West Coast Bluefin Update

It's been another great week on the west coast with the weather throwing eager bluefin anglers a couple of curve balls. Early last week the serene spell of weather turned wet, wet, wet and the wind got up. The west coast bars were particularly unattractive to all but the largest of boats and the bravest of crews. The Galatea in the photo shows why you don't want to do the Greymouth bar in a tinny!

Graeme Sinclar and the Gone Fishin' crew managed one day on the water with Larry and Nathan on Cerveza II and a great team effort was rewarded with a 252.1kg Bluefin after a 2 & 1/2 hr battle on 60kg. It was special thanks to the crew on WestBay from Nelson who provided the hoki for chum and the bait that caught the fish! Anglers on the Koru II and Lady Margaret were also rewarded with fish. With only one JV trawler and a couple of smaller local boats working the area, the fishing appears to have buttoned off a bit, but there's still many happy anglers.

It was an evening bite and another team on 'Genesis' from Westport did well over three long nights - Thursday, Friday and Saturday last week. And they were rewarded for their stamina. Fishing 37kg stand-up they boated several bluefin over 200kg including a 280kg monster caught by Peter Jackson. All fish were taken on baits in the chum trail at night. Our very own roving reporter, Rick Pollock, tagged an estimated 200kg bluefin and the other fish ranged between 208kg and 235kg.  Neil Riddell's fish weighed in at 235kg after a 3hr 50min battle - pretty torrid stuff on 37kg stand-up.....

To keep up to the minute on the action keep an eye on our discussion forum.

Thinking of a trip next year?  Call Larry or Nathan on Cerveza II and tell the guys you' heard about it on The fishing Website www.fishing.net.nz and they'll look after you. Ph (021) 205 0935  or [email protected] .