Bay of Islands - February 2010

Gamefish season underway

Sam Marsh's 133kg stripy was caught on a Top Gun swivel-head lure and is a World Record Small Fry claim.

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The game fishing season is off with a roar.

Richard Van Dijk, fishing solo on the boat Baska Voda, caught the first marlin for the season on December 22, tagging and released an 80kg fish. Richard is not a NZBGFC club member, so not eligible for trophies or awards from the BOISFC or NZBGFC for his capture.

This was followed on December 26 with the capture by Sam Marsh of a 133kg striped marlin. At just 10 years old, Sam is still classified as a ‘Small Fry’, and the Bay of Islands Swordfish Club is making a claim on his behalf for a world record. (See full details elsewhere in this edition.)

The first ‘recognised’ tagged fish was released by local charter launch Independence, the second year in a row that skipper Mark Noakes has kicked off the season for the charter fleet.

Catches up to New Year averaged one a day, while the water was still hovering around 19°C. Once sea temps rise above 20°C, a bumper season is expected.

Yellowfin results have been encouraging, too. Libertas weighed a 71kg whopper for a non-member, and a beauty of 57kg was weighed in Russell the next day.

Practically all the early catches have been between the 180m and 300m contours east of Cape Brett, where there is a huge congregation of bait.

Kingfish have been playing a ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ game with anglers over the holiday period. A few fish over 15kg have been caught, but most captures are of barely legal size. The most reliable areas have been Hansens Reef up at Rocky Point, and Bird Rock.

Snapper results have not reached the heady heights of recent seasons. A good feed is easy enough to catch, but there has been a noticeable decline in the numbers of large fish. The best fishing area has been around Whale Rock, but although the large schools of maomao, sweep and leatherjackets are great for the bait retailers, they prove expensive and frustrating for anglers.

Some good fish are also being caught by locals close in against the rocks from Long Beach to Tapeka, especially once the tide is running in the early morning or at dusk.

- © Fairfax NZ News