Fishing Reports
Eastern Bay Of Plenty Report
Hi readers,
Hope you’ve had a reasonable winter and are ready for the excitement that spring will certainly bring anglers. I’ve had a good break (Mexico, Queenstown, Sydney, California, Cook Islands) and am now ready to face the long season ahead. “PURSUIT” has flown through annual survey and maintenance – she’s also ready for the next 10 months of continual trips. Here’s a synopsis of what’s going on in the EBOP.
Inshore
If you are interested in snapper in this area, over the past few weeks you’ve probably done it hard. Apparently the west (beyond Plate Island) has produced well, but it’s very lean pickings in the east. A few large (8-12kg) snapper have been landed near the Rurima Rocks, but otherwise it’s tough to get a feed of pan-sized fish anywhere. If you can look past “every bodies favourite” then there’s plenty to catch. Kahawai (averaging 2 kilos) have been in great abundance. Some are having a field day on light tackle and flyrod while others are whacking limits destined for the smoker. Gurnard are in good numbers but not as good as tarakihi. They are nearly everywhere with the size increasing with water depth, right out to 150 metres for fish averaging a kilo and approaching two. On to the whitebait. The Whakatane river, while dirty, has been producing the goods. Scoop netters are frequently getting 1 to 2 kilos per outing with the occasional catch approximately 4kg. White Island
Hapuka, while small, have been in reasonable numbers in shallow (140-160m). Kingfish are non-existent in the shallows but the odd nice fish is showing up as a bycatch while out hapuka fishing. A hike in the water temp (currently 14 ½ degrees C) should trigger the spawning movement toward shallow water. Tarakihi are also in abundance here as well as decent sized pink mao mao and red snapper. There is plenty of room for improvement here though. Ranfurly Bank
This has easily been the shining star over the past two months. When weather allows (and that’s been a problem) the Banks have been very productive. Some very large bass (over 50kg and all the way to 70 kilos) have made things very interesting indeed. Plenty of hapuka abound as they approach their spawning period – all sizes from suckers (4-10kg) to well over 30k adults. The shallows continue to hold trumpeter, kingis, trevally, snapper etc. The long trip from Whakatane or Gisborne can be well worthwhile. That’s all for now – will write again when and as there are any new developments.
If you are interested in snapper in this area, over the past few weeks you’ve probably done it hard. Apparently the west (beyond Plate Island) has produced well, but it’s very lean pickings in the east. A few large (8-12kg) snapper have been landed near the Rurima Rocks, but otherwise it’s tough to get a feed of pan-sized fish anywhere. If you can look past “every bodies favourite” then there’s plenty to catch. Kahawai (averaging 2 kilos) have been in great abundance. Some are having a field day on light tackle and flyrod while others are whacking limits destined for the smoker. Gurnard are in good numbers but not as good as tarakihi. They are nearly everywhere with the size increasing with water depth, right out to 150 metres for fish averaging a kilo and approaching two. On to the whitebait. The Whakatane river, while dirty, has been producing the goods. Scoop netters are frequently getting 1 to 2 kilos per outing with the occasional catch approximately 4kg. White Island
Hapuka, while small, have been in reasonable numbers in shallow (140-160m). Kingfish are non-existent in the shallows but the odd nice fish is showing up as a bycatch while out hapuka fishing. A hike in the water temp (currently 14 ½ degrees C) should trigger the spawning movement toward shallow water. Tarakihi are also in abundance here as well as decent sized pink mao mao and red snapper. There is plenty of room for improvement here though. Ranfurly Bank
This has easily been the shining star over the past two months. When weather allows (and that’s been a problem) the Banks have been very productive. Some very large bass (over 50kg and all the way to 70 kilos) have made things very interesting indeed. Plenty of hapuka abound as they approach their spawning period – all sizes from suckers (4-10kg) to well over 30k adults. The shallows continue to hold trumpeter, kingis, trevally, snapper etc. The long trip from Whakatane or Gisborne can be well worthwhile. That’s all for now – will write again when and as there are any new developments.
From 
Pursuit
PursuitReport type: Saltwater
Report date: 12 September 01
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