Squid and fresh baits doing the business 

With the days growing shorter and the water cooling, the snapper have been on the bite in the 20-35 metre depth range both north and south of the harbour entrance.  

North – up past Carters Beach – and beyond continues to fish particularly well with nice medium-sized fish in excellent condition hitting the squid and fresh baits hard.  

When the bite is really on the bigger fish are also getting caught up in the feeding excitement below.  

Depending on the day, there can be a large bycatch of kahawai. These have been put to great use; not only as good table fare if bled and iced but the fillets make a nice strip bait for snapper. And don’t forget the roe is great for smoking.

The snapper are in prime condition post-spawning as they bulk up for the winter months ahead. 

Kingfish are still present and are taking cut baits over the sand, putting the gear and stamina of the anglers to the test. They are never far away from the reefs as well. 

The marlin bite has been in the 85-150 metre range with some boats having days where they have tagged multiple billfish with double and triple strikes not unheard of. Boats are reporting some bigger albacore tuna have been caught along with mahimahi and skipjack tuna in a bit closer recently. 

Deep water species when accessible have been caught in numbers. They are in great condition and are also full of great roe – something of a smoked delicacy around these parts! 

Tight lines,

Murray Monds
Reel Action Raglan Charters
Ph  027 903 0312