Whangaroa Gamefishing Update

This last weeks calm weather with 10 knot variable winds and slight seas meant that more boats have been out, including the old boats in the Classic Boats Tournament at the Whangaroa Big Gamefish Club.

The last week has seen weigh-sheets for 20 striped marlin, with charter boats picking up 15 at the King & Middlesex Banks. Two fish came from the Cavalli Islands area and three from around Stephenson’s Island. The average weight of fish on the banks is currently 115kg but locally the weight averages out at 85kg.

On the banks the fish have been caught mainly on live baits and locally there have also been live baits used, but also fruit salad and light blue lures. A light blue lure also ensnared a shortbill spearfish of 12.6kg from the 600m hole. Good numbers  of yellowtail have also been caught on the banks with live-bait and lures, with an average weight of 10 – 14kg.

Two albacore of 9.22kg and 9.86kg were caught at North Cape on light lines (8kg & 2kg respectively) and black/purple and red hexhead lures, which are new club line records. The Classic Boats Tournament also produced some small snapper, the biggest of which was a fish of 4.26kg caught by Stephenson’s Island.