Hi.
Just another 100mls of rain or so in the past few days –yes, it’s been a wet spring and not so warm either. This has made fishing the local streams and rivers a bit of a problem. The extra colour in the water is fine but the extra flow, and there’s been plenty of it, can be a hassle. This time of the year is an awesome time to get out after work and fish the change of light with the kids.
In the Rotorua area the Trophy lakes have now been open for a month. My reports from the anglers on the water every day are what you would call mixed. Tarawera, normally an excellent lake for condition factor of the fish, has been a bit of a let down – plenty of fish, but a lot quite skinny. The best condition trout are coming off Okataina, then Rotoiti.
In the Taupo region the rivers are in great condition at the moment. This is now coming into the time when you get out the Fluro Carbon leaders, light lines and small dry imitive pattern flies. Yes, the insect hatch is starting. Out on the lake the early morning harling has been quite productive. You have to throw the blankies back quite early though and be on the water before the change of light. If you don’t have to use a torch to find your way around then you’re too late!
To the sea. Wow, what a time of year this is for catching snapper on the west coast. Since I last gave a report I have been lucky enough to get out on a charter with Dwayde Pinny. Fishing out of Kawhia on the charter boat, the Clansman, we had a great day. It was organised by local fisho, Steve Dench (Denchy) and we returned home with eight very nice snapper each. The best of them tipped the scales at 23lb and was landed by Hugh Rhodes – very nice animal ah! While the limit out west is ten, a lot of them were in double figures and we certainly didn’t need that many!
Up to the Coromandel and it’s a similar story. I went out on Snapper Safaris barge last Wednesday – a charter boat with plenty of experience and it showed. We fished off Deadman’s Point at the entrance to Mania Harbour. We left there with four or five snapper each with the best one tipping the scales at 15lb 4oz and a few others in double figures. This week sees the tides getting bigger with full moon this Saturday. The low tides are mid to late morning and this is a good time to fish. The last hour going out and the first hour coming in has been very productive.
Up to the Mercury bay area John Ellwood tells me there are some nice snapper lurking around the shallows around the Mercury Islands. As I said before there is quite big tides this weekend so that will be ideal for moving a bit of burley around the shallows to try and drag out those big elusive moochers.
Over in the bay of Plenty the results are a bit mixed to be honest. I had a very excited angler in the shop here the other day. He was fishing just off Rabbit Island off the mount when he spotted a workup of Kahawai. With a bit of a quick change of gear, he dragged a lure through them and after a hook up and a ¾ hour fight, he landed a 27kg kingi less than 100m off Rabbit Island. On the snapper scene there has been a few nice ones caught off the knoll at Motiti lately but few and far between. Out at Mayor the weather hasn’t been great but there is a few nice fish around.
Happy fishing, Bungey.
PS: Last chance this week to enter the Movember comp! $2,000 worth of prizes and just $10 to enter. All proceeds going to Cancer research.
PPS: Matamata Fishing Club’s big November tournament comp this weekend. Come in and join the club now and don’t miss out!