Fishing Reports
Far North
What do you get after weeks of incessant westerly winds? A distinct loss of water colour, temperature drop and an ocean full of hungry marlin! Hard to believe but this is exactly what happened when it was least expected, especially at this time of year. It's been an unusual season all along so this revelation should come as no surprise. While this occurrence has been a pleasant and unexpected surprise, it should probably be read as the final act of a prolonged season on the pelagics.
The Three Kings Islands and Area
While this isn't the only game in town, it's pretty close. After going without visitation for well over a week, the next group of prospectors came up with pay dirt. After all the wind and its associated cooling effects, few skippers held out much hope for a resurgent marlin bite - they were wrong! Yet again, the resilient King Bank provided the goods. Striped marlin were abundant with three boats landing (or tagging) three each with many more lost and sighted - virtually as good as anything we saw all autumn. Added to the numbers was size. Some of the fish were well over 150kgs; quite a few over 120 and in prime condition. "Harlequin" weighed in one at 153.8k's and others tagged were estimated over 160k's. Bait had the decided advantage over lures. Bait, however, was another issue and some days it was infinitely harder to catch than marlin! Catching Koheru was like extracting teeth. Some boats got lucky and caught all they needed in an hour while most spent hours for little or, worse still, nothing. Skippies were almost non-existent but large schools of blue mackerel were present on the Bank itself. Some crews caught their requirements with the use of large sabikis and small jigs right on the grounds - how handy. Middlesex Bank attracted a few visits with the same report; looks good but no action. Broadbill have been exceedingly scarce but there have been very few boats chasing them due to the weather. Temps on both banks has been anywhere from 17-18 ½ Degrees C, obviously good enough. Back at the island and the Princess Group it has dropped to a surly 14 ½! Hasn't seemed to effect the kingfish with several boats making good catches of these willing gamesters. Many of them are 25-35 kilos, most 15-25. Bottomfishing has been superb with many nice bass coming to the surface. Some have eclipsed 40kgs with one beauty reported at 67. Now for a couple closing sidelines. First it's extraordinary to see so many boats at the Kings at this time of year. Usually there are one or two at the most but recently there were six. Next is the capture of a "special" marlin. John Gregory onboard "Primetime" had been stuck on 98 marlin for the season for three weeks. After enjoying an excellent early season, he became stagnated on billfish. The jokes surrounding "98 not out" were becoming all too real after a while. Finally, after the long and almost unbearable wait, the fateful day finally arrived. Not only were 99 and 100 tagged and dispatched of but 101 for good measure. Congratulations John on a job well done. North Cape
Some of the warmest and best looking water along the coast. The occasional marlin still seen here as well as the very elusive skipjack. Snapper, once plentiful here, have also become inconsistent. Doubtless Bay
Has become very quiet on all fronts. Even the Mangonui Wharf is now yielding only the very occasional kingi and a few John Dory for those die-hard anglers. Snapper are reported to have become scarce, skippies non-existent. A lonely marlin had two swipes at a lure in 126m of water off Berghans Point recently so there's still hope. If you're passing through don't resist the temptation to troll a couple lures - could still pay off. Summary
While there has been some great fishing and special moments up north this year, it has been a fairly painful experience overall. The weather (or lack of same) has distracted greatly from the experience - there's always next year and it didn't end badly at all. "PURSUIT" and her battle worn crew have now retreated back to the Bay of Plenty so look for regular reports from there once again. Won't be long before we look forward to our return to the far north again next March.
While this isn't the only game in town, it's pretty close. After going without visitation for well over a week, the next group of prospectors came up with pay dirt. After all the wind and its associated cooling effects, few skippers held out much hope for a resurgent marlin bite - they were wrong! Yet again, the resilient King Bank provided the goods. Striped marlin were abundant with three boats landing (or tagging) three each with many more lost and sighted - virtually as good as anything we saw all autumn. Added to the numbers was size. Some of the fish were well over 150kgs; quite a few over 120 and in prime condition. "Harlequin" weighed in one at 153.8k's and others tagged were estimated over 160k's. Bait had the decided advantage over lures. Bait, however, was another issue and some days it was infinitely harder to catch than marlin! Catching Koheru was like extracting teeth. Some boats got lucky and caught all they needed in an hour while most spent hours for little or, worse still, nothing. Skippies were almost non-existent but large schools of blue mackerel were present on the Bank itself. Some crews caught their requirements with the use of large sabikis and small jigs right on the grounds - how handy. Middlesex Bank attracted a few visits with the same report; looks good but no action. Broadbill have been exceedingly scarce but there have been very few boats chasing them due to the weather. Temps on both banks has been anywhere from 17-18 ½ Degrees C, obviously good enough. Back at the island and the Princess Group it has dropped to a surly 14 ½! Hasn't seemed to effect the kingfish with several boats making good catches of these willing gamesters. Many of them are 25-35 kilos, most 15-25. Bottomfishing has been superb with many nice bass coming to the surface. Some have eclipsed 40kgs with one beauty reported at 67. Now for a couple closing sidelines. First it's extraordinary to see so many boats at the Kings at this time of year. Usually there are one or two at the most but recently there were six. Next is the capture of a "special" marlin. John Gregory onboard "Primetime" had been stuck on 98 marlin for the season for three weeks. After enjoying an excellent early season, he became stagnated on billfish. The jokes surrounding "98 not out" were becoming all too real after a while. Finally, after the long and almost unbearable wait, the fateful day finally arrived. Not only were 99 and 100 tagged and dispatched of but 101 for good measure. Congratulations John on a job well done. North Cape
Some of the warmest and best looking water along the coast. The occasional marlin still seen here as well as the very elusive skipjack. Snapper, once plentiful here, have also become inconsistent. Doubtless Bay
Has become very quiet on all fronts. Even the Mangonui Wharf is now yielding only the very occasional kingi and a few John Dory for those die-hard anglers. Snapper are reported to have become scarce, skippies non-existent. A lonely marlin had two swipes at a lure in 126m of water off Berghans Point recently so there's still hope. If you're passing through don't resist the temptation to troll a couple lures - could still pay off. Summary
While there has been some great fishing and special moments up north this year, it has been a fairly painful experience overall. The weather (or lack of same) has distracted greatly from the experience - there's always next year and it didn't end badly at all. "PURSUIT" and her battle worn crew have now retreated back to the Bay of Plenty so look for regular reports from there once again. Won't be long before we look forward to our return to the far north again next March.
From 
Pursuit
PursuitReport type: Saltwater
Report date: 13 June 02
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