Far North

Don’t ya just love it?!?! The unpredictability of saltwater fishing is one of, if not the most, fascinating aspects of the sport. Not know what will transpire next is truly an alluring component of this beloved pastime of ours. Just when we were ready to write off yet another game season, pleasant surprises pop up all over the place! Indeed, reading this writers last report would be tantamount to an epitaph!

Just as we’re rationalizing the end of the season, here comes some very pretty and relatively warm water – complete with those hallowed creatures which are renowned to be associated with same. That, in spite of a steady diet of cold, hail, imbedded south and westerly winds – go figure!

The winterless north? I don’t think so! In saying that I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else at the moment. If you’re keen on pleasant surprises, and results, read on ……………….

Doubtless Bay – Cape Karikari

Don’t think you can catch a skippy for bait anywhere near here but most everything else is all go. Still a few marlin making life exciting for those very few boats with lures in the water. While few have been landed, strikes and free jumpers are a reasonably common occurrence.

Elsewhere the snapper have been biting their heads off with few returning to port without good stories and limit or near limit catches. Some very nice fish among them with plenty in the 8-15 pound class. As per normal, evenings seem to be best and around 35 metres a good place to be as the sum gets low in the west.

Also as an added bonus are good quantities of kingfish. They are particularly evident in the middle of Doubtless Bay, in the Albert Rock – Fairway Reef area. With plenty of food (pillies) in the area these fish are in good nick and eager to punish any would be captor. Most are 8-12 kilos but enough over 20 to make things interesting.

Garden Patch - Pins

Water warms up considerably out here with a few beakies in attendance; out over 200 metres the colour picks up as well. Bottomfishing is good if, and this is a big if, there are no killer whales around. If you see even a couple as you approach your chosen area might as well keep going – you won’t get anything through them. Otherwise it’s bluenose aplenty with a few puka and bass to spice things up. “Reel Passion” scored a couple nice bass at 40k’s recently.

Great Exhibition Bay

Nothing but good news for snapper addicts in this large expanse of water. Henderson Point has received a lot of recent attention but even just outside Houhora harbour entrance is worth a look. Soft plastics are dominating but bait a close second with a nice quality line of fish coming out of this area. Some good trevally out on the sand as well.

North Cape

Good water comes closest to shore here and, not surprisingly, so do the skippies and marlin. Not a lot of either but anyone putting in the time here out off the canyons should expect some action. Large pods of dolphin complete with flights of gannets taking full advantage of big bunches of maximum sized pilchards in the area on a daily basis. Some of the foul off the Cape is producing some hapuka and kingfish as well – look in the 80-100 metre mark.

Tom Bowling Bay

While the water is cooler here, it didn’t stop “Enchanter” from tagging a fine marlin in 91 metres of water recently! Elsewhere the snapper are keen with more than the occasional big (read that over 20lbs) popping up.

“The Hook” – “Compass Rose”

Finally the steam has run out of this area in the way of water quality and bait. Has been a great run but would appear to come to a conclusion with cold water abounding throughout. Visiting boats need to satisfy themselves with kingis and hapuka.

Three Kings – Princess Group

Not a bad place to be stuck in weather, if that’s the case. Koheru are biting well in Norwest Bay nut one needs patience, they don’t want to play early and have plenty of predators (couta/kingis) to chase them around. Kingis have been quite rewarding with some topping 30k’s, most in the high teens or low 20’s.

Middlesex Bank

Cold green water here but no shortage of kingis, bass, hapuka and kingi terakihi whatsoever. Should expect some big albacore to turn up.

King Bank

Definitely have saved the best for last this time. Against all odds, warm blue water has come back onto the bank. How it has achieved this in the face of consistent cold souwest winds and swell only god knows.

This has come complete with a decent population of stripeys that are keen on lures and bait alike. Boats (and there are precious few at this time of year) have been getting anywhere from two to six strikes per day and that’s usually just traveling from spot to spot, not dedicated fishing! As expected at this time of year, the fish are larger with seemingly a 120k average.

While the “Magnet” area seems to be the choice, strikes have occurred on all parts of the bank – even half way back to the Kings! As per normal, the fish are keen to carry on well after the anglers call it a season! “Oracle” experienced a treble strike, landing one nice fish in the end.

Otherwise it’s business as usual with some very productive bottom and kingi fishing. 68 year young Bob Dowd boated a spectacular 41 kilo kingi. The well known Whangaroa club member had previously put little energy into kingfish, now he’s landed a real trophy. Other anglers onboard “Enchanter” also scored fine fish over 30k’s.

Bob wasn’t the only senior angler to taste success at the bank. Only a couple years younger, veteran angler Jim McLeod also landed two fine fish. First was a marlin which he tagged after a tough hour long battle. Second came just on dark in the form of a huge puka – just short of 50 kilos. Well done to Bob and Jim – may you both land many more trophies in the future.

Bass, bluenose and terakihi finish off what is a pretty vibrant scene at this productive region. “Primetime” angler weighed a 240k swordfish after a grueling 6 ½ hour fight.

Summary

So it’s all over? Think again! Aside from marlin there’s some brilliant fishing around, with them it’s a very exciting situation. While it’s a brave move to organise an outing at this time of year, you won’t be disappointed regardless of what you target.