Newbies Corner - West Auckland

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West Auckland - SURFCASTING

Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Newbies Corner
Forum Description: If you're new to fishing this is the place to ask any questions about getting started ...
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=86493
Printed Date: 01 Jun 2026 at 5:50am

Topic: West Auckland - SURFCASTING

Posted By: BlaNZ
Subject: West Auckland - SURFCASTING
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2013 at 10:05am

Hi All,

Im very new to surfcasting - in fact i bought my rod last year and never used it,

Im really keen to get into it but want to start out somewhere a bit easier for a "learner"

would it be best to go somewhere like shelly beach wharf? or does that get packed with ppl?

thanks in advance :)

Replies:

Posted By: 3rnzir
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2013 at 10:14am

Try Whatapu

Posted By: BlaNZ
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2013 at 10:30am

i have been reading about Whatipu so was thinking of trying there on saturday...

Posted By: Blue Asparagus
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2013 at 10:36am

ok mate here is some free advice, get a friggin life jacket, the west coast claims more lives than anywhere else and most are fisherman, get one of the less bulky one and wear it all the time, you new on the site it would be good to be reading about your trips in 5 yrs time if you get my drift.

rouge waves rips etc you don't stand a chance in your jeans and gummies.

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Ultimate GAME Fishing Adventures. Northland

Posted By: 3rnzir
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2013 at 11:51am

BA is correct BLnz.
Inflatable vests can be had from $99-$450.Somewhere in between those prices ranges would be your best bet.Or see if you can borrow one for your trip.
Just add water and enjoy.

Posted By: BlaNZ
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2013 at 7:54pm

Thanks for the great advise, BA & 3, i will take that on as i really dont wanna become a statistic

Posted By: 3rnzir
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2013 at 10:23pm

Low tide and low surf/swell try off the surf beach area.
Incoming tide at about half in move from beach to Whatapu rock.
Ask the dude at the Fishermans Lodge what rigs/baits are working.
Incoming tides are generally better for catching schnapper off the beach.
Kingfish from the rock.
Let us know how you went.
Get out cobber and do it.Before some eco-nazi trys to ban your fun/heritage.

Posted By: Photofisha
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2013 at 10:37pm

Take someone else with you preferably who knows the area and conditions and with life jackets and id take a marine radio too and calm or Easterly conditions.

Wouldn't bother in more than 1.5m of swell but thats just my take on it especially from rocks out west.

Remember west coast = many more rouge waves twice as large as you expect.

Posted By: BlaNZ
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2013 at 2:53pm

What about advise on spot near or around Kaipara Harbour etc? ... starting out i think i'd prefer not to begin at places like Whatipu until im a bit more experienced

Posted By: mouthu
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2013 at 5:25pm

There's nothing wrong with fishing from north head at the moment on the waitemata harbour, also a lot safer too.

There isn't any west coast beaches you'd want to fish (surf cast) from on your own. I've learn't this and I wear a foam life jacket all the time out west wether I'm on the beach or the rocks.

If you do go to Whatipu, walk out to Nine Pin rock, it's got a light house type thingy on it, and fish to the right of it, be aware of the tide coming in around you though so you don't get cut off. Fish there three to two hours of out going tide until an hour after low tide, it comes in really quick depending on where the sand has moved to.

There's a spot at the end of the road on the kaipara peninsula with a track down to the rocks? I think???

I can't remember the name of it, but I'm sure someone here will tell you.

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Yes it was me, I screwed it up for everyone.

Posted By: PoorMANfisher
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2013 at 5:42pm

Mosquito bay? maybe try north shore beaches.

Posted By: welshbaz
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2013 at 7:15pm

fFshing off the beach at whatipu is nowhere near as dangerous as the rest of Auckland's west coast beaches, the manukau bar protects it from the worst of the swell. As mouth said the beach beside nine pin is a good place to start and at low tide it's easy to cast into the channel as it's really close (also means you don't have to wade in). The current there can be really strong when the tide is running so it's usually best to pick a day when the tidal difference between high and low is small. Also don't bother if the swell is any more than 1.5m as it's all just too messy. Also don't bother if the wind is any more than 15 knots as its damn annoying. The time of day doesn't seem to make much difference (except that your more likely to catch sharks in the dark). Likely catches here are kahawai and trevally and occasionally a gurnard at slack tide (kingys, small sharks, spotty dogs and snapper are also a possibility). Use a 4 or 5oz breakout sinker with a running rig or pulley rig, even that will not hold when the tide is running. Best bait to use is mullet as its nice and tough and can stand up to the current, if you use pillies then make sure you tie them on with a lot of bait elastic. I wouldn't worry too much about going there by yourself at this time of year as it's highly likely that there will be other people fishing out there. Even so always watch the sea and just use some common sense.

This spot is not a consistent producer of fish but it's a nice easy introduction to west coast surfcasting and it can sometimes turn it on, and if the fishing's crap on the day then at least the scenery is outstanding.

I've had my best days surfcasting a few hundred metres up the beach from ninepin when I landed 15 kahawai in a couple of hours with the largest going 3kg, was awesome.

If you're going to try the kaipara then mossie bay is at the end of south head rd, steep track straight down, fish it about 2-3 hours either side of low. It's best to go to the left or right of the bay as there seems to be a shelf right in front that will lose you a lot of sinkers and mess up your line. Shelley beach wharf is supposedly a hotspot for gurnard but I've only ever caught small sharks there, I think it fishes best on an incoming tide from about half tide in.

Good luck

Posted By: BlaNZ
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2013 at 8:40pm

Thanks alot for your replies especially Welshb its really appreciated,

ill let you know how i get on

cheers

Posted By: BlaNZ
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2013 at 10:24am

So me and the fams went for a drive up to Shelly Beach wharf for our first fishing mission,

Wasnt too packed when we first arrived ,spent a couple of hours there , ended up with a gurnard and a couple of sharks ( which were thrown back), not the greatest but i enjoyed it as did the kids and wife as there was a playground and cafe lol..

will def go up again for another go but prob high tide in the morning rather that evening..

anyway was all good for the first time,

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