Fishing Reports

 

Ever seen a big school of big snapper feeding on electric blue krill and baby snapping prawns? Over the weekend, fishing buddies Jim Riley, Derek Geretsen and Whoppa Man from the Bay Swordfish Club did. It was the experience of a lifetime. They found the patch of blue shot with splashing, flashing orange on the south side of Cape Brett, just out from the Hole in the Rock. The snapper were clearly visible. Jim estimates fifty fish with the smallest over 5kg and plenty of real mega reds. Locals he reckons. Could tell because they were filled up on kina and krill. Also didn’t have the fine sharp teeth of their pelagic cousins. The boys landed a couple, one over 10kg on squid tossed into the nautical smorgasbord. Meanwhile, Captain Bucko and punters observed snapper fighting at the Rainbow Warrior during a weekend dive. Normal for this time of the year he says. Males start getting territorial. They chase each other and nip each other in the butt. Females just watch. Based on what he’s seen under water and what he and his punters are catching on the surface, Buck reckons Whale Rock could be the place in about three weeks. Waiweri Reef, The Whale and Roberton have all been working well for Buck and his customers lately. Recent dives at Cape Brett indicate good schools of kingfish in residence. Mostly about 10kg, but with a few big horses too. Ken Coombes of Bay Dive and Tackle confirms Buck’s story with further good catches of snapper reported at Mataka, Marsden Cross and Takau Bay. My wife and I landed a couple of nice fish land-based at Lion Rock on Saturday morning in bright sunlight. The fish were a pleasant surprise under the circumstances. Especially since I forgot both gaff and net. Managed to float the biggest (7kg) in on a wave. Whew! Live bait has been hard to come by for many lately but dives on Frenchman’s Reef indicate big schools of jack mackerel in residence. Plenty of Dory there too. I can personally confirm jacks also in residence in the small bay at the western end of Roberton Island. According to most reports, the barracuda menace is not as bad as last year. The main infestation seems to be at Whale Rock. Kahawai are present in good numbers all over the place. Not big though. Dave Hart and Paul Mason of Kerikeri had some fun fly-fishing for them at the Te Pahi Islands over the weekend. Out deep (180m), the crew of “Real Fission” from Kerikeri came home with a boat-load of puka and a 50kg bass the other day. Not bad going eh. Especially since the crew are all mainlanders. On the ocean floor, female crays are dropping eggs and moving into deeper water. Males remain in shallow. Packhorse crayfish are shedding shell and oysters are in great condition. Mussels are on the up with scallops still hard to find and in average condition. Tight lines!

 

From Steven Radich

Report type: Saltwater

Report date: 02 October 01