Located on the north side of the end of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, you will find a small sheltered sandy bay called Army Bay.
This fishing spot offers access to some great fishing grounds with plenty of fruitful structure along the shoreline and around the nearby reefs.
Being situated so close to the Tiri Channel you’ll find there is good current running at the height of the tidal flow, so run loving species like kingfish are often found around the bay.
Areas to target
1. Straight out
Head out just past the end of the bay and watch your sounder for fish sign just as the depth starts to increase. Fishes well most of the year but favoured in the spring/summer.
2. Wellington Rock/Reef
Turn right out of the bay and you will see a rocky outcrop away from the shore. This rock and its surrounding reef will hold fish most times of the year. The reef runs on a line from the end of the peninsula through the rock and beyond. If you don’t find fish immediately then have a paddle around to see where the fish are residing.
3. Channel edge
Paddle out of the bay all the way to the end and start your fishing just beyond the last rocks. Look for the drop off and see if you can find the fish, you’ll normally find them around the 20m mark. Depending on the tide you will be able to drift along this line one way or the other consistently.
4. On the sand
If you head beyond Wellington Rock you soon find yourself in deeper water over sand. These areas can be very productive at times too.
If the fishing is slow or you fancy a paddle for some exercise then a trip over to Titi Tiri Mitangi on four meter plus fishing kayaks isn’t out of the question – just be aware of the strong currents in the main Tiri Channel when paddling across.
Info: There is great parking with a large sealed car park for both cars and vehicles with trailers and a small public toilet (seen in the background). There is a sealed road down to the beach and all-tide boat ramp. It is not closed or locked at night.
