BOP Spring Report

Feels good to be back on the water after nearly 2 ½ months off.  With new electronics, a new crewman (Mark Collins) and shiny boat inside and out we’ve looked forward to this time for awhile.  With all the cold westerlies (early equinox?) we’ve had so early this year it’s been with some in trepidation.  After hearing as many reports as we could, we just had to get out there to see for ourselves!

Inshore

When the wind has backed off, there’s been some very steady fishing throughout the inshore arena.  Diversity has been the catch cry with a mixed bag for most anglers.  Predictably led by terakihi at this time of year, there’s been an excellent supporting act by snapper, gurnard and whitebait filled kahawai.  While few boats have had bonanza days of fishing, most all have returned to port with a nice representative catch. 

A few surprises have occurred as well, as is often the case in fishing – especially the saltwater variety.  Fishing mainly for gurnard but landing the odd pannie snapper in shallow water on the sand at the nearby Radio Mast, an angler landed a near seven kilo snapper on light tackle – well done.  Regardless of where you elect to ply your trade, expect fat kahawai to crash your party.  As spring marches on the snapper stakes should just improve all the while.  While few have “killed the bull”, most are getting a good feed.

Offshore

If there was one thing that has stood out about this area over the past two months, it had to be the lack of visits/pressure and, consequently, reports!  Very little angling has been done offshore during late winter and early spring.  The reasons will be varied but sure to include major factors like weather and economics.  Hopefully both will positively change in the near future but don’t hold your breath in the latter!

The Tauranga club recently held their albacore tournament with some good results this time around.  The winning fish was 23 kilos with several more in the high teens; average a very respectable 11 kilos.  Sure there will be pockets of these fish scattered right around the BOP but they are hard to apprehend without lures in the water!

Back at White Island things were pretty buoyant for at least two species – yellowtail kingfish and shallow water reef fish.  Kingis bit quite consistently with the average size around the 16 kilo mark.  The condition factors of the fish vary greatly as they make their way toward spawning.  Some are fat as bulls while others are pretty skinny on it, real slabs.

That will undoubtedly improve as time marches on.  Live bait was the main enticement although jigs did have some success with a reasonable amount of surface activity observed as well.  Water is a good colour and around the 16 degree mark.  While the average was decidedly in the mid teens, there were two fish that stood out. 

Auckland mates Mathew Metcalfe and Ryan Leggatt scored near identical “whoppers of the week” at the 27 kilo mark.  While there is plenty of room for improvement it’s not a bad start.  On the downside, the island is very active – emitting gas, ash and stern.  Hopefully it will settle down somewhat in the future.

Ranfurly Bank

Only one fleeting visit here over the past couple months but it yielded success on the desired bottom species, in particular hapuka.  The results were mixed with some spots barren and others productive but average sized (8-15kg) hapuka were plentiful when found with a 52 kilo bass as icing on the cake.  Expect many more visits here in the near future.

Summary

Spring is always full of anticipation and expectation, a great time to be on the water.  Of course this has been tempered by a strong, cold and early influx of westerly winds.  Does this mean we’ll get rid of the equinox winds sooner and have a good summer ahead?  Time will only tell on this but, in the meantime, things aren’t half bad.  See ya next week ……………..