Spring has sprung

SPRING HAS SPRUNG. Suddenly winter is but a sad memory. And I, for one, am glad to see its passing. A pretty snotty winter it was, if you ask me. So, as predicted in my last column, the tarakihi have started to fire as the first snapper scouts hit the outer Bay. Some snapper have even been getting in as far as Capstan Rock, so I'm told. Historically, Capstan has always been one of the first spots to attract a few early migrants. The tarakihi are certainly firing in the middle ground of the Bay of Islands. Even caught a few myself this past weekend, and real decent fillets they produced too. Big fish. Not too many of those mini tarakihi that often get up the channels or hang about shallow inshore- reefs. Albert Channel has been worth a visit too, according to local reports. Also, so I'm told, a few tarakihi have met their waterloo out from Te Ngaire, between Flat Island and the Cavallis. These reefs have featured since long before Europeans settled in this country. Taheke Reef has also been holding a few silver visitors, as have some of the fouls off Cape Brett and the Ninepin. Tarakihi can feature in these regions until well after Christmas, so keep them in mind when next on the water. Small hooks with small soft baits are the way to go. And unless the fish are really ravenous, a gentle nudge is often the only indication of their presence. So setting the hook with a vigorous strike is generally required. Early visits by snapper scouts can generally be counted on at the Ninepin and Red Head regions. My diary records some big snapper (9 and 11kg) falling foul of a sharp hook or two off Piercy Island one early September morning a few years back. Further north, according to an e-mail just to hand, the Karikari Peninsular is featuring some spectacular snapper fishing just at present,and if the commercial fishing fleet allows any to escape, we should see schools of snapper dropping in on their traditional haunts over the next month or so. But in order to enjoy nature's bounty, we actually need to be alive. A recent report indicates that we in NZ have a terrible rate of drowning while fishing. So many families are bereft of loved ones because of misadventures in paradise. For those who enjoy the sea, we do indeed live in paradise, but this paradise has its ugly side. So take care, lest your next fishing trip be your last. The very least we can always do is check the weather and tide before decision time. Ignorance on the water is a very sad excuse. Tight lines!