When will the wind go away?! Summer started off with a hiss and a roar – nothing but sunny days, low winds, and some of the best fishing we had experienced in years. But as soon as 2025 showed itself, it seems like the weather gods dealt us a bad hand, and the days available to get out on the water have been few and far between.
Between blustery days and scattered showers, the fishing has been nothing short of what we expect a Northland summer to look like when we have managed to get out. Off the beach, and in the surf, the fishing has been great. 90 Mile Beach has been fishing well, with snapper coming in over the 70cm mark being reported. As always, if you are planning on fishing in this area, take the time to pop into Taipa Tackle and speak to Steve, as he is a local guru and has all the tips and tricks to make your session in the surf more successful.
Further afield, the kingies have moved in, and in good numbers and XXL size. Both lures and livebaits have been working well on the kingies, but as always with these guys, ensuring you are in the right place at the right time can play a huge part in how your day turns out. A good area to focus on would be the numerous islands around the Karikari Peninsula, as these islands are in close proximity to deep water and have plenty of current flowing around them. The islands are easily accessible by boat launching from either one of the numerous boat ramps through Doubtless Bay, or off the beach at Rangiputa.
Offshore, it has been a bit of a mixed bag. Both coasts have seen the striped marlin start to move in. Although they still haven’t started to truly congregate in any concentrated numbers, you have a good shot at getting a hook into one if you focus on working water between the 80-120m depths. Recently, the Bay of Islands had a great bite with a bunch of fish being caught around the Bird Trench area.
While on the topic of the Bay Of Islands, the Rowe family on their Bluefix Northcape Custom 43, Rowe’ De’ O, caught the first blue marlin of the season wide of Whangaroa. The blue marlin gave the team a good run around, but it was no match for the well-oiled machine of the seasoned crew on their weapon of a boat. Showing everyone what these boats were designed to do – catch big, angry, fish quickly!
Reece Wedge with a striped marlin out from Hokianga on the vessel Sole.
Out west the fishing has been great. On a recent trip out of the Hokianga, we tagged a beautiful stripie in 130m of water straight out off the bar. This was our first trip of the season, so it was great to get the monkey off the back nice and early. Fishing alongside us were friends on their boat Triple H skippered by Aidan Williams. They managed to catch a stripie early in the morning, followed by a shortbill spearfish.
Bailey Walker with her shortbill spearfish.
Angler Bailey Walker was ecstatic with her first shortbill, and what an awesome catch – a species not often found on the west coast of New Zealand. Awesome work as always team Triple H!
That brings me to the end of my area report for January. Fingers crossed that the next time I report back, the pesky winds have moved on and the hungry fish have moved in. Stay safe and have fun out there everyone.
Cheers,
Jordan Hensen
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