One of my fishing Buddys has moved to near Hellenville ,so we will  head out the Kaipara a few times for game fish.Any info about the launch at shelly beach   and if it is managable for low tide .Have been out the Kaipara a few times from Tinapie going out the north entrance  of the harbour ,is it possible to go out the southern?

Kandrew wrote: Shelley beach is all good, not a lot of water a low tide so you have to back way in. Seen a 8.0 tinny launched there at mid tide couple weekends ago.

yknot wrote: Conc ramp at top, hard sand mid water, and soft mud at low tide. Also can be shallow mid tide. I use a rope for retrieving trailer if coming back mid tide.

Shelley beach bit tricky with the mud around low tide - and quite flat mid tide for pulling out - top third of the tide is great. we is launching 7.7 Bluefin and 7.5 senator there any time however if preferred to back car into water a wee bit (bottom of wheel rims sort of thing 15cm, - depend on size of boat). Mangakura (hoteo) is another option - all tide concrete ramp - but steep at bottom of tide (4wd pull out as ramp can be slippery) and navigating the river can also be fun when tide more than half out - that ramp is about 30 mins north up SH16 from helensville - $5 donation to boat club for ramp use. we go out southern entrance gamefishing also - Mangakura is closer to entrance than shelley beach. Most of the charter boats out of helensville also go out southern entrance. preferably a meter or less swell - although 1.5m is ok if no wind and not low tide.

often find the livebait in closer to the bar - the kaipara has a longer run out to the deeper water than the manukau especially on the southern side - we generally looking for bait as soon as clear of bar and if nothing seen after about 30m - then starting to get to deep often for the kahawhai schools / jacks.