Dolphins come out to play

BIG DAY: Mathew Jamiesion proudly displays his catch.

There have been heaps of snapper around this month with large schools from Bream Bay down to Tiri and large kahawai under the gannets between Kawau and Tiri, with snapper down the bottom.

Lots of dolphins and whales in this area also make for spectacular fishing with thousands of gannets and a couple of bryde’s whales.

As you are hooked up to a huge snapper with braid screaming off your softbait reel, you look around and see your mate hooked into an even bigger fish which turns out to be a 15kg kingfish.

We have had some wonderful encounters with bottle nose dolphins this month.

The first was a pod of about 20 up past the Sandspit wharf among the moored boats.

Then we were out at the Mokes and on a bird-watching trip. As we came into the main bay another family group put on the best display I have seen by wild dolphins, which were swimming backwards out of the water. Three were jumping out of the water like a fountain.

This went on for 20 minutes, right in front of us. Very impressive.

Hapuka fishing has been great – there have even been small ones caught all over the gulf. We caught two at Horn Rock and one on the worm bed south of Kawau Island, and heard of a lot more like that.

Snapper are all over the bay at the moment. Softbait and bait have been working well. A junior caught a 8.44kg snapper. A great effort for Mathew Jamiesion, fishing with his dad.

With a lot of snapper about take lots of salt ice. We use it because fresh-water ice starts the bacteria or rotting process, but it is probably better than no ice.

There is going to be  a lot of boats out, so think about what you are doing and how this will affect others.

Five knots means exactly that because your wake does a lot of damage to other boats that are not expecting waves. We were at Smokehouse Bay on Saturday when a large launch came roaring through the moored boat while we were cooking. This caused chaos in the galley.

I have heard the same from other boats who have been tied up at Sandspit and Omaha wharfs.

The Sandspit Yacht Club had a good turnout for the children’s Christmas party which was preceded by a sprat fishing contest on Saturday. 

The shower of rain brought out raincoats and umbrellas but didn’t deter the enthusiasm of the youngsters. A great sight.

See you out there.

- Brett Rathe, Warkworth Boat and Fishing Centre

- © Fairfax NZ News