Hey Alistair - You can drive around to the other side of the harbour. I tried that once and found it's a long windy dusty road, and you still have a bit of a hike to get up near the harbour mouth. The boat crossing is looking good!

 

I've just returned from Whangarei where i fished off Marsden Point beach, and Smugglers Cove. Beautiful spots - and i caught a few fish (Kahawai, stingray, Parore, and got smoked by a kingie)

Its got me keen on having a cast off Papanui Pt/Ruapuke soon.........

 

We were heading for Ruapuke but after running over a locals dog which ran straight under the wheels of my brothers truck and seeing how devastated the owners were we kind of lost a bit of motivation and decieded to just go back and try the harbour which was worth it i will certainly go back to that spot again

Also good if you have a family as the car is close by to where you fish, could mean a few extra trips each month  

I don't do a hell of a lot of surfcasting but i have a few ideas for you. (hopefully a few others can help you out further)

 

To get to the harbour mouth, you drive south out of town and take a right turn towards the Marae. This road takes you up to Wainamu beach which is near the mouth. You can park near a toilet block or carry on to the end of the road which leads to the ocean beach (Ngaruni)

I have had a few good catches of Trevally at the harbour mouth, also Kahawai and small Snapper. Last time i was there i hooked a freight train which turned out to be a stingray that jumped clear of the water after breaking the line (and nearly spooling me!)

It seems to be better closer to the mouth - on an incoming tide.

Nearer the toilet block is a deep dropoff with lots of snags, so best to use a form of sacrificial sinker there. I have found a whole pilchard with a running ball sinker does OK.

 

Papanui Point near Ruapuke is another possie - but i haven't been out there for yonks.

It seems to fish well, but be careful as a few have drowned off the rocks.

That might be a likely spot to send out a live bait for a Kingie?

 

There is a local operator with a small boat (blue covered roof) that will take you over to the opposite side of the harbour and pick you up at a pre-arranged time - for a pretty reasonable fee. (he does tours of the harbour)

We had a couple of good catches over there close to the harbour mouth.

 

I spend more time spearing flounder now than surfcasting, but always keen to flick out a bait and see whats around.Let us know how you get on - or send me a pm if you are keen to catch up.

Cheers