be found between Cape Karikari and North Cape, with a definite hotspot just off Knuckle Point. Snapper have been hit and miss with little in between. Still some great catches for those in the know. True hapuka are coming into the shallows in preparation for spawning with both commercial and recreational fishers making catches in water as shallow as 100 metres but mainly deeper. Bluenose have well and truly finished spawning but have left their cohorts, gemfish and bass behind in the depths. The Three Kings
Water temps continue to plunge there as well with the last remaining hot patches to the west. While Middlesex Bank still jumps up to nearly 19 degrees some days (and certain tides), it's neighbour to the east (King Bank) languishes in cold water (16 degrees) as visiting boats have verified for weeks now. Bottomfishing, however, seems to be a couple notches better at the King with plenty of decent sized bass to reward those anglers. Few hapuka but plenty of kingfish (to 30+ kgs) and tarakihi can be had on the Middlesex between marlin forays. Most every day there is a bite, albeit short, on stripies. One needs to exercise a lot of patience or get very lucky to find the saury foraging billfish at the moment. Fishing for broadbill will undoubtedly be the best bet if you want to tangle with a billfish from now on as evidenced by a few recent catches. Several fish over 200 kilos have been landed of late topped by a splendid 286 kilo fish weighed in at Whangaroa. Slow trolling and traditional drifting of baits seem to be equally represented and productive at the moment. Long may this ultimate challenge for recreational anglers last. Summary
In spite of cooling temperatures the Far North will continue to be a very viable locale to fish. Next report will be from the BOP – will be interesting to see what’s transpired in our absence!
From 
Pursuit
PursuitReport type: Saltwater
Report date: 09 June 01
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