Fishing Reports

 

Fishing hard in behind Kawau Island has been producing some nice fish for us when we have had smaller groups on board and we can strayline without tangles and frayed tempers. A number of fish over 4kg have been landed and due to anglers not having gear in good enough condition or quality to handle big snapper, we have seen a few of the bigger ones escape back to the kelp. These bigger snapper can really pull hard and often will drag your line deep into the kelp beds and bust you off big time! When we have had larger groups on board we have been fishing the deeper reefs behind Kawau Island and around Flat Rock with pretty success, especially on the ebb tide. Most of the snapper are still only "pannies" but are in excellent condition, with a few going over the 2kg mark. The tarakihi are still around and are best targeted at slack water. Pipis seem to be the best bait but are hard to keep on the hook so I've been salting a few down to firm them up. Fresh is best though. Small strips of squid are ok as well and I'm finding the Black Magic "Tarakihi Terror" is pretty good with the squid. Haven't seen too many trevally up here lately. The ones we have caught are only small, not like last winter when we had a good run of them all winter with some being of good size. Great sport on the light gear. The john dory are also around in good numbers and most everywhere we go we target them with live baits or drift fish using jigs and live baits. My favourite jig at present is a grim reaper black and gray combo at 60 grams. The kahawai love it too. Some of the dory are huge and we are seeing a lot more than in previous years. The word from up north around the Hen and Chicks is that there are some good snapper starting to show up now. When told this I went back through my diaries to see when and where we first encountered this first lot of school fish. Not to my surprise, I read that I had done a few 2 day trips up around Takatu this time last year. We had done very well a few miles out on some broken shell and rubble I had found a few years previously. So it's going to be back up there again for a few overnighters. If you wish to do one of these trips we are doing them cheap as chips this time of year and it is only $90 per angler or $450 for a group of 5! Get into it! Burley is still required as is a good chunk of patience. The days are cold and the nights colder, but when it only costs you $45 per head on weekdays and $55 on weekends for our day trips, how can you not give us a call and come try your luck! PS: Evening fishing trips are now only $40 per head and we will run at that price all through summer! Get your work mates out. Daylight saving is not too far away now. Good fishing Damian THE CHARTER CONNNECTION LTD

 

From A Charter Connection...

Report type: Saltwater

Report date: 15 August 01