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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Andyman83 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Advice about Matapouri/tutukaka
    Posted: 14 Oct 2023 at 3:40pm
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Am hoping for a bit of advice about a family holiday destination.
The family and I are heading to Northland Nov 11th and am currently due to stay in Matapouri. I've got 3 young children so it's predominantly a beach holiday. However, very keen to get out for a spear +/- a fish from a kayak.
Initially thought that the area topography looked good from navionics etc as would be keen as to get onto some snapper, trevs and a kingfish. Normally resident in Christchurch so very keen to tick some of the iconic species. Having done some reading I've been a bit dismayed people's reports of kina barrens, poor vis from sept-Dec and kingis really starting to turn up in dec onwards.
Had been thinking of using the kayak to explore the headlands - is it worth it because I could look to get somewhere further north like moursees bay if it's likely to be more productive?
Any advice or help ?? Cheers
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote MB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Oct 2023 at 4:48pm
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Don't worry, you're coming to a great area! I've always found Matapouri itself to be a bit barren, but plenty of life in the other bays. I used to live in Ngunguru and launch out of Tutukaka (Pacific Bay). There's a reef not far outside of the entrance, it's on the charts. Always caught good snapper on softbaits and slow jigs, as well as some big porae; kingfish when I got lucky. If you get in the water, I'm sure you'll come across something tasty. Admittedly, crayfish are becoming harder to find.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Andyman83 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Oct 2023 at 5:30pm
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So Matapouri bay itself is a bit barren? I'd have expected that given it's accessibility and being sandy, but you're saying a wee paddle around the headlands would probably turn up a few species ?
That's great news - is mid Nov too early for the kingfish ? I appreciate that water temps are key.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Andyman83 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Oct 2023 at 5:56pm
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So Matapouri bay itself is a bit barren? I'd have expected that given it's accessibility and being sandy, but you're saying a wee paddle around the headlands would probably turn up a few species ?
That's great news - is mid Nov too early for the kingfish ? I appreciate that water temps are key.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote MB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Oct 2023 at 10:37pm
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Yeah, go for a paddle out of Matapouri and it'll come right at some point. I caught a kingfish 3 weeks ago, so anything is possible! Beware, swell can push through pretty hard in to that bay. 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote JustAnotherSpearo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2023 at 6:27pm
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From a spearfishing point of view what depths are you comfortable at?

Happy to share knowledge I simply don't get up home enough these days and know that coastline in depth. Flick me a PM closer to the time when you're heading those ways
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Andyman83 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2023 at 9:04pm
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Originally posted by MB MB wrote:

Yeah, go for a paddle out of Matapouri and it'll come right at some point. I caught a kingfish 3 weeks ago, so anything is possible! Beware, swell can push through pretty hard in to that bay. 


Cheers, that's great news, to know that there's gonna be the chance if the conditions line up and cheers for the warning re the swell.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Andyman83 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2023 at 9:08pm
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Originally posted by JustAnotherSpearo JustAnotherSpearo wrote:

From a spearfishing point of view what depths are you comfortable at?

Happy to share knowledge I simply don't get up home enough these days and know that coastline in depth. Flick me a PM closer to the time when you're heading those ways


Cheers, am comfortable up to about 15m, but I suspect its probably a bit different up there to here - here a good day is 4-6m Viz and the water is cold and often rough but most stuff is found in shallow. Also not much in the way of tax men either. Ill definitely DM you. Cheers
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Andyman83 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Nov 2023 at 7:43pm
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Heading up in the next week - hoping the cyclone hasnt caused too much havoc up there and hoping for a week with no noreasters. Anyone got any advice about sharky spots or strong currents to take care with in the area would be happily received - keen to get amongst it.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote krow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Nov 2023 at 8:42pm
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Good luck and enjoy your holiday. Looks like the weather might even play ball. Sorry can't give you advise on where to swim. Plenty of nice rocky coastline though. I'm sure you will enjoy. In the OLD days there were crays on the little rocky outcrop right in Matapouri bay. 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (2) Likes(2)   Quote JustAnotherSpearo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Nov 2023 at 8:59pm
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Ill jump in the boat tomorrow and send you photos in a PM of where I'd go. What species are you after under the water and how far can you paddle a kayak without getting knackered?
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote Andyman83 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Nov 2023 at 9:56pm
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Cheers for the reply, I'm keen for practically any species but would love to plug a trev, snapper johnny or kingfish but really would be happy with anything. Not sure re paddling I've done paddles in the region of 6-10k as a single in a 2+1 but it'd be dependent on the rig that I have access to so not sure. But I'm enthusiastic enough to mission it for good species.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote honestbruce Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Nov 2023 at 8:53am
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Have PM you ANdy
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