Tauranga - May 2010

Exceptional snapper fishing

Kristina Juhi from Morrinsville with a 3kg kahawai caught just outside the surf line at Matakana Island, Tauranga, during the recent Marco Cup tournament.

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The BoP harbours have seen some exceptional snapper fishing, both in size and numbers.

There have also been some big trevally, which have almost become the norm at this time of year. With the continued run of kingfish and the odd tussle with bronze whalers, there is plenty of action to be had.
Close along the coast has seen a lot of activity for soft-plastic fishers and bottom fishers alike. Picking a likely spot, berleying up a storm and stray-lining at the change of light has resulted in some stand-out fishing.

Surfcasters have had a reasonable run. Fishing live baits off the beach has resulted in some great kingfish, with fish up to 18kg reported.
The mid-range reefs held some decent numbers of tarakihi through summer; normally they move off to deeper water, but they have hung around closer this year.

The outer reefs have consistently produced bigger fish, and these are in really good condition, too. There have been plenty of boats targeting these areas for game fish as well, and successes have been there for many. One boat, after fishing the area for a number of years with limited action, tagged five marlin from the Astrolabe area this season.

The deep reefs were a little more productive in late March-early April, but they are still under a lot of pressure, and positive results are few and far between.
With autumn upon us, the water temperature has started to drop a little, which should herald the normal change in mix of target species. The snapper fishing in the bay over the last few winters has been exceptional and there is no reason why this should change.

Over winter, gurnard should move in over the sand and feed on almost anything they can find. They are suckers for nice oily baits like strips of skipjack or cubes of pilchard. Also expect larger numbers of tarakihi to move in. Some handy spots for these are around Karewa Island and on the Three and Five Mile Reefs.

With the exceptions of yellowfin, bass and bluenose, anglers have been positive about the fishing we have had this summer, with some saying it’s been the best for years.

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