Fishing Reports

 

A windy day off, so time for an update. Since our last report, the weather has been the determining factor on where we have fished . One day it's flat calm and sunny, the next it's howling around the place. Going all the way back to our last report and I apologise for the delay, there has been some highs and some lows. The deeper areas between Tiri and Kawau are looking like a desert, but we have found a few nice fish further into Whangaparaoa Bay. Burley will have to be used to stimulate them into action and strips of squid on lightly weighted traces, cast well out the back will do the job. On a real calm day I can anchor the boat side on and a whole group can line up along one side and all enjoy the action. If the current is slight, I prefer to burley from the surface and float the baits through the whole water column. If the tide is a bit stringer we deploy the burley on the anchor and fish with a heavier weighted line. Try a ledger rig or a Flat Rock Special if the tide is quite strong. The Tiri Passage is doing a Dr. Jeckell and Mr. Hyde routine at the moment. They are where you find them. They seem to be hanging on the deeper parts of the channel and I've done quite well over the old cable at the northern end of the passage. You need the tide to be running either in or out and need a bit of lead to get you on the bottom. The snapper are a lazy sort of fish and will hang hard on the bottom, where the current is a little less. A burley on the anchor will help, but in the strong current they don't last long. Use a wide mesh bag too. This will help stop the burley clogging up the bag and keep it flowing nicely. Another area that has been producing a few fish and I say only a few, is out on the sand at the southern end of Tiri. Watch out for the Telecom Cable area and keep an eye on the sounder. Outgoing tide is best I've found, but have scored a few on the incoming too. Around behind Tiri is an area that is perfect snapper country and they are there. The only problem is, there is a lot of throw backs. Move on or stick it out just that little bit longer? I've been opting for the stick it out option and to be quite honest, I don't think it makes squat all difference. Try the deeper foul around Shearers Rock and the Black buoy. The weather hasn't let me get to it recently, but there would have to be some fish on these reefs. I've always preferred the outgoing tide at Shearers and it has been good to us in the past. Running rigs with half pillies or strips of your favorites. Try a drift around Shag Rock if you are in the area. It has quite a fishy reef around it especially on the southern end. The northern end of Tiri has been fishing slowly, but lets face it conditions on the whole, have been pretty bad and often getting to where you think the fish are, can be quite the challenge when it's blowing 40 knots. Yesterday was a shocker with only a handful of good pannies landed and a heap of smaller ones thrown back. Slack water in the middle of the day didn't help and the boys had no burley. We supply burley if we supply the bait. It can often make a huge difference. Had a fish with a small group of 3 a week or so ago. Couldn't go far but didn't need to. Sitting in about 20 feet of water, on the edge of a reef, that was getting a good wash all over it, was the location. With the burley flowing and the tide running in and over the reef in front of us (we were fishing sort of back to front really) we started throwing back small snapper. About an hour into the tide and the fishing, things started to look up. I was busted off on the bottom by a big, nodding snapper. I was about 5 mins into the fight and was getting back the 10 kg line I was using, in short bursts, when the fish did what was its' final run with me attached. I felt the line going through the foul and backed off the drag but to no avail. PING! The fish kept coming but that moocher was not one of them. We had quota in 5 hours and kept nothing under 35cm. Small groups can often get the boat to themselves especially if they want to get out midweek. Lets face it, it is the best time to go. It always seems to blow on the weekends and come right on the Monday. This upcoming week is a classic example, with a big high on its' way and a favourable moon. Might try to get up to Flat Rock this week and have a good look around. It is this time of year that things normally improve up this way. Over towards Rakino and up around The Noisies is still patchy, but there is fish around the reefs and offshore structures. Have a good look around before you decide where to fish, as the fish seem to be lurking around in small clumps on the bottom. Some clumps are better than others and will hold better fish. The worm beds between Whangaparaoa and Motutapu Island, are not fishing terribly well and I would have thought that there may have been a bit of fish moving through the area on there way out. It wasn't to be so we went and fished a patch of rubble out behind Tiri in about 40m. Some really good looking signs on the bottom but it was all smaller fish. We landed nothing over about 3lb this day. The longliners are doing alright out on the 50m area and I'll pop out there for a bit of a sqizz around this week if I get the chance. Keep an eye out for the gannets and drift around the area till you get onto what will be pretty good fish I would presume. Anther option is to anchor up and put out a big burley on the bottom. You may get a few sharks and rays but you may also get good snapper. Here are a few dates available over the next couple of weeks that be of interest to you. Thursday 9th Day trip $45pp Sunday 12th Shout Mum a trip out for Mothers day. Monday 13th Day trip $45pp Tuesday 21st Day trip $45pp Every Thursday is casuals' day now and we will probably do the same for Tuesdays as well. If you want go on the casual angler list give us bell or email us at deepsea@clear.net.nz Boat bookings are available too if you wish to have the whole boat for yourselves. There are more dates available now, as the weather cools down and some people put away the fishing gear until labour weekend. More fool them. Winter can be surprisingly productive if you get the right conditions and out to the right location. Less fish, but bigger fish. Go get a rod bent! (09)4260604 or (025)2446346) Damian THE CHARTER CONNECTION

 

From A Charter Connection...

Report type: Saltwater

Report date: 05 May 02