Fishing Reports

 

Prior to the weekend, fishing reports were generally positive. But something changed, and for most, despite of the best weather for months, weekend fishing was an endurance affair. Some put it down to water-colour, others to the amount of fresh water about, while still others blamed it on the stage of the moon. There’s little doubt that the stage of the moon does influence fishing. The Hohepa fishing calendar was right on target for Sunday: a short sharp bite late afternoon was followed by another of similar duration late dusk. Ken Coombes of Bay Dive and Tackle is optimistic that the fishing will improve this coming weekend as the moon wanes. Meanwhile he suggests you ensure your gear is up to the task of taming the big ones that are just around the corner. Those who spent time on the water over the weekend were fortunate to return with a meal. Tough is the polite word to express how most described their fishing. Rob Smith of Tapuaetahi spent a few hours chasing tarakihi to no avail. Eventually he returned with a feed of 1-2kg snapper, caught at dusk. Ashley Patterson of Pouerua used some interesting obscenities to describe his trip and my own off Roberton, wasn’t much better. Out at the Pin, Mike Paton and Chris Kew managed to get a nice feed in 40m. Late afternoon produced the best action. But it was further out, the action really heated up. Barry and Noel Birchall along with Brian Rudkin, all of Kaikohe, anchored on a favourite fishing possie out from the Bird on Sunday. In 70m they filled up with tarakihi and managed a score of snapper before they had to return for fear of going over their limits. A 4kg noddy in prime condition was added to the bin after a late stop at Red Head on the way home. Just to confuse the issue, an 8kg snapper was landed at Opito Bay on Saturday morning and Ken Stirling of Opito Bay hooked into another of similar proportions in 46m just east of the Pin later that same day. And earlier in the week, John Sharp and Rex Honeyfield cleaned up in the deep, north west of the Pin. Snapper between 2 and 4kg, great tarakihi and gurnard with the occasional puka have been a regular feature of their recent fishing ventures. The snapper are in prime condition and all roed up. In John’s opinion, the fishing in the deep is almost always incredible. Makos and barracuda are in early, with the latter starting to reach plague proportions out wide. On the west coast, the prevailing easterly conditions have proven to be a bonanza for beach fishos. Great fishing is being reported from the Hokianga to Dargaville. Kite fishos are having a ball and the bar can often be crossed in a dingy. Do you know what the longliners are doing camped between Takau Bay and the Cavallis? Catching schooling snapper? Tight lines!

 

From Steven Radich

Report type: Saltwater

Report date: 17 September 01