Cheers

 

1. At Waipu Cove walk through the creek at the south end of the beach, up onto the ridge. Looking out towards the islands on the coast below is a big  almost flat rock (1/4 acre size or thereabouts, is surrounded by water at high tide but may only be a few feet deep to cross. There are alot of mussels around this rock and make good burly and bait. Here you can catch Kahawai and Snapper, baitfish, also stingrays fairly common.

 

2. Back at the ridge follow the track right for five or so minutes until you are past 2 or 3 of the new houses, before the track goes past the next gut drop down onto the rocks and fish the north eastern point of those rocks. Snapper and trevelly here in bigger proportions than the previous spot....but also patches of foul to snag you every now and then.

 

3. Another 5 minutes along the track to the next point, crazy rock formations here and hard to actually get out onto these rocks. You can fish the edge of the reef at low tide here for an hour or so with no swell but after that you will have to go back up the rocks a bit. Fishing now becomes a challenge because you are so far back from the edge of the reef and only little guts to lead your fish to land. Landing a big fish here is almost impossible. This is a dangerous spot and not for the faint hearted. There are a couple of steps of faith out to this spot. About my 3rd to last mission to this spot at one of the steps of faith my sandal blew apart and i crashed onto the rocks. My big toes nail was all smashed up and just hangin on and the flesh all around my toes and end of my foot was minced nicely. It didnt look very good at all and took 30 minutes to compose myself before crossing the next step of faith. Luckily i had a bandage in my kit and bandaged what was left of my sandal to my foot covering the gory bits.....i felt much better once i couldnt see the mess. I never wear open footwear rockfishing anymore.

 

4. Northern end of Langs beach are some rocks that jut out, doesnt look very fishy but some lazy fishermen have landed 20 lbers here. Past these rocks is another little beach called Ding bay. At the north end of this beach is a track out to the point on the right, there are also steps at the north end of this beach that lead up to the road. You can access the point from these steps when the tide is in. Very limited parking at the top of the steps though, you may have to park down the hill.

 

5. Mangawhai head rock, someone else on this forum may be able to offer more info on this spot. Cross when the tide is low enough and get back before it gets too high.

As for experience, I'm not a total novice, have caught many fish when invited on friends' boats, but not much from land.  However, it feels more satisfying when I do, and it's the only real way for me to get out there.

I don't mind a hike, so I'll some of the place you mention, RockX, but I'll make sure I have strong footwear!

That's a good point actually:  They say don't wear thick heavy boots when rock fishing, don't want to get dragged under if washed off the rocks, so what does anyone suggest to wear, just trainers?

So far weather on Metvuw.co.nz is looking good for the weekend

What sort of terminal tackle would you suggest?

I have heard you look for areas of interest at low tide and concentrate on them a high tide correct?

Hey RockX, I see you are from around there.  Will you be around? Will you be into teaming up?

 

 

From my experience not too many rock fishers in this comp, i fished it a couple years back and didnt see any other rock fishers, mainly boats, and the yak boys do pretty well, an old workmate cleaned up a couple years in a row from his yak.

 

Yeh the beach can turn on too, the best spot to try, dawn or dusk at the waipu river mouth. Turn down johnsons point rd between Waipu and the cove. Cross the estuary, chest deep at high tide the last time i went through at high tide. Keep to the track out of the bird nesting areas though when you get across. Always good to do some recon during the day at low tide to sus those nice holes and channels especially if fishing the high tide.

 

Use a small float above your hook to keep it just off the bottom out of reach of the crabbies when fishing the beaches and use tough baits.

 

When you planning on getting there fisher? an evening fish on fri or sat could be on.....or early morning sun. otherwise i would have to take a sicky. Want to work my last night though, Monday, as its the stat day and worth extra $$$'s for me and would go along way as cash is a bit tight in the household at the moment.

 

Either way i should have time to catch up and show you around a bit....if u like 

 

txt or call when you've made it to camp 021 121 4480

hey fisher what day you coming up?

I'll going up tomorrow, Friday about 1Pm from AK, But will probably just try the beach for the first evening.  But I'm definitely up for a good fish on the rocks with you guys on the Sat PM.  I'll ring you both when I get to the campsite.

Didn't know it was a nudie beach though!  Hope it's not a nudie camp too.  Well, that depends on the state of the campers.