Area Reports

It’s spring, the days are getting longer, the temps are rising, there’s new growth everywhere, and we all have our eyes on the west – it’s snapper time!

Wellington - October 2011

Tarakihi time

JIM O'BRIEN - © Fairfax NZ News

As the highly sought-after species, groper, have started disappearing from the deep water reefs about this time, many boat fishers have been turning their attention to tarakihi.

Taupo - October 2011

Lake fishing well

STEVE BARRY - © Fairfax NZ News

The warm weather and calm conditions have allowed our boat fishos to make full use of the early spring fishing.

Southern Hauraki Gulf - October 2011

Spring into action!

EUGEN DE BRUYN - © Fairfax NZ News

There has been a definite turn in the weather, with some positive signs of spring evident.

Far North - October 2011

Doubtless Bay consistent

STEVE RADICH - © Fairfax NZ News

The first field day of spring for the Ninety Mile surfcasters saw strong winds from the NW, which made fishing very difficult.

Cook Islands - October 2011

Better late than never

WAYNE BARCLAY - © Fairfax NZ News

The FAD located out from the Edgewater Hotel was replaced during the first week of August, so should start working before too long.

West Coast - August 2011

Drag-net flounders for a feed

PETER LANGLANDS - © Fairfax NZ News

Some good rainbows have been taken from the Whitcombe – a tributary of the Hokitika River that is now open all year round.

Taupo - August 2011

Strange days

STEVE BARRY - © Fairfax NZ News

I have never really got on board with global warming and all the hoo-ha that goes with it – until recently, when I was heading to one of our local rivers and saw eight or nine boats harling off the beach at Waitahanui.

Waihi/Whangamata - August 2011

Realistic expectations

LLEW JONES - © Fairfax NZ News

Barracouta, bad weather, low catch rates and cold all contribute to reduced enthusiasm for fishing at this time of year.

Northern Hauraki Gulf - August 2011

Berley and patience

RICHARD & BILL BATHURST - © Fairfax NZ News

There’s nothing to write home about at the Mokes – or anywhere else for that matter.

Whangarei-Tutukaka - August 2011

Snapper concern

JOHN VOWLESS - © Fairfax NZ News

Snapper concern

Vanuatu - August 2011

Sailfish pack-attacks

PETER PHILLIPPS - © Fairfax NZ News

Sailfish pack-attacks

Whangaroa - July 2011

Broadbill run continues

BRIAN CANDY - © Fairfax NZ News

Broadbill run continues

Manukau - July 2011

Kingies at Cornwallis

BEN FRANCIS - © Fairfax NZ News

Kingies at Cornwallis

West Coast Waikato - July 2011

Mixed bay fishing

CHRIS BUNGARD - © Fairfax NZ News

Mixed bag fishing

Whakatane - July 2011

Challenging conditions

STU DAVIDSON - © Fairfax NZ News

Challenging conditions

Gisborne - July 2011

World record claim southern bluefin tuna

ALAIN JORION - © Fairfax NZ News

World record claim southern bluefin tuna

Nelson/Marlborough - July 2011

Top of South fishing well

TONY ORMAN - © Fairfax NZ News

Top of South fishing well

Cook Islands - July 2011

Blue from a five-metre tinny

WAYNE BARCLAY - © Fairfax NZ News

Cook Islands

Bay of Islands - June 2011

Kingfish move in

GEOFF STONE - © Fairfax NZ News

In June the kingfish receive a lot of attention in the Bay of Islands.

Northern Hauraki Gulf - June 2011

Fish in go-slow mode

RICHARD & BILL BATHURST - © Fairfax NZ News

Work-ups are few and far between.

Eastern Coromandel - June 2011

Winter treats

MARTY BOWERS - © Fairfax NZ News

With big game fishing over for the year, thoughts are turning to the treats of winter.

Tauranga - June 2011

Inshore fishing hangs on

BRUCE WESTON - © Fairfax NZ News

The snapper fishing remains hot in most coastal areas, with fish still holding in shallower water.

Gisborne - June 2011

Fishing diary proves its worth

ALAIN JORION - © Fairfax NZ News

Recent weather patterns, swells and winds have come from the easterly quarter, sou’west and nor’east.

Otago - June 2011

Slender tuna arrive

PETER DAY - © Fairfax NZ News

The arrival of slender tuna off the Otago Heads has provided exciting fishing.

Nuie Island - June 2011

Wahoo numbers build

PAUL PASISI - © Fairfax NZ News

Wahoo numbers are steadily increasing as we are just a few weeks shy of the beginning of our main fishing season.

Bay of Islands - May 2011

May in the Bay's marvellous month!

GEOFF STONE - © Fairfax NZ News

May is a very underrated month in the Bay of Islands.

South Hauraki Gulf - May 2011

Indian summer

EUGEN DE BRUYN - © Fairfax NZ News

The fish are on the move through the local spots in the Waitemata.

Taupo - May 2011

Browns move into rivers

With winter now starting to bite, the lake fishermen have stored the boat away, and the fly-tying kit has made its way to the kitchen table.

Canterbury - May 2011

Last chance before winter

Lake Camp is open until the end of May, and in recent weeks some plump rainbows up to 2kg have been taken.

Cook Islands - May 2011

Monster mahimahi

Mahimahi all but disappeared for the first two weeks of the month, and the ones that were caught were relatively small.

Whangarei/Tutukaka - April 2011

Great harbour fishing

Snapper fishing in the harbour continues to run hot, within sight of the Onerahi ramp.

Waihi & Whangamata - April 2011

Tarakihi move deep

Our two major fishing competitions, the Nauti Girls and the Classic, both lived up to expectations.

Hawkes Bay - April 2011

Great kingie off the beach

After months of poor catches due to bad weather, sea conditions and cold water temperatures, Hawkes Bay has started to fire up on the fishing front.

Nelson Marlborough - April 2011

Plenty of pannies

Juvenile snapper are everywhere in Tasman Bay.

Vanuatu - April 2011

Good weather after cyclones

I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the people of Vanuatu to pass on our thoughts and condolences to those affected by the earthquake in Christchurch.

Southland - March 2011

Rivers return to stable flows

Historically January is the wettest month for Southland, but if not for the last burst as the month drew to a close, it wouldn’t have happened this year.

Freshwater Hawkes Bay - March 2011

Rather a mixed bag

First up, we were praying for rain, as the rivers in the Bay were at drought level and the fishing was becoming very hard, with only the most skilled of anglers taking fish.