Bay of Islands - May 2010

Great kingfish action

Moyra Campi from Auckland with one of the many kingfish that have been the highlight of fishing in the Bay of Islands over the last month.

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The steady but unspectacular game-fishing season continues.

Marlin catches for the Bay of Islands Club are well down on last year. Much of the problem has been a late start, with cool waters right up to the beginning of February, and although water temps are now good and likely to stay that way through till late May, a lack of skippies and sauries has meant that marlin are feeding deep on jack mackerel and squid. Big schools of mackerel have been showing up on the sounder, though mostly at a depth of 30m to 60m.

Plenty of fish have been seen on the surface, but the strikes on lures seem mainly to have been from curiosity rather than hunger, with most fish falling off soon after. A few blue marlin started to show at the end of March – further confirmation of a late season. Most of the fishing action has been inside the 200m contour from the Nine Pin to the Cavallis, though a flurry of activity occurred off Whangaruru over Easter.

While the marlin have been difficult, kingfish have been very co-operative, providing stunning action throughout the whole fishing area. The fish are not large, mostly eight to 12kg, but are certainly prolific. Best action has come from live baits, especially for the larger fish around Cape Brett. Bronze whalers are once again proving to be a nuisance around Rocky Point and Whale Rock. Cape Brett has been fishing well when weather allows, and there has also been plenty of action within the Bay itself.

Some good snapper have been caught close in around Lion Rock, and good-sized pannies are present at Hansens Reef and at the Hole in the Rock, but finding fish over 30cm is difficult at the more usual haunts around Centre Foul, Mitas Foul or Whale Rock. Some good fish have been taken from the extreme shallows up the Waikari Inlet, but the serious snapper angler may need to either rise early or fish late.

Large numbers of big, strong kahawai are providing easy fish for the smokehouse or as marlin live baits.

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