Whangaroa Gamefishing Update

In the last 2 weeks there have still been striped marlin caught, with weigh-sheets from 3 caught off Cape Karikari and the King Bank on lures, and a good fish of 126.2kg caught in Matai Bay on a live kahawai.

The best sport to be had in the area at the moment is with the yellowtail kingfish, with 24 fish caught at the Cavalli Islands, with an average weight of 15.25kg. These fish were mainly caught around the Teapot using live blue koheru and with our recent light tackle contest being competed for, there has been some skillfull angling on light lines of 4 - 10kg for fish of  up to 27.1kg with fight times ranging from 10 minutes to 1hr. 15 minutes!

There has also been some good snapper action as well, with fish of 2 – 8.26kg weighed in from the Cavallis caught on soft baits, piper, saury, or the conventional cut baits. The Cavallis has also been good for kahawai, with again light line action (1kg) for fish of 1.28 – 1.5kg falling for piper, squid and live baits, with fight times of up to 15 minutes. Good kahawai of up to 1.82kg have also been landed from the Whangaroa Harbour on a variety of cut baits.

The big fish may be gone but if you are willing to down-size the tackle to match the sport fish still around, you will still have a fight on your hands and have to use all your skills to land a fish.

Sandra Moore