BOP Spring Report

Nice to be rid of those incessant westerlies – not that we are done with wind – far from it.  Still getting some strong (and cold) southerlies to contend with but the change is refreshing.  Paradoxically the better weather has brought about some difficult fishing in most areas – go figure!  Radically changeable temperatures from day to day, four seasons in one day stuff.  Some days really feeling like summer with low to mid 20’s prevailing.

Inshore

Little change here with lots of different stories about.  Some boats and their crews are triumphant with their successes while others moan about having to work hard to scratch up the proverbial “feed” which, incidentally, varies greatly on its meaning among these crews! 

A prime example remains the mussel farm off Opotiki where one day nice snapper and terakihi bit well in conjunction with the next day true scratch fishing.  Inshore is also inconsistent.  With water temps remaining quite constant, everyone is awaiting the change that increased temps should bring across the board.

Offshore

Better weather conditions here have not translated to better fishing, the opposite really.  While being infinitely more comfortable and enjoyable, some are already saying bring back the rough stuff.  Deepwater fishing remains poor unless you are willing and able to fish really deep – make that 500 metres deep, electric reel country! 

Decent bluenose have been plucked out of these depths but precious little in much of anything else.  Back closer to White Island the kingis have become quite coy with distinct preference for the afternoons.  Typically there’s little, if anything, happening prior to noon to two pm but thereafter can be excellent. 

As though someone has thrown the switch it’s all on with both bait and jigs.  A huge variety of sizes and condition factors are showing with far more rats under six kilos than normal.  Some larger specimens are certainly there for the taking although the average is 15 kilos or less.  Whopper of the week went to visiting Japanese angler (31kgs, sling weighed and released) who had a ball despite fighting both fish and the language barrier. 

Back in the shallows around the island we’ve seen very hard reef fishing – that at a time its usually consistently hot.  Virtually all species have developed lock jaw, only showing brief bite times of what should be expected at this normally productive time of year.  A few went out looking for the XOS albacore but to no avail.

Ranfurly Bank

Last spring produced some of the best fishing that this area has ever seen.  This year is a far different situation at virtually the same time.  Across the board, both the kingfish and bottom species have not shown anywhere near their former glory or potential thus far. 

Two very noticeable trends have been the lack of larger specimens and the total lack of kingfish in the shallows.  Best kingi fishing by far has been in a relatively deep 130-160 metres.  While few fish over 30 kilos have surfaced after considerable effort, the average has been an very pleasing mid 20’s. 

Jigs are working well here, preferable to bait of any kind.  The surface action of last season is but a memory with the shallows virtually barren thus far.  This should change and quickly.  A very nice surprise fell to a Japanese jig fisherman at 41kgs with the next largest 10 kilos in arrears.  While the bottom species are in good numbers, the size isn’t. 

Most trumpeter and hapuka are under 10 kilos in average size with bass only marginally larger.  Going against the trend was Auckland angler Ryan Blow with his superbly conditional 37 kilo puka.  Largest bass was under 30k’s but showing good numbers.  Plenty of upcoming visits here, look for significant changes soon.

Summary

With water temps nearly 17 degrees C we should expect them to continue to rise soon.  Of course 18 will trigger spawning among a wide variety of species including snapper, kingis and terakihi so expect some changes there soon.  Really nice to be in calm seas some days, a window to summer we hope.  Till next week………