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Castle point

Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Landbased & Surfcasting
Forum Description: From rocks or beaches, here's the place for the landbased fishos to share information
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=75987
Printed Date: 30 May 2026 at 6:00am


Topic: Castle point
Posted By: Dutchy_fisher
Subject: Castle point
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2012 at 8:33pm
I have a couple questions about Castle Point

-How much of a northerly wind is bearable before it starts to get dodgy?
-How much northerly swell before it starts to break over the wall?
-How do BIG tides effect the wall? (if at all)

Thanks


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Replies:
Posted By: WellyDiver
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2012 at 8:49am
Hi Mate,

   If you're fishing from the lighthouse rocks, my wife and I have been there a few times and you can get up to 20kts before it becomes too windy to be there, depending on where you're fishing off. If you want to try down by the waters edge even a normal high Tide will trap you down the far end, but there is a semi sheltered spot to the left as you're heading up the rock face to the waters edge, on the left.

You're about 20ft from the water below so unless the swell is running 3m at which point I wouldn't be in Castle Point but rather up the hill watching the damage that swell is going to cause ... You''re pretty safe up there. Last couple times we were up there I chucked the cray pot off the rocks, and left it over night, locals didn't touch it and no-one else got the chance. We got a couple of crays in it the next morning when I went to pull it in so I was a happy little camper.

If you go up the rocks to the right of the track where it's easy to climb, you'll find this is the easiest, safest spot ... doesn't matter how windy it gets up there you're 20ft above the water, but if you need to land a big one there are a couple of spots where you can easily get down to the waters edge. And you're out of the wind, only issue up there is if it rains, you're going to get wet.

So a long winded answer to your question but I hope it helps.

Wife and I are heading up to Cape Palliser this weekend if the weather forecast stays the same as it's predicted ... /cough ... there's always good fishing off the beach up there.

Posted By: Big H
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2012 at 1:29pm
Depends on what end you want to fish really, as above up at the lighthouse end you can fish a 2-3 metre swell where as at the other end near the 'gap' you wouldn't want anything more than 1m really. Although dry on the fishing spot it's a bit iffy getting back without getting wet in a bigger swell.
To be honest I've found the fishing at the gap end better as it's a sandy bottom without the snags, ledges and overhangs  of the lighthouse end.  It's also easier to get down and gaff/net a bigger fish.

Also I reckon swell direction makes a huge difference in the amount of water coming over the low spots, pretty much due to the angle the swell hits the ledge. Same applies to tide really sometimes less water comes over on high for some reason and the high spots generally stay dry if it's fish able.
You might need to sit tight in your spot if the tide is right in and its a bit sloppy tho .

As long as you use common sense and walk along the base of the rocks when moving along the reef and don't panic if one comes over you're pretty safe.

Posted By: Quick silver
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2012 at 1:52pm
What have you guys caught off there? Its been a while since ive been down to fish.

Posted By: WellyDiver
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2012 at 1:58pm
caught some Gurnard, and kaiwhai and one weekend ... a load of spiny dogs.

Posted By: Big H
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2012 at 2:01pm
As above plus the odd kingi and some huge rig on crab baits.

Posted By: Al BG
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2012 at 10:40pm
wicked spot, one of the very few deep water spots in the lower north island. Big gurnard and kahawai are the main fare, but it's a place you can hook anything


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