Game Fish Update

While Waihou Bay has given us a start, there is now renewed hope and some catches coming from the rest of the Bay.  Mercury Bays recent Tuna Tournament produced two bigeye and three yellowfin to 65 kilos so that was positive.  Even if the numbers weren’t there, the quality was.  At the eastern extremity of the BOP Waihou has come up with another surprise, more tuna and the Bays first marlin.

Dave Anderson fishing solo on his boat “Latitude” had a busy morning in 200 metres of water off Cape Runaway.  He first caught a 20 kilo yellowfin.  While it’s the right colour and shape, it’s easily the smallest this writer has heard of this season thus far.  He had just reset his lures when two nice stripees showed up in the pattern.  One stuck and after a spirited fight Dave fronted up at the weigh station with his 128 kilo prize – well done.  Another 28 kilo yellowfin was weighed so there are a few around.

Back in the centre of the Bay, Whakatane is still waiting for its first pelagic game fish to come to the scales.  There is some very nice water being pushed in and with so little effort the stage is set there as well.  Would seem the Whakatane Clubs prestigious annual Tuna Tournament could be well placed next week.  There have been some promising reports from commercial surface longliners about big numbers of small (20-40 kilo) bigeye tuna, both north of White Island and Hick’s Bay.  In checking out the former report Aucklander Joe Crowther found no tuna but scored is first shortbill spearfish.  Joe was delighted with his 20 kilo specimen captured in the inky 19.5 degree water 30 miles north of the Volcanic Isle.

So, maybe there is a god and she’s not all that angry with us!  It would appear after the current northerly flow we may have something to get even more excited about soon.  Now, if we can just get those pesky westerly and southerly winds to stay away ……………………..